Ditto to the cane idea.

Seems to me, if I was prepping to walk 25 miles and needed some defensive capabilities, I'd be carrying a good, stout hickory walking stick.

It's a substantial deterrent, and a capable weapon in the hands of someone who knows the basics.

(I'm leery of knives; they're a totally last-ditch option. Like it or not, a knife fight means close contact with the personal fluids of a high-risk individual.)

Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best.