A hiking stick is used by many as a walking aid. It can also serve its purpose by removing grass or other debris from your walking path or scare away any interfering wild animal like snakes etc while you go for your walks. But do you really need a hiking stick that is made of hardwood while you go for hiking ? while the normal tendency would be to say ‘yes’ considering its multiple utilities, it is not absolutely critically important to have one. Nevertheless, it makes your hiking experience easier.  

Do-It-Yourself

A strong brand of a poplar tree can make a good home-made hiking stick.  Look out for the poplar bushes, and select the ones which are all growing together. Do not break any tree unless they are tightly held together. It is alright to make your own hiking stick, but let us not destroy any part of a forest we love so much. Other than poplar, white cedar  also provides a good alternative for a home-made hiking stick.

Cutting Down The Correct Tree To Get Your Hardwood Hiking Stick
 
While picking up wood for your hiking stick, be careful to choose areas which are thick bushes and could do with a little bit thinning. You also have to know which tree to cut. Let us not destroy ten trees to choose only one that we need. Then the whole exercise is more destructive than pleasurable.
 
So to choose the right tree is of critical importance. Check out its height, strength and thickness before you chop. The right height of a hiking stick is that it should sit at around your armpit. But then, there are some people who use their hiking sticks which are as long as their own height or even higher.
 
The carving of the body and head can be done according to your choice. The bottom can be covered with leather. This not only looks good but can be handy as it prevents from slipping while walking through rough areas.

Making the Purchase

For all those who do not have the time or inclination to go through the entire process of choosing and carving their own hiking stick can make a visit to the nearby sporting shop and choose a hardwood hiking stick to suit his or her own choice. While this is an easy way out, the pleasure of choosing, carving your own personalized hiking stick is definitely worth the sweat and effort.