Hello, I’ve always used a heavy wooden NHS type walking stick, my walking has deteriorated somewhat so I’ve decided that I would benefit from a decent pair of lightweight sticks. I already have a pair of crutches, I’m not keen on them. So what I am after is a pair of light but sturdy aluminium walking sticks with an ergonomic left/right moulded handle, wrist strap and a proper non-slip ferrule. I am 6’2” so they need to be 38” long. I’m not bothered about the folding ones, but adjustable is ok. I like value for money, so they should be good quality without an insulting price tag.
I’ve been trawling the internet, reading reviews etc, but I just can’t make my mind up, that’s why I’m asking you folks here. Can you recommend something, if so please point me in the right direction.
I thought I was doing quite well until you mentioned ergonomic handles. The Leki Poles are pleasingly strong although not cheap. An alternative is the perfectly serviceable Craghoppers pole, but both fail the handle requirement.
I use a Leki pole/stick - it’s a pole, but has a handle so I use it as a stick. I’m not sure if you can get them with ergonomic handles.
I got mine from a local shop ‘Snow and Ice’. I think it’s part of a chain. You can also get them from Amazon and loads of other online shops.
My best advice with sticks is to check you have your stick at the right hight. Otherwise it’s worse than useless. As my Mum says, you end up carrying the thing if it’s too high. I see a lot of elderly people with walking sticks which are way too high and want to tell them to set it to a better height. They seem to be being dragged along by other people ‘helping’ them. Another huge bug-bear of mine!
Online walking stick stores usually tell you how to work out the ideal height for your sick. It should be level with the creases of your wrist if you intend to lean on the stick. You don’t want to end up with a bad back on top of everything else!
I hadn’t considered this type of stick, but having looked at them, they are really good. The handle is important to me as I apply my weight through them for support, so if I can’t find something that fit’s my precise requirements then I will go for these.
Good Suggestion as ever from you, (I’ve been getting up half an hour earlier just lately).
Thanks for the tip about Fischer Handles, I hadn’t realised that there was a difference, so actually these are the type I was thinking of, they are a larger shape designed to distribute the weight through the palm of the hand more comfortably.
Isn’t it shocking how much the price can vary for the same product when compared across different traders. I’m happy to support the independent trader who sells at a fair mark-up. But it really bug’s me that there sellers who set out deliberately to rip us off!
Rizzo’s excellent suggestion looks to fit your requirements nicely and a quick search tells me they are available for under a tenner, so not too bad on the wallet.
The Eaton Mess we are in may need longer than half hour and is currently under review.
Yes I agree. I’m glad I asked because I learned something too. Thank you Rizzo.
As you you know, I enjoy your clever little expressions, I do plagiarise them, but I don’t think you mind, as it spreads the cause. “Eton Mess” is another good one for the list.
Another great advantage to getting out of bed half hour earlier: It enables all of us lazy, good for nothing, work shy, Ferrari driving, benefit scrounging plebs to crawl out of bed just in time to catch the 13:30 edition of the Jeremy Kyle show, um… my favourite.
Get a LEKI walking stick. LELKI poles are great but your MS nurse might not approve. Poles help you to walk in a good posture and keep your head up. With a stick you tend to crouch. I’m speaking from experience, I’ve got SPMS
One of the things I love about using a hiking pole in ‘walking stick mode’ is that I can adjust it to exactly the right height to use as a walking stick. A lot of adjustable walking sticks can only be adjusted in jumps of a few centremeters.
If I need to walk up a steep hill (OK, when I used to!) I can adjust the height easily so that I can use it at the height that suits me - basically I shorten it. Going down the same hill I would lenghen it so that it also gave me some support. I should say that I have balance problems and don’t always use my stick to take my whole weight.
The stick is useful for flagging up to everyone around me that I’m not as nimble on my pins as the average person is.
