The curvature of Nordic walking poles: what difference does it really make?
For decades, all Nordic walking poles have had one thing in common: they are straight. Linear. Designed to be planted and pushed in line with the arm. This dogma of the straight pole seemed untouchable — until a surveyor from the Drôme region noticed something both obvious and revolutionary during a walk in the woods with his grandchildren.
The origin of an idea: branches in the woods
Christian Pelèse, a lifelong hiker and former surveying engineer, watched his grandchildren walking with naturally curved branches. As he picked them up to put them away, he noticed an unusually fluid sensation: the push seemed more effective, more forward-oriented. These branches were not straight. They were arched, slightly curved, like a bow.
From this observation came the idea that would become MØNARC® and its Arcs de Marche® : the world’s first fully curved Nordic walking pole, designed and manufactured in France.
What the curvature changes: biomechanics explained simply
The difference between a straight pole and an Arc de Marche does not lie in an elastic effect or in energy return. This point is fundamental and often misunderstood. The curvature does not store energy to redistribute it later, like a spring. MØNARC® poles are, in fact, deliberately very rigid — made from high-strength T700 carbon fibre.
What changes is theangle of the pushing force. A study conducted by the University of Grenoble Alpes (UGA) on experienced Nordic walkers precisely measured this difference:
- Conventional straight pole: average angle of 46° relative to the ground
- MØNARC® Walking Pole: average angle of 33° relative to the ground
This 13° difference may seem insignificant. It is not. A more horizontal angle means that the force exerted on the pole is directed more forwards, and less upwards or downwards. Propulsion is mechanically more efficient with each step.
Significantly reduced perceived effort
The UGA study also reveals that at 5 km/h, the perceived effort is significantly lower with the Arcs de Marche than with conventional straight poles. At 6 km/h, walkers report greater perceived comfort and enjoyment. And this is for the same physiological intensity: the heart and lungs work just as hard, but the sensation of fatigue is less.
Over long distances — trail running, ultra-walks of 120 to 200 km — this perceived difference becomes a decisive advantage. Less perceived fatigue means better management of effort over time.
The tip always vertical: an often-overlooked advantage
The curvature of the Arcs de Marche generates a second mechanical benefit: the tip always enters the ground vertically, regardless of the phase of the stride. With a straight pole, the angle of attack varies with each movement, creating irregularities in the support and potentially straining the wrist at unfavourable angles. With MØNARC®, the grip is constant, and the wrist remains in its natural axis.
T700 carbon: the sensible choice
To maintain this angular advantage without adding weight to the pole, the choice of material is crucial. MØNARC® Walking Poles are made from T700 carbon, a high-performance grade just below that used in the aerospace industry. This choice allows the weight to be kept at 140 grams per pole — remarkable given the greater effective length due to the curvature.
Final assembly takes place in France, at an ESAT (Établissement et Service d’Aide par le Travail) in the north-west of the country. An approach that is both technical and people-focused.
Try them, and you’ll love them
Jean-Pierre Guilloteau, a state-certified mid-mountain guide, Nordic walking instructor and author of the reference book Nordic Walking: Techniques and Benefits, was the first to test the prototypes in February 2023. His verdict, since shared by dozens of walkers of all levels: the sensation is immediate, the propulsion noticeable from the very first kilometres.
Because a curve can’t be explained. It has to be felt.
👉 Discover the MØNARC® Walking Arcs at monarc-nordic.com