I consider myself very lucky. I live in a city that is surrounded on all sides by hills and moor land and some of the best rambling to be had in the country. And so, regardless of weather, most weekends will find me packing up the family and the dog and heading out into the Peak District to exercise the legs, lose a few calories and free the mind from the stresses and strains of the rest of the week.
No matter how old or physically fit you are, whether you’re a walker, a rambler or a fully fledged hiker, the must have piece of equipment these days is a good hiking stick. Whenever you are out walking you’ll see all manner of people carrying all manner of sticks. This is because the hiking stick is very useful in all manner of situations. The stick can be a godsend when hiking hills or climbing as it provides that extra point of contact with the ground and offers a further degree of leverage as you work your way upwards. And once at the summit or the end of a good walk your stick provides a welcome rest and support for tired limbs and sore backs.
So you can see that the advantages to owning a hiking stick are clear, but just what stick to by? It seems the popular trend at the moment is towards the cheap, mass manufactured skiing poles, simple aluminium pipes with plastic handles. As a cheap and easy option this is certainly the way to go, and there is no doubt that they do an adequate job, but if I may state a personal opinion, in this arena (as in many others) I think traditional is best.
A simple carved or patterned wooden hiking stick can be not only functional but extremely attractive. Praise unlikely to be heaped upon your skiing pole. Opportunities abound to personalise your stick in all manner of ways while at the same maintaining a closer relationship to the land and environment your stick is aiding you to enjoy. Wooden sticks can provide just as much support as their man made counterparts and with the addition of an alpine spike to the end can be just as useful to the hill climber and adventurer. A wooden hiking stick, handmade by a craftsman, is a unique item that with a little care and attention will last a lifetime, and what’s more will provide a talking point for your friends and fellow walkers.
I’ve had my wooden hiking stick with me for a lot of years and as the seasons and terrains have changed my stick has changed with me. It may be looking a little weathered and beaten now, but then so am I.
Walking Stick
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dmk2 Light Monopod/Walking Stick with Ball Head - New | US $18.99 | 16m |
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GULFPORT MS MISS ENTRANCE TO VETERANS HOSPITAL EARLY LINEN PC w CAR | US $4.99 | 23m |
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CARVED ANTLER-OBSIDIAN KNIFE HANDLE-BLACK POWDER-GOBBLER-FLINT KNAPPING ART-NF | US $18.50 | 23m |
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CARVED ANTLER-OBSIDIAN KNIFE HANDLE-BLACK POWDER-BEAVER-FLINT KNAPPING ART-HORN | US $28.50 | 25m |
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1 Oz SILVER US Coin 90% pure Pre 1965 Half Dollar Quarters Dimes 1964 &↓ junk | US $29.00 | 25m |
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THREE DAYS OF DOMINANCE by Cari Silverwood EROTIC FANTASY BDSM/KINK ROMANCE 4/12 | US $7.99 | 25m |
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CARVED ANTLER-OBSIDIAN KNIFE HANDLE-BLACK POWDER-INDIAN WARRIOR-FLINT KNAPPING | US $19.00 | 26m |
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1 Oz SILVER U.S. Coin 90% pure Pre 1965 Half Dollar Quarters Dimes 1964 &↓ junk | US $31.00 | 33m |
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CARVED ANTLER-OBSIDIAN KNIFE HANDLE-BLACK POWDER-TURKEY-GOBBLER-FLINT KNAPPING | US $27.89 | 33m |
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Velosity Collapis WALKING STICK Cane Packable 50" Long built-in compass | US $14.95 | 38m |
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1 Oz SILVER US Coin 90% pure Pre 1965 Half Dollar Quarters Dimes 1964 &↓ junk | US $29.00 | 39m |
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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 14.1 MP Digital Camera - Black 3" LCD 10x Zoom | US $79.99 | 41m |
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3pc Screw Apart Walking Trek Hiking Stick 55" Bianbai Wood Outdoor Sports Camp | US $19.95 | 49m |
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1960s Acapulco Mexico Beach Resort Hotel Scene Baker Johnson 2.25 Pos Photo Film | US $9.99 | 51m |
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STAR WARS 1996 POWER OF THE FORCE LOT OF 4 ACTION FIGURES | US $15.00 | 58m |
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Vtg 20s photo riding crop 3 handsome young men funny spanking gay interest fun | US $9.95 | 1h |
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1970s VINTAGE BOBBLE HEAD GERMAN TROLL GLASS EYES RAT LIKE TAIL UGLY! | US $9.95 | 1h 5m |
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Artist Driftwood Carving 1960s Acapulco Mexico Baker Johnson 2.25 Pos Photo Film | US $9.99 | 1h 9m |
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Beach Hat Vendor Hotel 1960s Acapulco Mexico Baker Johnson 2.25 Pos Photo Film | US $9.99 | 1h 12m |
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Vintage Hame Cane with old penny in tip | US $68.00 | 1h 20m |
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Feathered Man With Wise Eyes Carving by Paul Hornbuckle, Eastern Cherokee Artist | US $102.00 | 1h 22m |
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Womens Nike Air Running Shoe White Pink Patent Leather Mesh Sz 7½M Gently Worn | US $24.99 | 1h 22m |
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Vintage Henriot Quimper France Art Pottery Man w/ Walking Stick Decorated Mug | US $20.50 | 1h 22m |
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Alesis DM8 PRO Kit Professional 5-Piece Electronic Drum Set Module + Headphones | US $548.99 | 1h 23m |
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TOP WIRELESS HOME SECURITY SYSTEM HOUSE BURGLAR ALARM | US $234.99 | 1h 25m |
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VINTAGE RARE CARNIVAL CIRCUS CANE WALKING STICK COMICAL BIG NOSE CLOWN MAN | US $168.50 | 1h 26m |
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New Outdoor Black Alpenstock Retractable Walking Stick Shock Compass Fold | US $10.99 | 1h 29m |
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Fishing Boats Docked 1960s Acapulco Mexico Baker Johnson 2.25 Pos Photo Film | US $9.99 | 1h 29m |
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Hammock Beach Hut 1960s Acapulco Mexico Baker Johnson 2.25 Pos Photo Film | US $9.99 | 1h 31m |
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GIANT GREEN WALKING STICK FRAMED MUST SEE LOOK COLLECTABLE FOR THE HOME | US $39.99 | 1h 35m |
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ANTIQUE WALKING STICK CANE GOLD FILLED ORNATE BILLY KLAIR LEXINGTON KY HISTORY | US $799.99 | 1h 36m |
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MySims Party (Nintendo DS, 2009) | US $12.00 | 1h 38m |
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Vintage Brass Eagle walking stick cane | US $50.00 | 1h 38m |
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47 1/2" Raw Diamond Willow Walking Stick Cane Hike Climb Trek Taxidermy Forest | US $9.99 | 1h 40m |
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TOP WIRELESS HOME SECURITY SYSTEM HOUSE BURGLAR ALARM w Auto-Dialer | US $100.00 | 1h 40m |
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46 1/2" Raw Diamond Willow Walking Stick Cane Hike Climb Trek Taxidermy Forest | US $9.99 | 1h 42m |
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Durable Alpenstock Hiking Walking Stick Shock Retractable Blue Compass | US $10.99 | 1h 43m |
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Sony Handycam HDR-PJ10E 16 GB Camcorder - Black (PAL) | US $275.00 | 1h 44m |
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Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H55 14.1 MP Digital Camera - Black | US $19.51 | 1h 54m |
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Vintage Folk Art WALKING CANE STICK Bone Horn inlay Handle Tip Points Antique | US $8.88 | 2h 4m |
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Walking Stick African Carved Rustic Wood Shaft Rare | US $32.99 | 2h 7m |
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Vintage Folk Art Wooden WALKING CANE STICK Mexican Indian Colorful Antique | US $8.88 | 2h 8m |
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47 3/4" Raw Diamond Willow Walking Stick Cane Hike Climb Trek Taxidermy Forest | US $9.99 | 2h 13m |
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1 ASH CANE ASH WALKING HIKING TREKKING STICK BRASS TIP-4 COLORS TO CHOOSE FROM | US $28.99 | 2h 21m |
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CANE BRASS KNOB HANDLE WALKING TREKKING CAMPING FISHING WALKING HIKING STICK | US $30.99 | 2h 21m |
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43" Diamond Willow U Finish Walking Stick Cane Twig Furniture Art Blank Fresh YO | US $8.99 | 2h 32m |
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7075 Aluminum Alloy Alpenstock Retractable Walking Hiking Stick Camouflage Blue | US $13.99 | 2h 36m |
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Antique BRASS copper UMBRELLA cane stick STAND! metal pot Floor vase Coal bucket | US $76.99 | 2h 37m |
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UNIQUE EGYPTIAN HANDCRAFTED EBONY WALKING STICK CANE | US $49.99 | 2h 43m |
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Red Silk Rose Petals 300 Petals for your Wedding | US $3.49 | 2h 52m |
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Sony Handycam HDR-PJ10 16 GB Camcorder - Black (NTSC) | US $315.00 | 3h |
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Strumstick Dulcimer, Pickin stick, Kokopelli "Sweet Mountain Music" Richmond, Ky | US $145.00 | 3h |
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60" Diamond Willow Skin & Sand Walking Stick Staff Cane One of a Kind Rare Wood | US $1.29 | 3h 14m |
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The Hobbit (Xbox, 2003) | US $1.99 | 3h 15m |
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Gitzo GM1130MT Monotrek Hiking Stick Monopod Supports 4.4 lbs 2kg | US $99.00 | 3h 19m |
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4 Vintage Decorama "Enesco" Wooden "Smokers" Old Men Figurines | US $9.99 | 3h 20m |
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SUMAC ROOT HANDLE CANE SHILLELAGH WALKING TREKKING HIKING CAMPING FISHING STICK | US $29.99 | 3h 21m |
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2005 Canada Totem Pole 1 oz Proof Sterling Silver Coin | US $49.95 | 3h 26m |
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20mm Small Mini Compass Kompass x 24 pc Green B | US $8.99 | 3h 26m |
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Totem Pole Collection Proof Silver $30 1st Series 2005 | US $49.95 | 3h 29m |