Hi there,
After my last "slippery" hike I must agree about the great value a walking stick can be.
You can go for the lightweight commercial sticks if you have a few $ to spend.
They are made of good and light materials and provided in various lengths
If not just make one from a dry branch... google it, tones of sites about how to make one

as I heard the length recommended for hiking is about shoulder length but I think it might be a little to long and heavy so maybe a few inches shorter will be good?!
anyway good question as I look for making or buying one too. thanks

p.s
walking sticks are multipurpose item:
-distributing weight while hiking
-weapon
-a tool to check the depth of a river for crossing
-stability on uneven ground
-pole for shelter

 

You can go for the lightweight commercial sticks if you have a few $ to spend.

Emphasis on the few.

Mine cost only about $15 (new) on ebay, and it has served me well for about 3 years so far.

They're lighter than a wooden stick of similar strength/length.
Adjustable (I make it shorter for uphill, longer for downhill)
Collapseable. (Mine is full size, but collapses to about 3ft long.)
Can come with a carbide tip. (A lot more durable than any wood, and actually grips well even on solid granite)
Comes already equipped with nice padded handle and lanyard strap. (The padding of the handle started slipping down the shaft on mine after 2 years of use, but a quick application of spray glue back home fixed it back into place.)


Granted, they're not exactly ideal for fixing a knife to. (Unless you modify the knife handle to fit the walking stick better, or vice versa.)

 

Martial arts supply places sell waxwood sticks that are very nice for hiking

 

x2 on the walking stick. I made my own. Other uses..Rattling around rocky crevices to roust snakes and such BEFORE you sit down to rest...lol mine is the ideal height to use as a rest for a rifle

 

Had my bushman for years, like it just fine.:thumb:

 

old draw knife and a ash maple or hikory stave and work it to size make yourself a quarter staff and just make one end taper enough so you can affix your point

 

As far as a walking stick/shaft, what is recommended for the material, length, and other considerations? Thanks.

Pretty much any hardwood, tbh if your looking for spear/quarterstaff floor to either chin, eye or nose level is usually enough.

 

And don't forget the handle. I've been working on a walking stick and quickly figured out the importance of a proper handle and lanyard for it. Now, mine has a pretty little handle made from jute twine, and a nice little paracord lanyard.

When selecting wood, I chose a sapling that was a little less than two inches diameter. I cut it, skinned it, then let it dry. Since it is just slightly tapered, I used the thicker end for the handle portion. The end on the ground is fire hardened. A few inches up from the ground, I've placed another turk's head knot to help strengthen it in case it begins to split on me.

I'm gonna put me some pacer beads on it and try to work in a compass (it is for navigational purposes and I'm working with my 6 year old so he can learn, so I figured I would go all out). I'll try to get some pics up when I'm finished with it.

The knots for the handle look complicated but aren't too bad. I started with a turks' head knot, turned this into a french whipping, then back to another turk's head to secure everything with. Here is the linkhttp://mowiti.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-to-wrap-paracord-to-your-walking.html I followed to learn these knots. Practice a little bit and you will see that these knots are rather simple (moreso than they look).

I found another site (forget where) where the guy, called the Paracordist, was making pacer beads using the same turk's head knot but I haven't got my fingers nimble enough for that yet. A good compromise is pony beads.

 

I used a hard wood broom handle worked great, I also picked up a Pocket Bushman like it also. Thinking of customizing my hardwood handle into a walking staff. So I can use as a spear, and on the bottom part create a threaded receptacle to use either a crutch tip or spike for hiking. When camping or hunting I could leave the spear attached to the top and just keep sheathed.

 

in your last pic, what is inside the handle? ranger band??

 

I am absolutely addicted to my Crawford Survival Staff with all the goodies inside it. Cost enough, but it will last for generations! :thumb:

 

Do you want a walking stick, or a whacking stick? A walking stick can be ultralight hollow collapsible alluminium. A whacking stick has to be at least solid wood, preferrably cured hard wood treated with several layers of Tung oil.

 

I believe that is called a quarter staff and by itself is a formidable weapon

 

I put a threaded socket on the handle end of mine for a pocket transit or camera or gun monopod.the bidness end has a carbide tipped walking staff end.
It's a waxwood staff from the local martial arts supply.
It's a very good whacker and makes a real fine poker with the pointy end.

 

I've made a couple out of closet clothes rods, the solid wood ones. Screwed a lag bolt into the bottom of it and left it sticking out about 3", cut the head off and ground to a dull point. Good for traction and as a spear. I also mark the length of it like a yard stick for measuring, and make a 550 cord handle and lanyard, using oils or polyurethane to seal the wood.

 

A real walkingstick can only ever be of wood. Hardwood, preferably oak.

 

And preferably White oak, I use whole saplings. Like them thick enough that(1"+)they can be used as a quarterstaff. I also like mine slightly loner than I am tall, reason for this is I use them to vault across small branches,creeks.:thumb: To old to use them for vaulting fences as in my younger days.:

 

Wow, thanks for all the comments. I had considered just a wooden staff, but you've opened up a whole world of possibilities. That Crawford Survival Staff is something awesome, but so is $500.

The whole concept of "tools for survival" stretches the imagination and that is how it all started a zillion years ago (think ape and bone, "2001: A Space Odyssey").

 

I bought mine as a graduation present to myself for completing my Bachelors of Environmental Science, and I have a pulled knee I have been for years trying to fix. It helps out so much and I bring other goodies in there too. :thumb: I have Leki trekking poles but they will collapse if you put all your weight on them, such as going down a hill leAning on one hard. Heavy duty hiking sticks home made would work too.

 

Actually I am considering something myself, multifunctional. I will probably have to make it myself though.

 

I second the waxwood, very good quality and affordable, looks nice too

 

never tought of this great idea

 

I use a broken fiberglass hockey stick. I picked one out the trash last fall with a broken blade and cut to fiberglass shaft down to a comfortable size. I've done several extended hikes with it since then and I love the light weight. Does the job for me.

 

Heres one I made from a hardwood handle, I added a Tee Nut to the end that has 5/16 thread so I can thread in a spike when needed. The spike has a lock nut on it to make it easy to tighten or remove with my multi tool.

 

Good job graf56. Thats a good look'n walking stick.

 

Well upgraded my walking stick, easily adpated to anyones walking stick , drill hole gorilla glue insert in place. Leaves you with a lethal weapon.The broadhead I used can be disassembled and stored on the walking stick using another length of inner tube like in my post above.

 

For my walking stick I have a pvc pipe filled with lead I call it my tacstaf as in tactical staf. It is realy good for killing snakes and smashing stuf. I need to paint it though.

 

why tou want to kill the snakes? I only kill ones that kill chickens rest just get reloacated to other parts of the property if you want em away from you just stick the end of your staff in there coil and give it a flick and they will fly a good 10-15 feet

 

For my walking stick I have a pvc pipe filled with lead I call it my tacstaf as in tactical staf. It is realy good for killing snakes and smashing stuf. I need to paint it though.

do you have molle straps on it?

 

yes, i just bought the bowie cold steel knife to go on top of a wooden tool handle - it's about 5 feet long with a tapered end to fit tools (i picked it up at the local farm supply store for around $ 5.00). Will this be a strong enough handle, or would a waxwood staff be better?
walking stick - spear

 

Thats what I have shown in the pic on my post on page 1, worked fine.

 

thanks graf56, i was half asleep this morning and didn't see your nice pics. i really like them thanks for the tips