Whenever I think of walking sticks as weapons, I recall the classic Robin Hood/Little John encounter on the bridge - your home turf, QJS...

I get a lot of use out of my collapsible pair of Lekis, which I have had for many years. They have been everything from tent poles to photo scales and measuring rods. "Defensively," I have used them to encourage snakes to leave the path.

In a brawl, they would be better than nothing, but would soon be reduced to scrap, I suspect. While I really like and use my Leki sticks, the best all round bargain is a slightly modified shovel handle from the local hardware store- fully functional and very cheap, and of much more use in the RH/LJ ssituation.

I really cherish a hiking staff as I age - they definitely help you get over the hill. Someday I will be in the market for a tactical walker. What features would that have?