Uplift your style: five of the best walking sticks

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Walking sticks and canes come in a variety of styles to suit all tastes and needs. There are some that come more of a stylish focus while others are more focused on practicalities. However if you look far enough you can find walking sticks and canes that cover all tastes; so why choose one or the other when you can have both?

Walking stick or Cane?

A cane is a more traditional design. They are usually good quality but need to be cut to the correct height for you. A good walking cane shop will measure you for the correct height, as once cut cannot be adjusted. The wrong height can result in bad posture and pain. A good cane is usually made of hardwood such as beech, hazel or chestnut. A good wooden cane, however, is often more expensive than aluminium.

Choosing a walking stick or a cane is a personal choice. Walking sticks are more commonly chosen as a mobility aid to provide a reliable and comfortable aid. A walking cane can be chosen both as a fashion accessory and walking aid; often they feature an ergonomic stylish handle. When selecting a cane you need to consider how comfortable the handle is in your hand and that you can distribute your body weight evenly.

Stylish walking cane’s can reflect your personality and can become less of a mobility aid and more of a fashion statement. Style of wood and handles are so vast that the choice is endless. They can be made in a variety of wood to suit your needs.

For example, bamboo hardwood is strong and lightweight, while beech is very durable and in natural light is a lovely light brown wood that can be stained.

A walking stick however can be either wood or aluminium. Aluminium sticks are designed to fold and are found to be more practical as they can be lightweight and folded away when not in use. Most standard folding sticks come with adjustable height settings. It is best however to seek advice as to how best set the correct height for you. There are various types of walking sticks including a swan neck stick which is designed for those who are more unstable on their feet. The stick is angled to allow more even distribution of your weight. Another option is a folding walking stick with a seat. These are ideal if you need to sit and rest when out and about. They are also quite lightweight but can be cumbersome and you need a flat surface to set it down.

Stylish walking sticks should be made to fit your height. A good general guide to getting the right fit of walking aid should be followed:

• In your normal shoes, place the base of your stick on a flat floor approximately 15cm from the side of your foot.
• Stand in a natural upright position
• Hang your arms naturally by your side with a slight bend at the elbow
• The wrist of your hand should be level with the top of the stick.

Five of the best walking staff

• My first choice is the folding walking stick. The most practical, economical and compact due to its folding ability. A folding stick can range typically from £15 upwards.
• Swan neck walking stick. One of the most economical and best for those who need to be more stable and allow more weight bearing. These also can range from £15 upwards.
• Aluminium folding walking stick with a seat. Ideal if you need to take a seated rest when walking. These can be quite lightweight and economical at around £30 upwards but can be cumbersome to use.
• My favourite choice of walking cane is a beautiful sophisticated unisex Oak Derby cane which comes with a silver plated collar. It can be made in various lengths to suit your needs. Such a beauty comes with a higher price at £60 upwards. You can find this at walking.sticks.co.uk .
• My last choice is a gorgeous eye catching handmade neon walking cane. Handmade to order you can customise and accessorize your stick, making it a practical fashion accessory for all ages. You can find my favourite at neon-walk.com.

Accessorizing your walking aid

Accessorize your walking stick or cane. There are a variety of accessories to enhance your walking aid whether it is a stick or a cane. My favourite list below:

• Wrist strap that is extremely useful in reducing chance of dropping to the floor and keeping it close. Can be used on all sticks and canes.
• Cane holder can be useful for attaching to the table edge and most other surfaces. Fits size 1.6 – 2.5 cm.
• Tastefully coloured folding aluminium walking sticks are fully adjustable in height and are lightweight and can be easily folded to store away. These sticks are very attractive with an eye catching wooden handle.
• Handmade embroidered folding walking stick bags are made in lovely linen and fully lined with a webbing carry strap and loop with attractive embroidery and are made to order. You can hang these on your scooter, wheelchair and even over your shoulder. These versatile and practical walking stick bags are beautifully made and you can find them in my Etsy shop.
• You can also buy and make various decorations to decorate your walking cane with stickers or place plates from holiday destinations. There are lots of ideas online.

Whatever you choose, it needs to suit your needs and tastes. Your stick must be the right weight, design and height. Walking sticks and canes are not just for ‘older people’ or for ‘disability’ but at any age you can combine functionality with fashion. I hope my top five choices have been helpful to you. My husband’s first walking stick was a practical folding aluminium stick. Tempted by the huge range of styles and colours available of both stick and cane’s he ended up with a huge range to suit his mood.

I would love to hear your feedback on thoughts and choices of walking aids so please do leave your comments below.