Monday, November 10, 2008

The Uses of Walking Sticks Canes Staffs and Hiking Poles

By Mark Roberts

Canes and Walking sticks come in a varying degree of styles, colors and materials. Made from numerous different materials such as wood, bone or metal the possibilities are endless. You can find twisted walking sticks or shillelagh carved, wooden canes and ones crafted from metal and other materials. Walking sticks or canes are mostly used as a walking aid but can be used for other things such as hiking or climbing steep trails or even for self defense. A nature photographer may also use one to steady a camera in the wild.

You may recall a grandparent using a cane or walking stick on walks or hikes. When hiking with a hiking pole or walking stick the stress connected with descending or ascending trails on rough terrain can be reduced on the knees and ankles. You are less prone to falls because a walking stick or hiking pole can add stability on uneven terrain. If you do a lot of beach walking and explore a lot near tide pools a walking stick can add a lot of stability.

A walking stick or cane can be also used for self defense. A shillelagh can be used for self defense and looks like a twisted cane traditionally made from blackthorn wood. The heavy end of the stick being the handle could be filled with lead. This can be a formidable weapon when pared up against an attacking person or opponent. Regardless a good walking stick or pole can have the same results if needed while hiking or walking.

If you hike or walk quite a bit chances are you already have a walking stick or pole. It is not that usual for people who do a lot of walking or hiking to have a walking stick handy and may often have several in their possession so they will have one available when needed for those long hikes or walks.

The best place to buy walking sticks or canes is online. There are a vast amount of online sellers that sell new canes, custom wooden canes and shillelaghs. You can often find the styles you are looking for online. Canes and walking sticks are often used for more than just support they can be part of a costume or an actors outfit.

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