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Are hiking staffs longer than walking sticks? What about trekking poles and hiking sticks? (I had to get all those keywords in there so you can find this page in the search engines.) Well, whatever you call them, they are supposed to help your knees more than anything, especially if you have a history of knee problems. They help you most when you are going downhill.
They also help you keep your balance, and you can use them to defend yourself against wild animals as well. I like to use a walking stick to rest my head on from time to time. I also use a walking stick as a mono-pod for steadying the camera.
What if you don't have knee problems, you are hiking on level ground, the squirrels aren't that vicious, and you prefer to sit down for a break? Then, for you, perhaps there is no point to using a walking stick. Actually, I don't use one most of the time. It's just another thing to carry.
Do they save you energy? Well, they take weight off your joints, but logic says you will also expend more energy overall if you are carrying them. I use a hiking staff at times, because my knees insist, and it is fun to poke at things with it, but it is not always a necessity. For what it's worth, the "father" of ultralight backpacking, Ray Jardine, doesn't recommend trekking poles.
If you do want good trekking poles, and you want them to be light, your options now include the incredible Bozeman Mountain Works Stix Xls Trekking Poles. They are made of a high-strength carbon fiber and weigh just 2.7 ounces each! I think that is half the weight of the nearest competition. You can find them at Backpackinglight.com.
Another option is to make your walking staffs along the trail. I often stop to cut a dead stick, which I use until I lose it (I always forget my walking stick somewhere-another reason I don't buy the expensive ones). If I still have it at the end of the trail, I leave it for the next hiker. This is a good option when you want to go light and simple, because even if they are heavier than high-tech trekking poles, you can leave them behind when you no longer need them.
Ski poles are good for trekking. It's probably best if you remove the baskets, especially if your hiking in wooded areas where they may catch on something. They are generally very light, and
Bamboo makes good lightweight hiking staffs. It is stronger than it looks, so you can use a piece that is only about 3/4" thick. I bought mine as decorative bamboo at Pier One Imports (four dollars for three six-foot pieces), and cut them to size. I glued some soft leather on for comfortable handgrips. Now I can reenact scenes from "Kung Fu" when I'm hiking.
There is a page on The Ultralight Backpacking Site on making carved hiking sticks.