Survival Staff

Anyone have any thoughts or experience with this?<br><br>http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1870711165<br><br>Pete

Somehow they don't mention the weight of the product (or did I missed it). I think that most of the supplies inside are semi useless. As a vivid outdoor man you probably own all of them and of better quality. But the final judgment should be made after one treks with that staff for 10-15 miles. If you arm feels like you were power lifting weights all day than this is no a good product.<br><br>Matt

I'm in the market for another staff and saw that one on ebay. My first thoughts were, throw the knife away and get a real SAK. <br><br>I'm against carrying all of my eggs in one basket, so I'd probably continue to wear my current vest in case I lost the all in one survival staff. Besides, I prefer a wooden staff and will probably go with the CS quarterstaff or the 6' ratan staff they sell.

Hey <br><br>Does anyone know the website of the company that makes the Survival Staff.<br><br>Thanks.

I sent an e-mail to the seller, requesting information on a web site. I will let you know. Pete

Hi, the seller e-mailed back: They do not have a web site at this time. Here is the e-mail address. Pete<br>dlmcnew@mindspring.com <br> <br> <br><br>

here's something similiar but more pricy, it's made by pat and wes crawford<br><br>http://www.crawfordknives.com/html/staff.html<br><br>http://www.tadgear.com/edged%20tools/crawford_hiking-survival_staff.htm<br><br>

I have the Crawford Staff. It is a high quality unit that can be configured in 3 lengths, and has lots of options. IMHO it is vastly superior to the staff referenced by parmedicpete on ebay. <br><br>While I like this staff very much, I find I almost never carry it. I much prefer my Palm staff or other wood staffs for their "warmth" and overall easy carry (no hidden features, just light weight support with superior pace maintaining swingability).

A few years ago, I tried making a "survival staff" using some bits of aluminum tubing I had lying around, and I never got a unit that worked well enough as a staff to warrant carrying it on any kind of a trip. All the stuff in the handle screwed up the weight and the balance. <br><br> Light weight and "swingability" are critical to a decent staff, and while a staff is not an essential survival tool, it is indeed a very useful item to have in the outdoors. One of my very best was a replacement tool handle, all of $2.

Check out these other Survival Staves<br><br> Ranger Rick's staff <br><br>or this<br><br> Rescue Rod & easy walker <br><br>Another thing is....how the heck do you get all the stuff that's seemed to be jammed insided the rescue rod out ??? <br><br>

This is not a new idea, but one that, like the hollow handle survival knife rarely works well. A few items are nice on a staff; wrapped paracord to secure the all important wrist loop ( bring your hand UP into the loop and let it bear the wieght. Gripping a stick all day will exaust your hand), a tapered end to fit a Cold Steel Bushman for mimiking Ringo Starr in Caveman and some scribed measurements to determine the size of the bear that is circling back as you examine his/her tracks.

I have to agree with you, wood just seems to be 'the' material for a staff (IMHO). It has a 'warmth' metal staffs don't have, and doesn't clunk or rattle with every placement. Besides, I think during a fall or an unexpected ride down a river, the first thing your going to lose is going to be your staff, so I'd keep all your 'emergency' stuff strapped to your person, not your staff. Of course, a hollow staff for something like a folded trash bag or two might be something to think about, as long as you keep it really light in weight.

I have several walking sticks and hiking staffs, but find myself using just two of them the most. I bought the Crawford staff many years ago when I was less wise, still appreciate its unique design and quality, but have never been comfortable using it as either a staff or walking stick. Its blade can be easily removed so it is completely legal but it just seems foreign in my hand. I actually behaves well as a staff, not too heavy or strangely balanced, quiet with an excellent foot piece...but I just do not walk it.<br><br>Once you have a good stick you just cannot walk properly without it. Finding THIS stick it the issue. I am always scaning wood piles for the ultimate stick.<br><br>Back to the original question from Paramedicpete, I find any item that includes a "SAK STYLE" knife as part of it has usually made other less obvious "quality" choices. If they are going to charge $99 for a staff, they could at least provide a decent, real SAK.<br><br>I also find that if you do not walk with a staff or stick now, you probably will not walk with one later. None of my walking friends use a staff even though they have almost never seen me without mine. Before spending any money on a staff I would make one and see if it works for you.

I have been using a wooden staff I made for myself for many years now. Since I made it for myself, it is comfortable to hike with and really aids in maintaining my balance, especially downhill. I have seen various manufactured hiking/survival staffs over the years and have stayed away from these. I saw the survival staff on E-bay and just thought I would get a general idea of experiences on this one as well as others that are out there. Pete

I have been looking at the current favorite of Colin Fletcher from : Stoney Point , but have not yet decided to upgrade to higher tech.<br><br>I am guessing that this one would wait expectantly by the door as I grab my usual stick.

Okay guys and gals, I probably wasted some money that could have been used for better things (including paying bills) but… I went ahead and bought once of these staffs to try out and report back to the group. It came very quickly (USPS); I will not have time to really check it out on a hike for a while. It appears well made as a first impression. However, I have no doubt, one could build the same or better for a lot less money. Looking at the outside it has both heaver (550 paracord) and thinner nylon cordage wrapped from the top to about half way down the staff, very tightly, increasing the diameter for a somewhat comfortable hand grip. Two pouches hang on the outside, one with the multifunction Swiss Army Knife knock off, it is similar to the champion model and is made by Fury. While nowhere the quality of an original SAK, I am somewhat impressed with it as compared to some of the other SAK knock offs I have seen. I will try and examine some of the other components closer tonight if possible and let you all know what I find. Pete

I have to disagree with you on the wood staffs.I like wood staffs but I want something that you can do more than just walk with it.

I bought one to.Let me know how it works out with you<br><br>Thanks

Hello<br><br>To anybody that likes wood staffs Whistle Creek makes some good ones.They got some with a compass in the top.<br>There website is www.whistlecreek.com

I get the feeling that people using hiking staffs are a lot like archers and their bows, in that you have your trads who love the simplicity, warmth, feel and individuality of a good wooden staff and the techs that like a well machined and accessorized staff. Myself, I love a good longbow and a stout quarterstaff. A good wooden staff will do anything I need it to do from being a spear with a good lance head to a fishing and frogging spear with a frog gig attached. It'll pry, check the depth of a water crossing point, will carry lots of cord wrapped around it to hold the wrist loop in place and can be personalized by the carrier by attaching any number of things to it. Besides, it's difficult to whittle down an aluminum staff in a pinch to make a survival bow. :o)

Hello<br><br>I did'nt think of that.I guess you can do a lot with a wooden staff.Thanks for the information.

Very well said Longbow. I still keep trying to to cross over to the tech side of staffs, but keep slipping back to the traditional. <br><br>I am quiet curious to see how both paramedicpete and wildernessman enjoy this ebay staff. Let us all know.

Yep, me too. I'm always interested in what folks think of their new gear.

Sure thing<br><br>I will let the whole forum know what I think of the Staff when I get it.

Hey Everybody.My Survival Staff came in and I am going to tell everyone all about it just like I said I would.It is very light so your arm won't get tired.Let me tell you about the inside first.When you take the top cap off the first thing that falls out is a emergency blanket or shelter and it has a survival guide printed on it.The next thing is a little survival kit like the ones in survival knife handles.It has things like fishhooks,sinkers,line,band -aid,flint for fires,and some more stuff.And it has a compartment for water tablets,pills etc.<br>And the last thing is a storage tube to put trail mix ,nuts etc.<br>And now for the outside.Half of the staff is wrapped in rope and a little bit of the staff has twine on it.There is a bandana wrapped around it.I like it for the handle.A flashlight,back strap,swiss army knife,and a pouch full of survival idems.This is a great tool and I will not be in the woods without it.<br>

I am currently in the midst of constructing one myself.
my stick is a survival staff.
I constucted the staff out of 1 1/4 aluminum emt (pipe that electrictions use to run fire alarm wire.
it is 57 inches tall and has a rubber cane bumber on the bottom. inside the hollow space i have place acrylic tubes approx 8 inches in length and 1 inch in diameter.
each tube is filled with different survival items with one tube filled with survival food tablets.
on the outside of the staff i took an 8 x 10 foot piece of heavy poly (6 mil) and folded it to a 10"x10" and placed it inside a food storage bage and vacuum packed it. I the wrapped it around the top of the staff approx. 6 inches from the top and held it in place with ranger ricks ranger bands. then I wrapped approx 60 feet of 550 paracord around it to create a simple yet comfortable grip. on the top I place a 1 1/4 rubber cap that I epoxied a button compass. I then primed and pained the staff with a green and white flec type paint. I will post a couple of pictures of this staff and its contents as soon as i can get a chance. it was preety cool to make and is very effective in all situations.
good luck,
woodsman

Where did you get the acrylic tubes from ?

Is there an online source?

If you are making a staff or walking stick and want it to be wood, and if you want it to have some use in a survival situation, but you don't want to have anything hanging off. You can drill a wide hole only a few inches down, put matches in there or fishing kit and when your done just fill the rest of the hole with candle wax. If there are matches in there they will be secure and waterproof.
Just thought someone could use this info.

Frank

Schwert, I've used the monopod you linked to. While I found it most useful as a monopod for shooting, I don't like it for a walking staff in any critical conditions. My experience is that it will release and shorten if under significant pressure, or... you've twisted the fittings so tight that you might have trouble collapsing the stick for storage. And it is too frail for lateral support when fully extended.
Just my opinion.

The Crawford Survival Staff has a shooting rest that you can buy with it.It looks easy to make so you can put one on your walking stick.

the tubes were from some fishing jigs i bought at an outdoor expo last year. havnt tried to find the elsware but i would think an art and craft store or even a mil surp, marine or a camping store may have them to store maps. these tubes are rather thin and not hard thick acrylic as you may have thought. also romeo and juliet churchills come in a nice tube that can be used as well.
good luck
happy new year
woodsman <img src="images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Ahhh...fishing jig tubes....
What a great idea ! <img src="images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Did I miss it! No one has mentioned the hazards of metal staffs in LIGHTNING COUNTRY. Nothing like attracting a lightning bolt, now and again. Wood is much better!