How to Make a Hiking Staff - a Complete Guide

In this video I go over in depth how why I use a hiking staff as well as how to make one from selecting the tree to applying the finish

[CandC]

I used to refinish gun stocks. And we did something we called whisking. When the wood was bare, smooth, and ready to start adding finish, we would wipe it down with water. Dampening the surface. Then let it dry. This would bring up small fuzz that had not been sanded off, but not visible. When dry we would re-sand. One or two whiskings and no more fuzz. Then we would start applying the finish. So, maybe this step could go before your linseed oil.

[joeydupre]

I'm from South Louisiana and swampy areas are common. I tend to use rubber knee boots quite often. I made a mark on the bottom my staff 1" shorter than the tops of my boots. When probing ahead of me, I can easily tell if the water is too deep.

[cordellkent]

Mark, great video. Great viewer contributions as well. Mate, I’m Australian. I was taught a lot of Aboriginal ways (my heritage) ways of straightening spear shafts. My mob (ancestors) made spears that were about 8ft long. It’s hard to find straight natural shafts that long. What the ancestors did, while the wood was freshly cut, they would have a small ash and coals fore going. In that they would have a rounded ‘flattish’ rock in the coals. They would pull the hot rock out of the coals and holding the raw shaft horizontal to the ground with a bend in the shaft facing down to the rock. Then weight was applied to the shaft over the rock and the shaft will bend straighter. Noticed the ‘er’. This is repeated until the shaft is dead straight. It’s not hard, but can be time consuming. The benefit is that shaft maintains is original diameter and hence forth not weakened. It works.

[Pedenzo]

Another use for a walking stick is to use it to telegraph your presence to any close by animals. If you drop your stick from 4 or 5 inches onto any rock on your path it makes a pretty good racket. I told my Granddaughter that it would scare away any rattle snakes ( it does) and now she spends more time looking for rocks to whack than she does hiking.... :-)

[Stoney_AKA_James]

Well done Mark!
When I was leaving the Ranger Battalion, I was presented an intricately carved and stained walking staff (I used one quite often as a Pre-Ranger School Instructor) - it remains one of my cherished items!
For using the staff to support a tarp, I bought a small rubber ball (heavy duty dog toy is both smaller and stronger than a tennis ball) and cut a hole in it for the staff, I found this to help prevent damaging my tarps.

[HUSTLE_MONEY]

Not only do I love the presentation but I love the commenters, knowledgeable, polite; real gentlemen.

[Moostery]

Striped maple may technically be softer than other maples but I have always found it to make an exceptionally dense and ridged walking stick. My favorite walking stick I have ever made is Moosewood.

[matthewlentz]

Hey Mark great video. I made a walking stick when I was about 15. Had it ever since I used B.L. oil and a rubber stopper for canes as the base. It goes along with almost every trip. Excellent. For going off trail getting up steep hills and going down. It's a childhood momento that could never be replaced.

[WeazelJaguar]

Wonderful video, thanks for posting!
I love the idea of using the 3/4" copper end cap on the bottom.
I got lazy in finding my staff, while paddling in the Nirthern Niagara swamps, I picked up a perfect staff, already cut down with the bark stripped by tge local beaver population!
The teeth marks look great, so I will not be sanding them out.
I also used a 3/8's lag bolt screwed into the end, with the head ground off, into a point!
Now all it needs is the strap and a nice protective finish!
Thanks again!

[Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival]

I started out using a hiking staff in large part due it's doubling as a camera monopod. However over time I have learned to really appreciate the advantages of using it for walking for many if not all the same reasons that you have given in this video. I appreciate that axtra balance support when navigating off trail in severe terrain. I also appreciate the extra support when walking slippery muddy terrain especially uphill and downhill since I prefer a boot type with minimal tread.

[btiwirv]

Great video. Thank you. I've made a few walking sticks just from limbs that came down from trees in our yard. I used a draw knife to remove the bark and smooth out (somewhat) the knots. I don't remember doing anything else to prep the wood, so mine looks somewhat more "rustic" as a result, but it still works well. I had some tung oil left over from an earlier project and used it--I agree it makes a great choice. I wrapped paracord around the top for a handle (my tree limb was a little thinner than the branch you used), and sized the bottom so I could use a replacement rubber crutch tip. It has saved me from falling many times over the years.

[jamesbrown]

Another thing I would add would be witness rings from the bottom to about 3/4 from the top at one foot intervals (10 cm in your case😎). These can be used in many ways where measuring is required such as tracking etc. Great video. I was impressed by the seasonal change from start to finish 😉

[rpan]

Although a bit longer, it was worth every second to watch. Very well explained with tricks of the trade, precautions and good oratory skills. A soldering iron can burn proverbial words of wisdom. Great video to watch. Will catch up on more.

[terryw.milburn]

Loved Your Tips For This Mark ! Nothing More Theroputic Than Crafting A Hiking Staff, Made Many Over The Years & Gifted Them To Friends. Thanks ! ATB T God Bless

[srf]

When clearing land and building my house in the rainforest jungle on the Big Island my most important safety tool was my Koa hiking staff. The dense foliage made it impossible to even see the ground often and I used it to probe ahead for holes and lava tubes. It saved me more than once.

[wendellhagg]

Excellent Video. Made many myself, canes and walking sticks. More fun than you can imagine and very useful for sure. Having had four hip replacements on one side over the course of 50 years, a scencivitjy for others and their needs given many away !! Thank you for sharing !! H.

[cheryllakin]

I like that little curve in the wood; it gives it character.

[stanwright]

The iron wood we have in Hawaii is very heavy... but super straight. One hiking stick I made is the diameter of my little finger, but is by far the heaviest of all my hiking staffs.

[irieknit]

Very grateful for your video. You have helped answer questions I had in refining my Christmas tree distaff, and for this sudden interest in spindle carving. I can even think about hiking in reasonable terms.

[JohnnyHildebrand]

A walking staff is also great for checking the next step for snakes and other critters. Thanks for a great and informative video. God bless.