Show Us Your Hiking Staves

[Biker]

Nice one Littlebiglane. I've done the exact same thing in my own stick with a compass. Don't have any pictures of it handy right now, maybe tomorrow.

Some really nice looking stave here too, thanks for sharing.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Thought this might benefit from a 5-year bump given one or two recent threads so lets see what you've made and are using please.

Will try and put a pic up of my 2016 go-to stick tonight.

Cheers

K

 

[leaky5]

Excellent thread. This is something I will probaby have a go at this year. I get bouts of gout (bad in my foot) so will be handy to pop something in the car for dog walks etc.

 

[nunzionuk]

Always wanted one.. never got round to finding a nice bit of oak in epping.. might get it sorted this year.

 

[ged]

For Christmas my sister bought me a chestnut stick mounted with a beautifully carved walnut crook featuring a badger.

It's really too nice to get muddy!

 

[Hoodoo]

I've hiked with a walking stick for over 50 years but about 7 or 8 years ago I switching to carrying a cane. I find hiking with a cane less fatiguing than hiking with a walking stick. My arm hangs straight and I can shift more weight to the cane. I like a longer cane for rough terrain and on the sides of mountains and a shorter cane for groomed trails.

 

[QDanT]

I found that after a while I'd get into a wood and the 'stick head' would start and I'd spend so much time looking for the perfect, straight or bent stick, that I'd miss out on the rest of the wood. So now a days if I don't take a stick I just cut the first one that will do, but leave it as I leave, for the next explorer without one

 

[Klenchblaize]

Wonderful. Every man should own at least one good stick and a shed!

 

[Joe tahkahikew]

These things I've never seen before.

What do you brits use them for? Do they have hunting/bushcraft use or something or are they just for walking if you are not well or maybe injured?

 

[Toddy]

I use mine as a prop when I need to cross a burn, or when the ground is uneven or icy. It's also a known length so I know how deep the puddle/bog/quagmire is before I step forward. It's handy for pulling down branches, or holding bramble stems out of the way when foraging. It's stability, and extra reach and I can tie stuff onto it and carry it over my shoulder too.
Farmers and shepherds use theirs with livestock (handy for us too, to chase away something too aggressively nosey)
I can prop it up, drape a waterproof over it, and it's an instant shelter from the rain for a brew up too.

Useful things are sticks

M

 

[QDanT]

Perfect answer Toddy

 

[Toddy]

You have a wonderful collection Dan

I am growing a honeysuckle up an ash hoping that I might get a useful stick from it in time

M

 

[Wild wandering woodsman]

Here's mine, it's about armpit height. The staff itself is dog rose, the handle is antler, that was on my late fathers walking staff, he found it about 45-50 years ago. To bridge where the antler meets the staff I used a plumbing olive. The end cap is from a 12 bore shotgun casing. Due to change the staff as it's developed a split . Just looking for the right bit of wood.

Sent from my SM-G110H using Tapatalk

 

[Klenchblaize]

Boogers to photograph but here are a couple of my single sticks for hunting with a rifle. They are a little over 7ft. The one on the left is holly and has seen heavy use for some 7 years. The other was cut this year and is hazel. The weight difference is distinct as you would expect.

As already mentioned they not only help support the rifle when taking a hurried or otherwise off-hand shot but are invaluable when working through undulating and slippery ground.

The leather knotting permits a better grip of both stick and rifle. Simply stick first finger through a loop of the right height and use the remaining pinkies to cradle forend.

 

[Klenchblaize]

 

[MongooseDownUnder]

I love the poncho you have Klenchblaize.

 

[awarner]

Posted my buddleia staff last year, would not be without it now.

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=133134

 

[Klenchblaize]

Posted my buddleia staff last year, would not be without it now.

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=133134

Loads of character in that one. So nice too see something chosen for other than its straightness.

 

[awarner]

Thanks, I've since fitted it with a leather wrist strap as I use this for support in uneven woodland, helps me when I do my rounds in the woods as the area is classed as a wet woodland but a better description at the moment is a swamp.

 

[Klenchblaize]

To better explain the technique: