When choosing a hiking stick, you should be guided by individual characteristics: your height, weight, and also take into account the conditions of use. A walking stick should be 8 inches higher than your elbow with your arms at your sides. In case you will be walking on steep terrain, choose a longer stick. If you are going to walk on flat terrain, you may choose a shorter stick that reaches to your waist. When hiking, the length of the stick should be chosen so that when you hold the stick with the tip on the ground near your foot, your arm is bent at the elbow at a 90 degree angle.