Packable, Defensive, and Survival Walking Sticks

Рет қаралды 237,076

Күн бұрын

Walking sticks are a classic mainstay of hiking gear, but there are alternatives to the classic stick (even beyond trekking poles). Here I put three alternative walking sticks through their paces (often with dramatic results!). First up is the Forest Pilot 3-Piece Wood Walking Stick that breaks down into a packable size. Second is the BlackSwift Raptor Self Defense Walking Stick - a more urban walking stick that is lightweight but can do some serious damage. Third, I review the Prime Adventure Tactical Walking Stick that contains tools and survival gear (like a walking stick for Rambo!)
0:00 Walking Sticks vs. Trekking Poles
1:39 Forest Pilot 3-Piece Wood Walking Stick
3:43 BlackSwift Raptor Self Defense Walking Stick
6:32 Raptor vs. Watermelon
8:08 Prime Adventure Tactical Walking Stick
9:45 T-Handle vs. Car Window
10:34 Tools and Weight
13:10 Testing the Tactical Tools
15:45 Final Thoughts
---- LINKS FROM THIS VIDEO ----
Forest Pilot 3-Piece Wood Walking Stick - amzn.to/3S8BNqy
BlackSwift Raptor Self Defense Walking Stick - www.blackswiftsticks.com
Prime Adventure Tactical Walking Stick is no longer available. Ai Gear is similar - amzn.to/3Br9D32
GCT Video - • Yosemite With No Crowd...
Trail Security Video - • Trail Security: Gear f...
Survival Knives Video - • Backcountry Blades (Pa...
LIKE and SUBSCRIBE and CLICK the BELL for #camping, #hiking, #backpacking, and the #gear that goes with it! Using product links below helps this channel grow (at no cost to you!). THANKS!
JOIN the Backcountry Pilgrim Partner Program by clicking the JOIN button above!
GET MY FREE BACKPACKING CHECKLIST: www.BackcountryPilgrim.com/20...
MY HIKING GEAR: www.BackcountryPilgrim.com/my...
WEBPAGE - www.BackcountryPilgrim.com
INSTAGRAM - / backcountrypilgrim
FACEBOOK - profile.php?...
TWITTER - / backcntrypilgrm
---- MUSIC ----
Intro/Outro Music: "Happiness" Composer: Benjamin Tissot Standard License certificate #2232653 from bensound.com.
Pressure Cooker by Jeremy Korpas (KZfaq Audio Library)

Пікірлер: 395

@kpmedia8977 Ай бұрын

thanks, i just learned to not waste money on the Prime Adventures stick, you saved me almost a hundred bucks !!! thank you!!!!

@BackcountryPilgrim Ай бұрын

Glad I could help! Yeah if you're looking for something like this, I'd recommend paying the money for something made in the USA.

@wanderingoutyonder Жыл бұрын

Nice look at several items! Appreciate the information!

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Glad to hear it!

@Smokdeel Жыл бұрын

You read in my mind! This is just what I'm looking for! The Forest Pilot looks awesome!I'm going to get one for myself 🤠👍

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Yeah I first saw these in Yosemite and decided they were a cool idea. Hope you enjoy it!

@fouroakscrafts7240 Жыл бұрын

Very interesting video showing those different kinds of hiking sticks. I like to carve hiking stick toppers and I'll attach them to poplar wood dowels you get at the home improvement store. The poplar is strong and light weight. But I usually like to stain it and add a coat or 2 of urethane. The toppers are more for decoration and just customizing a stick if you want to make a gift for a hiker. I like the sectional stick that you showed and may try to make one of those. Thanks for the video!

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Sounds nice! My dad carved sticks and sold them at stores along the coast. Great pastime!

@matthewarnold6794 4 ай бұрын

Very nice complete review on the tactical walking stick. Thank you. I am considering buying one and your professional review was very informative about the product.

@BackcountryPilgrim 4 ай бұрын

So glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching!

@icusawme2 Жыл бұрын

Just an opinion from a stranger on the internet! If you swing and miss you will be at a disadvantage. Don't swing a stick until the thing you are swinging at isn't looking at you. Use the end of the stick to keep the aggressive dog away from you. I have done this to great effect. If you feel the need to hit, hold the stick with both hands and hit with the end of the stick. That will cause discomfort to whatever you strike with this method.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@tomfoolery617 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for this excellent review.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

You bet!

@explorewithlloydi Жыл бұрын

These looked really really good thanks for this

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

You bet!

@TrailandBackAgain Жыл бұрын

Cool review of all sorts of options. I really like the looks of the first pilot. 🍻🤙

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Yeah I liked it too! When I got to my hike without my poles, I was so mad the store I saw it at was closed - it would have been perfect for the GCT!

@sleddingfarmer8692 Жыл бұрын

That nice sleek black 'cane' looks like a really nice piece. Very low key, but potentially an adequate deterrent. I mostly worry about other mean dogs while taking my dogs on walks.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

I think it would dissuade most animals after the first tap. :)

@kc7136 Жыл бұрын

Superb review! thank you

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@gojiraspark171 Жыл бұрын

i'll share the link to this video with my friend Sir, as a saying of thank you and for my team's use for a huge help.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

You bet! Thank you!

@patrickbuechel2599 Жыл бұрын

I have a 5'6" shepherds hook walking stick, I've used it for decades, in all rockies states,,,it helped me get up many a mountain. I also have a 6' walking stick made by a beaver in Connecticut in 1971.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Nice!!

@craigwalker415 Жыл бұрын

Good commentary , well done !

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@hondolane3125 Жыл бұрын

When I was in grade school and started backpacking with my father, he made us some walking sticks from aircraft aluminum tubing. He had some gadgets like hardened points and a coupler to join them together as a boat hook, and they served as our tent poles. But over time I went from not feeling a need to carry one, to needing one for a bad left knee. I also found I much prefer my natural sticks, made from Michigan shagbark hickory. I have one done in the usual "upside down" configuration, so fatter at the top. The other only worked well for my grip as a "rightside up" orientation, and I did a lot of grinding down the fat end to create a double-tapered shape which is overall a bit heavier despite being a little shorter. Both come above my shoulder making it easy to put a lot of weight on them with my arm folded, such that I am pulling down on the stick rather than pushing like a cane. They also allow me to anchor the tip behind myself and support my weight in the middle of the stick while descending a drop-off without much flex, or fear of breaking. I use standard rubber table leg tips on the bottom end.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Sounds like an awesome DIY stick!

@hondolane3125 Жыл бұрын

@@BackcountryPilgrim Thank you! I guess one unique thing I left out is the shear beauty of the shagbark hickory bark. I keep the bark on, except on the tapered end of the "rightside up" stick. It is an ugly, gray look when natural, but when you sand down to a smooth-ish surface below, and apply a stain/sealer, I like a dark color like walnut, it is a cornucopia of brown tones, and a nice surface to grip as well. I use a brown Sharpie on the sides of my rubber tip to blend it in, as a white tip is just sacrilege.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Sweet!

@PaulAnderson-lz1tn Жыл бұрын

As one of your viewers has already commented, in some states (such as California and Massachusetts) any cane or walking stick that does not have a horizontal handle can be considered a mace, is illegal, and can result in criminal charges. (Side note:Massachusetts also has outlawed double-edged knives!) Also, not a good idea to put your hand through the carry cord. If someone were to grab the walking stick and your whole hand is through the loop, they have a lot of leverage to pull you around and control you. It's much better to put only your thumb through the loop and have the loop, both sides, go across the back of your hand and attach to the stick. The cane is every bit as secure in your hand but you can instantly release it if necessary. [I am a former US Marine, military combat arms instructor, Federal Protective Service Police Officer, and Deputy US Marshal]

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Great advice thank you! Where is a good place to find these laws? I see filled batons and things like that listed, but haven't found anything about canes / maces.

@inregionecaecorum 3 ай бұрын

As someone who both makes sticks and subject them to quite intensive use, I would warn that there are inherent weaknesses in multi part sticks that screw together, they will split at the joint if you put too much force on them or use them for whacking vegetation out of the way. You want something with collars that reinforce the joint. These days I make my multi part sticks with the joints from drain rods as they can stand a lot of abuse.

@ibdubbya2 2 ай бұрын

Very useful reviews; thank you! (Also: nice rainbow flip-flops. 🙂)

@BackcountryPilgrim 2 ай бұрын

Thanks! (And they're tie-dye man, get it right LOL!)

@abcantiques777 Жыл бұрын

Great information! 5 Star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@Argee55732 4 ай бұрын

Good vid. Great voice. Great content. Thanks.

@BackcountryPilgrim 4 ай бұрын

Wow thank you!

@pablomunozgardea Жыл бұрын

Great! I want them all!

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

LOL! Each one is for a different purpose, so it's legitimate. :)

@MeOnTech 4 ай бұрын

Great review

@BackcountryPilgrim 4 ай бұрын

Thanks!

@cerberus2881 Жыл бұрын

I have the Blackswift Raven, it's a perfect tool!

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Niiiiiice!

@phillipstroll7385 Ай бұрын

Whatever Ballenger to the greatest urban self defense tool of all time? The car antenna. One light swing and a mile high whelp will send them running. One hard swung and it'll peel the fish from the bone. Good times. Man the 70s were great

@BackcountryPilgrim Ай бұрын

Haha!

@JimmyJusa Жыл бұрын

Great video, cold steel has some walking sticks as well that are supposed to be able to be used for self defense as well. With the aluminum one, I think there are many things like this including ones that have axe heads where I'm hesitant of the durability. With so many companies basically rebranding the same items it's not easy to know which company to trust. I have noticed a trend that in general, the more items something comes with the lower the quality in general at a given price point.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Agreed 100%! I looked at many of these on Amazon and went with the company that seemed to be the most robust (especially trying to avoid cheap Chinese crap). But I have also seen cottage companies selling theirs for over $800! That'd be a risky gamble IMO. :)

@JimmyJusa Жыл бұрын

@@BackcountryPilgrim yes, those premium prices can be way too extreme sometimes. I've bought so many cheap things as a kid, now I hold out until I know it's worth paying for.

@larrykostopulos1332 Жыл бұрын

I was in the Boy Scouts of Australia for many years and we all had walking sticks that we made. We called them a staff.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Great camp project!

@Old52Guy Жыл бұрын

Really well done! Thanks. Definitely subbing!

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

From one old 52 guy to another! ;) THANKS!

@Old52Guy Жыл бұрын

@@BackcountryPilgrim Thanks! For the past several years I kept thinking that a hiking staff could be more than just a straight stick to hit things. A couple of attempts were less than satisfactory. This vid got the old brain cells (whatever is left) thinking. Thanks!

@Flashahol Жыл бұрын

Great and interesting finds! Personally, anything "tactical" that does 100 things never accomplishes any of these things quite properly.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Yeah it's only for backup... or should be!

@paradoxworkshop4659 Жыл бұрын

Unless used properly.

@DanielNighteyes 3 ай бұрын

Here's another alternative. I use a camera monopod as an adjustable hiking stick and as a "binocular prop." The height on mine is adjustable from about 30 inches to over 72 inches. My hands shake a bit so, when attempting to use my binoculars, this thing works great to stabilize it. And, of course, it comes in handy as a camera monopod!😉

@BackcountryPilgrim 3 ай бұрын

Great idea!

@lanedexter6303 Жыл бұрын

Consider: I have a Cold Steel City Stick (old one with the stainless steel knob). In some places, that’s a “bludgeon” and can get you arrested. I have an old stockman’s cane, very durable and useful, which I can take anywhere, even on a plane. A cane is a recognized medical mobility aid, not legally a weapon. Also: Cold Steel sells a pressed steel “battle axe” and a pressed steel “spetsnaz” or “Special Forces” camp shovel on the same handle. Both are equally effective melee weapons, but one is legally not a weapon.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Great points! it would be interesting to see if TSA would allow the BlackSwift Raptor as a "cane." :)

@lanedexter6303 Жыл бұрын

@@BackcountryPilgrim ask your favorite legal eagle, but I believe it has to have the curved end to be a cane. BTW, a stockmane’s cane (mine is at least a century old) has a slightly larger curve. Check out Canemasters to learn a bit.👍

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Makes sense, thanks!

@hannobaalii_makendalii Жыл бұрын

A Night Watchman with rubbers on each end??

@Erin-Thor Жыл бұрын

@@BackcountryPilgrim - TSA has taken away my cane for them to hand deliver to the plane and “store safely,” but it’s just heavy wood.

@gojiraspark171 Жыл бұрын

🗻thankyou very much Sir, it's really a lot of work, as my trecking stick had broke well actually, one of the two sticks broke into two pieces after it got sank into the ground. I have no idea of what happen. I mean seriously. I don't know what even happen, or how it even got into the ground, but it somehow did. we had tried to pull it out, but it literally never worked because we never knew about a simple trick. all we had to do, was the pull the stick up, while rotating it, gradually increasing in speed.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Yeah they do that sometimes!

@Arariel3 Жыл бұрын

I love that aluminum walking staff with the tools. I seriously doubt our local airport security would let me through with it though. They once confiscated a key chain fob of mine explaining since it resembled a bullet it might be loadable. *sigh* They also confiscated my son's shaving equipment (no open blades). These guys are serious.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Yeah probably not lol.

@ShadeSlayer1911 3 ай бұрын

They seem cool, but I can never trust the actual quality and durability of those things. The individual tools are never going to be of any decent quality, and that it has to screw together means that as a stick, it is compromised. It will never be as durable as a simple solid wooden stick, and if you ever need to use to fend off an animal, you really don't want to bet on something like that that can break so easily.

@theeddorian Жыл бұрын

Concerning the spear head, the form indicates that it is more a harpoon-like tip than a regular spear. Harpoon tips commonly detach from the shaft and stay in the target with a line attached. With the hole through the stem of the spear, you could attach line or paracord to retrieve a fairly large fish if need be. I have always preferred to use the staff with the heavy end up. I find I prefer that balance.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Yeah maybe!

@dracoargentum9783 Жыл бұрын

Exactly what I was going to say.

@deerpic Жыл бұрын

I have the Cold Steel Irish Blackthorn Walking Stick. It's a beast for self defense.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

I hear a lot of good things about it!

@mixc8 2 ай бұрын

I just got the Prime tactical walking stick and all of your points are spot on. It's heavy, the tools are not that great and I wouldn't take it on long walks or hikes. But I like the solid build of it. I won't get rid if it, like you said it has it uses.

@BackcountryPilgrim 2 ай бұрын

Very nice!

@20Hikecdt23 25 күн бұрын

AND then when you reach MY age there is the cane or “walking cane”!! The “fighting cane” is one made for self defense. I think it’s stronger than anything you showed in your nice video. Thanks!

@BackcountryPilgrim 25 күн бұрын

Shoot me a link so I can check it out!

@roguebotanist Жыл бұрын

Sticks from the Sotol plant stalks is durable and light. Some clear coating and tip protection required. Find the stalks in the southwest US. Wait for the stalk to stop flowering and dry out In the winter. Easy to personalize.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Sounds very cool!

@ms7fam433 Жыл бұрын

Hope that wasn't your wife's car window that you tested it on... If so, you may be using all the tools for a while in the dog house. Another great video

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Haha! Long story short, it was mine and it was being junked that day so I thought I'd have a little fun with it first. :)

@Erin-Thor Жыл бұрын

Minor point on those with O-Rings… LUBE THEM EVERY YEAR OR SO! Spray silicone, put a dab of Vaseline or whatever. I say this because if you want it to last, finding the correct size replacement ring can be hard to do. Some rust, and this small chore can mean the difference between it working or not. I’m only saying this as I had to throw away one of my “aluminum” walking sticks because the joints rusted closed and it was toast. (Yes, I know, aluminum doesn’t rust… hey it came from China.) 😊

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Excellent point!!! (Especially with that dang Chinese aluminum!)

@kfsrmn Жыл бұрын

Aluminum oxidizes The thin oxide coating protects it but without lube aluminum galls. It needs to be lubed when it is screwed together or even a tight sliding fit. Alumashield works best but is messy. You can try some penetrating oil on stuck pieces and you might get lucky.

@NICEFINENEWROBOT Жыл бұрын

They imitate aluminum with iron? Freaks.

@Erin-Thor Жыл бұрын

@@NICEFINENEWROBOT - I might be confusing rust with oxidation, all I know is had I sprayed silicone or used anything to maintain the O-Rings and joints, it would have saved me a $100 walking stick. My point was just to be aware of the issue or risk and take a little preventative action. 🤠

@Erin-Thor Жыл бұрын

@@kfsrmn - I’m sure you’re correct, oxidation. All I know is the joints sealed permanently and when I tried to use two opposing channel lock pliers the thing broke as in snapped the aluminum instead of opening the joint.

@JedTaub 12 күн бұрын

Wrist strap: I'd recommend NOT walking with it around your wrist--in a fall it might break the wrist. Spear head: In the picture, it looks like the shaft of the spear should go through the ferule and a pin added through the hole to secure it.

@BackcountryPilgrim 12 күн бұрын

Thanks!

@whiskeytangosierra6 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for keeping my from buyers regret with the Prime product. Since I carry a couple of knives, at least, I don't need all that fluff anyway.

@BackcountryPilgrim 6 ай бұрын

Right on!

@willyfarr 3 ай бұрын

Pat Crawford's staff, the grand daddy of hiking staffs.

@BackcountryPilgrim 3 ай бұрын

I'll check it out!

@hrhosmer Жыл бұрын

Just ordered the raven. Light weight walking stick to replace my wooden one. The added benefit is deterring coyotes or mountain lions come to mind but really I don’t want to look like an old lady with a cane. I imagine I’ll be using this more with my walks that are important to maintain core strength as I have scoliosis and the crutch is sometimes truely necessary. Thanks for the elegant solution to ageing. A spritely 74 yo in San Diego 😅

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

It's a nice looking piece for sure, happy walking!

@anthonyperez5757 2 ай бұрын

I am 68 and have to use a cane sometimes...not too much leaning on it but to insure that my gait is steady and guard against falls. How flexible is the Raven? Is it too felxible to support someone ?

@Doc_Watson Жыл бұрын

Nice video. Personally I prefer a hiking staff a little longer than I am tall and I have a couple that I have made from young poplar and oak from the family wood lot and my back yard. I debark them and let the dry. My current favorite is just over 6' in length and just under 10oz. I do admit, I have been using trekking poles more and more for the convenience of transporting them in the vehicle and attaching them to my pack when not in use.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Plus making your own stuff is super cool!

@jeffreyschwarz3699 Жыл бұрын

@@BackcountryPilgrim In NY even making your own weapons will give you prison time. Trail survival should be okay but nothing offensive.

@jayduffy7615 Жыл бұрын

I'm pretty sure that beating a watermelon in that office chair voids the chairs warranty. 😉

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Not if the watermelon indicated consent.

@jayduffy7615 Жыл бұрын

@@BackcountryPilgrim lol 😆

@thinkingahead6750 Жыл бұрын

You missed my favourite which is a shepherd's crook. A real aide in all sorts of countryside. I have been using one for nearly fifty years.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Good point!

@chrishince8947 Жыл бұрын

Fantastic reviews! You should have feasted on the watermelon like a zombie eating brains though! Lol. One thing that would be cool for the multisection stick would be chain link connectors so that you could make two pairs of kungchucks!

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Both great ideas!!!

@jackwilliamson6018 Жыл бұрын

love dem slippers

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Crocs man.... Crocs. ;) LOL! (They also have a great back story: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/m7tzaNOIv8eXo2g.html).

@yutubl Жыл бұрын

Thanks for this great presentation; especially reusing old bicycle tube fragment(s) for upgrading a walking stick with additional features. As you already mentioned, I would look out for stick tools not already on a swiss army knife/leatherman multi tool, like long e.g. paracord rope or fishing line. Was the broken arrowhead purpose for pick/hold soft fish over campfire, not throwing against hard things like wood.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Yeah a good multi-tool would be better. It was called a spearhead so.... haha. :)

@therealdesidaru Жыл бұрын

@@BackcountryPilgrim the hole in the "spearhead" makes me think it's a harpoon and meant to detach with a line ties on.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

My spearhead didn't have a hole but maybe the new ones do. Doesn't look like PA even makes them anymore but there are a ton of similar items.

@therealdesidaru Жыл бұрын

@@BackcountryPilgrim @14:22 it did on the tang or handle end.

@MildarValsik Жыл бұрын

I can see how many might not like the solid walking stick because it becomes unwieldy. Yet soon as anything is made into a sectional piece it becomes only as strong as its middle as the forces applied is greatest at that point. For the tool applications it seems very handy as a walking stick however not so much as a combat weapon for multiple uses. It will get you to a survival point in a pinch. I'm trying to make my own walking stick. It might be unwieldy but likely be my go to no matter it's final weight. Besides the more it's used the stronger you get.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

There you go - a solid DIY stick will be awesome!

@bill-gray 6 ай бұрын

good video

@BackcountryPilgrim 6 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed!

@billanderson7760 Жыл бұрын

I think the spear tip detaching from the pole is a good thing so that the targeted animal does not run off with your pole. Many game, once struck will run until they finally collapse.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Ah yes maybe!

@KatoCoyoteCombatWorkshop Жыл бұрын

The black swift is seriously formidable and exactly what I was looking for... if it came a little longer. 48" would be perfect. I reached out, however, and they could not accommodate. Oh well.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Ah too bad! They should offer a few different sizes!

@airgunsanonymouslesslethal1904 10 ай бұрын

@@BackcountryPilgrim Yes for us not so tall people as well . Does the tip pull off? maybe it can be cut.

@tim777us 8 ай бұрын

@@airgunsanonymouslesslethal1904, the tip is not removable, although it can be cut off if you need to replace it. James Campbell, the owner of Blackswift, sent me a free couple of tips. They need to be epoxied on when you replace one.

@cassandralupin1262 Жыл бұрын

something you need to keep in mind with a three piece walking stick is that over time it will weaken and break where they screw together

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

I'm sure it could eventually.

@katfishkobain8809 Жыл бұрын

Mom, that crazy guy is chopping watermelons in his backyard again

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Don't make eye contact and you'll be ok. :)

@pulldeauxduck2480 Жыл бұрын

Like spears 2 ,took one to Hawaii in a pvc tube , Got a carbon fiber I can pack. Always have security when swimming in the sea !

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Swimming stick!

@melrichardson2392 7 ай бұрын

Very 👍 ool thankyou

@BackcountryPilgrim 7 ай бұрын

You are very welcome!

@bernardairey9631 Жыл бұрын

😂😂It’s a good job that watermelon didn’t fight back.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

It would have regretted it for sure! ;)

@John-wo5bp Жыл бұрын

I always carry my irish shillaglah I carved by hand has a lanyard so it's always with me I recomend highly francis McCaffrey crafts on youtube if you want a shillaglah or blackthorn hiking staff greetings from uk guys 👍🇬🇧🐾🦊🇺🇲

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Sweet! That's very cool.

@John-wo5bp Жыл бұрын

@@BackcountryPilgrim np greetings from the uk 👍🇬🇧🐾🦊

@keithfarrell2503 Жыл бұрын

Man that water melon looked menacing aren't you lucky you got those first few strikes in be fore it lost it's shit..... 😂😂😂

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

You're not kidding. Watermelon aggression is massively underreported by the liberal media.

@col.davidcrockett5959 9 ай бұрын

Us vegetables must unite to protest the needless killing of that poor watermelon lol.

@BackcountryPilgrim 9 ай бұрын

Be glad there were no pumpkins around!

@billjenkins5693 Жыл бұрын

My walking stick I made. It is a 1-1/4" hardwood dowl with a short bayonet blade mounted on its end. The blade is covered for safety, by its hard sheath. If ever needed, the sheath is easily and quickly removed.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

I tried something like that when I was a teen, sounds cool!

@billjenkins5693 Жыл бұрын

@@BackcountryPilgrim I live in an area with a lot of Black Bears. While not normally aggressive, mother bears are dangerous and you don't want to smell like food at all.

@mudball47 7 ай бұрын

If you leave in the car, it's just bagage you didn't need. Best to acquire a stick for nature each time you go out. When you take a break, use your knife to make it into a work of art, and leave it behind for the next hiker.

@BackcountryPilgrim 7 ай бұрын

Well it's not just baggage if you use it. ;) I don't really like leaving signs of use around in nature but on tourist trails it's not so bad.

@donaldf.switlick3690 Жыл бұрын

Needed. A walking stick with a sling. Easy to add.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Cool idea!

@jwbttyssn Жыл бұрын

As an avid hiker and prepper, I see the Forest Pilot 3-Piece Wood Walking Stick as a viable alternative to trekking poles. Everything else is useless and should only be used as a home/car backup to essential self-defense gear. More gimmick to need.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your comment! To be clear, the title is not saying all three sticks have all three characteristics! Some may overlap on secondary features, but I was presenting each as having its own primary function. I don't see any of them as replacing trekking poles for their primary usage.

@elizabeththompson4424 11 ай бұрын

trekking pole - lighter but more bendable & breakable I still use a STICK! an old hardwood cord wrapped mop handle

@BackcountryPilgrim 11 ай бұрын

Different purposes different gear! :) Mop handle works just fine.

@ralf5580 Жыл бұрын

You can use the Coldsteel Big bore pro 4ft blowgun as walkingstick. Absolut stable , perfect lenght and ........ a blowgun!

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

You had me at blowgun! :)

@becomeaudible1 6 ай бұрын

I think the spear is more for stabbing into a river to spear a fish than to throw the entire staff into a log.

@BackcountryPilgrim 6 ай бұрын

That's no fun! Just kidding, you're probably right! :)

@floydoleary9494 Жыл бұрын

A hoop stick can be taken any where. It is considered a medical device. The hoop gives you more of a cane that will add the hoop for pulling mode.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

I've never heard if those! I googled it but got mostly game images. Do you have a link?

@michaelbaker5070 8 ай бұрын

I like the forest piolet

@BackcountryPilgrim 8 ай бұрын

It's pretty cool!

@davidrobinson4553 8 ай бұрын

I like that last one it would contrast nicely with my prosthetic leg 😎 I wonder how much crap I'd get trying to import that into the UK, the police and customs would be all over me like a nasty rash 🇬🇧

@BackcountryPilgrim 8 ай бұрын

Weapons laws are so weird, you'd want to make sure what to expect!

@mattjosh69 7 ай бұрын

Hi I have two tactical walking sticks that I get from “wish” of all places.😂 that are steal with aluminium threads. Looks very similar to what you have in this video. I took it to a local engineering place an asked them to turn down all the parts with the cross hatching until it was flat, then replaced it with the rubber grips that you can buy for hockey sticks or cricket bats. Took out all the tools from each section as they were all just set into a threaded plastic that come out with same.

@BackcountryPilgrim 7 ай бұрын

Wow those are quite the mods!

@mattjosh69 7 ай бұрын

@@BackcountryPilgrim thanks, I got two because they were so cheap. An with two of the T heads you can make a pretty good walking couch. With one at the top an one an arms length down to hold on to. 😂 I’ve never needed it but ha you never know. I’ve also had a crocked handle, made from one side of old racing cycling bars. Looks nice all mat black an more traditional than the T top.

@BackcountryPilgrim 7 ай бұрын

@mattjosh69 They sound great!

@rtoguidver3651 Жыл бұрын

I bought a 6ft - 1 -1/4" dowell curtain rod at Lowes for under $10,..

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

That works!

@dracoargentum9783 Жыл бұрын

to de-bend your stick I'd suggest either simply hammer things with the other side for a while, or clamping the T handle down to a vice in a configuration where the bow faces up, support the other end and bodily hang from the middle, your body weight will be enough to straighten any light warp.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

That might work thanks!

@garygallite8325 Жыл бұрын

👍 good video ! I have a collection of 2 piece pool cues purchased at the goodwill & thrift stores for 10 dollars or less . some good ones in wood , fiberglass or graphite . They work very well , never broke one even though putting a lot of weight and stress on them ! Just a thought if you're looking for something pretty good & inexpensive .

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Very good! Thank you!

@timschutte6924 7 ай бұрын

I have a very nice piece of bamboo that im gonna use for my walking stick. Very hard to break and will bend just a little. Im gonna wrap the hand holds with 550 cord with some fisshing stuff, mylar blanket, drill some holes at the tip for my cold steel bushcraft knife, spear. With various tips for grip.

@BackcountryPilgrim 7 ай бұрын

Nice! DIY walking sticks are great!

@thisismypickle5164 Жыл бұрын

The last time I was attacked by the watermelon crew I was ill prepared and things got quite seedy. Next time I will be prepared, I still think things will get sticky but the fight will finally be fair.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Very punny! :)

@LaineyBug2020 Жыл бұрын

Oh man, your dad made you an amazing stick!

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Agreed! :)

@bikiniluvnguy1 Жыл бұрын

great vid. I can see the neighbors casually looking over and seeing the watermelons being beaten, and be thinking this guy has serious issues with watermelons.....

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Let that serve as a warning to all melons....

@bikiniluvnguy1 Жыл бұрын

@@BackcountryPilgrim yeah, john cougar meloncamp better watch it....

@exdeus5940 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for reviewing. I was wondering how durable those tactical sticks are being that they're essentially hollow tubes.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

They're strong along their length but there's only so much they can take laterally.

@ronbuckner8179 Жыл бұрын

I use a walking stick instead of a cane because as I get older the third leg has become essential.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Good call!

@Argee55732 4 ай бұрын

Love the tactical cane. Brilliant. Now, getting it through an airport?

@BackcountryPilgrim 4 ай бұрын

Maaaaaybe? :)

@derekneumann Жыл бұрын

When I get old, I am going to get a cane with a single-shot 20 gauge built in. That would be awesome. "Get Off My Lawn!"

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Lol!

@jasonhare8540 Жыл бұрын

So you're saying just walking around with an ax handle sticking out of my backpack might be a little provocative 🤔🤣

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

No, I'm saying it's just the right amount of provocative! :)

@kleinjahr Жыл бұрын

Note, that many things can be cane/stick heads. A nice brass doorknob, a hammerhead, a shingling hatchet and so on. Just remember when the officer asks why you have it, NEVER say self defence

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Just an old man and his stick, sir. :)

@paradoxworkshop4659 Жыл бұрын

"I don't answer questions." "Okay, but what's the stick for?" "So that I don't have to answer any questions..."

@davidhayden9336 Жыл бұрын

PS ; THAT GLASS BREAKER WILL NOT WORK UNDER WATER, TO MUCH RESISTENCE TO ARM AND CANE, BUT VERY NICE.

@adventureswithfrodo2721 5 ай бұрын

I use a walking can or single collapsible staff. If I am hiking I'll use treking poles. I like using an ice axe. When was younger there was what was called an Alpinstock. It was a 5 foot staff with a mini ice axe head. But alas they are no longer made. The Rambo knife waa a Buck 850.

@BackcountryPilgrim 5 ай бұрын

The alpinstick sounds interesting. Love your profile name btw! :)

@pulldeauxduck2480 Жыл бұрын

My wife said I’m a bad actor with canes ,etc ! But getting hung -up in commyfornia 9/11 makes you think !!

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

That it does...

@danstenis660 Жыл бұрын

Get a 5ft or 10ft EMT conduit from Home Depot. 10ft one can be cut it into 3 pieces each 3.3ft. The non-rigid conduit is about 0.11" thick. The rigid conduit is about 0.21" thick. At this short length, the 3/4" or 1" size seem plenty strong. Maybe you can do a video on a DIY self-defense stick. If you want an even better material, use 3/4" 10ft pipe at Grainger for $100. Cut it to whatever length desired.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Interesting idea! How would you join the pieces once cut?

@danstenis660 Жыл бұрын

@@BackcountryPilgrim Joining would weaken it. The rigid EMT is stronger and may be strong enough with joined pieces. The stainless steel one would be best for rust-resistant even when scraped. The pipes would need to be tapped inside and outside on separate pieces to join them but not sure if the harder materials can be easily tapped. Screwed joints can loosen up so don't really like joining pieces to make a staff. One whole piece staff seem like the best for strength. In the city, any kind of walking stick would work against dogs. In the wilderness, even a strong walking stick is not enough against bears and mountain lions. The walking stick would need to have a retractable spear end to have a chance against a bear or mountain lion or a wolf.

@CreachterZ Жыл бұрын

I’ve thought about using one of those couplers but I’m afraid the cut could severely weaken the stick.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Yeah you can't put a lot of pressure on them.

@ADB-zf5zr Жыл бұрын

Hello @BackcountryPilgrim, I mean no offence, just asking a question about where I live in Rural East England, (we don't have "any non-Human) animals to fight, we wiped out bears/wolves centuries ago (for better or worse, likely better).! What do you suggest for people wandering around fields who have serious legal restrictions against self selfe?

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

It depends on what the authorities count ad a weapon. There are self defense canes thay look more like legit canes than the Raptor for example. At the end of the day, you may just have to carry a walking staff and learn how to use it for self defense. :/

@20Hikecdt23 25 күн бұрын

I think that “spear” is for walking in a stream and spearing a fish (‘not throwing it but just thrusting it).

@BackcountryPilgrim 25 күн бұрын

Probably. But they call it a spear so it should do BOTH! ;)

@jimv.661 Жыл бұрын

The tactical walking stick forgot one item, a section that's a flask...Ha! I don't think my first inclination when protecting myself with a walking stick, would be to poke straight at it. As in the Army "Vertical Butt Stroke". Of course that's generally with a bayonet, but I think it would still do the job.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Well it's water tight so if you left a section or two empty... :)

@jimv.661 Жыл бұрын

@@BackcountryPilgrim Ha!

@JeffreyAllanBackowski 11 ай бұрын

My carpenter friend gave me this walking stick that he had been hand carving for decades, it was never really meant to be used as a walking stick, but I took it to Lake Tahoe, I wanted to look badass. As soon as I got there I set it down on the ground to get something out of my pocket and it slid down the side of this 🏔️ on the dead leafs. I never even got to use it once as a walking stick.

@BackcountryPilgrim 11 ай бұрын

Nooooooo! Wow that Sucks!

@dragan3290 Жыл бұрын

As a 50 year old arthritis and construction injured bloke in Australia? I need that stick. I need a stick for walking as my legs and hips are stuffed but I need to keep blood flowing. As a self defence weapon I would have no problem as an ex carpentry and and aluminium joiner, ex karateka? I can hammer fist strike damn hard but I'm mainly looking for easier walking! I gotta keep moving! Can you please do a tutorial on using this for help in walking? Any reply appreciated. Cheers from Australia 🙂 subbed and liked 👍

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

I believe it would function the same as a cane. I don't really sticks for aid in walking other than balance on trail or just something to knock things out of the way, so I'd be the wrong one to ask. :)

@sesa2984 Жыл бұрын

Carrying a couple 'trekking poles' just looks so ridiculous. A good walking stick is respectable. (And usually available free along your route!)

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

I've found trekking poles very helpful in situations where the terrain is really steep, technical, or I am carrying a lot. They have a very different function than a walking stick!

@mj625 7 ай бұрын

Do you think the 3-piece wooden stick is solid enough to use as a defensive weapon if needed?

@BackcountryPilgrim 7 ай бұрын

Yes but I'd use it more like a staff than a bat. :)

@JohnLaFosse Жыл бұрын

A spear isn't something that I would necessarily throw. With polearms training it is blunt force. With a spear I would think the direction of the cutting edge is important for severing leg tendons on the approaching animal assuming your being attacked by a bear or moose or whatever. Stabbing it with a $70 tactical walking stick is going to get a hiker mauled. It would be better to carry nothing at all and play dead.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

That's just what the bears want you to think. ;) lol I meant that as a joke but I hear you!

@kevinmuraoka720 Жыл бұрын

At 1.50 of the video I still think your overlooking the grand canyon the same place where the Yosemite bear was running down the mountain like a fast dog. Dried pine needles are like matchsticks, they light up easy. Still think never leave home without a Bic lighter.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Our bear was at the bottom haha!

@kfsrmn Жыл бұрын

Interesting video but never throw your spear. Use it like an extended knife. That was a lot of abuse. The Agave/Century plant sends up a long stalk when it blooms. After it dies salvage and dry the stalk. They make a light and strong hiking staff. My 4'7" staff with 10" of paracord wrap and a rubber tip weighs 9 oz. I have a very thick 6' stalk I have not cut to size. It weighs 1.5 lbs. My favorite staff is made from the skeleton of a saguaro cactus and weighs 18 oz.

@BackcountryPilgrim Жыл бұрын

Very good tip! But TBH I really just wanted to throw it lol. And really, that wasn't what damaged thr stick Haha, that's what reviews are for anyway. ;) That agave stick sounds wicked!