With the COVID-19 scare going on, are you out walking more? What stick are you using?

Someone sent me this video clip the other day. I kind of like the "social distance stick" used.

I'll take pictures and,post tomorrow, but I've been working on a Tactical Stick. I'm on version 2. Sort of a cross between a walking stick and an exploring stick. Has a poker and a hook, plus a sling for when you don't want to hold it. Picture tomorrow.

I walk the dog every day, same as before COVID-19.


My "walking stick" is an iron rake (sometimes called a "bow rake", evidently), which serves multiple purposes.

I walk daily, right now only about a mile and a half. Recently finished a 12 round session of Chemo Therapy and luckily I am in Remission, so now it's time to try a regain some of the weight and muscle mass I lost the last 7 months. Walking and light exercise is it for now. I do carry a cane everywhere as I do occasionally need it as the legs are still a little unsteady at times. I have made many canes and walking sticks as a hobby since I retired 5 years agi.

Walk to the mailbox once a day, no stick but carry 16 hours a day. I ditched the gym years ago and stay in pretty good shape with push ups, crunches and squats. All high rep and no weights. My job requires a lot of walking also.

I do like some type of stick for walking trails but haven’t done that in decades.

I have had in mind a "exploring" stick for a while. Something more than just a "walking" one. Something I could use to poke, hook and pull an something and that might double as a gun rest. The features I wanted included a hook, a hand hold and a sling. So this is my Covid19 project. Utilizing the end of a fireplace poker I got my prod and hook. The sling was easy. I inset a rail and then used a hand stop from an AR to give me a way to hold the stick while pulling on things I hooked. I could also use the top (front actually) of the hand stop as a gun rest as well. This is only Version 2. Next step is to find a better prod/hook and a lighter, but strong, stick.

460Shooter said:

There’s always a use for a stick!

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Not if you walk a nice sized dog like I do................................

Mn Fats said:

a backpack with a 45 lb plate Is all I take.

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Pack test for firefighting?

Edit to add:

I have a couple of sticks that I made also. Too dark now to take pictures.
Pics tomorrow?

1976B.L.Johns. said:

I have a couple of sticks that I made also. Too dark now to take pictures.
Pics tomorrow?

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Never quoted myself..........

Pics today.


Two made by Mother Nature, both Diamond Willow, still need to finish.
The one in the center I made from a $1.00 rummage sale find. It was an aluminum extension for a paint roller.
Adjustable yet sturdy, bicycle grip for a handle, wrist strap, furniture foot on bottom and a device on top for just in case.

Have yet to need these, but there just in case.

I have a super light willow walking stick I made out of a tree that blew over at my mom's last year. Put a real heavy steel cap of the tip to give it some mass. Certainly lighter than my oak club, but Mother Nature put a crook on it and the epoxied on cap makes it hit harder than you would think. Lots of parrying and solid strikes.

460Shooter said:

In a light hearted pondering yesterday, I was just wondering if the virus scare has folks out walking more, and if so, what sticks are getting some use?

Post a pic if you like.

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This is the “staff” I use, and that’s “Curious Ruger” peeking around the corner. The staff is actually just the handle for some kind of digging tool (that I don’t remember the name of) that I found at Ace Hardware. It didn’t cost very much, and it only took me a few minutes to sand down the end in order to fit a rubber tip (for a table leg) to it. I later drilled a hole through the other end and tied a leather boot lace through it so that I can put my wrist through the loop to rest my arm.

At any rate, I don’t know how many rubber tips I’ve replaced over the years, and the staff itself has been refinished once, but it serves me well. As you can see, it’s stout enough that it helps with my exercise while I’m walking. And while all I’ve ever had to do is “show” it to the farm dogs that run a hundred yards down driveways to yell at me for trespassing on “their” sections of a public road, there’s not a doubt in my mind I could defend myself with it if I had to.

A few years ago, I was out for my daily hike when a County Sheriff’s Deputy drove by. He slowed, almost to a stop, rolled down his window, and with a smile asked, “Is that walking staff for support for your knees, or for dogs?” I smiled back and said, “Yep.” The Deputy just laughed and drove off.

Oh, by the way, I also carry a little 32 H&R revolver on my exercise hikes. Sometimes it’s concealed under a longish jacket or coat. Sometimes it’s not.

@460Shooter .
Asked what material?


Indeed it is crepe myrtle with an oak nob.

I got a bunch I made.

I will post some pics tomorrow

I think that, being 22 years young, carrying a walking stick would make for highly effective social distancing, pandemic or no.