Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I had seen the African Walking Stick/Knobkerrie in the Cold Steel catalog and was struck by the familiar design. Despite the dearth of reviews, I put it on the Christmas wish list. And here it is Christmas day and I have one in my hand. (Makes it a bit hard to type...)
I have a vintage African walking stick, purchased at auction, that has been my companion on many walks over the years. It has held up well, but the tip now shows some wear and there are chunks missing out of the knob (perhaps from contact with another "knob", long before I had it). I wanted a "workhorse" version of the original, one I could bash up and thus save the antique from further distress.
The two sticks are beside me now, for comparison. The Cold Steel version is about 2 inches shorter and half again as thick in the shaft as the wooden one; the knobs are about the same size, though the burl head on my wooden one is more oval than round. I've just put them on a scale -- the polypropylene stick is just under 2 ounces heavier.
I am 6'4", and one of the things which attracted me to the Cold Steel stick was the 37" length -- many canes/sticks are shorter, and the 37" length is about the lower limit for me to have a comfortable angle of the arm when resting a stick on the ground. But this design is not really intended to serve as a cane; "walking sticks" are sticks you have with you when walking, and are typically carried rather than rapped upon the ground. The knob serves as a mace head for defense, but also is a counterbalance for the shaft, important for proper swinging of the arm.
The two sticks have very similar balance points, which suggests to me observation and care on the part of the designer(s) since a poor balance more rapidly tires the arm. Bent strongly across the knee, the polypropylene stick flexes less than 2 inches, then instantly returns to straightness. Rapped on the floor, the stick makes a good solid "thud". The knob fits comfortably in my largish hand; the knob might be slightly too large and the stick slightly too heavy for a person of slight frame to use constantly. The "beaded" shaft makes for a good grip.
Overall, I give this stick high marks. It is a worthy version of a classic design, and I look forward to having it with me on walks/hikes. Nothing better than having a third leg on a steep trail, or a longer arm with a heavier fist when things get tight.
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Followup --
I've had this product for a while now and am returning with some further impressions/insight.
Something I had been concerned about was the thermal characteristic of the polypropylene plastic; specifically, whether it would be uncomfortably chilly for winter use. I find the plastic is similar to wood in how it heats up and cools off -- I left it in the car overnight in below-freezing weather, took it in my bare hand in the morning, and it warmed up like the wooden staff I had left beside it. It will be a while before I can try the black material in full desert sun.
I've been putting the stick through the paces, and have found several uses for it which would perhaps surprise the makers:
1) Isometric exercise. Hold the stick with straight arms at chest level, gripping it with one hand at each end (one hand just below the knob), and put it under pressure like you are trying to bend it. (It will flex slightly.) While keeping it under tension, raise your straight arms in front of you until they are over your head, then reverse and bring the stick back down to your thighs. Now do the same thing with the stick vertical in front of you, and twist from side to side while keeping the stick flexed. A surprisingly effective workout; the stick flexes just enough to engage the muscles to keep it under tension, and your chest muscles get a workout too. Exchange your grip and repeat -- the "bead" toward the bottom of the stick is smaller than the one near the knob, and exchanging hands gives a different workout to hand and forearm. Try also a motion to the side like you are paddling a canoe, while keeping the stick under tension.
2) Tote yoke. I tried hanging two full bags (15-20 lbs each) on the stick. The beads keep the handles from slipping off, and the bead at the balance point makes for a natural grip when carrying at your side -- *much* more comfortable than carrying the same bags by the handles and easy to switch from hand to hand. I tried the same arrangement resting across my shoulder, and found the beads make a reasonably comfortable rest there. (A bandanna/t-shirt wrapped around that point might make it more comfortable for a long haul.) Instant yoke for carrying bags or buckets.
3) Foot massager. OK, I know this one is "out there" for people primarily considering this as a self-defense weapon, but it works! Roll the stick across the floor under your foot, with medium pressure. The various-sized beads on the staff allow different pressure points, and the geodesic head is great under the arch. After a long hike, a good way to relax the feet.
The only problem I found with the stick was a small, slightly sharp molding seam that went across one edge of the geodesic head. An emery board made short work of smoothing that off. I will say again that the stick may be slightly too heavy for daily use by a smaller person.
I continue to be pleased with this stick, and recommend it along the lines I have discussed.
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Cold Steel African Walking Stick, 37-InchAdapted for the western marketplace, the Cold Steel African Walking Stick features some of the best parts of traditional Zulu Kerries like an undulating shaft, and the traditional geodesic ball grip. However, instead of using a costly exotic hardwood, we've made ours out of black Polypropylene. This means that, in addition to being unbreakable, it's also impervious to the elements. It will never rot, warp, crack, splinter, swell, shrink, mildew or fade, and it's ready for all the wear and tear you, and the world, can dish out. Although its primary mission is to be a walking stick to aid one's balance when crossing uneven, slippery, wet or rough terrain, it can also serve as a pointer, lever, or probe. It also makes a formidable tool for self-defense in an emergency.
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