Wading staff... re-visit

Joel Axelrad Oct 21, 3:22 pm show options

I'll give you one (no charge). I made it from an old ski pole. It's
quite
good. I used it a lot. You can use it until you find something
better.
I now use a Falstaff, a gift from a friend. Send me your addy and
I'll get it
to you.

Joel,

That is a very nice offer, thank you! Unfortuntaley I am using Google
to read news, my ISP's NNTP server is f'ed up and I can't read news
with my news reader. Given that, I'm unable to see what your e-mail
address, to forward my addy. If you could e-mail me, I will send
whatever you need as well as postage costs, etc...

I'm thinking about the cheap-o staff on e-bay, however as R Dean said,
it could be a waist of money. After searching the net, looking through
my catolog's, etc... last night, it appears there are only a handful of
differnet staffs on the market and most are like the cheap-o on e-bay
with differnet handle configurations, (i.e. foam, cork, etc... handles)
they are just branded with Orvis or some other name. The Falstaff (sp?)
and Simms do look superior, just not sure I want to put out 100 bucks
for something I might use a couple times a year, then again I might
find it very handy and use it often?
Thank you,
JT

"Larry L" wrote in message
...

"Jeff Taylor" wrote


Thoughts, ideas, suggestions appreciated...



I have two .... one bungi cord pop together one similar to the one on
e-bay

another one piece walking stick I found abandoned in the mud along the
HFork
and put a new handle on


Folding the Folstaff (sp) is NOT nearly as simple as it looks ... the
sections jam together .. in effect it becomes a one piece that can only
be
folded with difficulty and tools, back at the trailer

A one piece staff is a pain, just about as often as it is useful ... but I
simply MUST have it when I need it, my knee is that bad .. so I put up
with
it the rest of the time

As much as I hate to admit it ... and I really really hate it ... I'm
thinking of getting the SIMMS staff ... it's too damn long, but looks like
it can actually be folded up and gotten out of the way, except when
needed,
then looks plenty strong to be up to the task


I have a 3/4" dia Folstaff that I bought for my wife. She couldn't get the
sections apart either. We were at the College Park FF show two years ago and
ran into a fellow selling a Taiwanese knock off of the Folstaff. The big
advantage was that the Taiwanese had figured out how to make the sections
come apart more easily. The name on the staff was "OUTBACK". I recommend it,
especially at 1/2 the price of the Folstaff (I think itr was about $60).
Jim Ray

"Larry L" wrote in message
...

"Jeff Taylor" wrote


Thoughts, ideas, suggestions appreciated...



I have two .... one bungi cord pop together one similar to the one on
e-bay

another one piece walking stick I found abandoned in the mud along the
HFork
and put a new handle on


Folding the Folstaff (sp) is NOT nearly as simple as it looks ... the
sections jam together .. in effect it becomes a one piece that can only
be
folded with difficulty and tools, back at the trailer

A one piece staff is a pain, just about as often as it is useful ... but I
simply MUST have it when I need it, my knee is that bad .. so I put up
with
it the rest of the time

As much as I hate to admit it ... and I really really hate it ... I'm
thinking of getting the SIMMS staff ... it's too damn long, but looks like
it can actually be folded up and gotten out of the way, except when
needed,
then looks plenty strong to be up to the task


I have a 3/4" dia Folstaff that I bought for my wife. She couldn't get the
sections apart either. We were at the College Park FF show two years ago and
ran into a fellow selling a Taiwanese knock off of the Folstaff. The big
advantage was that the Taiwanese had figured out how to make the sections
come apart more easily. The name on the staff was "OUTBACK". I recommend it,
especially at 1/2 the price of the Folstaff (I think itr was about $60).
Jim Ray

On Fri, 22 Oct 2004 11:43:53 -0400, "Jim" wrote:


"Larry L" wrote in message
...

"Jeff Taylor" wrote


Thoughts, ideas, suggestions appreciated...



I have two .... one bungi cord pop together one similar to the one on
e-bay

another one piece walking stick I found abandoned in the mud along the
HFork
and put a new handle on


Folding the Folstaff (sp) is NOT nearly as simple as it looks ... the
sections jam together .. in effect it becomes a one piece that can only
be
folded with difficulty and tools, back at the trailer

A one piece staff is a pain, just about as often as it is useful ... but I
simply MUST have it when I need it, my knee is that bad .. so I put up
with
it the rest of the time

As much as I hate to admit it ... and I really really hate it ... I'm
thinking of getting the SIMMS staff ... it's too damn long, but looks like
it can actually be folded up and gotten out of the way, except when
needed,
then looks plenty strong to be up to the task


I have a 3/4" dia Folstaff that I bought for my wife. She couldn't get the
sections apart either. We were at the College Park FF show two years ago and
ran into a fellow selling a Taiwanese knock off of the Folstaff. The big
advantage was that the Taiwanese had figured out how to make the sections
come apart more easily. The name on the staff was "OUTBACK". I recommend it,
especially at 1/2 the price of the Folstaff (I think itr was about $60).
Jim Ray



I have one of the Folstaff knock offs ($29 at Gander Mountain). They
can also get jammed but by wiggling the sections I've always been able
to get them apart. Maybe this is a case when machining tolerances can
be too tight.


g.c.

On Fri, 22 Oct 2004 11:43:53 -0400, "Jim" wrote:


"Larry L" wrote in message
...

"Jeff Taylor" wrote


Thoughts, ideas, suggestions appreciated...



I have two .... one bungi cord pop together one similar to the one on
e-bay

another one piece walking stick I found abandoned in the mud along the
HFork
and put a new handle on


Folding the Folstaff (sp) is NOT nearly as simple as it looks ... the
sections jam together .. in effect it becomes a one piece that can only
be
folded with difficulty and tools, back at the trailer

A one piece staff is a pain, just about as often as it is useful ... but I
simply MUST have it when I need it, my knee is that bad .. so I put up
with
it the rest of the time

As much as I hate to admit it ... and I really really hate it ... I'm
thinking of getting the SIMMS staff ... it's too damn long, but looks like
it can actually be folded up and gotten out of the way, except when
needed,
then looks plenty strong to be up to the task


I have a 3/4" dia Folstaff that I bought for my wife. She couldn't get the
sections apart either. We were at the College Park FF show two years ago and
ran into a fellow selling a Taiwanese knock off of the Folstaff. The big
advantage was that the Taiwanese had figured out how to make the sections
come apart more easily. The name on the staff was "OUTBACK". I recommend it,
especially at 1/2 the price of the Folstaff (I think itr was about $60).
Jim Ray



I have one of the Folstaff knock offs ($29 at Gander Mountain). They
can also get jammed but by wiggling the sections I've always been able
to get them apart. Maybe this is a case when machining tolerances can
be too tight.


g.c.

Larry L wrote:
"Wayne Knight" wrote


I don't know why you hate to admit it,



I suffer from SIMMSaphobia ... a condition that started with customer
service that left a bad taste in my mouth .... I'd already own the SIMMS
staff if it didn't say SIMMS on it

The staff holster say SIMMS in big, white, block letters. Maybe a black
felt pen will cure your phobia.

I used mine yesterday. I know that $99 saved me from getting wet a
couple times.

It folds up very easily, and unfolds/extends reasonable easy. Just don't
try it when your standing in the middle of the river, waiting to be
swept downstream. ;-) The Simms staff uses a metal cable to hold it
together. I don't think the other brands do. The shaft diameter is
bigger than most standard staffs. Simms come with a retractor, so you
don't have a long leash to get in the way.

brians

brians wrote:

The staff holster say SIMMS in big, white, block letters. Maybe a black
felt pen will cure your phobia.

I used mine yesterday. I know that $99 saved me from getting wet a
couple times.

It folds up very easily, and unfolds/extends reasonable easy. Just don't
try it when your standing in the middle of the river, waiting to be
swept downstream. ;-) The Simms staff uses a metal cable to hold it
together. I don't think the other brands do. The shaft diameter is
bigger than most standard staffs. Simms come with a retractor, so you
don't have a long leash to get in the way.

It's an excellent product, and, IMO, well worth $99.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

"brians" wrote


It folds up very easily, and unfolds/extends reasonable easy. Just don't
try it when your standing in the middle of the river, waiting to be swept
downstream. ;-) The Simms staff uses a metal cable to hold it together. I
don't think the other brands do. The shaft diameter is bigger than most
standard staffs. Simms come with a retractor, so you don't have a long
leash to get in the way.


I've looked at it and it does seem to be a better product than any of the
others I've seen .... maybe a Marks-A-Lot is the answerG, as you suggest.
I actually went into a shop one day last summer with the intention of buying
one, picked one up and was on the way to check out, but then I opened it to
make sure it worked ok and it seemed too long to me, so I hesitated ....
then I saw those big, dreaded, letters S- I- M - shudder :-) .... and
decided to leave and "think on it" G

I'll end up with one, I bet .... and it's not the $99 that has slowed the
process, ....

"brians" wrote


It folds up very easily, and unfolds/extends reasonable easy. Just don't
try it when your standing in the middle of the river, waiting to be swept
downstream. ;-) The Simms staff uses a metal cable to hold it together. I
don't think the other brands do. The shaft diameter is bigger than most
standard staffs. Simms come with a retractor, so you don't have a long
leash to get in the way.


I've looked at it and it does seem to be a better product than any of the
others I've seen .... maybe a Marks-A-Lot is the answerG, as you suggest.
I actually went into a shop one day last summer with the intention of buying
one, picked one up and was on the way to check out, but then I opened it to
make sure it worked ok and it seemed too long to me, so I hesitated ....
then I saw those big, dreaded, letters S- I- M - shudder :-) .... and
decided to leave and "think on it" G

I'll end up with one, I bet .... and it's not the $99 that has slowed the
process, ....

There are too many replies to read them all. I have two strong beliefs
regarding wading sticks
1) the Simms is the best available. Second best is a ski pole.
2) any wading stick with an elastic cord isn't worth shi... I was standing
in the middle of the Hood river when my wading stick became as limp as
Wayne's d.... The cord had stretched and wouldn't hold it together. When
I complained to the manufacturer, they offered to replace the cord for a
fee..more than half the cost of the stick. It didn't bother them that I had
been stranded in the middle of a river with their poorly designed stick. Go
with the Simms which has a metal cord and won't let you down.

--


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"Jeff Taylor" wrote in message
...
Late September I found myself in a predicament standing in the N.F. of the
Clearwater, with that uneasy feeling of a Full Reid if I took a step in
any
direction. I made it out without a dunking, however told myself it was
time
to look for a wading staff.

I looked through the archives, although the information is a bit dated.
Are
there any on the market that you would suggest and or stay away from?

I took a look out on e-bay and found the following:
http://tinyurl.com/47v53

Thoughts, ideas, suggestions appreciated...

TIA,
JT