Like others here I have used a hiking staff (NOT poles) for more years than I want to count. I have used all sorts of them, wood, bamboo, metal, fiberglass, etc. I carry them while hiking, hunting, and working in the field. I use it for stability, to set up my pack as a rest (see The Complete Walker), for photography (as a length marker), as a jacob staff for precise compass work and as a monopod for my camera. Plus probably a hundred other things. One of those don't leave home without it tools.

My preference is for wood but I do have an aluminum one (a custom Crawford Survival Staff, without all the extras (like the knife). that I like very much because it will collapse (22 inches max) and go in my luggage for trips and where I might need to pack it up (climbing, etc.). It is much easier to carry in the car as well. It is a superb tool and finds use more often than most because of travel restrictions.

My all time favorite is a hickory one made from a tree from the Andrew Jackson (Ole' Hickory) estate. It is a little short (I like a 6 foot staff, this one is only 5), but I have used it for almost 30 years. I recently replaced the old crutch tip foot with a stainless steel spike/rubber foot from Lee Valley woodworking. I had colored tape on it for measuring and as a reference in photographs, but as I refinish it I am going to change that to different color wood stains.

My martial arts staff is a 6 foot chunk of Ipae made for me by my son. Although I have used it a few times, it is a little heavy for most field use (although it would be VERY hard to break.

I don't like poles (although my wife does) because they take two hands (Have to set one down to do anything and hard to use as a support for shooting) and are not instantly adjustable for length as Denis noted.

For around town, I carry a cane by Canemasters - provides lots of the same assistance and does not look so out of place (old grey guys are often seen with canes).

Respectfully,

Jerry