Should You Bring a Walking Stick on your Hike?

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

We all have the images of walking sticks from classic movies: one movie that comes to mind is Charlton Heston in “The Ten Commandments,” in which during the iconic parting of the Red Sea, he holds his shepherd’s staff high over the water and the seas part. Because of these images, we often have a cultural reinforcement of the walking staff as something for old men, or even for corny hikers who have too much money to blow on hiking products.

But is that the right attitude to take?

If you’re someone who’s looking to become a serious hiker, you might not realize that the walking stick, though utilitarian and not necessarily pretty, can actually bring you a lot of support and comfort when you’re out there on the hiking trail. Let’s take a look at some possible reasons you might carry one.

Support –

First, the most obvious reason to carry a walking stick is for the extra support it might grant you. To some, having a walking stick is like having a third leg – it gives an extra boost and grounding that you wouldn’t have if you let your arms wave around freely – and you can still use on arm for balance and for grabbing onto things if need be. This is why walking sticks or canes are typically associated with the older crowd – they enjoy and sometimes need the extra support. But you don’t have to need a walking stick in order to try one out.

For looks –

Let’s be honest, sometimes it’s just cool to have a need for a walking stick. While some of us might indulge our nerd fantasies on the hiking trail (think Gandalf from “Lord of the Rings,”) it feels good to carry something we don’t necessarily need, but we know looks interesting. This might be referred to as “novelty,” but you only need to try out a walking stick a few times to know if this novelty will last.

As you ascend the hills with a staff in your hand, you might just feel like Charlton Heston in the Ten Commandments. For some people, just “feeling good” is one more reason to get out of the house and onto the hiking trail, and this has tangible benefits.

For fun –

A walking stick isn’t always necessary on a hike – though it does bring the added support mentioned above – but it can be fun. You can tease people with it, tap their opposite shoulders, and even scare off some woodland critters without putting your arms out there. Mainly, having a walking stick is about fun, which gets to the heart of what hiking is all about in the first place.

Is it a little goofy? Sure. Might you enjoy it? Why not? Try out a walking stick to see how it feels.

Photo Credits: schmich