Do you actually use a monopod as a ...

[Don_ih]

An idiot in an F-150 15 years ago made it so I need a walking stick for any king of strenuous walking

I was genuinely wondering what kind of camera an F-150 was when I read that.

 

[DREW WILEY]

I have an old clamp device laying around intended to turn an ice axe into a monopod, or essentially a tripod is stabbed into the snow. Worthless once I moved up to 6X7 gear; even more worthless now that glaciers are disappearing. You can buy big walking sticks with a removable top and 1/42-20 camera thread inside, but they're not as convenient as conventional trekking poles. I really don't see any realistic substitute for a tripod. If something can be handheld successfully, that's what I'll do, and ignore halfway options.

When my dad retired, he gathered up all kinds of fascinating semi-twisted hardwood poles and turned them into beautiful staves, or what he called, Moses staffs, and gave them to elderly people. When he got to that point himself, and couldn't stand the thought of using a can, he used one of those himself. Adding a monopod feature would be a fun woodshop project. But for my personal use, I've already got nice carbon fiber tripods in addition to my heavy wooden ones, reducing carry weight as I myself progress through my 70's and beyond. A spring-loaded serious quality trekking pole adds merely a pound or so. No sense having a compromise device.

 

[abruzzi]

I was genuinely wondering what kind of camera an F-150 was when I read that.

I've been in 3 motorcycle accidents in my life and all involved F150 trucks, and all the drivers fault. I now have a low opinion of Ford drivers (oddly enough, the first was in a single cylinder bike, the second in a twin, and the third in a triple, so assuming I never buy a 4 cylinder, I may be safe.)

 

[DREW WILEY]

Well, with the Raiders team and their fans having moved a whole state further east, you're less safe from drunken Ford drivers than ever.

 

[snusmumriken]

other than as balance for doddery old men one hiking pole is worse than none at all if you are covering any distance because it unbalances the effort of walking to one side of the body

You might think that if you have never had a leg injury. For long-term use you are probably right (though I would question why a healthy person needs sticks at all). For an injured person trying to recover, a stick on the opposite side of the body allows you to finesse how much weight you are putting on the injured leg. It permits a more balanced walking style, as opposed to the rolling gait that results if you put your whole weight on the bad side.

In any case, the 'doddery old men' bit was unnecessary to the point you were making. I assume you are not old. I hope you will be one day, and then you will know.
EDIT: Oddly enough, I find you are just a year younger than me.

And if you are seriously using a monopod as a walking stick due to infirmity and not an energy saving walking aid perhaps consider informing the rescue services where you are going before setting off.

Really? A touch patronising, don't you think?

 

[250swb]

The ageist remarks are not welcome here. are You upset because you don’t see mommy?

What is ageist about explaining the dynamics of hiking poles and how they enable the saving of energy on a hike? I guess you are suggesting the opposite, which would be ignorance? I don't want anybody to set off thinking a single hiking pole or a monopod is a great idea for mobility, and it isn't, it is a mild convenience on a short walk if you can't balance by your own devices. And who is 'mommy', good grief that's a bit weird.

 

[250swb]

If it was good enough for Gandalf ....
View attachment 341546
If memory serves, one of the well known manufacturers actually makes a walking pole with a monopod head on it.
Or is it a walking pole manufacturer who makes it - I'm not sure.

Well that's like suggesting somebody using a hiking pole is equivalent to carrying a witches wand, or a sword, or a Japanese fighting staff. On the other hand you could be right, I'm sure when people get a monopod in their hand they enact all the powerful scenarios ready to banish their enemies.

 

[MattKing]

Moderator's hat on:
Cut it out folks. If someone wants to walk with a cane or walking stick or even two walking sticks, then it is up to them - it doesn't make them "doddering" or even unsafe on their feet! Comments like "fool" about other people's preferences or needs are not welcome here.
Moderator's hat off.

 

[Vaughn]

Ha! I guess I’m one of the “doddery old men.” You may not have noticed, but a single walking stick- a stave- is pretty common and has been in use for thousands of years and not just by the infirm. It was standard issue with the Boy Scouts when I was hiking as a kid. But for everyone’s benefit I’ll let the authorities know when I go out for a hike with my monopod and Rolleicord

Agreed...handy even if one's feet are large.

I made my own a year ago while on a solo backpack trip to Redwood Creek (food for four nights, 4x5 camera, about 65 lbs total). For the constant creek crossings I would be taking as I made my way a few miles up the creek, I used a stout alder pole about 2 inches in diameter. Hiking 'sticks' would have been useless in the strong hip-deep currents. It actually felt good to have the extra weight of my pack on my back -- seemed to add a little stability on my crossings.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I've been in 3 motorcycle accidents in my life and all involved F150 trucks, and all the drivers fault. I now have a low opinion of Ford drivers (oddly enough, the first was in a single cylinder bike, the second in a twin, and the third in a triple, so assuming I never buy a 4 cylinder, I may be safe.)

Wise move not to continue the mathematical progression. After years of motorcycle riding, accident free, I broke my leg skiing, eleven new joints below the knee and six months in a cast up to my hip, skied 8 months and 6 days after the accident but I acquired such a fear of being rear ended, the I gave up the motorcycle because I could no longer enjoyed it without the fear.

Well, with the Raiders team and their fans having moved a whole state further east, you're less safe from drunken Ford drivers than ever.

That was after the Raiders got $10 million dollar from Los Angeles and left a year later. We went for years without a NFL team because the public would not support bribing another team to come. On the positive side, we learned we could watch all the football games of television, saving enough ticket money to be able to buy the game ticket and fly to the Super Bowl wherever it end up being played.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

... regular piece of field kit?

Yeah or Nay, what's your reasoning in taking a decision?

Yes, I'm on a pod. Use tremendous stability it is much easier to carry than a tripod.

 

[250swb]

In any case, the 'doddery old men' bit was unnecessary to the point you were making. I assume you are not old. I hope you will be one day, and then you will know.
EDIT: Oddly enough, I find you are just a year younger than me.

I'm 67, and if that makes me ageist the mind boggles at how ancient some people must be to feign offense. But the very fact that advice about how NOT to put your back out and walk efficiently while carrying all your photo gear is attacked is far more worrying than how people use age to defend their perceived hierarchy on the forum. As you get older a bad back can be a debilitating thing, and making it worse is the easy part.

 

[snusmumriken]

I'm 67, and if that makes me ageist the mind boggles at how ancient some people must be to feign offense. But the very fact that advice about how NOT to put your back out and walk efficiently while carrying all your photo gear is attacked is far more worrying than how people use age to defend their perceived hierarchy on the forum. As you get older a bad back can be a debilitating thing, and making it worse is the easy part.

We have been asked to stop (post #83).

 

[MattKing]

Moderator hat on.
There is a difference between advice and personal experience on one hand, and rather rude and dismissive labelling on the other. We have seen both on this thread - please stick to the advice and personal experience, and avoid the latter.
Moderator hat off.

 

[BrianShaw]

I'm 67, and if that makes me ageist the mind boggles at how ancient some people must be to feign offense. But the very fact that advice about how NOT to put your back out and walk efficiently while carrying all your photo gear is attacked is far more worrying than how people use age to defend their perceived hierarchy on the forum. As you get older a bad back can be a debilitating thing, and making it worse is the easy part.

For the record, I appreciate all of the advice and experience shared about non-photographic uses of monopods. As a peer, I chucked about the various comments and take no offense. I took it as a bit of British humour…. and I always liked both British humor and British food and British beer.

Just the other day I took a monopod fitted with a quick release on a photo expedition but didn’t use it for any purpose. As an afterthought, I should have, for one purpose or another.

 

[DREW WILEY]

One thing I'm sure of - I'll never buy another trekking pole made in China. I've had em literally snap fording streams, and the use of plasticizers on their vinyl handles causes skin rashes on your hands. I stick with Austrian made Leki or Komperdell poles with genuine cork or rubber handles, and preferably with internal shock absorbing springs. Im almost 74, but my knees are in better shape than in my 40's due to the routine use of such sticks. Komperdell also make a big adjustable hiking pole which doubles as a monopod, though that's not a satisfactory substitute for a real tripod for me.

The invention of Leki sticks versus ordinary ski poles is what allowed Reinhold Messner to make the first alpine-style solo ascent of Everest, though he no doubt had an ice axe along too. For backpacking use, I use two shock-absorbing Komperdell poles, one with a vertical handle, the other with a cane-like cork handle. Both have carbide points and a removable snow or mud basket;
but the cane version comes with an optional rubberized cane tip too. In the hills, one if often on slanted terrain where it's helpful to have one stick slightly longer than the other; and both these styles are length adjustable.

I also use them to prop my backpack up after removing it, if a convenient tree or rock is not nearby, keeping the pack upright, so I can pull my carry gear out of the top compartment without getting it dirty, like if it were laying flat in weeds or soil. Did that numerous times a few days ago carrying my 8x10, though I only came home with one actual shot.

When just out with a little shoulder bag with MF or 35mm in it, I only take one pole. No matter how fit and experienced one is, or how good the tread on their boots, wet grass, mud, ice, and loose gravel will continue to be slippery. And any outdoorsman who wants to live long enough un-crippled to need a cane in ordinary life would be well advised to hike with a trekking pole or two in the meantime. Upright walking hominids no doubt learned the advantages of walking staves hundreds of thousands of years ago. Friar Tuck wasn't the first.

 

[Sirius Glass]

One thing I'm sure of - I'll never buy another trekking pole made in China. I've had em literally snap fording streams, and the use of plasticizers on their vinyl handles causes skin rashes on your hands. I stick with Austrian made Leki or Komperdell poles with genuine cork or rubber handles, and preferably with internal shock absorbing springs. Im almost 74, but my knees are in better shape than in my 40's due to the routine use of such sticks. Komperdell also make a big adjustable hiking pole which doubles as a monopod, though that's not a satisfactory substitute for a real tripod for me.

The invention of Leki sticks versus ordinary ski poles is what allowed Reinhold Messner to make the first alpine-style solo ascent of Everest, though he no doubt had an ice axe along too. For backpacking use, I use two shock-absorbing Komperdell poles, one with a vertical handle, the other with a cane-like cork handle. Both have carbide points and a removable snow or mud basket;
but the cane version comes with an optional rubberized cane tip too. In the hills, one if often on slanted terrain where it's helpful to have one stick slightly longer than the other; and both these styles are length adjustable.

I also use them to prop my backpack up after removing it, if a convenient tree or rock is not nearby, keeping the pack upright, so I can pull my carry gear out of the top compartment without getting it dirty, like if it were laying flat in weeds or soil. Did that numerous times a few days ago carrying my 8x10, though I only came home with one actual shot.

When just out with a little shoulder bag with MF or 35mm in it, I only take one pole. No matter how fit and experienced one is, or how good the tread on their boots, wet grass, mud, ice, and loose gravel will continue to be slippery. And any outdoorsman who wants to live long enough un-crippled to need a cane in ordinary life would be well advised to hike with a trekking pole or two in the meantime. Upright walking hominids no doubt learned the advantages of walking staves hundreds of thousands of years ago. Friar Tuck wasn't the first.

I did a quick search for a Komperdell with a camera mount option, but could not find it. Can you recommend a model or model number?

 

[DREW WILEY]

I'm not noticing any at the moment either. The specialty Komperdell poles come and go. REI online (not the retail outlets) ordinarily has both the shock spring kind and the monopod style in stock. But they've just had their massive Memorial Day sale, and it might take them awhile to restock certain things. Another place to look is CampSaver.com; but they've just had a big annual sale too.

 

[Edgy01]

I gave up on monopods because a tripod is much more stable. For all the trouble hauling along a monopod, just haul along a nice CF Tripod

 

[Sirius Glass]

I gave up on monopods because a tripod is much more stable. For all the trouble hauling along a monopod, just haul along a nice CF Tripod

I have avoided monopods for the same reason. I also avoid monopole radio antennae.

 

[GregY]

I've used a monopod a lot in the mountains, and especially in Europe when going hut to hut. I've also sometimes just steadied the camera (Fuji GW680/Rolleiflex/Pentax 645) on top of a hiking pole. They're light. compact and do the trick. Always helps if you're planning on making enlargements.

 

[benjiboy]

The centre column of my Rollei carbon fibre travel tripod screws into one of the legs and makes a very useful and light monopod that I actually use more than the whole tripod.