Take walking poles to the sidewalks, and you get stares and jokes about snow being nowhere to be found.

But that’s changing, says Rolf Abro, manager at Adventure 16, an outdoors specialty store in Costa Mesa, Calif. “People have become more educated about Nordic walking in the past two years and are asking questions about it,” he says.

Nordic walkers use sport-specific poles and unique walking techniques to get a vigorous upper- and lower-body workout. The activity is popular in European countries such as Finland, Germany and Austria, but it has been slower to take off in the United States.

The slight weirdness factor may have something to do with it.

“It definitely looks a little strange,” said Malin Svensson, president of Nordic Walking U.S.A., which promotes Nordic walking and Exel poles. “But when I came to this country from Sweden and saw people walking on treadmills indoors, I thought that was strange, too.”

Some people might mistake Nordic walking for trekking, but Svensson points out an important difference: In trekking, you plant poles vertically on the ground for support; in Nordic walking, you’re more likely to plant poles diagonally. The left arm swings forward with a pole as the right foot steps forward. As you become more accustomed to moving the poles correctly, you find a smooth rhythm to your walking movements.

It takes about half an hour to learn the basics of Nordic walking, Svensson says.

Nordic poles are equipped with spiked tips for soft surfaces, such as grass or dirt, and curved rubber “paws” for walking on hard ground.

Hand straps are adjusted so they fit snugly, yet enable you to open your hand fully. You hold the handle loosely so you can naturally move the poles forward and backward as you swing your arms. The relaxed grip also is important so as not to increase blood pressure, Svensson adds.

A pair of poles costs $99 to $130 at specialty retailers.

Svensson plans to introduce Nordic walking to 15 members of the Outdoor Fitness Adventure Club, a San Clemente, Calif., group that participates regularly in outside physical activities.

A 2002 study by the Cooper Institute in Dallas showed that Nordic walking burns 46 percent more calories than regular walking.

If you’re thinking about boosting your walking routine with something different this summer, Nordic walking is one of your choices. The key to enjoying it is to learn proper technique from a well-trained instructor and use appropriately sized poles.