Maintaining and Storing Nordic Walking Straps: The Complete Guide
The strap is the element most in contact with your body during a Nordic walking outing. It is what transmits the pole's push force to your hand, what endures the perspiration, the weather, the repeated rubbing. Yet it is often the least maintained of all a pole's components. Here is how to do it justice.
Understanding the strap's role
Contrary to what you might think, the Nordic walker does not hold the pole the way a hiker holds a stick. In Nordic walking, you regularly release the grip to allow the swinging movement of the rear arm. It is the strap, that band enclosing the wrist and the back of the hand, that catches the pole and makes the push possible. Without a well-fitted strap, the technique becomes impossible and the effort is transferred to the wrist.
Straps can be fixed (built into the grip) or detachable (released in seconds to reach a refreshment stop or take a photo). Detachable models are favoured today for their practicality, particularly over long distances.
Cleaning your straps after every outing
Sweat, mud, trail dust and skin oils accumulate in the strap's fibres with every use. Without regular cleaning, the materials degrade, odours settle in and the fastening systems clog up.
For routine cleaning:
- Detach the straps from the grip if your model allows it
- Rinse them in clean, slightly soapy water (mild soap, nothing aggressive)
- Gently rub the areas in contact with the skin
- Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap residue
- Air dry, away from direct sunlight and any heat source (radiator, tumble dryer)
Neoprene or technical-foam straps do not tolerate machine washing. Textile models may tolerate a 30°C machine wash, but check the manufacturer's recommendations.
Maintaining the fastening systems
The fastening systems, buckles, velcro, clip attachments, deserve particular attention. Over time, velcro clogs with hairs, grass and assorted debris. Cleaning with a dry toothbrush removes the dirt effectively. Click systems must be checked regularly: a click that no longer "snaps" properly can lead to an unexpected pole release mid-push.
Adjusting your strap: a fundamental step
A badly adjusted strap is a source of injuries. Too tight, it compresses circulation in the wrist and causes tingling. Too loose, it lets the pole dangle and forces the hand to compensate by gripping the handle too hard, causing tension and tendinitis.
The right adjustment: the hand must be able to open fully in the rear push, the pole held solely by the strap, without clenching the fingers. Check this adjustment every time you change gloves (cold-weather gloves in winter, bare hands in summer).
Storage: extending your straps' lifespan
Storage is often neglected. Yet a few simple rules can double the lifespan of your straps:
- Never put damp straps away in a bag or closed cover, mould sets in quickly
- Store your poles in the open air, hung up or laid flat, never forcibly folded
- Avoid prolonged sun exposure: UV degrades elastomers and technical foams
- In winter, if you have walked in damp weather, unfold the straps fully before drying
When to replace your straps?
Straps are consumables. Depending on frequency of practice, they should be replaced every 12 to 36 months. The signs that it is time to change: the foam no longer springs back after compression, the velcro no longer holds, the seams fray, or the strap hurts you despite a good adjustment.
The MØNARC® Arcs de Marche come with Gabel straps (the reference Italian manufacturer), available in sizes S, M and L. Replacement straps are available directly from our shop.