Walking Stick Height (2024)

We’re havin a good discussion…why are there no ahem, “visual aides” in this thread?

This picture is at least a couple of years old. I ran across it in passing but still relevant. With a good staff you go from being a wiggly biped to a steady and supported tri-ped. This is one of mine mentioned above, it moves and lifts things to reveal what’s there before I put my hand in proximity. And it’s the outer support leg that takes the tension off the spine while working in a bent over position.

Mine is 5' and it's about perfect for me at 5'11"

So I would say actual hight of person using it minus 12"

My current stick is Oak, just below shoulder height, but I’m finding I’d like it a few inches longer. Next one will be head height to start and I’ll trim it if needed.

We’ve started hiking with our son in one of those backpack style carriers, and a good stick helps my stability a lot, especially when the weight on my back starts moving of its own accord.

Bald1 said:

Ok so my sticks are done. Shorter Poplar stick is for my wife. Taller Red oak is mine. I put copper tips on them and leather straps. They are finished with 3 coats of tung oil. The poplar stick is larger diameter as I thought it was going to be mine. But my wife liked it better and chose it before I cut them to length.
Let me know what you think.

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Nice!
They should serve y'all well.

My current hiking staff is actually a modified camera monopod. It is height-adjustable from about 30 inches to over six feet, and has a sort-of "t-top" on it for use as a binocular prop. You might imagine how useful that has been over the years. The one before that was a 72-inch hardwood "quarterstaff."

My everyday walking cane, for use in urban wilds, is much shorter at 34 inches.

if i'm going to be in the woods i prefer a staff taller than i am to aid in managing limbs n spider webs so i can focus on where i'm stepping

if i'm just perusing a flea mkt or gun show i'll drag out the one that'z a bit above arm pit high so as i tire i can stop for a "visit" while the top of the staff is under my arm pit and the bottom of is is my 3rd leg for balance

i do have some just above elbow tall for going in n out of buildings frum the truck

most of my staffs are made of flower stems from the yucca cactus and are ultra light

my hardwood staffs are very tapered to keep the weight down

all are sized so the grip area averages a diameter equal to a circle made by placing the tip of my index finger into the 1st knuckle of my thumb after the wrap is in place

the middle of the wrap'd handle is elbow high and extends about equidistant both above and below

taller staffs handle wrap is usually of heavier cordage that can be removed for lashing splints n such

the wrap on the bottom is either bank line/trotline or something similar that could be used for fishing if kneaded

the thong is hung thru a hole near the top and it'z ends are threaded thru the staff frum opposite sides then knotted w/ the ends tied to the thongs

i usually braid my thongs for adding length to the piece of cordage which i like to be heavier than the handle wrap in case heavier lashing/hoisting is necessary

this isn't THE answer to the OP ... it is just a list of options and their rational

everyone has their own preference for materials and purposes

I prefer a stick that is slightly taller than me. Not sure why, just feels more comfortable.

gargoyle said:

66Drifter
Way too much talk about your thongs…

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BnR said:

I prefer a stick that is slightly taller than me. Not sure why, just feels more comfortable.

View attachment 1997871

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That's not a "stick" -- that's a "tree".....

Rendezvous said:

My preference is my walking stick is just below my chin. I find myself placing both hands on top of the walking stick and resting my chin upon them during a pause in the walk, it comfortably for me…

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This is what I prefer on most of my sticks. It happens that the correct length for me is 55” which happens to be a pretty standard length for several factory makers like Brazos. I do have some that are 60” which I prefer on staffs with a crook neck at the top.

BnR said:

I prefer a stick that is slightly taller than me. Not sure why, just feels more comfortable.

View attachment 1997871

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That’s a LOG

I have two... I'll try to find some photos.

The first is elm. I cut it around 1976, the summer I turned 12... one of a half dozen or so 6' staves I cut for use in Boy Scouts for a project... one I turned into a walking stick, and then left for about 25 years in my dad's shed... he returned it to me one day when I was in my late 30s... I cut it down a little to about 4', and it's a good stick.

The second is oak, not sure what kind, probably white based on where I cut it. It was around 2003 or 4 I think... so it's 20 years old now. It started about 6' long, and I've cut it down a couple times to make it handier and a bit lighter... it's about 5' long now, and just right.

Both of them have a metal ferrule to protect the end.

Pics.
The elm one, leaning on my pack. I did a bit of ornamental carving on it. This is from a trip I took with @Forestree to the Snowbird area of the Nantahala NF.

The one with the turk's head knot on it, leaning on the camo pack to the left, is mine. The shorter, thicker one, leaning on the pack to the right, is @OMRebel's.