Customize Walking Sticks for Safer Passage on National Take a Hike Day
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Few things in this world can rival the combination of crisp fall air, the crunch of leaves underfoot and a trusty companion to steady your gait. November 17 is national “Take a Hike Day” and those who have a passion for exploring the great outdoors know that no adventure is complete without a well-rounded tool kit. One of those essential items that will smooth out any unexpected bump in the trail are made-in-the-U.S. walking sticks. The care and craftsmanship that goes into every single one of these walking sticks is impossible to miss once it’s in your hands; the fact that they can be turned into a tool that points you in the right direction should only serve to sweeten the deal.
According to Brazos Walking Sticks, a Texas-based manufacturer of these essential national Take a Hike Day tools, the look, feel, the walking stick is as unique as the end user. Since it’s possible to tweak the design of the stick itself, you can create a Swiss Army knife-like device that adds convenience as well as real-world purpose.
“The occasional stumble is part of any hike,” according to the American Hiking Society (AHS), which is also an advocate of trekking poles. “Poles provide two additional points of contact with the ground and enhance stability,” the AHS adds. Trekking poles offering by Brazos, for example, use non-slip grips, a lightweight aluminum shaft construction and an anti-shock system to enhance comfort and durability.
What elements can be added to a domestically-produced walking stick and why should avid hikers upgrade from the basic stick they may currently own?
- A freeform walking stick made from hickory wood is a rugged tool with rustic appeal. From start to finish, craftsmen ensure the strength of the stick itself so that it can stand up to twist and turns Mother Nature throws your way.
- Add-ons aren’t just for show. While custom engraving and other personalized emblems can be added by walking stick manufacturers, Brazos points to accessories that serve a vital purpose in nature. This means having a compass, whistle, thermometer, tip or spike installed on your walking stick. For the shutterbugs, Brazos’ twisted hickory photo stick is essentially a monopod that offers a mounting screw in the handle so that a camera can be spun into place.
- The AHS recommends that hikers opt for rubber tips on their hiking sticks as to prevent scarring of rocks, increasing erosion and widening of trails. To that end, Brazos, as a manufacturer of hiking sticks that should suit the needs of every explorer, offers rubber ferrules in a variety of sizes and designs. Those who’d like to use trekking poles instead can seek out offerings that use a rubber tip to cover the carbide tip for use on asphalt or cement.
With national Take a Hike Day just over the horizon, now’s the time for those who plan to go exploring to survey the latest walking sticks and trekking poles on the market and ways to turn their trusty tool into an all-in-one resource.
