4x4van Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 (edited) Hey everybody, I'm gonna make a couple of hiking staffs for myself and my son. My plan is to use lightweight aluminum tubing with a rubber grip, wrist strap, and replaceable wooden tip (don't worry, got all those logistics worked out), but I want your input on one final point: Height. Is there a standard measurement that most use? I'm thinking the optimum overall height should be somewhere between the elbow and the shoulder level of the person using it, but I'm curious as to your opinions on this. Anybody want to let me know where your own staff comes up to on you, and then comment on whether you wish it was taller/shorter, or just right? Edited December 12, 2003 by 4x4van Quote Link to comment
+Criminal Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 I like about chin height. That may be taller than most, but is useful when going down steep hills. Quote Link to comment
+Navdog Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 I would suggest making it at least six inches above the elbow to allow for comfortable downhill walking. A taller staff is fine if you don't put any grip area to it. Quote Link to comment
+sept1c_tank Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 I think cross country ski poles are usually about shoulder height. That seems to work for me with hiking staffs, too. Why don't you ask El Diablo? He's got a little experience with these sort of things. Quote Link to comment
+Gorak Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 It should be long enough to reach the ground. Sorry, I was bored. I'll go away now... ____________ Gorak Geo 39AL 34 Quote Link to comment
+Sparky-Watts Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 I don't have a hiking staff, but my office staff is 3 secretaries, two gophers, and the mail room kid. Quote Link to comment
+Gorak Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 I don't have a hiking staff, but my office staff is 3 secretaries, two gophers, and the mail room kid. I took all my staff out GeoTeaming last month. (really) I guess that means I already have a geocaching staff. Ok, I'll really go away this time... ___________ Gorak Geo 60 Quote Link to comment
Pantalaimon Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 I would imagine the desired height of the walking stick is going to be dictated by the preference of the user. So, you and your son should test out different length of sticks on different hikes and determine what height you like the best prior to the creation of the final products. Scientific method. Quote Link to comment
+Sparky-Watts Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 I would imagine the desired height of the walking stick is going to be dictated by the preference of the user. So, you and your son should test out different length of sticks on different hikes and determine what height you like the best prior to the creation of the final products. Scientific method. Dang, and here all this time I was judging mine by the phase of the moon, as we all know we get taller during full moons...... Quote Link to comment
+trippy1976 Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 If I recall correctly the Boy Scouts of America official hiking stick length is 6 feet long. For anyone. I could be wrong. Quote Link to comment
+El Diablo Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 It should be long enough to reach the ground. Sorry, I was bored. I'll go away now... ____________ Gorak Geo 39AL 34 Too funny!!! Actualy the length is up to the individual. I usually reccomend shoulder height. The grip is what is important. Make it as long or as short as you want as long as you put the grip where it is comfortable. Most people find this to be about 6 inches above the elbow. El Diablo Quote Link to comment
+Johnnie Stalkers Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 Try Target, they have trekking poles. They are aluminum, adjustable in height and have rubber grips. I have been using one for about a month now and it has worked great. When closed it fits in my pack so I can 'wip it out when I need it'. Quote Link to comment
+Sparky-Watts Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 Try Target, they have trekking poles. They are aluminum, adjustable in height and have rubber grips. I have been using one for about a month now and it has worked great. When closed it fits in my pack so I can 'wip it out when I need it'. How much does Target charge for their trekking poles? Quote Link to comment
+astheravenflies Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 (edited) Try Target, they have trekking poles. They are aluminum, adjustable in height and have rubber grips. I have been using one for about a month now and it has worked great. When closed it fits in my pack so I can 'wip it out when I need it'. When a cache comes along, You must find it. Only problem is, You have to hike it. So hit the trail, With your staff, Whip it out, Into shape, Shape it up, Get straight, Go forward, Move ahead, Try to detect it, Its not too late. Hey, its Friday - OK? Edited December 13, 2003 by astheravenflies Quote Link to comment
Vacman Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 oh no... here I go... It's not the length that matters........... It's what you poke with it... Quote Link to comment
+Johnnie Stalkers Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Sorry for the slow reply, I spent the day geocaching. I payed $19 + change + tax for mine. They had a few colors...green, red and blue if memory serves correctly. This is in no way an paid endorsment for Target. Last thing I need is a flame war with Rosie O'Donnel over the evils of hiking staffs. Quote Link to comment
+astheravenflies Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 I payed $19 + change + tax for mine. They had a few colors...green, red and blue if memory serves correctly. This is in no way an paid endorsment for Target. One more reason to avoid REI. Quote Link to comment
+Sparky-Watts Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 One more reason to avoid REI. I'm sorry, clue me in.....what is REI? Quote Link to comment
+astheravenflies Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 (edited) One more reason to avoid REI. I'm sorry, clue me in.....what is REI? REI stands for Recreational Equipment Incorporated. It was started in Seattle in 1938 by a few mountaineers looking to get quality mountaineering equipment for reasonable prices. At that time, there was a dearth of quality mountaining equipment in the States. All the good stuff was made in Europe. REI started as a cooperative and ostensibly still is. When I joined the REI coop in 1973, there were only a few stores, mostly in the Pacific Northwest. They still had pretty good stuff for a reasonable price back then. Over the years they expanded stores and started carrying casual clothing and other goofy stuff. They have stores in just about every major city now. They carry great quality equipment but its pricey. They're really the Gucci of outdoor stores (well, maybe North Face is more so). If you shop around on the internet or stores here in Seattle like Outdoor & More, you can come away with some good stuff at a great price. Try finding hiking staffs or trekking poles at REI for under $50, even on sale. Viva Target! Edited December 14, 2003 by astheravenflies Quote Link to comment
+Sparky-Watts Posted December 14, 2003 Share Posted December 14, 2003 Ahhhh, I see. Thanks for the info! As my grandfather once told me, "The day I quit learning is the day I will die." Quote Link to comment
+Gretel- Posted January 9, 2004 Share Posted January 9, 2004 4x4, what are you using for grips? I've got some designs in my head, but have been reluctant to go gripless. What are ski pole grips like? Does anyone sell replacement? thanks, G Quote Link to comment
+briansnat Posted January 9, 2004 Share Posted January 9, 2004 Adjustibility is one of the reasons I like trekking poles. Make them longer for downhill walks and shorter for uphill ones. And if you decided not to carry it, collapse it and put in your pack. Check herefor some good deals on trekkng poles. Quote Link to comment
+Cache Viking Posted January 9, 2004 Share Posted January 9, 2004 I have two one about the length of a ski pole and another that is about 6' which is great in snake areas for poking into areas. It was purchsed from a Karate supply store where it was sold as a fighting staff. Nice shape and weight. Quote Link to comment
+opey one Posted January 9, 2004 Share Posted January 9, 2004 (edited) Speaking of hiking staffs, my mother purchased one for me at a "Renaissance Festival", which was held in Charlotte, NC. It is a "lodgepole burned", as I assume that is the name or style of the staff. It measures approximately 51 1/2", and weighs roughly 10 to 12 ounces. It is really sturdy considering it's light weight, and very conforming to the hand regardless where you hold it. My mother never would tell me how much she spent for it, so I'm asking you all instead of inquiring at the place of origin. I'm curious how much this item put her back. All in all, it is a beautiful piece, and it is a jewel on those "specific" hikes. Here is the address and phone number just in case someone wants to find out more (I'm in hopes this doesn't run into a conflict with the ones sold on GC.com, if so, my apologies). Staffs by Gust P.O. Box 327 Cotopaxi, Colorado 81223 719-942-4616 Edited January 9, 2004 by opey one Quote Link to comment
+mbrownjer Posted January 9, 2004 Share Posted January 9, 2004 If I recall correctly the Boy Scouts of America official hiking stick length is 6 feet long. For anyone. I could be wrong. The sticks that I have from the BSA shop are about five feet. However, it all depends on your height, and what is comfortable. Also if the user is still growing. Make the length long enough for as tall as you think the user will be in the next few years (your son won't want to outgrow something that dad made!) Then adjust the height of the grip so that it is comfortabe when walking a relatively flat trail, but be generous with the span of the grip. The stick should be taller than the grip so that it will still be useful going downhill. A wrist strap has saved my stick many times. The strap on one of mine is long enough that I can put my hand on the top of the stick to navigate down steep terain. When climbing up rocks the strap comes in handy. You can dangle the stick while using both hands to grip the rocks or whatever you are climbing. Quote Link to comment
+Lafrog Posted January 9, 2004 Share Posted January 9, 2004 I've been making staffs this winter to use for F.T.F 's this Spring. I'll put them out in sets of three different lengths. 54"---48"--- and 42" for geomonkees. Each is burned and has my signature frog and a number on them. Those lengths work well. Quote Link to comment
4x4van Posted January 9, 2004 Author Share Posted January 9, 2004 (edited) Lots of great info here, guys, thanks. I've seen and considered the "break-down" style a number of times, and have been using a wooden one (found a nice piece of wood on a prior cache hunt), but get a keen sense of satisfaction out of making stuff myself, if possible, and particularly like working with aluminum. I ended up making mine out of 7/8" diameter 1/16" wall aluminum, with a 5" long section of 3/4" wooden dowell mounted in the end (3 1/2" inside, 1 1/2" out) as a replaceable tip. The height is such that the middle of the grip is about midway between my elbow and my shoulder. For a grip, I used some neoprene wetsuit material, glued on, and added a black plastic cap in the top. A hole and a small rubber grommet below the grip with a looped nylon cord knotted inside serves as the wrist strap. My son's is an identical design, but using 3/4" diameter tubing and 5/8" dowell for the tip. It is simply a scaled-down "clone" of mine, if you will. We've used them several times now, and they work great. Strong, light, and pretty good looking to boot! Thanks for all the good info. BTW, gretal 3994, although I used neoprene for my grip, depending on the diameter of the staff, bicycle, motorcycle, or jet ski grips would also work well. If the neoprene ends up not holding up, that's the route I'll go as a replacement. They are tough, can be purchased in a multitude of colors and styles, and are resonably inexpensive. 7/8" diameter is perfect for m/c grips, although a smaller pole could be built up with something for the grip to fit as well. Edited January 9, 2004 by 4x4van Quote Link to comment
+OneOfEm Posted January 10, 2004 Share Posted January 10, 2004 <snip> BTW, gretal 3994, although I used neoprene for my grip, depending on the diameter of the staff, bicycle, motorcycle, or jet ski grips would also work well. If the neoprene ends up not holding up, that's the route I'll go as a replacement. They are tough, can be purchased in a multitude of colors and styles, and are resonably inexpensive. 7/8" diameter is perfect for m/c grips, although a smaller pole could be built up with something for the grip to fit as well. If you have to re-do the grip, you might consider looking at using cork. You can get pre-made grips from rodbuilding supply places and all you'd have to do is ream it to fit then epoxy it on. take a look here to see what I'm talking about. Quote Link to comment
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