Wading staff choice

mt_flyfisher said:
Riverstick custom made wading staffs made by Rick Humphrey in British Columbia are probably the best heavy duty wading staffs available. You can order them in whatever length you want, and they will probably last a lifetime (with easily replaceable components as might be needed).

I’ve had 2 of them in slightly different lengths. The only negative about them in my opinion is that they are a bit on the heavy side if you’re going to be hiking a long distance and don’t want to carry the extra weight. (I also have a Simms collapsible graphite wading staff which is considerably lighter weight, but is not as sturdy and not as easily put together of taken apart.)
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I e-mailed Rick Humphrey today ( 3/14), he sent a quick reply to let me know he isn't shipping to the US at this time because of the tariff situation.
 
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Penngift60 said:
I e-mailed Rick Humphrey today ( 3/14), he sent a quick reply to let me know he isn't shipping to the US at this time because of the tariff situation.
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That seems strange. Should be very easy to calculate any tariff and just add to the price. Anyone shipping from US to Canada has to calculate Canadian tariffs plus the big GST and VAT taxes
 
greywolf said:
That seems strange. Should be very easy to calculate any tariff and just add to the price. Anyone shipping from US to Canada has to calculate Canadian tariffs plus the big GST and VAT taxes
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I didn't ask for an explanation. Maybe he just doesn't want bothered with that stuff.
 
Penngift60 said:
I didn't ask for an explanation. Maybe he just doesn't want bothered with that stuff.
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I have purchased a couple wading staffs from him in the past, and sent him a message this morning via another forum that he and I are both members on. FYI, here is his reply that I just received.

IMG_7278.jpeg


I figured that the tariff involved added paperwork for him, but I hadn’t thought that there might be additional paperwork involved with refunding previously collected tariffs. So I can appreciate his position at the point. (Rick is a great guy to do business with, in addition to producing great wading staffs.)

As an aside, Rick is from Campbell River, BC, which is a fantastic place to visit (one of my all time favorite places) on Vancouver Island. If you ever have the chance to go there you can fish and catch salmon in the Campbell River right in town, and pick up one of Rick’s wading staffs at the same time. 😀
 
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I realize I could contact him, but do you think he would be willing to build a staff with more sections (like 6 or 5) so it folds up smaller like my Folstaf?

I realize it would be heavier, but if so, I may consider, one way or another...
 
Bamboozle said:
I realize I could contact him, but do you think he would be willing to build a staff with more sections (like 6 or 5) so it folds up smaller like my Folstaf?

I realize it would be heavier, but if so, I may consider, one way or another...
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You could ask, but more sections wouldn’t work with the holster as it’s presently designed.

He uses a hammer holster to hold the wading staff (my most recent Riverstick has a Perma Pouch 451 hammer holster). That hammer holster holds 4 sections perfectly, but it’s not large enough to hold 5 or more sections.

Even if a person was able to find a larger hammer holster (something like a sledge hammer holster perhaps 😀) I think you would then have to be concerned about a shorter sectioned wading staff accidentally bouncing, or falling out of the holster. A hammer holster works perfectly now; I’m afraid it wouldn’t work as well with changes in the holster or with the wading staff’s design.

I’ve also owned and frequently used 2 Folstaf’s over the years, which were definitely lighter weight and with more sections than the Riverstick, but other than being heavier, which is also a good thing from the standpoint of its strength and sturdiness, I personally wouldn’t want to change it.
 
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mt_flyfisher said:
You could ask, but more sections wouldn’t work with the holster as it’s presently designed.
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IF I ever purchased a Riverstick, the first thing I was planning to get rid of was the hammer holder so that would be a non-issue for me... I prefer something totally enclosed for a lot of reasons.

In the past I fabricated a custom leather holster for my Folstaf. Now I use a MOLLE/PALS water bottle pouch and a second pouch holds one of my folding nets.

In a perfect world, I could find someone to fabricate me just the multi-sectioned portion of a staff with the same number of sections and the same swage and flare joints as a Folstaf, but made of titanium.

I have my own ideas on how to eliminate the pulling apart problems associated with shock corded folding staffs and how to make it self-serviceable like the Riverstick. I just don't want to cannibalize one of my two Folstafs to experiment and I think titanium would be ideal for a wading staff...

Just expensive. 😉
 
I wonder why he wouldn’t just pass the tariffs off on the consumer who is willing to pay the price.
 
Bamboozle said:
Which MAY make you consider ski poles, trekking poles, EMT or sticks.
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I'm a big fan of ski poles. I've used glorified broomsticks (still have one that's perfectly good) and collapsible wading staffs (destroyed after two seasons because I lean on them pretty hard).

Ski pole has a few advantages:
  • You can grip the top with your hand and push out with more force than you could using a standard fist grip. Very handy in a strong current, or when you're climbing up a steep bank.
  • They're very strong.
  • They're light.
  • They float (also a disadvantage because they can float away when you're not paying attention).
  • If you buy used, they're very cheap.

I had one I used for years and lost it in high water. That's when I tried the broomstick and the wading staff. Ultimately, I had to go back to the ski pole. Possibly it's just because it's what I'm used to carrying, but I feel much more confident, particularly in high water, with a ski pole.
 
JimKennedy said:
I'm a big fan of ski poles. I've used glorified broomsticks (still have one that's perfectly good) and collapsible wading staffs (destroyed after two seasons because I lean on them pretty hard).

Ski pole has a few advantages:
  • You can grip the top with your hand and push out with more force than you could using a standard fist grip. Very handy in a strong current, or when you're climbing up a steep bank.
  • They're very strong.
  • They're light.
  • They float (also a disadvantage because they can float away when you're not paying attention).
  • If you buy used, they're very cheap.

I had one I used for years and lost it in high water. That's when I tried the broomstick and the wading staff. Ultimately, I had to go back to the ski pole. Possibly it's just because it's what I'm used to carrying, but I feel much more confident, particularly in high water, with a ski pole.
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I think you're talking about a T grip handle - which is what the trekking pole I use has.
And I like it better than a fist grip handle too
 
JimKennedy said:
I'm a big fan of ski poles. I've used glorified broomsticks (still have one that's perfectly good) and collapsible wading staffs (destroyed after two seasons because I lean on them pretty hard).

Ski pole has a few advantages:
  • You can grip the top with your hand and push out with more force than you could using a standard fist grip. Very handy in a strong current, or when you're climbing up a steep bank.
  • They're very strong.
  • They're light.
  • They float (also a disadvantage because they can float away when you're not paying attention).
  • If you buy used, they're very cheap.

I had one I used for years and lost it in high water. That's when I tried the broomstick and the wading staff. Ultimately, I had to go back to the ski pole. Possibly it's just because it's what I'm used to carrying, but I feel much more confident, particularly in high water, with a ski pole.
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I, too, am a big believer in the ski pole. It never collapses which is a blessing and a curse - for air travel. I am headed out west this summer and in planning gear realized my ski pole was a no go so I have an old Black Diamond hiking pole which is proving to be very good. It is basically the same as the current Patagonia pole (which is likely just a hiking pole) but is half the cost.
 
Bamboozle said:
IF I ever purchased a Riverstick, the first thing I was planning to get rid of was the hammer holder so that would be a non-issue for me... I prefer something totally enclosed for a lot of reasons.

In the past I fabricated a custom leather holster for my Folstaf. Now I use a MOLLE/PALS water bottle pouch and a second pouch holds one of my folding nets.

In a perfect world, I could find someone to fabricate me just the multi-sectioned portion of a staff with the same number of sections and the same swage and flare joints as a Folstaf, but made of titanium.

I have my own ideas on how to eliminate the pulling apart problems associated with shock corded folding staffs and how to make it self-serviceable like the Riverstick. I just don't want to cannibalize one of my two Folstafs to experiment and I think titanium would be ideal for a wading staff...

Just expensive. 😉
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I replaced the holder with snacks enclosed unit on my Riverstick. Also added an extendable lanyard to make sure I do not lose it.
 
The carabiner broke on one of the staffs I lost, and never knew til it was too late.
Repaced it with one that was somewhat heavier
 
Aluminum ski pole with holes drilled so it sinks. I take the basket off as it moves through the water easier and always tied to my belt with a plastic snap. Goodwill or free. Make it "your way"!
 
dryflyguy said:
The carabiner broke on one of the staffs I lost, and never knew til it was too late.
Repaced it with one that was somewhat heavier
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I use some little carabiners for my net, wading staff, etc. After reading this I found these and ordered a pack. Hope they don't open or break.

 
I had an orvis wading staff, lasted about 15 years. I still have it and it's functional but man is it beat to hell. I purchased another one about 4 years ago, even though they are expensive, spread that over the life of the product it's not very expensive. A wading staff is a must have for many of the rivers I fish.
 
Shawn_H said:
I go with aluminum hiking trekking poles from amazon. You get 2 for about $40 - $50 - used to be a lot less a few years ago. But having a backup is important - you will lose and/or break them. And once you get used to having it you feel lost without it.
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These are a better choice than those folding wading staffs. Much more durable.
 
I’ve never really been a wading staff guy, but I do carry a cheap collapsible one for certain streams.

Unfortunately, I just blew out my quadriceps tendon and I’m having surgery tomorrow. I know I’ve got a long road before I’m back in the creek, but when I do get there, I want something solid and reliable—not another flimsy collapsible staff.

A buddy of mine has an older one-piece metal staff (I think it’s an old Folstaf), and I really like the idea of something that sturdy that sinks.

Are there any modern equivalents available to that style? Preferably one-piece, durable, and built to take weight.
 
Paul6.5 said:
...A buddy of mine has an older one-piece metal staff (I think it’s an old Folstaf), and I really like the idea of something that sturdy that sinks...
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There is no such thing as a one piece Folstaf. They were always multi piece with shock cord.
 
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