A hiking staff, cane, or whatever you care to call it, is a highly useful item, especially on uneven terrain. Recovering from a recent hip replacement, I find one even more useful.

I have used a staff for about the last three decades when hiking. They are really useful when fording a stream or poking through brush in snake country. An old room handles is just about as effective as the swanky hiking staffs, which can cost nearly $200 in some stores.