Wooden hiking sticks are common item among outdoor enthusiasts and casual hikers alike. Designed to facilitate balance while hiking, a sturdy wooden hiking stick can effectively reduce the impact of steps to your knees, back and feet while offering leverage over dangerous sections of a trail. While there are many metal and aluminum hiking poles available, few provide the sturdiness and dependability of a wooden hiking stick.
Maple Hiking Sticks
A common wood type in American hiking sticks, maple is generally harvested during the sapling stage. After being peeled of its bark, maple sticks are then dried for periods of six to nine months as they gradually turn a rich, russet hue. Renowned for their strength and flexibility, maple hiking sticks are commonly available from both machine manufacturers and hand carvers in plentiful supply, and make a good all-around stick for hikers requiring a versatile staff that won't need all of their weight on a hike. Due to the flexibility of the maple wood grain, intricate patterns and designs can often be carved into a stick to make it a custom-made addition to your hiking inventory.
Diamond Willow Hiking Sticks
Immediately recognizable due to their white, often craggy appearance, diamond willow hiking sticks offer a durable alternative to the more flexible hiking poles. Generally coming with a variety of complex patterns and knots, these hiking sticks are highly individual in their look and feel---giving each hiking stick the impression of being unique. Though often more expensive than other hiking sticks, the diamond willow wood offers a durability and strength that makes it ideal for climbers and hikers who find themselves in situations requiring a stick that can hold their entire body weight as they transition from foot to foot.
Vine Twisted Hiking Sticks
Easily among the most original of wooden hiking stick types, the vine twisted hiking stick can be made of any wood and can differ considerably in strength and sturdiness. Naturally formed by the strangulation of a strong vine, such as kudzu or wisteria, vine twisted hiking sticks are tree limbs that have been naturally grooved by the growth of a vine species. Generally featuring spiral groove patterns and other natural shapes, vine twisted hiking sticks often provide a natural hand grip at the top of the hiking stick due to the indention caused by the vine. When purchasing one of these hiking sticks, consider the type of wood that has been used in making the stick and choose a strong wood such as: mahogany, dogwood, oak or hickory.
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