Do you actually use your walking stick for walking?

myright

myright

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Ok - For those of you that actually use a walking stick do you find it to be a useful tool for hiking? Is it something you look at as more of a SD and potential shelter material?

I picked up some Hicking sticks that are pretty much colapsable ski poles. I did not like them whatsoever. I tried hiking with one and I also tried hiking with two. I guess I the part that I didn't like the most was having something in my hand. I think it made me feel like they just got in the way.

Maybe a nice hardwood stick would be a bit different. I could see how it would be useful on the trail as a potential SD item and for water crossings.

What's your use?
 
I just got done looking at that thread. That is a nice walking stick you've got there. I think I'm going to try the same thing once I fine a good piece of wood to use.

Very nice job you did!!
 
Some one gave me some trekking poles for xmas...but I use a wooden staff I made myself...I find it vary usefull to use when hiking...
 
I tried the ski pole type sticks amd prefer my wood walking stick over those. Very similar to Talfuchre's walking stick.

Paul
 
Always use them. Just think of your self as a three legged dog.. Or with two stick you would be just as a good healthy dog with four legs. Have you seen a dog slipp and fall????? o.k dont answer that one..
 
Yes, to all those, and yes to many more. It's a simple thing to carry that can be used for a few purposes.

You didn't mention poking dead bodies found on roadsides, but I suppose a good stick can be used for that as well.

It can sometimes be risky to think of a tool as having a primary purpose. For example, is your knife used for fire starting, opening packages, or self-defense? If you're like me, a knife can be used for all sorts of things and I wouldn't want to pigeonhole its application.

That's not critical of you. Rather, I'm struggling to suggest that thinking outside of ordinary assumptions can cause you to see all sorts of simple objects as potential life-saving (or simply useful) tools.
 
I use them all the time. Since I broke my foot and ankle, I have trouble with my balance on uneven ground. Gotta have one whenever I am not on clean hard ground.
 
I often hike with a staff or ski-pole, especially in rough terrain or in slippery conditions.

It can really help with balance on tricky terrain.

Plus it’s a great tool for clearing debris off the trail.

I prefer a staff, except when hiking in snow where the “basket” helps support some weight.
 
I often hike with a couple trekking poles. They save my knees, increase stability in slippery/off-balance/unstable situations, protect me from some critters, push aside stinging nettle and poison oak, turn over rocks and logs and such to see what's underneath, double as a makeshift monopod, triple as a makeshift tent/tarp pole, identifiably mark the way back, serve to check the next step before placing my foot in murky water/ thick vegetation, and so on. I find them very useful.
 
Watchful said:
Yes, to all those, and yes to many more. It's a simple thing to carry that can be used for a few purposes.

You didn't mention poking dead bodies found on roadsides, but I suppose a good stick can be used for that as well.

It can sometimes be risky to think of a tool as having a primary purpose. For example, is your knife used for fire starting, opening packages, or self-defense? If you're like me, a knife can be used for all sorts of things and I wouldn't want to pigeonhole its application.

That's not critical of you. Rather, I'm struggling to suggest that thinking outside of ordinary assumptions can cause you to see all sorts of simple objects as potential life-saving (or simply useful) tools.
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Great response, thank you. You've put it a bit more in perspective for me.

I take the dog with me a lot so it would only be used when I don't have the dog since that would be way to much to try and manage with a dog leash also.

That darn box, sometimes I tend to think inside it too much. :) And..... you never know when you're going to need to poke a dead body :)
 
For those of you that have made your own staff. What type of wood have you used.

I saw the other post where someone used Oak. What else is good?

I will have to say that a Trekking pole is convenient as far as size goes and being able to lash it to your pack, but a wooden staff looks a lot better!
 
myright said:
Ok - For those of you that actually use a walking stick do you find it to be a useful tool for hiking? Is it something you look at as more of a SD and potential shelter material?

I picked up some Hicking sticks that are pretty much colapsable ski poles. I did not like them whatsoever. I tried hiking with one and I also tried hiking with two. I guess I the part that I didn't like the most was having something in my hand. I think it made me feel like they just got in the way.

Maybe a nice hardwood stick would be a bit different. I could see how it would be useful on the trail as a potential SD item and for water crossings.

What's your use?
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If I have a long hike ahead of me,I'll usually find one in the woods.I don't pack one or have a personal WS.I find they're pretty handy when scaling rocky & uneven ground.Never really considered it for SD,since I'm usually armed.
 
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JTR357 said:
If I have a long hike ahead of me,I'll usually find one in the woods.
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Same here--it's part of the fun of a hike for me: one of the first things to do is find something local to use.

Plus, when you're done with the hike, you can leave it behind where it belongs. I never feel bad about leaving something that originally came from there.

My youngest boy has picked up on this too, except he finds the need to change his walking stick with a "better" one every 500 feet or so!
 
I must have half a dozen walking sticks, oak, hickory, laurel, swamp juniper, gum, and who knows what else. They are so basic and useful, I can't imagine not hiking with one. They help with balance and stability on uneven terrain, clear spider webs and venemous snakes out of the way, and are useful for testing ground firmness around swamps and creeks when crossing. They are great for crossing creeks on logs and such, as my daughter is doing here.
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I used to find walking sticks when I needed one. One time a few years ago, I picked up a stick to use on a steep downhill and found that a particular knot and curve in the wood fit my hand perfectly so I kept it. I eventually stripped the bark, let it dry for a few months and gave it a few coats of spar varnish. I also drilled a shallow hole straight into the top and epoxied a small button compass into the stick. I've used that stick for 10 years now. I find a stick to be very helpful on a trail.
 
I currently use a Dogwood staff that is about shoulder high. I have balance isues from virtigo plush it is helpful for of trail here in the foot hills of WV . I have to say that the dogwod staff doesen't work very well on pitbulls , might have to go to a bigger hicory or osage orange staff.
 
I find hiking sticks/staffs very helpful on inclines and declines, takes a lot off of your legs. When on straight flat ground, it doesn't do much but walk with me. And, of course, others have already mentioned the numerous other uses for a hiking staff.

I'm currently working on making one for the first time. Usually I find one on the trail, then leave it when I leave. They tend to be very crude though, and hard to come by so I finally decided to make one.
 
i used to carry a sturdy wood walking stick while i was hiking, but i found that most of the time it just sat in my hand, not touching the ground. my arms got tired with the constant up-down. i suppose that's good, since it meant it was taking pressure off my legs, but i found it annoying.

now i just do without, but i do still make walking sticks as gifts and things. i also keep a short, cane height walking stick by the front door for nighttime walks etc. it can also be handy on very hilly hiking terrain, but i prefer to grab trees and rocks instead of pulling on an un-anchored stick.
 
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