What do you need to make your own hand carved hiking sticks? A pocket knife and a walk in the woods. Be sure your knife is solidly built. You don’t need more than a three-inch blade, but it needs to be strong enough that it won’t snap on you when you hit a knot in the wood. A locking blade is a good idea too, if you value your fingers.
What type of wood should you use? Any type you want, but be aware of the differences. Many people like hardwood hiking sticks because they can be very beautiful once polished up. That’s fine if you don’t mind the extra work it takes to carve hardwoods. Also be aware that they are heavy, better suited for decorating the cabin than for using on long hikes.
One of my favorite trees for carved hiking sticks is poplar. It’s light, and one of the easiest woods to work with. Young poplars often grow in over-crowded stands, so cutting a few out won’t hurt the forest. If you cut it in the spring or early summer, you can almost peel the bark off by hand.
Northern White Cedar is a much tougher wood to carve, but it is beautiful, straight, and one of the lightest. In a cedar swamp, you can...