Apples and oranges. A walking stick is a length of hickory or sassafras cut by hand in winter then kiln-dried for several weeks. Bark is removed for smoothness, and the stick is finished with a coat of lacquer. Manufacturers evoke memories of Moses and Teddy Roosevelt and describe the production process as “the way your grandfather would’ve made them.” Trekking poles are manufactured in Germany or Austria. Constructed of aluminum, they incorporate carbide tips, latex grips, positive-angle design...more