Walking canes for hiking can easily be made at home.
A walking cane is a useful tool when hiking or going on nature walks. They help you distribute weight as you walk and provide extra support when you begin to grow weary. Making a homemade walking cane is a great way to save money and really connect with nature. You can make one for yourself exactly to your liking or make a unique gift for a friend. A homemade walking cane requires only a few materials and you may have several of them on hand already.
Find a large stick of 5 or 6 feet in length. It should have a circumference a bit bigger than the handle of a baseball bat.
Use a utility knife to remove all the bark from the branch.
Let the branch dry in a warm, dry place for three or four weeks.
Sand the dry branch with sandpaper until it is smooth and even all over.
Apply wood stain to your branch. Use a paintbrush to cover the whole branch.
Let the stain dry and apply a second coat if needed.
Apply a weather sealant to the walking cane to protect it during use outdoors.
Items you will need
- Large stick
- Utility knife
- Sandpaper
- Wood stain
- Paintbrush
- Weather sealant
Tip
- Go to a park or camping ground to find interesting branches to use as canes.
Warning
- To avoid splinters, be sure to remove any tiny wood fragments when sanding.
Photo Credits
- old man holding his walking cane image by Gina Smith from Fotolia.com
