What Can You Do With Your Hiking Staff?

In this video I demonstrate a few ways you can use your hiking staff

[jimivy]

My hiking stick is my journal. I still use the bamboo hiking stick that I made for my first major hike trip back in rhe early 70s. Each time I went on a major hike, I would scratch the location and date on the stick. As my children grew, I would take each of them on trip to introduce them to the beautiful country that I have loved so much. I would scratch their name, the year, and where we went on my stick. Now that I am in my eighties, I can sit in my rocking chair, pick up my old stick and I am a young man again, walking free on the mountain trails and experiencing again the wonder and excitement just as fresh as it was 50 years ago.

[ponowar]

I'll admit I clicked on this wondering what in the world I could learn about the use of a simple walking staff. Then you taught me. Thank you.

[RenegadesRift]

These skills have been forgotten by so many in todays world. Thank you for keeping them alive.

[tuerkefechi]

All of this and never underestimate its use as a tool for selfdefense. My experience with the Camino de Santiago and other long hikes, is a good old hiking staff or walking Stick of wood is a better choice than the telescopic walking poles. You can way better secure your weight in difficult terrain, you can use it as a multipurpose tool, and you can brandish it as a weapon for selfdefense. And in the latter case I do not necessarily talk about human predators, highwaymen or your trusty duelist, but also canine. Had more than one incident with guard dogs and wild dogs, when it was necessary though unpleasant to have a sturdy wooden staff to fend them off. Sadly enough often the pose of a human having a stick raised for a strike is enough to scare them off (poor fellows), but if you have to, you want to trust good old wood to give a solid whack.

[diedrichlubben]

I live in the coastal region of northern Germany, which used to be the sea bed, until we built dykes. The whole area is crisscrossed by small trenches. I use a slightly bigger and sturdy stick for vaulting over these, as my ancestors used to do. It's actually quite fun, too. Unless you jump to short, then it's fun for everyone else.

[frankedgar]

Thirty years ago, I was a Webelos Den leader. 😊 I regularly took 2 boys and my son on hikes. One time we went after a rain. Going up a strap area of trail became somewhat iffy for the boys. We wound up going up the incline using my walking staff. I gripped it tight under my arm, extended it behind me and they stacked up and hung on as we went up. We had so much fun that day and I had three mothers who were angry that their babies came home so muddy.

[RDaMyth]

A hiking staff is great for seniors to use just walking around. As a third leg they are helpful for steadying you as you walk up & down steps. And for getting to your feet from the ground or a chair.

[MJintheUSA]

Hey Mark, I've been using a six foot hiking staff for many years for all the reasons you stated, but here are a few more. I live in the Southwestern US and when I am hiking down "snakey" looking trails edged with brush I will hold the staff out at arms length and move it side to side against the vegetation as I walk. Doing this, I'm hoping to scare any hidden snakes further into the brush, or at least get them to rattle a warning. In the same vein, when I am hiking down trails with overhanging brush that I think could harbor some ticks looking for a ride, I use the staff to beat the intrusive branches in hopes of dislodging some of those nasty blood-suckers before I get there. I'm sure you've also used the staff as a kind of "pole-vaulting" stick to help you jump across a creek that might have been a little to wide to clear without it. I also do a lot of beach hiking, and don't like setting my daypack on the damp sand and stooping stooping over it to retrieve some item from the pack. I fashioned a little pouch that attaches to the top grab-handle of my day-pack that I can easily slip over the top of the staff to securely hold my pack at eye level while I retrieve an item from it. You could probably even repurpose the fustibalus you mentioned in the video to serve dual function to accomplish the same thing!

[naturesketches]

They're great for checking for snakes when going over a log. Thank you for a wonderful video, very enjoyable.

[terryw.milburn]

Walking Staffs Don't Get Enough Credit For Their Usefulness, Thanks For Sharing Your Uses On This Staff Love It ! Have A Swell Upcoming Week, Mark ! ATB T God Bless

[John]

When I was younger, I worked in the woods and I had very good balance. Now that I am older, I find that my balance and depth perception aren't so great, so a walking stick allows me to walk through the woods with less chance of falling. Thanks for these videos.

[kcjazz]

Hi Mark!… of course, the long Bo-staff is a good self-defense item by itself. But, to add to the usefulness, why not use a metal end cap (not much heavier than copper), and modify it to be threaded to accept attachments that screw onto it (such as a hook, a spike, a tool, whatever you can imagine). Drill a hole in the bottom center to accept all-thread attachments. Drill a hole through the side to secure a gig, or garden tool head. As a power lineman, we had a fiberglass pole with a multi angle thumbscrew mount to use any hand-tool needed. Also, it might be •handy• to have a small rope attachment point for a •slip• noose to control snakes or small critters until you can remove/dispatch as needed!
Also, the staff can be used medically, as a crutch, splint, etc, to mobilize a body part. Or, use it in a rescue attempt from water hazard or deep hole.
Use existing Y-branches between 2 trees (or lash it) to hold camp items. And, there is always the use as a dangle stick over a fire to hold a cook pot or •raw• meat.
It can also be used as a monopod, for a camera or hunting implement!

[thedriftingspore]

There is something special about negotiating the forest with a sturdy staff. Mine is slightly taller than myself and came from a beaver lodge. I especially appreciate the numerous uses it provides, however I never considered using it with a sling to fire projectiles. Thank you for sharing Mark!

[OdeeOz]

The Staff ... Walking stick, and a Bow are 2 of the easiest to buy, or make, and best survival tools for a Must Have survivalist hiker/hunter. The top 3 items in my survival gear, are a Victorinox pocketknife (similar to the Leatherman, but much more practical), a Walking stick, and take-down bow. A lot of people would be amazed at how much just that knife can do, in making anything from a Waterwheel, to Plates, Cups and eating utensils. 👍👍

[margaretwaters]

I am trying to go camping in my mini van and have full Intentions of taking my staff with me for many reasons, some of which you show. At my age....it is my sidekick, strength, security and balance when needed. love your videos ;)

[josephmartin]

watched again and I did enjoy it! Oh, and we have a lot of rattle snakes. I use it to both thump the ground and to put between myself and shady bushes, rocks, etc., as i walk. Just a comfort to have something between myself and the encountered snakes before I back away. And we have a wild hog problem. I've had it at the ready a few times, but not had to use it. Thank God. Better than nothing!

[benbrown]

On my bucket list of things I've wanted to do most of my adult life was camping and hiking. This hiking staff video was inspiring. I may have to break out my unused equipment and get out there ...with a staff of course.

[dropshot]

I only watched your video's about the making and use of the walking staff today. Thanks, I learned a lot.
A bit late but her is some additional information on the use of the staff sling. As luck would have it, I watched a video that "tods workshop" posted this week about using a staff sling. He showed that you can adjust the timing of the release of the staff sling by adjusting the length of the sling and as such, you can adjust the distance and angle at which you hit your targets.

[timothylongmore]

I didn't think I needed to watch this video, but I'm glad I did. I hike rough terrain as well and usually imploy a walking stick. I prefer a bit longer. When walking across a steep grade I'll use it on the down hill side of the slope and plant it firmly before each (or every other step). It also takes down webs that seem to always get me across the eyes. And I also carry a saw while foraging chaga and reishi and lash it on for the high ones. My kids think us "old folk" need our sticks cause we're feeble. Someday they'll realize we were just smart. Of course at that time we will be feeble but anyhow, great video.

[ellafields]

I love Diamond Willow wood.
I bought 3 dozen staff size when visiting AK 1999 / 2000.
They had bark on and I barked and finished with polyurethane to preserve them as conversation pieces mostly. Fast forward 20+ + yrs I'm going to sand off polyurethane and use as a staff for short hikes. Amazingly beautiful wood to admire & useful. Sure got my moneys worth from these staffs. Also great souvenirs.