Walking canes for men

[GiddyRobin]

So I'm back again asking about things for DH. 😂 (Last time I bought him 3 aftershaves, thank you lot!)

This time a wee bit more sensitive, so any advice would be helpful. Years back, DH got thrown off a horse and trampled. Shattered his hip and thigh, lots of physical therapy and surgery. Surprisingly, he's still very active in spite of it (only 40), but as soon as it gets colder the limp starts and the cane comes out.

He's been using some black thing he hates since he was given it by a doctor yonks ago. I think it embarrasses him to think much about it, but it's scuffed and a mess. I'd like to buy him something a bit nicer but also practical as we're rural and it gets muddy, out with the dogs, mucking out the horses.

I'm not even sure what I'm after. He doesn't like curved handles like a traditional walking stick. I've thought about having one made, but I don't know if height and things come into it? He's 6'3 and slim.

Nothing fancy. Just some directions if anyone knows, as this is navigating a bit in the dark, but I think I can do it by measuring his old cane if need be.

How about a nice craft type of stick- made from a nice piece of wood, perhaps with a bit of carving? Sort of thing you can find on Etsy.

a google search brings up
https://www.walkingsticks.co.uk/

See, I love this idea and think he would too. With it being the first time I've bought one (or even he's bought one), I was a bit nervous to look at traditional avenues? Wasn't sure if I should be looking at particular sites. But this is exactly what he'd love.

Height does come into it ground to wrist. Measure the one he has? You csn get ones carves for a specific hand ie left or right hand side user

It doesn’t fit your brief of “a bit nicer” but loads of people, me included, use walking poles when out hiking. They’re extendable so easy to carry around if you aren’t using them, and the base is usually slightly sprung so they don’t jolt, with rubberised tip and a good grip handle. You can get “straight” ones or ones with a t shape on the handle. They’re more what fit people use for walking, than “old person walking stick”, iyswim. Though also used by people of any age as needed when out walking.

@FrippEnos I saw that and it looked good! I think I'm just unsure and wondered if anyone had experienced buying one, I don't want to get something and make a mess of it.

@Betterthanitseems I thought it might, the one he has actually elongates which annoys him as it rattles. 🤦‍♀️ I like the idea of being able to choose a hand. It's his left hand so again, I don't know if any of this makes a difference. It's a big huge world we've not looked at.

This could definitely be useful for when he's out and about! I'm thinking of something for work/every day too, he's quite reserved so I'm not sure he'd feel comfortable with one in those scenarios, but this is a great idea too. Can I ask how you measure? Is it just by his height?

And yes, I could totally Google but I find with things like this it's a bit easier talking to people who might have experienced it! Apologies if it all sounds a bit haywire.

they do a allegedly comprehensive guide to sizing

https://www.walkingsticks.co.uk/blog/how-tall-should-your-walking-stick-be.html?nv-hg

Just to say I haven't bought a walking stick and there are other websites out there.

That's pretty helpful actually, thank you. It's quite difficult buying for someone else but that gives a decent visual at least.

I have a walking stick with a flattish handle rather than curved like a crook. I got it from a furniture charity shop but have also seen them cheaply in second hand/antique shops. If you want brand new our local Timpsons shop had a rack of them (not the huts but a proper shop).

This is the handle I have and it's very comfortable. £2 from a charity shop.
www.walkingsticks.co.uk/gents-beech-derby-walking-stick.html

Oh thank you! I definitely think that handle would go down well, it's more similar to what he has at the moment but more comfortable looking.

I saw some beautiful walking sticks in a garden centre. They really didn’t look like walking aids - just lovely pieces of wood.

Oh brilliant idea! I feel a bit less bemused now. I can't even remember him getting measured for the first one now, it was all a bit mad, so I was wondering if there was some sort of process I was missing. 😂 I'll check the local garden centre! Thank you!

Like this sort of thing - any outdoor shop sells them (millets, mountain warehouse, decathalon, Cotswold outdoors etc)

https://www.mountainwarehouse.com/outdoor/equipment/walking-poles/?_gl=11bs01p0_up*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjw99e4BhDiARIsAISE7P-a3Xl-zsTkHwO_gvxman8elBVK4-2Q7GJudn2rT3oKzurm56cq-0gaAoJDEALw_wcB&gbraid=0AAAAADoKbU_OczdqTyL0QqOAvae8ihn8t

excuse stupidly giant link.

They can be each easily adjusted to the right length - they’re telescopic. So you can adjust them to be shorter if you’re walking uphill or longer if you’re going downhill, if you want.

These look really good actually, I googled and was getting Gandalf sort of staffs! Looks like he's getting naice and practical. 😁 Thanks so much!

Ah you’re welcome! They really are great. It’s a sort of half twist to loosen the section of pole so you can extend it, and don’t extend one section too much (beyond the little line that says “don’t extend beyond this line” or similar) as they don’t like it. Sometimes the little rubber bit on the bottom gets lost but they often come with a spare or you can buy them separately. Good luck!

Cool Crutches make a good range. Lots of pretty colours but also plain black etc.

My main advice is to just start using it. It feels nerve wracking to begin with, especially using it in the office for the first time. But it soon comes as normal as putting on shoes.

I use a stick some days, an electric chair some days and nothing on other days (my condition fluctuates wildly). It's just normal now.

And I think the more people use these things in the office the more comfortable it makes other people feel they can.

I struggled for years without one at work. To self conscious to dare, even though I used it a lot at home. But now it's just background noise at work, like a handbag or a pair of glasses

@Talipesmum This is so useful, I really appreciate it! It honestly looks enough for him to happily use around town too, so it's not like it'll be off-putting to his eye. Hugely, hugely appreciated! And he won't have any excuse for accidentally poking my eye out in the car. 🤣

@SweetSakura Thank you, this is extremely helpful and reassuring. He's also in a "I can't in public" mode most of the time, unless he has to, but at home even in the summer he always uses it. The door bell goes and it almost gets launched.

Luckily he WFH a lot, but on the days he doesn't I can see how physically drained he is and it upsets me, so I just want to make things as easy for him as possible. Even if it's by him not having an NHS provided cane. I really hope he reaches a point where that shame fades, so your comment is extremely reassuring to me. Thank you. ❤️

Slightly off topic but if he hasn't got a plug in heat pad I highly recommend one
At worst you're warm but it helps me with my back pain and endometriosis massively and I often sit with it when I WFH

Right now I want one, too! 🤣 I usually force hot waterbottles on him until one year I mottled his skin! Poor man was mortified and thought he was dying for a minute! Brilliant idea!

I don't have a link for the one I have as it's not available now but this kind of thing
Not expensive either

amzn.eu/d/7VsU7aF

I've just ordered one, thank you! This looks perfect and it's actually flexible so he can rearrange it a bit. Genius!

You'd think I lived under a rock or something, sometimes. 🤣

Yeah I use mine sometimes between me and the back of my chair or you can have it on your lap and sort of draped over your hip

I get cold at my desk and it's much more convenient than a full heated blanket!

Weirdly, tobacconists sell walking sticks OP. The rubber bit on the bottom is called a ferrule, and you can buy spares.