We'll Be Back On Jan. 5

Please feel free to place your orders as usual, but please know that your order will not be processed until after Jan. 5, 2009.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

New OOAKs

We just added a slew of one-of-a-kind sticks to our website. These handcrafted beautifies are, well, one-of-a-kind; in other words, when one is sold it's gone forever.

A Unique Christmas Gift Idea

Here's a happy review from a customer who bought three of our one-of-a-kind walking canes:

Dear Brazos ... my three one of a kind walking sticks arrived yesterday. I must say, the pictures on your web site does not do them justice. They are absolutely beautiful. These walking sticks will be a heirloom worthy of handing down. I just hope they don't get too anxious to get my sticks. I look forward to doing more business with you and to see what you come with in the One Of A Kind walking sticks.
-- George F. Graham

We'll be adding more one-of-a-kind walking sticks and canes within the next two weeks, so please keep checking back!

A Happy Hiker

Thanks to Dana in Baytown, Texas for supplying us with these photos of a young, happy hiker with a specially made 32-inch hickory walking stick. (And thanks for giving us permission to publish the photos!)

If you'd like a custom made walking stick (e.g. a non-standard size, or a non-standard wood or design), please feel free to shoot us an email or give us a call. We'd be happy to help you!

Please Drop By

Most of our business is done via the Internet or through our sales team, but occasionally we'll get a walking stick customer who happened to Google us and realize we're in Central Texas, not too far from Austin and Dallas. When customers realize how close they are to us, they usually drop by to say "hi" and to try out dozens of our handcrafted walking sticks and walking canes.

We had one such customer yesterday. This customer found us via Google and saw that we're located just an hour's drive from their home. Without further ado, the customer and her husband hopped into their vehicle and headed out to see us.

When most people see the full breadth of our walking stick and walking cane stock, they tend to get a bit overwhelmed. I imagine that searching for that perfect stick or cane amongst an ocean of handcrafted products can be something akin to searching for a needle in a stack of needles. In those instances our staff is always there, willing and ready to help by answering queries, asking clarifying questions and, of course, offering plenty of cane and stick suggestions.

After a few minutes of conversation and suggestions we matched this customer with a perfect cane from our twisted walnut line of products. We cut her cane to size, and she and her husband were on their way back home; and they could not have been happier!

If you're ever driving through Texas, or if you live within driving distance, please feel free to drop by during business hours. We'd love to show you around!

Amazon Comments

Once again I thought I'd post the most recent comments we've received via customer feedback at our Amazon store:

• Excellent quality walking stick. The company lived up to their advertised promise.
• Arrived quickly & in excellent condition. Thanks!
• Excellent customer service, great company to order from!
• This aromatic twisted cedar walking stick REALLY is nice!
• Wonderful service, beautiful product, very nice packaging.
• What a great walking stick!! It works great but most of all it is very beautiful.

You can read all of our customer feedback by visiting our feedback page on Amazon.com.

To order any of our beautiful and functional walking sticks, please visit our website.

A Huge Success

Our new One-Of-A-Kind section on our main walking sticks site has been a huge success. As a result we'll be beefing up our offerings in that section, so keep an eye out for more unique sticks in the days and weeks to ahead.

It's Time To Bid

Check out our Ebay auction for this one-of-a-kind walking cane.

Aspen's Back! ... Almost

Our popular Aspen Walking Stick will be back in stock within three to four weeks.

Happy Customer

A customer recently posted on his blog a photo of himself with his Brazos Walking Stick. His walking stick is a customized version of our Extra Size Hitchhiker (he customized it by having us make it a bit longer than our typical sticks).

Thanks to Steven at Projections for allowing us to share his photo.

Shipping Times -- Again

[Click the link to go back to brazos-walking-sticks.com's main website.]

As summer ends, and as we get closer and closer to the holidays, I'd like to continue to reiterate our shipping policy. We do make every effort to ensure that your order ships promptly, and with that in mind, here again is our shipping policy:

If an item is in stock -- meaning it's been made by our craftsmen, and it's ready to ship -- then we usually can ship an online order within 2 business days.

If the item is not in stock, or it needs some sort of customization (like laser engraving, a compass, or something along those lines), then we'll still make every effort to ship your order as soon as possible, but the expected ship date time frame in those instances will be 3 to 5 business days.

With regard to expedited shipping, while we make every effort to accelerate the time frame in which we pull a stick from stock, add any customization, pack it, and then give it to UPS, what you're paying for when you choose expedited shipping is how long it actually takes UPS to get the stick to you once it has left our warehouse. For example, if you ordered a walking stick on Monday with 3-Day Expedited Shipping, then we will still get the stick out within 2 business days, and once we get the stick to UPS (usually no later than Wednesday in that case), UPS will deliver your walking stick within 3 business days from that point. So, with that example, if you ordered the walking stick on Monday, and we shipped it on Wednesday with 3-Day Expedited Shipping, your stick would be delivered to you by the following Monday. Again, please allow for 2 or 3 extra days for customizations like laser engraving and compasses.

For any specific questions on your order, please email us and we'll be glad to answer your questions and to let you know an estimated ship date.

Browse all of our beautiful walking sticks and walking canes.

The One-Of-A-Kind Section Is Up And Running

Our new section for one-of-a-kind walking sticks is up and running. You can find the link on the sidebar of our main walking sticks website, or simply click the link in the first sentence of this post.

One-Of-A-Kind Canes

Within the next few days Brazos Walking Sticks will be launching a new line of walking canes that truly are one-of-a-kind. Our most skilled craftsman will be meticulously looking through our unique raw material (for example, vine twisted sticks), and finishing each shaft with an exotic handle. The resulting canes will be once-in-a-lifetime pieces. For each of these one-of-a-kind pieces, the cane you see in the photo is the exact cane you'll receive when you place your order.

Here's an example: this cane features a vine-twisted ironwood shaft with a rosewood handle. It's 37-inches long, and weighs approximately 32 ounces -- $160.







If you're interested in this cane, please send us an email or leave a comment. It's available to ship TODAY!

It Looks Delicious, But Don't Try Eating It

If you're looking for a walking stick with a distinct "flavor," look no further than our Twisted Colorwood Walking Stick.

These candyesque sticks -- available in a versatile 50-inch size -- may not taste like much, but they handle beautifully with a solid feel in your hand. Each piece is fashioned from 19 layers of 1/16-inch dyed, laminated, hardwood board, making these walking sticks both sturdy and fashionable.

This walking stick comes with a standard rubber ferrule for a firm, secure grip on virtually any surface. For serious hiking, the rubber ferrule can also be upgraded to a spike ferrule or combination spike ferrule per your choice.

Like all of Brazos Walking Sticks' finely crafted walking sticks and canes, the Twisted Colorwood Walking Stick is made in the USA by our skilled craftsmen using the highest quality wood and time-tested methods.

Go ahead, taste one try one today!

Speaking Of Feedback ...

... I thought I'd post our last few feedback comments we've received on our Amazon.com store.

• Great product!
• A work of art which I love! A great walking stick and conversation piece.
• Great product. Bought it for my mom because she refused to use a cane. A 'walking stick' had a better sound and made her feel less aged.
• Wonderful item-can't wait to use it. Great vendor-I will recommend them to my friends and family!
• Quality is just as advertised and the length is perfect.
• Great product--arrived by promised date.
• Beautiful walking cane!!!!! A A A A A GOD BLESS!!!!!!!!
• Quality walking stick - beautiful. Packaged very well.
  

Of course, you can find our full line of high quality, handcrafted walking sticks, canes, and accessories at brazos-walking-sticks.com.

"On a scale of 1 - 10, I give Brazos a 20!"

Here's a recent customer testimonial we received via email yesterday. Thanks to Debbie D. for allowing us to publish her comments!

Hi-

I just got my 58" Twisted Sassafras Walking Stick. I took it out of the package and was in complete shock! It is the most beautiful walking stick I have ever seen. I had originally ordered it to accompany me on my evening walks, but seeing how gorgeous it is, I have decided not to use it for that. It is just too nice to use as a walking stick. I am going to have to order one that is not as exquisite. On a scale of 1 - 10, I give Brazos a 20! Thank you so much for producing such beautiful works of art.

Sincerely,

Debbie D.

South Carolina

Shipping Times

If an item is in stock -- meaning it's been made by our craftsmen, and it's ready to ship -- then we usually can ship an online order within 2 business days.

If the item is not in stock, or it needs some sort of customization (like laser engraving, a compass, or something along those lines), then we'll still make every effort to ship your order as soon as possible, but the expected ship date time frame in those instances will be 3 to 5 business days.

For any specific questions on your order, please email us and we'll be glad to answer your questions and to let you know an estimated ship date.

Browse all of our beautiful walking sticks and walking canes.

Twisted Sweet Gum

Serious hikers and casual walkers alike praise the Twisted Sweet Gum Walking Stick for its strength, versatility, and beauty. This distinctive hardwood, with its darkish bark and grain, is an ideal walking aid for trekking through both neighborhoods and wooded trails.

Like all of our twisted sticks, the aesthetic appeal of the Twisted Sweet Gum Walking Stick is accented by our signature twist that spirals down its shaft. Every piece of sweet gum is meticulously chosen, prepared, cut, and sanded, giving it our distinctive twist. Finally, each stick is sprayed with a protective clear coat lacquer -- the result is a smooth finish that magnifies the wood’s innate beauty. The finished staff is a one-of-a-kind, handcrafted walking stick that is both sturdy and attractive.

The Twisted Sweet Gum Walking Stick comes in one of four sizes: 41-inches (primarily a “child’s size”), 48-inches, 55-inches, and 58-inches. The staff also comes with a standard rubber ferrule for a firm, secure grip on virtually any surface. For serious hiking, the rubber ferrule can also be upgraded to a spike ferrule or combination spike ferrule per your choice.

Like all of Brazos Walking Sticks' finely crafted walking sticks and canes, the Twisted Sweet Gum Walking Stick is made in the USA by our skilled craftsmen using the highest quality wood and time-tested methods.

Ladies' Canes

Brazos Walking Sticks is one of the largest manufacturers of handcrafted walking sticks and canes in America. In walking canes alone, our website offers more than 60 distinct styles to choose from. In addition to our time-honored traditional cane style, we've also started offering fashionable Ladies' Walking Canes with an elegant derby handle.

What make a Ladies' Walking Cane different? Two things: 1) Ladies' Walking Canes are made in a standard 34-inch size instead of our typical 37 or 40-inch size, and 2) Ladies' Walking Canes are made with a derby handle as opposed to one of our traditional cane handles.

I'd like to introduce you to a few of our Ladies' Walking Cane options:

The Ladies' Bocote Walking Cane


The Ladies' Twisted Oak Red Walking Cane


The Ladies' Twisted Colorwood Blue Walking Cane


In addition to these canes, we also have many more styles of Ladies' Walking Canes to choose from. Feel free to browse our website for more information on all of our products. And don't forget to personalize your walking stick or cane with custom laser engraving! (Just choose the stick you want to engrave, and hit the "Buy Now" button. You'll then be directed to the appropriate page to add laser engraving.)

Sizing Sticks And Canes

Sizing a walking stick (or cane) can be a subjective art form. The reality is, a walking stick's size has a lot to do with the particular individual and what "feels good" to that individual during practical use.

Based on Brazos Walking Sticks' years of experience, we've developed some handy recommendations for both sizing a walking cane and understanding walking stick sizes.

Of course, feel free to contact us via phone or email if you have any specific questions.

Bocote

At Brazos Walking Sticks we use a variety of exotic woods to make our exclusive, exotic handcrafted walking sticks and canes including the Bocote/Maple Pistol Grip Walking Cane and the ever-popular Cocobolo Walking Cane.

I'd like to take the time right now to dig into the practical and aesthetic aspects of the exotic wood bocote. Bocote is a Central American hardwood that boasts magnificent stripes and swirls in hues ranging from creamy brown to light tan.

As a wood for canes and staffs, bocote is ideal because it boasts uncompromising strength and density. When you hold a bocote walking stick or cane in your hand, you can feel the quality of the wood -- it's truly one-of-a-kind.

Aesthetically, bocote stands head-and-shoulders above most other wood variations. Its creamy tan-to-dark brown hues make for an eye-catching walking stick; its beautiful swirls, stripes, and grain patterns catch the eye like few woods can. When finished, this wood is something to behold.

If you're curious about handcrafted bocote products, check out our venerable Bocote Walking Cane or our laminated bocote and maple hiking staff.

Never Get Lost

Here's another quality accessory from Brazos Walking Sticks: a liquid-filled compass. With a quality liquid-filled compass on your walking stick, you'll trek through the forest in style, with peace of mind knowing that you'll be able to find your way home again.



Simply choose the stick you want to buy, and then click "Buy Now" to add accessories.

Spike Your Walking Stick

If you'd like to accessorize your walking stick, Brazos Walking Sticks gives you plenty of options. We offer everything from custom laser engraving to Texas State Seals.

As far as ferrules go, we have a plethora of options to choose from. All of our sticks come with a standard rubber ferrule; this rubber tip provides sure "footing" for just about any environment. We do, however, offer three types of ferrules that both ardent hikers and enthusiasts would be interested in:

The Lee Valley Spike



This spike is out top-of-the-line model. It boasts a brass construction with a removable spike and rubber tip.

The Combination Spike




This spike is our most popular spike accessory. At $12 it's affordable and highly functional. If you're out trekking in the forest somewhere, just pull the rubber tip off and the spiked end will dig into the ground for secure hiking and positioning. Ready to go back onto pavement? Just slide the rubber tip back on and you're ready to go!

The Spike Ferrule



This spike is for serious hikers! With a fine point spike, it'll be your trusty companion through miles of rough terrain.

If you're interested in accessorizing your stick, simply choose "Buy Now" from the particular stick's page on our website. After you click Buy Now, a list of accessory options for your stick will appear.

Enjoy your new accessory!

Welcome!

Welcome to The Brazos Sticks Blog!

At Brazos Walking Sticks, we're constantly looking for new and creative ways to service our customers, communicate about our handcrafted products, and to provide speedy, general information to all who may be interested. With those thoughts in mind, we decided it's high time to step into the blogosphere with our very own weblog.

Be sure to bookmark this page and check back frequently as we'll be updating often with behind-the-scenes information on everything from sales to stick making.

We'll also be using this site to feature some of our beautiful handcrafted walking sticks like this one:



The Twisted Aromatic Cedar Walking Stick is arguably our most popular stick. We craft each staff from three pieces of 3/8-inch, laminated aromatic cedar board. Each stick is then carefully cut to size, sanded, and sprayed with a protective clear coat lacquer. The resulting staff is lightweight, beautiful, and highly functional.

Of course, you can view our full line of products at our main website, BrazosSticks.com.

We hope you enjoy this blog. We look forward to providing you all with valuable, pertinent information on a constant basis. Feel free to contact us at any time: shoot us an email or give us a call. We'd love to hear from you!