Scout Stave

When Baden-Powell first conceived the idea of the Boy Scout, part of the uniform that he designed included the hiking staff. Yes, indeed, he considered the hiking staff or ‘Scout staff’ to be an indispensable part of Scout equipment. This was for good reason, for the Scout staff has been and always will be a very useful and versatile piece of gear.

Baden-Powell, Scouting’s founder, suggested that a good staff should come to a Scout’s nose (although in many cases a stave may be a bit taller). Scouts can represent their accomplishments in its carvings and as Baden-Powell wrote, use it in, "making a stretcher, keeping back a crowd, jumping over a ditch, testing the depth of a river, keeping in touch with the rest of your patrol in the dark" and more.

A thick, heavy rubber band near the handle has many uses. Peep holes drilled at right angles to each other can be used to lay out a 90º corner. The same peep-hole, surprisingly works as a focusing tool something like a telescope. Brass tacks at one foot intervals make it a yardstick; mark the last foot with one inch intervals by notching the wood, and you will have a ruler. Wrap 50 feet of fishing line and a fish hook around the pole and cover with duct tape, both could be useful in many situations.

But walking and hiking is where the Scout stave finds itself most often nowadays. As a trail companion, you will enjoy hiking with it. You can buy one, such as the Heavy Duty Wooden Walking/Hiking Stick, or better still, you can cut and make one yourself.