Walking stick and clothes

sorry no advice to give. I know exactly what you mean I now have this image in my head I can't get rid of.
It must be difficult

Get thinner? (sacks of spuds are usually bulky)

I think you can look very elegant with a stick, or sticks. Silver topped ebony is of course nice if you have them! It also helps if the cross body bag is chic (Radley, Kipling etc but a nice colour and leather)
Go girl!

I broke my ankle last autumn, but found I loved walking with a stick, despite initial 'old lady' worries. It certainly eased my worries for the future. I could hook down plants to have a closer look, people skirted around me slightly so as not to be tripped up, and once I waved it at an annoying little boy, which was most satisfying! Getting up and down steps was an eye opener, as I had wondered how I would cope as my arthritic hip gets worse.

However, not once did it cross my mind that I might look like a sack of spuds! Wear fitted clothing rather than baggy loose clothes? I have a really nice olive green leather satchel bag that I used.

On reflection, I would say, wear fitted clothes, and make the bag a smart one. Then people will see you, and not the stick.

I love visiting gardens and this year I decided to use a walking stick as I was worried about steps/slopes/uneven ground etc.

Like janer I found it quite liberating. I bought a satchel bag but I let it hang loose down one side rather than across my body. I don't think I look like a sack of spuds but so long as I can do all the things I enjoy I'm not really that bothered.

I love the idea of waving it at annoying kids

I use a stick outside all the time. It is "flexifoot" stick - worth googling it.

It has a special foot like a shock absorber that also bends so that if you are on a slope the base of the foot is firmly in the ground.

I have no idea whether I look like a sack of spuds - and care even less!

I used a single crutch when I was recovering from my hip replacement. I grew to love it. People gave me space in supermarkets, cars slowed down when I hobbled across roads, people just seemed more polite and friendly and I got used to the special treatment. In the end the physio had to more or less insist that I gave it up

I too use a single stick as I have BPPV, and many issues with movement by my head.

I have no problem with bags, but I do wish such a statement had not been made below

Get thinner? (sacks of spuds are usually bulky) jing

Good advice, that.

There are some really good and attractive (if that's what you want) backpacks/rucksacks available these days. I use them all the time, even though I don't need crutches. If I did, then this would be an ideal solution. You can also buy ones that can be worn at the front, thereby reducing the sack of potatoes effect.

petallus - I know what you mean! A stick definitely brings out the best in people, seats are offered on public transport. I wondered why I wasn't getting a seat on a crowded bus then realised my telescopic stick was in my bag!
I try to walk short distances, when I'm without a heavy bag, without my stick. However, regrettably, find I feel much less safe and confident without it and I don't get asked whether I am all right on steps or escalators!

I use a stick and an across the body bag , as long as I haven't lipstick on my teeth , or my knickers showing I couldn't care less . My stick is a fold up one with a nice flowery pattern , OH keeps wanting a lend of it , but I give him the NHS one and keep the pretty one for me

A word of caution about the rucksack - I ended up looking like a beached whale crab with mine - literally. I was walking along a beach when I stumbled and fell, somehow landing on my back. It was a heavy rucksack, we take all sorts of beach games with us, and the males had gone on ahead with windbreaks and chairs and food. I couldn't get up! In the end I had to do a sort of inelegant rocking motion to get myself up on my knees.

Fortunately it was quite late in the evening by then, so not too many people were witness to the display, if at all, and were too far away for immediate help. I had to sit there for a minute to recover!

If you use a rucksack style bag, be careful where you put your purse, as my friend found to her cost !

Also - if you use a rucksack, keep your purse in your pocket as pickpockets can help themselves, literally behind your back.

Years ago, when I broke my ankle, I found that across the body bags were the best and the safest when walking with crutches/ stick.I would not worry about how you look when out and about, the main thing is that you ARE out and about.

Petallus I know what you mean.

Some years ago I was taking one of DH's walking sticks up to my DD who had had an arthroscopyafter knee trouble and the easiest way of taking it on the train was to use it. I was touched by people's consideration but by the time I got to her flat I almost felt as if I actually needed it! However, it also made me feel vulnerable and a bit of an "old lady". She asked me if I could take youngest DD's rucksack home with me to return to her after DD1 had used it for travelling to and around Australia and again the easiest way was to put it on my back. No special consideration this time, but I did feel 20 years younger and quite trendy!

The rucksack you can get which can be worn on the front prevents sneaky pickpocketing. Not particularly stylish however! Lots of travellers use them. I travelled to Canada with one on my back and smaller one on the front. The front one is where I kept passport and important stuff.

I`ve used a stick for almost 2 years now, don``t know what I look like, but whatever it is, I can`t do much about it. My only problem is carrying my shopping when in town on a Saturday, my limit is 2 bags in my other hand, if they are carrier bags, then 3, I can`t carry a bag in the hand that holds the stick, it bangs on the stick and nearly trips me up!

Simple.

Don't worry about it. Nobody is judging how you look, at least I certainly would hope not, the only one judging your appearance is yourself.

It also depends on the size of your bag. Don't carry rubbish you don't need and the smaller the bag the less weight you carry for your back, legs, knees or hips to contend with. The smaller, lighter the bag the less your clothes and appearance looks 'like a bag of spuds'. Elementary my dear Watson.

A lot depends on your condition and why you need a stick but if it's for balance and one stick only you should be able to carry a normal handbag. If you need 2 sticks then as above.

Least of your worries and as for shopping use a 4 wheeled shopping trolley, worth their weight in gold but again you have to not worry about what you look like , mobility is far more important than that.

I took a stick with me to Rome in January because I have arthritis in my left foot. It's a telescopic hiking pole but has a walking-stick handle at the top. I was never left standing on a bus or in the Metro. Silver hair helped a lot too! As I also had DS2 with me, I could use him as a support on the other side if necessary.

I use two crutches! They're made of black carbon fibre and very light. I also use an across the body bag. Don't care about elegance as long as I've got my pearls on!

You can buy the flexifoot ends for crutches too Galen - I can really recommend them. They are particularly useful for me as I live on a steep hill.