bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I did that for a trip to Europe! For a handle, I used the wood ball that was screwed to the top of one of my trekking poles. Turns out that the TSA seemed not to care about monopods with dull rubber feet. They do seem to care about trekking poles with sharp steel spikes for feet.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I know I sound like a RRS family member (I have absolutely NO connection other than being a customer), but I would have to recommend RRS for monopods as well. I have four monopods, the last one, and the one I use, is a RRS MC34. All the others I've owned pale compared to this one. Like all of us here, I bought tripods/monopods without really thinking about it. The last monopod I bought before the RRS was also a CF model that worked pretty well for about a year plus. Now, I find myself 'tightening' it up before every use, and, should I forget, it slips down as I shoot! Never again the RRS model is my ROCK! Best of luck.

stevebein

Please define your definition of the requirements for a walking stick. As with canes, there are many different uses. Will you be in need of a mountaineering tip for rugged use. Are you going to use it in a city for walking around and then the camera support, or on manicured trails?. Please give us more information. That aside, the heavier aluminum, or the carbon fibers should stand in adequately for the walking stick part.

jackpi Loc: Southwest Ohio

DO NOT use a monopod as a walking stick. It will be heavier than necessary and will not hold up. However a walking stick with a screw on top to hold a camera can double as a monopod.

Bugfan Loc: Toronto, Canada

I have a lightweight collapsible walking stick which I love to use when hiking through the bush. It even has a 1/4 20 screw at the top of the handle that allows me to screw it into the tripod socket of my DSLRs. Alas, it's not a monopod, it's not rigid enough and a heavy DSLR doesn't sit well on it.

To solve that problem I have two Manfroto monopods, a regular one the model 679B and a self standing one the model number 682B. Both of them are solid steel meaning heavy and rigid. You can get spicked feet for them (they come with rubber feet) if you need those on your hike and you can mount a variety of ball heads too. I have a medium sized ball head on each. These monopods are wonderful if you don't want to carry a tripod. However they are not walking sticks I can tell you. They are too heavy for that.

I also have a MePhoto medium sized tripod that is short (about five feet) and light. It's designed to allow me to unscrew one leg which has a foam handle. I can put a rubber or spiked foot on it and it has a ball head with a quick release bracket. That one is very light and easy to use and yet rigid enough for most applications. It's also light enough to function as a walking stick too. If you want an all in one solution this might be the answer for you. I have tried this solution myself and it works but in the end I prefer to continue to use my Manfroto monopods, they have the weight and rigidity.

thix2112

Martino Loc: Northwest Florida

I got a Manfrotto 680B just for that reason. It's sturdy, not overly heavy, and appears to work as a hiking stick if I want. No, it's not a replacement for a tripod or a walking stick, but it's not designed to be. It provides a good stable platform if you don't want to completely hand hold, and it's a good bit of support for my on and off arthritic knee!

A carbon fiber version would be at least as strong, and lighter, but at a significantly higher price.

Coupled with a 234RC head, it's giving good service.

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

Check out the MeFoto Walkabout monopods at B&H. They come with a cap over the mounting screw that makes them comfortable to use as a walking stick. Load capacity is about 30 pounds. Cost is $45.00. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/994901-REG/mefoto_a35wk_walkabout_monopod_black.html

dickwilber Loc: Indiana (currently)

I used a Manfroto aluminum monopod for 35 or more years. I used it for all kinds of photography including sports using long lenses and wedding to support my "Boat Anchor" (a Mamiya RB) and I used it as a walking stick any time I went photographing in the woods, and on a number of backpacking trips. Wore out the rubber tip in Olympia and replaced it with a rubber chair tip (for tubular steel chair legs) I picked up at a hardware store. Though that original monopod gave me yeoman service, I recently replaced it because of a broken tightening clamp. Sorry I can't tell you the model number on the old monopod but the new one (I fully expect it to serve me as well) is a Manfroto 680B. I purchased the four section model so it would fit in my backpack and carry-on luggage. I can recommend this for your use.