Hiking Staff?

Haha. I'm going to make my own AND (when i have some coin to throw around) get a kingfisher or brazos (thanks flnder and noshtero). If you have the means, it's nice to try out a polished product from someone who has made it a profession. Anyway, i don't think hickory grows in CA (I could be wrong - I haven't seen it yet anyway), and I want to get one since it seems to be one of the best in terms of strength.

in fact, the more and more i look at it, the more and more i'm liking these sticks:
http://www.brazos-walking-sticks.com/twisted-hickory-walking-stick/
http://www.brazos-walking-sticks.com/hitchhiker-twisted-ash-walking-stick/
http://www.brazos-walking-sticks.com/extrasize-straight-hitchhicker-ash/
 
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I've had a Crawford Survival staff for years now, and still use it all the time.. It might look hokey but the blow-dart feature actually works quite well. To be able to arrang it into a long spear makes ya feel pretty secure just about anywhere. Makes a pretty decent monopod for your rifle too;-)

Its kinda spendy, but I think its worth it.. I got mine back when the were around $180 though..;)

http://www.crawfordknives.com/SURVIVAL STAFF PAGE 1.htm
 
Somebody say bamboo?

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Doc
 
ah! yet another bamboo proponent! i really need to get one and see what all the fuss is about :) I think i saw that staff of yours DOC, back when I was doing the background research :):thumbup:
 
rksoon said:
ah! yet another bamboo proponent! i really need to get one and see what all the fuss is about :) I think i saw that staff of yours DOC, back when I was doing the background research :):thumbup:
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Yes, it's been posted before. It's just that so many people come and go, what was old, is new again! :D

Doc
 
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I made mine out of a wooden broom handle with 3/4 inch cap ends. I took it out on about ten hiking trips so far and it's still going strong.
 
I made this one out of rattan back in the late '60's

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It was a martial arts rattan bo staff to which I added a wrap of leather for a grip and some 'Sho-Goo' for bottom protection. There is about 1/2 inch thick layer on the bottom and 1/8 inch thick layer going up about a foot to protect from rock damage. I gave it a coat of floor wax for protection. My son uses that stick these days. No weight to speak of, cost about $5 USD then, these days probably about $15 in the US or $2 in Asia. Still looks almost as new as the day I first took it into the wood despite using it at a pry bar, lever, tarp support, me support, fishing rod, armadillo detour device, etc.

Stitchawl
 
Right! I have to check out a rattan one too :) And you're right, they're not very expensive at all. Thanks for the pic stitchawl :)
 
For all you people that have regularly used hiking staffs... how long a staff do you like? I've been eyeing the one from Kingfisher, but it seems a bit short at 56" I feel like I'd like one at least as tall as my eyes (65" or so), or perhaps a full 6'.

Added: Anyone seen the Canemasters hiking staff? It looks like basically a good idea, but I could do without the carving, paracord wrap, and goofy firesteel base. I imagine that that firesteel bit adds at least $50 to the price.

http://www.canemasters.com/highland-hiking-and-survival-staff-p-339.html
 
Hey FA, interesting link. I roughly calculated the cost of the 'accessories' and it came to about $50. That means you are paying about $190 for the cane alone? Too much, me thinks.

I also don't like all the extras because of the weight it adds to the cane without actually adding or changing uses of the cane, and if you lay it down somewhere and forget it, it falls off the side of the cliff, etc., there goes all your survival stuff. I'd rather have my survival gear on my belt or in my pockets.

Still, an interesting idea. Ranger Rick does similar things to his hiking stick IIRC.

I also like hooks on my walking stick/cane for all the practical applications they provide (pulling down that heavily fruit laden branch/ pulling down a good branch for a tip up snare/retrieving your Tilley that blew into the river/ hooking around a sapling and pulling yourself up the hill/ hanging the stick in a tree, providing you with a dry place to hang your coat and other things when the ground is wet or covered in snow, etc., etc.)

Oh, and to answer your question, I like them about 72 inches long.

Doc
 
FoxholeAtheist said:
For all you people that have regularly used hiking staffs... how long a staff do you like? I've been eyeing the one from Kingfisher, but it seems a bit short at 56" I feel like I'd like one at least as tall as my eyes (65" or so), or perhaps a full 6'.
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I like my staves to be between 5-6 feet long. If I'm in very vertical country I prefer a longer length. For more flat walking the shorter is fine for me. Also, when bushwacking a short staff is easier to get through the tangles, but on cut trails any length will do. :)

Added: Anyone seen the Canemasters hiking staff? It looks like basically a good idea, but I could do without the carving, paracord wrap, and goofy firesteel base. I imagine that that firesteel bit adds at least $50 to the price.
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If they weigh as much (or more) than the CaneMaster canes, you need to be a pretty strong person to want to carry it up the hill. I was given one of their canes for evaluation when they first came on the market, and although very well made, were much too heavy for the average person to use in any other manner than as a baseball bat! Hoppkido stylists would appreciate them, as Hoppkido uses a lot of jo techniques, but give me light weight any day!

Normally I don't pay too much attention to prices of gear when making my selections, but paying over 200 USD for a hiking staff? :jerkit:

For that much you can get at least 10 nice light unbreakable rattan staves, and not worry about losing one off a cliff! :thumbup:

Stitchawl
 
I generally like mine just under chin height. I find it comfortable when resting and anything longer becomes cumbersome. At the very least it should be half way between my elbow and shoulder.
 
i think i read somewhere ,where your arms are down count 6-9 inches above your elbow ,,that should determine your walking stick length
 
that brazo's walking sticks site has these suggestions:

41" - child up to 4'6"
48" - 4'6" to 5'4"
55" - 5'4" to 5'11"
58" - above 5'11"
 
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