Walking Sticks At one point, I thought that walking sticks were only for those that had problems with walking and balance, and for those that had to travel on rough terrain. Through the years I have found that sticks used when walking are something that everyone may want to use once in a while. I can’t explain why I like using them, but they are something that can be mighty useful for many reasons. You may not need one when walking around a track at your local park, but when walking through the woods or uneven land, they can actually be quite practical. I used to hike with my dad a lot, and I always liked to have walking sticks with me. Not only did it help when I had to balance on something, it was great when I wanted to flip over a rock without putting my hands down in the dirt. We would always over turn rocks looking for fossils, or perhaps to see what interesting critters were living under those rocks. If something came near me that I did not like, I could use the walking stick to make sure it was moved far away from me. As much of a tomboy as I was, I was still squeamish about some things. Walking sticks can also offer a sense of balance for children when they are very young and making their first trips through rather rough terrain. They may play with them more than they use them for walking, but it is something that they can use. As adults, we have long ago learned how to balance when the land suddenly changes or when we step on something that is not the at the height we thought it was, but that is not something youngster quite have the hang of yet. What is great about walking sticks is that they can come from many different sources. You can always find some that are already made, and those are great because they tend to have comfortable handles that fit nicely in your hand, and they are generally the perfect length for walking. On the other hand, you can also just find the right stick, or you can make one on your own if you like to work with wood. Just be careful to sand any that you make to avoid getting splinters when using them. What you want to get will really depend on what you want to use it for. Summary Walking sticks are a collectible for many people. Not only are they useful for balancing, they provide extra support for those who may need it. Hikers can usually be found with a stick of some sort to help when navigating uneven terrain. Kids like them just because they're cool! Related Articles Backpacking Tents Lightning Storms Tents For Sale Related Sites