Nordic walking originally came into prominence as a way for skiers to train in the off-season when there was no snow. Cross-country skiers would take poles that resembled ski poles and proceed to train on dry land to keep themselves in shape and ready for when the ski season would start up again. Today, Nordic walking is recognized as a weight-loss tool, but, then again, running is probably used more commonly as a way for the average person to keep their weight in check and keep fit. Nordic walking is easier on your legs because you're propelled along by its poles, while running is harder on your legs, which is a predicament if you have had surgery or if you have bad knees to begin with.

Nordic walking has developed into a semi-popular means of fitness and exercise for many people across the globe. The beauty with Nordic walking is how it allows you to just get the accessibility of taking a regular walk with the upper body, and the core workout that is close to what you get if you Nordic ski. Because of this characteristic of Nordic walking, it is said to burn calories better than just ordinary walking; because of something called the fat-burning zone, Nordic walking is also supposed to burn more calories than running. Running forces you to exert yourself to the point where your heart rate is so rapid that your body ends up burning sugar as its primary fuel instead of fat. Because of Nordic walking's pace, you enter a real fat-burning zone that lets you burn more calories than by running.

Besides walking, running is one of the oldest and most inexpensive ways of losing weight and keeping fit. It is cheaper than Nordic walking because you don't need to go out to purchase the poles; it is also less of a hassle to run because you won't have to worry about lugging around your poles. However, if you have knee problems or are of a certain age, running will do you no favors despite its ability to help you lose weight and keep it off. The stress from the impact of running sometimes deteriorates your legs and knees, particularly if you are in a vulnerable demographic. Running is a full-body workout, though, because a lot of your body is exercised each time you run.

While Nordic walking burns more calories than running, this seeming benefit has to be juxtaposed with its cumbersome nature. Running is far easier to practice since all you really need is an effective pair of running shoes, while Nordic walking demands the special equipment of the poles, which is not only added cost, but is also more inconvenient. However, if you are of a certain age or have had knee problems, you'll want to Nordic-walk instead of run.