walking sticks

[Spamlet]

To me, the longer the better (so long as it will fit in the car). Pick one with a natural side branch at the top. Then it is perfect for reaching fruit, fishing things out of streams etc. while you are out walking. For a shorter stick the hard part is finding one with a top that is comfortable to your hand or has a top that a comfortable handle can be easily attached to.

And at the other end: there comes the problem of what to use for a ferrule or end stop. It seems all the nice sticks I find come with the ends needing an odd size of pipe of which I have no convenient offcuts lying around. (And, if you are using the traditional cabbage stalk, this is important because it is hollow so there isn't much wall thickness to play with.)

S

[Harry]

Careful which shoes you choose to wear when making the pre angle grind/saw cut/measurement - I've ended up with three sticks because my winter boots have _thick_ soles, my hot day hikers are very thin and then there's the others....

[Nightjar]

According to our local walking stick maker - stand upright, turn hand, back up, horizontal to the ground. The stick, with rubber ferrule fitted, should just fit between palm and ground. Don't cut too much at one time. If you get it a little bit wrong, adjust with a steel washer inside the ferrule.

Colin Bignell

[Adrian C]

If the person is standing in the middle of the theatrical stage, then the minimum length required is half the stage width minus the length of an outstretched arm deftly leant in from the wings. Allow some extra length to ensure the 'hook and swipe' action can be done cleanly to the performers neck with minimal pretouch signs to this happening.

[Andrew Gabriel]

You should go and see an appropriate specialist (such as maybe a physiotherapist), which you probably have to do through your GP. You may have broken a ligament or two back then (or since) which are involved in the joint's stability. Physio can probably work out what, and give you some excersises to improve the joint stability, even if the original damage is not viable to repair.

Anyone who suffers a couple of falls for non-obvious reasons should try and get their GP to refer them to a falls clinic or specialist, who will try and identify the cause and get it corrected before they go on to do some more serious physical damage. The causes of falls are not always at all clear, and can be the first sign of something that needs seeing to.

[dave]

Thanks for that, I am due to see a doctor next week for blood pressure checks, I'll mention it to him/her.

Dave

[Old Git]

Is the correct answer.