Walking Sticks

[Carolina Kiltman]

From what I have read, a properly sized walking stick should reach the break between your hand and your fore-arm (i.e. the wrist) when standing with your hands to your side. For the average size man that generally equals about 36". That's probably why you are having such a hard time finding a good length walking stick for you.

Thanks, that is what I extend my canes to. What I should have said is a walking staff

[Nick]

Here's my favorite hiking stick. It's beech, I picked up a stick and whittled the bark off at Scout camp years ago, it's been though a lot and over a lot of miles, it's saved my life a couple times, and I've still got it.



It started to split at the top and bottom, so I forged wrought iron bands to fit, drilled holes perpendicular to the split, and riveted them on. Hopefully the bottom band will also stop wear at the tip. The beech is so heavy that a couple iron bands hardly makes a difference. I engraved "fortitudo" into the top band.

This shows the top. I never put a finish on it, but it's rubbed smooth and dark where I hold it just from use.


I've also got a heavy ironwood hiking stick and a carved walking stick, but they don't get as much use.