HIKING STAFF
A hiking staff is a wonderful thing. Once you get in the habit of carrying one, you'll never hike without it. They have many practical uses:
Even though hiking staffs come in all lengths, the overall length of the staff is really not important. What matters is where you grip it. Let your arm hang straight down by your side. Now raise your forearm until your elbow is bent at a right angle and your hand is straight out in front of you. That's where you want to hold the staff. You'll find that angle provides the best support and comfort. If you grip it higher you will have to reach to lift the stick up when walking. If you grip it lower you will tend to stoop, causing back pain on extended hikes.
This staff has an overall length of 58". I can shorten it if you like (no charge, just mention it in the comments box when checking out). The diameter 42" up from the ground is approximately 1½". This size is appropriate for an most adult hands.
I make my hiking staffs from durable, seasoned White Cedar. Some of them have distinctive beetle tracks (most folks call them worm tracks). See the photo on the left. After removing the bark and thoroughly sanding, I apply four thin coats of polyurethane for additional weatherproofing.
These photos show the actual staff I will send you. The features of this particular staff include: