I'm kicking around the idea of combining the function of a monopod with a hiking pole. Can one use, say a Manfrotto 290 as a hiking pole? I suspect it wouldn't be tough enough, but maybe your experience says I'm wrong. Has anyone found other monopods which would be better suited for the purpose? How about a hiking pole with a 1/4" camera mount, from a non-photographic industry supplier?
I've been using an inexpensive Coleman aluminum hiking pole this summer, and I quite like using it. I began thinking that it would be marvelous if it had a mount for a ballhead. It'd be far from perfect, but it's far better than the tripod I left in my car.
I have an arca swiss quick release on my monopod and I could put an arca plate on this and swap it out when I want to go from hiking pole to monopod mode. I have a big Induro carbon monopod and I've used it as a walking stick and it's help up no problem.
I'd stick at seeing if you can find a way to put a 1/4" mount onto a good pair of hiking poles. What I like about hiking poles is they have "shock absorbers" which can take a lot of the jarring you get into your hands and arms, especially when going down hills. Hiking poles are probably lighter as well.
I am pretty sure you can drill a hole in the top of a hiking pole grip and then screw in a stud of whatever thread you need. You may need to remove the grip and put some reinforcement underneath (a judiciously chosen washer and nut perhaps) - soaking the pole in hot water for a while will usually do the trick. You can then buy a cheap arcaswiss clamp and screw into that. There are several China based providers that sell outstanding screw clamps for under $20. Don't have the URL handy but if you are interested PM me and I will dig it up. You probably want to play with a cheap pair of poles before trying this in a $200 Black Diamond carbon fiber poles. If you want to get really fancy there are several economical ballheads that you can also consider attaching to the top.
I wouldn't use a monopod as a hiking pole, as the joints generally aren't meant to steady one during a fall, and they may outright snap if caught in a crevice.
What I did was [carefully] drill and tap a 3/8-16 hole into the top of a sturdy hiking pole and screw a length of threaded rod into the hole. I locked the rod with a nut, but you could also epoxy or Loctite it. Leave enough thread exposed to securely hold the ball or other head.
If you plan to use the stick without the head, consider making a cover for the protruding threaded rod so you don't hurt yourself if you fall or something.
The whole process took me just a few minutes and works just fine.
The Aluminum Walking Stick - Version II from Novoflex has three sections, reaches a maximum height of 45.75" and weighs 0.75 lb. It has a contoured rubber handle with wrist strap. Under the handle is a 1/4"-20 stud. The walking stick may be converted to a monopod and has a rubber tip at the bottom with a metal spike underneath. The second section has markings ranging from 110 to 150 cm. This product may also be used with QuadroPod and TrioPod bases. A QuadroPod Monopod Plate is provided with this stick to convert it into a monopod.
I’ve had a Manfrotto 390 for some time now. It came as a free add-on with another purchase from B&H. I’ve never been much for actually using a monopod, I’m a tripod guy. I used it at a zoo late last year for the first time, so I might use it more now.
It works great as a walking stick. I find it more useful when I've spent much time on my knees, as I have one recalcitrant knee that requires a bit of assist if I’m to return to vertical.
No. I made a nice wooden one on my lathe; it feels good in the hand and is about the same size as the pole's built-in handle. But if you can't make your own, the one you show would work.
I have an older leki Sierra walking stick. I added a Giotto ball head and a Magnus MHA-01 handle adapter. It makes an excellent regular walking cane for me ( I have a physical disability). The handle comes off easily and the cane is now a regular monopod. Other similar walking sticks should work the same.
Leki and Mountainsmith both make (or at least made) hiking poles with standard 1/4-20 mounts on top. If your first priority is the hiking functionality I'd go with a stick actually designed for that rather than a photo monopod. I've leaned on some fairly heavy duty monopods and had the joints slip so I don't rely on them as walking aids.
I've had a hiking staff for so long, I've forgotten who made it. As noted, many do have a 1/4-20 threaded stud. Mine's under a nice round walnut knob. Mine has just a single telescoping section and spring button adjustments. I just looked at R.E.I. and looks like some come with twist locks these days. Back when I got it, I think the concerns were, as now, that a photo monopod might not have the strength, especially at joints/length locks, to deal with the loads that a walking stick might have to deal with. (I don't have any idea but kind of think they all might use the same sources for tubing, etc.??)
Consider with a walking stick or monopod, is how many sections, how it locks, and if it's tall enough extended or short enough collapsed. For example, mine is somewhat shorter, fully extended, than might be ideal for photography and with only two sections, is still kind of long when collapsed so car travel is fine but would be hard to pack for air travel. Also, as it has quite a sharp point under the rubber tip, like ski poles, and it's length, I would expect it would not be allowed as carry-on.
