hiking poles

[stillbill]

Anyone use bamboo?I'm assuming it's strong and lightweight.Anyone have feedback? Also wondering where it could be found.

[ASUGrad]

It tends to splinter over time.

[max patch]

I currently use a single bamboo stick.

There is plenty of bamboo growing at Kennesaw Mountain National Park which I know doesn't help you any.

AS ASU mentioned, mine started to splinter at the bottom. Wrapped it with duct tape and that stopped the splintering.

I bought mine at an outdoor show for about $10.

[Ashman]

This recent thread might be helpful, some good tips I thought but I haven't done it.

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=31565&highlight=bamboo

[sheepdog]

I use an old pair of bamboo ski poles I bought at Goodwill for $3. I slipped of the hand grip and cut them down. I then replaced the grip and took the snow basket off. I have had them for several years and put about 500 miles of hiking on them. They don't look any different than when I started. They are very strong and very light. I think they are great and wouldn't hike without them.

[atraildreamer]

I currently use a single bamboo stick.

AS ASU mentioned, mine started to splinter at the bottom. Wrapped it with duct tape and that stopped the splintering.

This is what Colin Fletcher (may he RIP :() used when he hiked. He fixed the splintering the same way. The only real problem was that he wore the thing down over the years and had to retire the pole and get another one!

[Hoop]

I'm making my own; raided a neigbor's yard for mine. You can google to find a vendor or PM me & I'll mail you a few.

[Nearly Normal]

Go for it.
I started out with bamboo poles. Cutting it the right way will help. Get peices longer than you need. Take a Hack saw and cut if careful just past the joint about 1/4 inch. Put it up in the rafters or somewhere where it lays straight. When it dries it will be tan in color and very hard. Just above the joint wrap it with duck tape. When you wear it out cut another. There are canebreaks scattered everywhere. It grow and spreads quickly. People will usually give you all you want. There is all types of cane. The short the joint sections the stronger it will be.

[desdemona]

I made a single hiking stick from bamboo (and there are great ideas on this in the DIY area of the gear section--someone posted the link). I epoxed a chair leg tip (you can use a crutch tip) to one end.
I also bound both ends with mason cord (going around and around) and then put polyurethane over the whole thing. You can make a handle with some kind of craft foam (as I did-- actually an excellent handle), bike handle, or bike handle bar wrap.
You can (carefully) drill a small hole and thread rawhide shoelace into the hole and tie and you can use this tie to help get a pace on more even terrain.

If you do all this it will likely last longer. Bamboo starts to crack and then cracks up from the base.

I do quite rugged hiking, bushwacking,and scrambling and it is great. It is light and strong but also has a reassuring bit of weight for getting around difficult spots.

I honestly haven't done a lot of hiking but someone in the other discussion claimed their bamboo pole (with the various improvements) lasted 20 years.

I got mine at a garden store for $5. I had to cut to about shoulder height with a hack saw. You could do the two I suppose but the directions to making would be different.
I love mine. I also have a feeling of accomplishment as it is a great little (useful) craft project. Have gotten compliments.


--des