Hmmmm, When Hiking, a good cf monopod makes a great, but expensive, walking stick. If you find yourself on the trail and a little tired, oxygen deprived or ETOH encumbered, then you have your trusty walking stick to plant your camera on. In this case you'll sacrifice your masculinity, but youll probably get the shot. Who's looking anyway?---Seriously, I think a good monopod is a very handy piece of equipment, especially when shooting telephoto.---I would consider a 4 section rather than a 5 section---that last leg on a 5 section gets pretty thin.


Goodluck,


Bob