Walking sticks vs. canes

May 2, 2012, 8:21 a.m.

Those who never use canes and walking sticks may not understand how someone can attach a special significance to the shape, coloring, length and contour of a "stick." Yet using a walking stick is not always a matter of necessity; neither is using a cane. These tools can be a great aid to the elderly and the disabled, yet they are sometimes chosen merely because a peculiar cut of wood snatches a moment of imagination in a particular person.

Hiking sticks, canes and walking sticks reflect the personality of the user. The selection of a specific walking tool is not necessarily thought out in terms of "This reflects my personality," yet at times a strange likeness is manifested. When making a selection among canes and walking sticks, every person seeks out a certain length, shape and color. They search for a walking stick that fits their hand with a distinctive feeling of right. And this peculiarity of choice is present in both the casual walker and the one with a physical need for extended walking aids.

Walking Canes vs. Walking Sticks

The terms may be used interchangeably, but there are distinctions between canes and walking sticks that must be established. Using a walking stick for hiking is give or take. Using a cane for daily liberty in movement is a matter of necessity.

For the casual user, a walking stick establishes a measure of personal satisfaction. It stirs up mental images of history and old men with power and might. It even serves the practical purpose of nudging critters off the paths and into the safety of the brush. It clears the trail of spider webs and even low hanging vines. But for the casual user, neither a cane nor a walking stick is essential to the journey.

Walking canes are typically designed as an aid to a person with an injured or weak leg. Walking sticks need not be specifically chosen for strength. Canes must be able to bear a walker's weight. Canes should also have a rubber tip on the bottom to help ensure stability, and a handle that is designed for comfort with sureness of grip.

In the modern age, walking sticks are typically marketed to meet active outdoor purposes. They are usually crafted from natural wood. The design is purposed to reflect an adventuresome sense of outdoor living.

Canes may or may not be crafted from wood. The purpose is not focused upon adventure, but rather effectiveness. Canes may be fashioned from aluminum, bone, ebony, wood, or any other sufficiently sturdy material. The choice belongs to the individual with an unspoken, almost unrealized lean toward a walking tool that somehow reflects his or her self-sufficiency.

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