I've used a wading staff ever since I got back into fly fishing about ten or twelve years ago. I wade with mine open all the time and also use it to hike, climb and stab other fishermen who crowd me. I literally don't go trout fishing without it. Call it a "sissy stick or a ladies' aid" if you wish, I call it a "life saver." I can't begin to count the falls and stumbles that it has saved me from. Mine is a Folstaff knock-off that I got from either Cabela's or Hook and Hackle. I've got no complaints what so ever except that like all foldable staffs, it can disjoint in the middle if you jam it into a muddy bank and try to pull it out quickly. Just my opinion. 8T