Suggestions for a Hiking Stick/Monopod?

[marcust101]

Hi all,

I'll be in the French Alps for a couple of weeks at the end of August based in La Clusaz. I'll be hiking and biking around the area and want to travel light, one or two light cameras, a couple of rolls of film, a digisix and a pocket tripod.

But if walking I'd like to use a hiking stick/monopod as both a walking aid and camera support. Has anyone had any experience of a stick that would cover all of my needs and still fold into a suitcase for the plane?

I appreciate a tripod would be better but I'd rather not haul my tripod up and down the Alps for a week if I can help it.

A tall order perhaps but any suggestions are welcome.

Many thanks

Marcus

 

[Brad Bireley]

Try one of these.

http://www.flytyerscarryall.com/folstaf.htm

You can get the camera mount. And they also sell a small ball head for it.

Brad

 

[rxmd]

When hiking in the mountains, I personally wouldn't take a folding fly-fishing wading staff. After all, occasionally you *do* have to lean on it with your full weight, as opposed to just groping around for the bottom of the river. In the river, all that can happen is you get wet. In the mountains, it could be a long fall.

Why don't you just take the telescoping hiking poles of your choice and put a 1/4" screw at the top of the handle?

EDIT: It looks like there are a number of hiking sticks with tripod mount available now already, such as from Leki/Sierra, Gear for Adventure (somewhat awkward) and from Novoflex (product code BBSTOCK), if you don't want to tinker around yourself.

Philipp

 

[marcust101]

Thanks for the fast response Brad, I was hoping for something that could be used as a fairly sturdy hiking stick as well.

thanks

Marcus

 

[Flyfisher Tom]

Gitzo has a monopod that has had great reviews.

 

[eric]

I have a Bogen monopod. There is a special "walking stick" head you can attach to it. It looks like a round wooden ball as I recall.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

In the French Alps there are a ton of shops selling wooden hiking sticks.

Just use it to brace your camera when you need to.

 

[Talisker]

I've got a Novoflex-branded telescopic trekking pole as mentioned earlier in the thread (they are make by Lekki, who are probably the market leaders in trekking poles, and also sold under the Lekki brand - probably for less money if you can find one!). The wooden top unscrews to reveal a standard tripod bush. I've used a standard Lekki pole of similar construction for over ten years, so it should be durable.

 

[Graham Line]

There's a fairly sturdy one out called the "Sherlock" that has been available through REI and EMS at different times. The adjusting mechanism is kind of frustrating, but it does have a screw mount on the top and the option of a rubber foot or a spike on the bottom. A small ballhead is a good option. The 1/4 inch screws on a couple of these sticks are too deep to firmly attach a camera body without causing damage; you might want to improvise a rubber spacer. Getting these things on an airliner can be a bit of a problem, too.

 

[Brad Bireley]

I'm a big guy(225lb) & have used one & they are very sturdy. They hold my weight. I would not get one of the cheap knock-offs as they are not sturdy. And if you want it to fit in a suitcase....this does!

 

[mad_boy]

I've got a stick from Tracks model sherlock an are very happy with it.

It is a 2 element telescopic one. Telescopic is great, because you can quicky adjust height when hiking up or down (actually quite usefull) and you can adjust the height of the camera.

The wooden know on top screws off to reveal the standard camera mount screw.

The rubber pad at the bottom can be removed to reveal a sharp metal point for walking on ice.

Info http://moontrail.com/poles/sherlockstaff.html
and http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0.../102-4703693-2795308?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods

There is also a travel version that folds into 3 pieces, but I did not choose it since it looked less sturdy.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0.../102-4703693-2795308?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods

Not cheap, but good (life-time warrantee)

mad_boy

 

[StuartR]

I am selling my Gitzo Carbon Fiber monopod if anyone is interested:

It has a really right stuff quick release system installed and a manfrotto tilting adapter (so you can shoot it in portrait orientation without taking the camera off.
I will make a good deal for anyone who wants it. It is basically new and cost a great deal, but I am willing to sell it for a lot less.

 

[pab]

I've just spent a week in some very rugged terrain in Norway. I found an Ultrapod II wrapped tightly onto the head of a standard walking pole using the velcro strap worked very well indeed. It is much more adaptable in use than a pole permanently fitted with a tripod bush.

 

[rover]

I have this EMS hiking stick and it works well.

http://www.ems.com/catalog/product_...older_id=2534374302875694&bmUID=1157117116441

I actually have not yet used it as a monopod, just for trekking. It telescopes down pretty small, is very light and I believe I am correct that it is a rebranded Komperdell product.

 

[Bill58]

Manfrotto has a new one (black or silver aluminum) w/ quik-release extensions--I love mine