Testimonials: the MØNARC® Arcs de Marche® as Walkers See Them
The feedback below comes from the field: club outings, competitions, training courses, rehabilitation programmes. It was shared publicly by its authors and is reproduced here as it was written, translated from French. It tells, better than we could, what the MØNARC® Arcs de Marche® change in everyday walking.
From pioneers and instructors of the discipline
Arja Jalkanen-Meyer, a pioneer of Nordic walking in France and founder of the École de Marche Nordique Paris, sums up her sensations: “it's fluid, it goes straight through, there is no loss… right away, it's comfort, fluidity, power and efficiency”. She insists on how the pole anchors in the ground: with the arcs, the anchor is truly vertical, which lets you push firmly downwards, as taught in Nordic walking, with no energy dispersing.
Nathalie Gilbert, a state-qualified sports educator and creator of the Méthode 360®, had fifteen years of Nordic walking behind her when she tested the arcs. Her conclusion: they act where straight poles reach their limits, notably on shoulder and shoulder-girdle mobility. On 14 January 2026, at the Vieux-Port in Marseille, she joined the brand as an ambassador, with one conviction: making both tools coexist, without setting practices against each other.
In competition
Antoine, his club's Nordic walking lead, after his fifth competition with the arcs: “I've now walked five competitions with the MØNARC®, and it's going well. It took me a few outings to get the hang of them, but that's normal, as with any good equipment: you need time to find your bearings again. I haven't changed the way I walk, I just feel I have more engaging poles, which respond better when I push.”
Benoît, third in a Normandy Challenge event on muddy ground, says he has “progressed enormously on technique” and describes a “much finer” movement: a consistent grip and a cleaner energy return on each push, with his bearings found again in three training outings.
At the Ultra Marin in Vannes in 2025, for the event's 25th anniversary, Jérôme completed the 29 km of La Vénète in 3 h 31 (15th in his category) and Alain in 3 h 36 (24th in his category), both equipped with their walking arcs, on a demanding course.
At the Caen Athletic Club, the first club to bring the arcs into its competitive walkers' training, Gaëlle and Raphaël, Nordic walking coaches, sum up their test sessions: “Our competition walkers are in full testing, they are looking for their respective heights; in any case their movements are made easier and they like them a lot!”
In rehabilitation
At the cardiovascular rehabilitation clinic of Beaumont-de-Lomagne, the team recounts: “This morning, the Mønarcs, freshly received the day before, were all the rage. In the corridors, people talked of nothing but these magic poles! The patients are delighted… they felt like they were flying.” In these care programmes, what matters is simple: feeling stable, daring to get moving again, finding some lightness in walking.
On first outings
On the MØNARC® walkers' WhatsApp community, a newcomer wrote after a single outing: “stunning, easy, propulsion… I was smiling to myself… I've nicknamed them my Mary Poppins… in 3 words: I adore them!”
Philippe, from Strasbourg, five stars to back it up: “Walking is truly natural with a dynamic push. The curve, the ergonomics of the arc make the practice very pleasant, I really do recommend them.”
Martin, during a training camp: “I find them very comfortable to use, lighter, and well balanced… I have to say I like them!” Some walkers also customise their arcs by fitting their usual grips or tips, according to their preferences and terrain.
And beyond borders
Walkers use the arcs in Belgium, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Spain and as far as Canada. To find a contact near you, see the Partners and Trials by Country page.
Want to form your own opinion? Discover the MØNARC® Arcs de Marche®, carbon Nordic walking poles, or get in touch with a MØNARC® Partner Club to try them.