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

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Zaydok Allen

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With the COVID19 scare going on my local gym has been shut down. This is very frustrating to me as I have been going religiously every other day for a few months now to try and regain some of my vigor. It was working. I was starting to lose weight, my muscles were toned up again, and I had more energy.

But a public health concern is obviously a lot more important than my personal fitness goals, so I'm making due. I've been going on 7 mile walks every other day and lifting dumbbells at home to try and maintain myself. However it's still quite snowy and icy where I live, so my sticks have been getting a real workout. In fact they have saved me from falling a few times this week alone and I've managed to wear the grippy nubs off of the ferrules on two of my shillelaghs.

Even if they hadn't saved me, I find them a nice fiddling item to distract my mind when I hit the second half of my walk and I start getting tired of it.

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.

What's your favorite?
 
snowing here today - couple inches so far. our neighborhood has started taking to moderate sized groups walking the neighborhood. with people working from home and school kids all at home, people need to get outside. stay safe.
 
During my "normal" routine, I work out in the morning, before work. I lift weights 2 days, run on the third day, start over. About 30 years ago I invested in a "half rack" weight system, Olympic style barbell and a set of dumbbells. It has been one of the better investments that I've made. Myself, my wife and my son use it very regularly. It's saved us many thousands of dollars in gym membership fees and I'm especially happy to have it now. My dog and I go for a more or less 2 mile run every third day and on the non run days we go for a walk more often than not. I live in the San Francisco bay area, no snow or ice here, no walking sticks required. It's been raining a bit, I've found that my clothes might get damp but skin seems to be perfectly waterproof!
 
Yes, a stick can be a useful tool. I'll be 60 this June, I'm still in good physical condition, partly due to a regular exercise routine, since I was 13 years old, partly due to good genes or luck that I haven't had any major illnesses or injuries. When I was 13 years old I began studying Kyokushin karate. When I was in my mid 20's I taught for several years, until my kids started requiring more of my time. I'm not a s flexible as I used to be and I might be a bit rusty but I'm still pretty confident in my ability to defend myself, with or without a stick.
 
I live in a suburban setting, just about everything is closed except for food store and gas stations.

Brisk dog walk of 1 1/2 to 2 miles every day is my norm. People are starting to keep their distances when meeting, haven't seen any walking sticks. No civil disturbances, if so, I'll start pocket carrying my LCP.
 
I never used a walking stick. I hike my back 40 3-5 miles a day with my dogs. A Glock and a backpack with a 45 lb plate Is all I take. I just never could get used to a walking stick.
 
There was a while when I was small that the doctors were trying to put me in leg braces and put canes in my hands for the rest of my life - or, at least, until I graduated to a wheelchair.

Not long after I surpassed that little problem I had a period of severe visual impairment that required me to carry a red-tipped white cane that I used primarily to steady myself during my frequent bouts with vertigo.

I learned to hate and despise sticks and canes.
I still do.

I doubt that the China virus will change this.
 
Still working so I've not changed my routine, but I've carried a stock cane of my own modification before when hacking about the woods.
 
Yep, me too. Haven’t been forced to telework as of yet but it sounds like it’s coming.

Just been running out after work to ramble around for a little while.
 
I’m really glad I have a home gym now. Plus I walk my mutts a little over a mile a day. No stick though.

I probably won’t have to telecommute. I’m a lone mechanic in a big shop. Might run out of work though.
 
A traditional walking stick is really just a marginally-disguised weapon to me for the most part. If I’m doing any sort of serious walking (especially with a pack) then I want a pair of trekking poles. Yes, I know they look silly. I also know if you’ve ever descended a steep muddy hillside with a 30lb pack with them you won’t care how they look.
 
I don't carry a stick often on the trails. They are all pretty flat here. I would say I would carry my homemade oak "blackthorn" I made from a solid piece of pin oak. Clocks in at close to 2lbs and is wrapped in Fiber Fix which is an epoxy filled cast like tape/wrap making the stick nearly unbreakable. I weigh a solid 205 and I think this cudgel would support 2 of me. It's nice for knocking around in the woods, and would be equally at home thunking an attacker.
 
A traditional walking stick is really just a marginally-disguised weapon to me for the most part. If I’m doing any sort of serious walking (especially with a pack) then I want a pair of trekking poles. Yes, I know they look silly. I also know if you’ve ever descended a steep muddy hillside with a 30lb pack with them you won’t care how they look.
I used to hike 12-16 miles every weekend and 6-10 miles a day three days a week for work. Trekking poles are extremely useful IMO. Steep, rocky, and wet terrain, yep poles are what you want. A walking stick ain’t bad though.
 
I am still working but business is really slow as almost everything is shut down. Wife and I go to the local YMCA 5-6 days a week but it's locked until April 1 at least. Weather hasn't been great but we walked a park path that remains open for now. I sometimes have a black locust staff that I made and topped with an antler base and leather strap. I live 1/2 mile from a state park but Illinois closed all DNR and state rec areas and facilities.
 
I can't seem to get more than 6 feet.from the house without one of my walking sticks. I have many some are made from whatever I found that caught my eye. The best ones I bought a farm stores, they are cattle sorting sticks made of fiberglass. There are 2 sizes a thinner one and a thicker one. The thin one after the rubber nub things wear off is the perfect size to glue an empty 45 ACP case on. He bigger ones I have found the perfect fit for. They are great for balance, mushroom hunting etc., and at least one dog has learned they can be used defensively as well. You can cut the fiberglass ones to whatever length you want. The heavy ones come 60 inches long and the lighter ones I believe are 48 inches, both are nearly indestructible, plus occasionally decide I wish it was a different color, shoot it with whatever color and poof, there it is. Oh yeah they do make good cattle sorting sticks as well.
 
Social distancing apparatus......

Seriously speaking I'm waiting for word on my gym but I doubt they’ll open next week. Might be time to break the snow shoes back out too. Might take my rowan walking stick along.
 
It’s 80 degrees here, so no snow stick. But definitely more walks to clear my head of all the news. When I read the title, I thought it was asking what sidearm are we carrying on our long walks.
 
It’s 80 degrees here, so no snow stick. But definitely more walks to clear my head of all the news. When I read the title, I thought it was asking what sidearm are we carrying on our long walks.
No sir. I think we’ve had quite enough of those. It’s an alternative exercise thread with a stick theme.
 
I've been using a blackthorn walking stick for a while. I have one that's medium weight and a second that's an honest-to-God Irish shillelagh. Three feet of Celtic civility.
 
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