RUSTICKS – Trail Sticks for hikers
Sticks from the trail for the trail
Every stick is handpicked from the Lebanon Forest in Elgin, Western Cape. The trees used are excess trees that are self-sown between the primary trees and need to be culled to protect the forest from overgrowth. RUSTICKS is an upcycling project, repurposing the young trees before they are destroyed and returning them to life in the outdoors as a Trail Stick.
Every stick is handmade
Each stick is then prepared for burning by debarking, trimming and sanding them down. Effort is made to keep the sticks looking and feeling natural and not machine processed. Burned using a pyrography pen the stick is then treated with an insect repellent and light coat of wood seal to preserve the wood and the design.
Your stick is uniquely yours
The design of every stick is random so each stick is unique, no two are alike. The final touch includes an optional nylon looped handle and, should the owner request it, their name etched into the wood to give it a personalised finish.
In the near future I will focus on the style that excites me most. Currently, watercolor has taken my fancy so watch this space. My greatest strength has always been with graphic art and cartooning, but this will not restrict me for long. As in the case of all artists, my work will constantly evolve through endless exploration.
RUSTICKS – Premium
Designed for the outdoors your RUSTICK becomes a useful companion.
Original and unique. Every RUSTICK prides itself on premium quality.
Opportunity for commercial branding as a gift or for sale to clients.
Your RUSTICK is one with nature. No artificial ingredients.
RUSTICKS – Lite
On the mountain consider your RUSTICK as an indispensable safety feature.
Choose from a selection of ‘idioms’ or have your own expression engraved.
Handpicked pine staves stripped and treated for a new purpose.
Hand crafted from the forest. A truly unique gift to yourself or others.
More about RUSTICKS Trail Sticks
…and the art of using them
Ease the stress
Trail sticks take stress off your joints – The biggest advantage of hiking with trail sticks is that they absorb some of the shock your joints take when you step – especially on ascents and descents. Have you ever felt stress in your knees while hiking a steep downhill trail? Try using trail sticks to take some of the pressure off of your knees. They also give you a lift up when negotiating steep inclines or rocky steps.
Upper body exercise
Every day is leg day on hiking trails. Unless your hike includes boulder scrambles or bushwhacking, you may not be engaging your arms or upper body much at all. Trail sticks give your arms, shoulders and chest some exercise and can help to keep your hands from swelling while you’re gaining elevation. Dangling your arms at your sides while you ascend can lead to poor circulation which can cause your fingers, hands, and wrists to swell up. Keeping your arms elevated, combined with the pumping action used with trail sticks, promotes better circulation and can prevent swelling.
Trail Sticks are a Safety Feature
You know what’s better than two legs? Three legs. Trail sticks act as another limb to give you more stability when tackling tricky terrain. Sticks can help you keep your balance when crossing swiftly moving water, clambering over rocks, negotiating undergrowth, trekking along narrow ridgelines, and when going up or downhill on loose ground like sand or scree. We have also, on more than one occasion, used trail sticks to remain upright while battling high winds.
Improved performance
Trail sticks can help you maintain a good pace – Using trail sticks can get you walking in a smooth rhythm – foot, stick, foot, stick – and can help you sustain a good hiking pace for longer periods of time. We’ve noticed that we tend to hike a little faster when using trail sticks and the repetitive motion can be somewhat meditative while we hike.
Trail Sticks are multifunctional
Depending on your circumstances, trail sticks can serve several functions beyond their main use. They can be used as reinforcement to repair broken tent poles or as a splint to support broken or injured limbs. They can also clear away sticks or overgrown trail vegetation or be used as makeshift probing devices in the undergrowth where snakes may be lurking. They can be used to test mud or water depth – It can be hard to determine how deep a water crossing is or how thick the mud at the edge of a stream is. Trail sticks can take the guesswork out of it and help you cross hazards safely. They can also be used to help pull people up when the going gets tough.
Personal protection
Trail sticks can help keep unsavoury creatures at bay, such as snakes – It’s always important to be aware of your surroundings when in open country. Do what you can to avoid sneaking up on wild animals or encroaching on their territory. Despite our best efforts, sometimes animal encounters are inevitable. If you find yourself too close for comfort to a threatening animal, banging your stick against trees and rocks makes a harsh sound that will often scare the animal away. DO NOT harm the animal unless in self-defence! You can also wave trail sticks above your head to make yourself appear larger, which can discourage animals from approaching you.
