What’s the ideal size for a walking stick?
Posted on December 9th, 2011 by admin
I’m going to do more walks trough out nature and maybe, one of this days, walk the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, I want a walking Stick, like the one in the picture bellow, made by myself, what’s the ideal size for that? (I’m 5.2 ft)
http://southcoaststyle.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/nature_walk.jpg
There’s no way for us to give you a specific height because we aren’t the ones that will be using the thing. It’s a personal choice that only you can make, and that may take some experimentation. Cut a couple of sticks or closet rods to different lengths and see which one is most comfortable for you. Some people like to have their hands higher than others so would want a longer stick. If you live in a hilly area or one with a lot of dense forest, you might want a stick that is longer than one if you were planning on mostly sticking to flat terrain.
You didn’t say how old you are, but if you’re not done growing, you probably don’t want to spend a lot of time, money, and effort to make a walking stick that you will quickly outgrow. A lot of hikers have two walking sticks, often made from lightweight aluminum ski poles, which they use to help them with balance over rough terrain, though, personally, I prefer to keep my hands free and don’t like to use any sort of a walking stick because it’s just one more thing to carry and I don’t expect to need to defend myself.
I think you just need to experiment a little and find what height works best for you. The lighter the material the better as well because even one that doesn’t weigh much will get heavy after a while.
December 10th, 2011 at 2:24 am
I have never understood what a "walking stick" was supposed to be for, but if you can figure out what it’s for that pretty much determines how big it should be.
I have figured out two possible uses: defense against wild animals, and defense against robbers. Both require extensive training, which used to be normal for any civilized person but now is rare.
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December 10th, 2011 at 3:06 am
There’s no way for us to give you a specific height because we aren’t the ones that will be using the thing. It’s a personal choice that only you can make, and that may take some experimentation. Cut a couple of sticks or closet rods to different lengths and see which one is most comfortable for you. Some people like to have their hands higher than others so would want a longer stick. If you live in a hilly area or one with a lot of dense forest, you might want a stick that is longer than one if you were planning on mostly sticking to flat terrain.
You didn’t say how old you are, but if you’re not done growing, you probably don’t want to spend a lot of time, money, and effort to make a walking stick that you will quickly outgrow. A lot of hikers have two walking sticks, often made from lightweight aluminum ski poles, which they use to help them with balance over rough terrain, though, personally, I prefer to keep my hands free and don’t like to use any sort of a walking stick because it’s just one more thing to carry and I don’t expect to need to defend myself.
I think you just need to experiment a little and find what height works best for you. The lighter the material the better as well because even one that doesn’t weigh much will get heavy after a while.
References :
I made myself a cane after I sprained my ankle a few years ago though I call it a walking stick. I assumed, and I was right, that if I had my own custom made stick I’d never need it again, and so far, I’m right. Mine is about 40" long, but I’m 6’1" – certainly not a giant, just a little taller than average.
December 10th, 2011 at 3:39 am
A walking stick should come up the your hip joint. Stand against a wall and have someone help you mesure from the floor to the top of your hip joint.
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December 10th, 2011 at 3:59 am
The ideal walking stick is the one that feels comfortable for you. Don’t worry about the length that someone else may suggest. If the one you feel comfortable with, that’s the one to buy.
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December 10th, 2011 at 4:22 am
Most people on the Camino de Santiago, and other longish walks, use adjustable hiking sticks. these are aluminium, and made in three pieces, so can be collapsed to fit in a backpack, fully adjustable to suit any height, and can be adjusted depending on whether you’re walking up or down hill. These sticks are also lightweight. It’s advisable to use two sticks at the one time, this way your body is fully balanced.
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