Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Wood Walking/Hiking Stick?

Looking at getting Dad one of these for Christmas. Doesn't get around as good as he did and like him to have something to use in the woods or yard. I've found this one on Brazos Walking Sticks:
http://www.brazos-walking-sticks.com/leather-safari-exotic-walking-stick/

What are some other places to look? The one linked is about on the high end of what I can spend.

Appreciate the help.

Cold Steel Shillelagh.





Dave

Carbon Fiber hiking poles, with a strap.

These are very light weight, he can choose the base to match the conditions, and they are not expensive.

I use a pair to hunt and hike with, plus you can use them as shooting sticks.

I got my dad a pair. They are very hard to beat.





https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EJP43FA?ref=emc_b_5_i


They sell a similar pair at costco.

I got a pair of carbon trekking poles at Costco for about $35 last year. I use one when hunting. They weigh almost nothing and fold up to about 15" long which really helps when getting in a car. If he's typical of an older person, you'd want the ones with a flip lever adjustment instead of a twist type. The twist ones can be pretty stiff for old hands.

If he has a sense of humor, you can get him a cane made from a bull's penis. They have a steel rod inside for strength. They're somewhat more expensive than synthetic poles, though.

I got the same pair for my wife and they have been used a lot for the past year w/ out a problem. They weigh and cost about 1/2 of my Black Diamond poles.


mike r

Heeler,

Fwiw, most of our Texas Master Naturalists have/use a walking stick in rough country. - A piece of HICKORY or OSAGE ORANGE (BOIS d' ARC) about 5' long & about 1.25-1.5" diameter, cut yourself, seems to make the strongest ones.
(One of our TMN has used the same walking stick, made of a length of OSAGE ORANGE, for over 20 years. = His only "out of pocket cost" is occasionally replacing the rubber crutch tip. = Tom's walking stick is carved with his name, TMN class number, PO Box & phone number.)

My guess is that your Dad would be quite PLEASED to receive one as a gift, that you made especially for him.

yours, satx

Heeler: That is one beautiful walking stick!
I say wow to it and maybe you should go for that model - you probably will only be buying one (the price IS a factor).
Around here I have two friends who make custom walking sticks and they use the kind of rare Diamond Willow wood for their offerings - $30.00 to $40.00 price range.
The handles on the local models are much less fancy than the ones you linked to.
Best of luck with whichever you choose.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Also, take a look at Irish Blackthorn, makes a good rugged looking stick. I have one from this guy: https://mccaffreycrafts.com

There is a man that makes walking sticks that have a " survival kit"built in. I can't remember the name.
Goggle it and or utube.

Found it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0vd8cZmo5s

Look for Osage Orange walking stick/staff on Ebay. Wife bought me one for $9 and I love it

Something like the Komperdell Walker, offer a multi-use design grip.

https://mec.imgix.net/medias/sys_ma...=format&q=40&fit=fill&bg=FFF

as do Leki
https://www.leki.com/uk/product-area/trekking/poles/2876/city-sen-vario/

Another vote for trekking poles. Another vote for the flip lock adjustments like the Black Diamond poles. If he will be using them outside during the winter, cork grips are "less cold" than the rubber grips.

This guy makes a mean buffalo penis cane

http://rtoproducts.com/bull-canes.php

Dang, those look exceptional and you can feel the Irish seeping out of them.

Makes me want to order one, if only to crack an Englishman upside the head.

Another vote for diamond willow.

They are cheaper and if you know what willows look like you can make your own.

I like the look of diamond willow.

Osage orange, or hedge as we call it, is definitely not a problem around here. However, like most folks, don't have the time or tools to hand make one. Probably going to stick with wood and thanks for the suggestions.

Made this one for helping me make offhand shots with my bad shoulder. Piece of Ashe juniper aka mountain cedar.

Well over 40 years ago I found a stout piece of wood that had interesting worm cuts on it while chaperoning a group in the NorCal woods. I fashioned it into a 70" "Little John" staff/walking stick with a carved handle. Used it a lot in the old days out in the woods. Still have it and still have no clue as to what kind of wood it is.

Also have a great B-Square #A2000 monopod that must be over 20 years old now. The aluminum shaft telescopes with twist locks and has interchangeable round wooden hikers knob, a forked shaped rifle cradle rest, and a camera 1/4x20 stud mount. The bottom pad twists to expose a spike if needed out and about. For a hunter these types of staffs are da bomb.

I grew older and first picked up a Komperdell Walker which served me well. Still have it but it has been replaced by beautiful wooden Fritz handled canes from http://www.walkingcaneco.com/. (My favorite is a custom bubinga Fritz with a tiger maple inlaid shaft section.) Before I developed a need for canes I picked up a pair of Gabel Schratt 1803 telescoping 7075-T61 aluminum trekking poles. Used them successfully at places like Arches National Park over a decade ago.

I second the notion, as a septuagenarian, of latch vice twist lock if you opt for carbon fiber or aircraft aluminum trekking poles for your aging dad. As for a wooden tall walking stick, they are great but unwieldy for transport.

I carry a Leki Wanderfreund Black Carbon Staff.

It doesn't have the "soul" of a wooden one, but comes in handy and doubles as a nice shooting stick. Most importantly, in the early season, I can hit every dead yucca plant within reach in case a rattler is hiding in there.


Leki Wanderfreund Black Carbon Staff