I carry the cheapie imitation folstaff. For years & carried a ski pole on a bungee cord & just had a big button sewed onto the shoulder of my vest. I would hang the staff over my shoulder & the button would keep it from sliding off. 90% of the time I'm fishing I keep the cheapie staff in the holster but when I need it I take it out & use it. I picked this one up on E bay a few years ago & it's pretty heavy duty. almost as heavy as the folstaff but not quite but still heavier than the $29.00 cheapies. It has saved my butt a few times but I tend to avoid situations where it;s a necessity. Years ago a friend made up a few beautiful wading staffs out of Ash wood on his lathe. He gave me one but I thought it was too pretty to use so it's still hanging in fishing room or more like the fishing corner of the basement. My point is look around. There are other staffs out there that don't have that big pricetag.