The walking stick is an important tool in a hiker's arsenal. It goes beyond simply being a leaning post. Its multiple uses can prove essential out on the open trail, and as technology improves so too does the quality of walking sticks. Many avid outdoor enthusiasts, however, still prefer to craft their own hiking aid.
History
Walking sticks once served as symbols of authority. Long before the colonial days, when prestigious men such as George Washington sported a cane, the chiefs of Native American tribes showcased elaborately crafted sticks. Prior to that, in ancient Egypt, the staff a man carried symbolized his role in society, whether he be a shepherd, merchant or Pharaoh.
Canes continue to represent a degree of prestige, but today walking sticks are much more commonly used by hikers as recreational tools. These walking sticks are designed to alleviate the strain backpacking puts on a hiker. As demand increases, hikers can now choose from homemade, wooden sticks all the way to more technologically advanced shock-absorbent poles.
Types
Several names are interchangeable with the term walking stick. "Canes" typically serve as fashion accessories or support for the elderly, and a "staff" is often ceremonial, while "trekking poles" are meant to aid hikers along their journey.
Two basic types of walking sticks can be identified. These days, decorative sticks are typically no more than collector's items. These pieces of art were valuable silver- and ivory-crafted antiques from the 19th and early 20th centuries that featured elaborate knobs designed to showcase each owner's tastes.
Among utilitarian walking sticks, approximately 2,000 gadget sticks are patented nationwide. These sticks have multiple uses, whether they contain binoculars, a place to hide something or a compass to navigate a country stroll. They also once reflected the trade of the owner, with different gadget sticks geared toward different professions. Primarily used for hiking today, these gadget walking sticks may even feature items devoted to such outdoor pastimes as fishing, golfing or backpacking.
Benefits
No matter what slope the pathway holds, a walking stick can function as a stabilizer. It can also help clear the pathway of an impromptu hiking trail. Not only do walking sticks help to navigate safely through deep brush and dangling branches, but they come in handy for checking stream depths and the stability of loose boulders along the trail.
The stick can double as a makeshift back rest. Combined with a tarp, it even protects from inclement weather by creating a much less expensive--not to mention less heavy--camping tent.
Features
Many decorative walking sticks feature authentic Native American imagery and include accessories designed to assist commuting campers. These sticks are more for show than actual use.
Every gadget stick should feature a loop of nylon cord at the top to allow the stick to hang from the hiker's wrist when it is necessary to use both hands. Rubber grips give hikers a firm grasp on their walking sticks. More advanced trekking poles also feature adjustable shock absorbers and camera mounts. For safety's sake, warning generators such as bells or horns are also often included on customized walking sticks. Such signaling devices are particularly useful for extended hikes.
Misconceptions
Research supports the advantage of using poles during an extended hike, discounting the idea that the extra weight of the accessory drains energy. A study reported by B. H. Jacobson, T. Wright and B. Dugan of Oklahoma State University finds that the use of walking sticks does not increase energy expenditure but may reduce hikers' perceptions of physical exertion.
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