A fresh batch of Vine Canes are all set to get in the hands of our customers. It’s amazing how unique a vine will grow. I’ve never seen any two of these canes look remotely similiar. Each one has crevices at different depths. Each one has branch spurs in all different spots. Each one has a different thickness. Each one has a different color. I think you get my point, “different”. If you don’t love individuality, this isn’t the right cane for you. Cheers, Antonio
Vine Canes
There is no argument that Fall walking stick season is on its way. It’s getting a little bit chillier each day. Grab your jacket and head to the trails!
Fall Time Hiking
I know that we all love to see the leaves change to their brilliant oranges and yellows but hate to see the sunlight go away so fast in the evening. So, lets make sure to live without limits. Our motto can sometime give people a little bit of a puzzled look, but it is truly simple if you just don’t over think the three little words. A lot of us will allow the first thought of “I can’t” stick in their mind, but I hope we can quickly get over that thought and move on to a real thought like “doing what you want”. But lets get back to the topic at hand, walking sticks or trekking canes.
A walking cane can definitely help you live without limits on so many different levels. The first being that it will aid in your mobility. Sometimes you just need that little bit of extra support to make sure you remain stable. When you have something to lean on when one leg is less then 100 percent can be the difference of falling down or staying upright.
The second reason a walking stick can help would be it’s ability to light the workout just your legs would take if not aided. A lot of your Fall trails are going to be uphill and downhill which can create extra resistance. Your leg muscles need to strain that much harder to pull your weight uphill, but a you can ease some of that by using your upper body. You’re trekking pole will help push you up the hill with each step when you firmly plant it and lunge forward while pushing your arm back. Think exactly like skiing. Pushing off with you poles gives you momentum. Going downhill gets a lot easier with a walking stick as well because it will brace your acension and take strain off your knees.
I hope you are all looking forward to the leaves changing! Happy Hiking!
-Antonio
When it comes to walking staffs, always look for wooden hiking sticks. There are a few major reasons why wood trekking poles are far superior to any other type. I’ll begin with one of the most important reasons. They naturally decompose! I know people don’t intend to destroy the environment, but non-organic materials don’t do our planet any favors. A lot of canes are made from fiberglass, metals, or plastics. At best, these types have to end up in landfills when they are broken or no longer wanted, at worst, they end up in our beautiful hiking trails.
One of the most common mistakes is simple forgetfulness, nothing malicious, but can still be damaging to the environment. Have you ever misplaced or forgot your hiking stick? I know I have. Most of the time I remember and I’m able to just hoof it backwards and pick it up, but there have been times when I have my tent all setup and my sleeping bag rolled out when it dawns on me that I left my hiking and I’m now 20 miles further up a mountain. OOPS! Thank fully I’ve always used one of my wood sticks.
A lot of wood hiking sticks come with a rubber tip because that has become the new norm in the industry. If you have the option, ask your artist to finish the piece of with a simple rounded bottom and no rubber. One less piece of potential litter created and one less piece of rubber that needs to be made in a factory.
I have an interesting story of another use for a wood hiking stick.
We were on a five day hike up the Andes Mountains when we started approaching our campsite. One of the people on our hike had already been to this campsite and mentioned that we need to keep an eye on our hiking staffs. We smiled and thought he was joking because we’re 12000 feet in the mountains and nobody else was around us to steal them.
We got our dinner ready and then noticed the person who maintains the campsite was putting together a bon fire. After we cleaned up, we headed over to hang out by the fire. A few minutes passed and my buddy noticed one of the pieces of burning wood looked a lot like his hiking stick. We both looked closer and to our surprise; all of the hiking sticks were on fire. Stunned, we thought about pulling them out, but noticed they had been broken into pieces.
Burning didn’t even cross our mind when it was mentioned to keep an eye on the trekking sticks.
Later we thought about the situations and it actually made sense to us. They can burn. That thought can sound incredibly simple, but really think about the aspects involved. We were hiking in the rainy season, so most timber that can be gathered is going to be water logged. Our sticks had been perfectly dried when they were being made. And they were free to the person who lives there. Sounds like perfect tinder wood when they’re broken into pieces.
Live and Learn.
Cheers,
-Antonio