Walking sticks come in different materials and sizes, but if you are looking for a walking aid specifically, we recommend buying a walking cane rather than a walking stick.
We have nothing against walking sticks. These sticks actually are perfect for light walking, but not so much as full time walking aids. Why? Here are our 5 reasons for picking a walking cane instead of a walking stick.
Comfort
Finding a high-quality walking cane is important for anyone who relies on these instruments to stay mobile and stable. The right walking stick for you is the one that offers you the support you need while also being comfortable and easy to use.
Most walking sticks aren’t designed to be used comfortablely for everyday walking. Some walking sticks are solely made as accessories with elaborate heads instead of small practical handles that walking canes have. How can anyone walk comfortably holding a serpent head for hours?
Walking sticks, with their embellished heavy heads will cause hand cramping and muscle fatigue when used as aid for long durations.
A walking cane works by supporting the strength of your body using biomechanical engineering to dramatically improve your posture. Walking sticks are designed to look pretty and help you move easier but not to feel less pain.
Balance
Walking cane-unlike walking sticks, have biochemically engineered designs that make these walking aids feel like a seamless extension of the body.
Walking sticks generally don’t feature innovative technology that increases traction and improves balance during both indoor walking and outdoor strolling. Walking canes on the other hand have heavy-gauge anodized aluminum shafts to provide durability.
An attached wrist strap on a walking cane prevents a person from falling when he or she accidently releases the walking aid. No such strap is attached to a walking stick.
Walking sticks aren’t generally designed having balance in mind. Walking canes by contrast are lightweight but still evenly constructed to help maintain your balance. A walking stick that has a lion or eagle head screwed onto the handle can only act as a novelty stick since the whole balance ratio is off in these types of walking sticks.
Convenience
Walking canes are much more convenient to use and carry around than walking sticks. A collapsible walking cane can be conveniently used by adjusting the handle height setting it offers.
Unlike walking sticks that are fixed, walking canes can be folded with heights between 30.5 and 37.5 inches. A fully folded walking cane can be tucked inside a bag as it is just 13 inches long.
Walking sticks with their fixed shaft length, will not help with posture while walking. If you walk with a traditional walking stick, you could be causing crippling pain in your back as walking sticks force you to walk hunched over, head down and unstable which creates debilitating neck and joint pain.
A walking cane with its adjustable heights will help you walk upright and with less pain, changing your line of sight so you look forward instead of down.
Not only will you be perfectly balanced and safe but also more confident when you walk as you won’t have to worry about falling down as you would while using a walking stick.
Strength
A walking stick will never be as strong and sturdy as a walking cane. A typical walking cane is tough enough to withstand high levels of pressure. No walking stick can support 350 pounds of weight.
A folding cane in particular, provides the perfect combination of stability and support while walking on any surface. A walking cane can be folded at upto three points. These collapsible canes are compact, can easily fit into your bag and taken on a trip or a hike. Such portability is not possible with walking sticks.
A walking cane is better than a walking stick as an aid for crippled because these people can put all their weight on the walking cane and the cane will support it and not buckle like a walking stick will.
Grip
Walking sticks have metallic handles which are highly ornate. Walking canes have gel handles which contour to the shape of your hand for all-day comfort.
Both walking canes and walking sticks are capped with a slip resistant rubber tip for additional traction but walking canes have more exceptional mobility assistance because of their diverse grips designed to avoid slippage.
The handle of a walking cane takes the pressure off your shoulder and wrist by placing you in a natural, upright, pain-free position with a 360 degree traction tip that stands next to you.
Walking sticks are more of a display item and will not help you much to get up and out of chairs and safely navigate sidewalks and stairs.
Walking canes sometimes come with a 4-legged tip and are called quad canes. A quad cane is everything you want in a cane and much more. Not only are these walking canes durable and stylish but also have a shock absorbing cushion top handle with reflective strap for added nighttime safety.
The ergonomic walking cane handle is designed to fit more comfortably in your hand while the K or square shaped base provides greater stability and can be rotated for left or right hand. No walking stick can maintain a comfortable grip for such long periods.
Conclusion
As we saw, walking canes are a better option than walking sticks if you are looking solely for a walking aid customized to provide you comfort and adjustability.
While walking sticks are ideal for casual short term moving, these sticks can’t act as full time walking aids. You can buy a walking stick as a walking companion for its aesthetic value.
Walking sticks come with magnanimous head designs that can make you feel invincible like an emperor, but they lose out on functionality because of this very reason.
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