This is VERY LONG but if you are looking at collapsible wading staffs, here's what I do know from experience:
FOLSTAF:
Folstaf is a great product, the sturdiest BY FAR, it comes in three sizes with a pouch or holster to carry it. I also like the simple cork grip which lets the staff end float if you drop it.
It folds up the smallest of any top line staff and deploys the easiest BUT any staff with shock cord will pull apart if it is stuck in mud or wedged between rocks. The solution is to pull it out of the mud from a lower section WHILE it is pulled apart, versus from the handle. It’s a pain when it happens, but it doesn’t happen often enough for me to pass up its advantages over some other staffs I own.
Another thing, all shock cord wears out over time however, IF you store the Folstaf fully extended AS RECOMMENDED by the manufacturer between fishing trips and DON’T leave it stored in a hot car, you can buy a lot of time out of the shock cords. In addition, Folstaf uses two shock cords as opposed to the single cord they originally had. That helps to keep the staff “snappier” and buys you a longer lifespan on the shock cords.
Another thing I do is to fold it in half after use to allow air to circulate and completely dry out the shock cord. I assume this helps keep the outer fabric covering of the shock cord from dry rotting. Once it has sat overnight, I store it fully extended until the next outing.
The design of the tapered Folstaf joints are different from most sectioned staffs. The tapered male section jambs into the flared female section. While that makes for a sturdy staff, it also causes the joints to stick on occasion The problem is remedied by REGULAR waxing of the male portion of the joint AS RECOMMENDED by the manufacturer. They even include a small piece of wax with the Folstaf.
Folstaf has a carbide tip which is usually the best option for wear and grip EXCEPT on very hard, quartz laden rocks. It can actually slide on rocks like that but it is still better than a rubber tip that will pull off or an aluminum tip that grips hard rock but doesn’t bite into softer or moss covered rocks and wears out FAST.
My biggest beef with the Folstaf is the warranty. It used to be lifetime, unconditional and free but it is now is to the original owner only and has limitations. Refurbishment is available but has costs associated with it.
SIMMS:
I liked the old Simms staff better than the latest “one size fits all” version, which is very long folded up and like carrying around a samurai sword around with you. It is NOWHERE near as sturdy as a Folstaf but will do the job unless you weigh 400 lbs.
It doesn’t use shock cord to keep it rigid but instead uses a coated steel cable. As result it WILL NOT pull apart if it is stuck in the mud, it won’t get stuck together and you can store it folded up all the time, even in the trunk of a hot car however, you need two hands to deploy it, which may or may not be an issue depending on how you use it.
As an example, I carry my Folstaf folded up in its holster until I decide to deploy it. When that time comes, I just pull it out and it snaps together. With the Simms, you need to tuck your rod under your arm and use two hands. Of course, if you deploy your staff as soon as you get to the stream it is a non-issue.
There are two versions, one made of aluminum and one made of carbon fiber. I bought the carbon fiber version when it first came out, and with it was an enclosed warning to avoid getting it scratched…HUH? When I called Simms and asked them how one avoids getting a wading staff scratched when ALL of the streams I fish have rocks in them, I got a less than satisfactory answer so I sent it back.
I also don’t like the formed handle that forces me to adjust my grip if I grab it incorrectly and the locking device that adjusts the length is also an area for concern. I just don’t trust it, which is another reason I returned my carbon fiber version. Simms guarantees their stuff but I also do not like things that can break.
The original Simms staff used have a non-replaceable aluminum tip. The new version now comes with a replaceable aluminum tip and a rubber tip option, which is an improvement. The original staff came with a retractor attached to a scabbard; the new one doesn’t include the retractor so that ISN’T an improvement.
Another word of warning on the Simms. DO NOT leave it in your trunk or outside on a freezing cold day if you recently used it. Frozen water inside of the tubing will freeze and push out the tip or worse. Don’t ask me how I know…
I have one of the original Simms staffs that I keep in my car for emergencies. I don’t like the new one because of the size and the locking device. If you could find one of the old versions, I’d jump on it. Otherwise, caveat emptor.
ORVIS
The Orvis Ripcord staff is a cool design that utilizes ripcord to hold the staff together. That also means it won’t get stuck in the mud, isn’t hard to pull apart and you can store it folded however, like the Simms it takes two hands to deploy. While it isn’t hard to deploy once you get the hang of it, I HEARTILY recommend trying it out first.
It comes with an aluminum tip that WILL eventually wear out and for some stupid reason; Orvis doesn’t sell replacements but sells an accessory kit WITHOUT that tip. I do know firsthand that if you ask Orvis nicely, they will get a replacement if you need it or you could figure out something else that would work in the threaded hole.
It comes with a scabbard & retractor that is a plus, but the scabbard is very tight fitting so it can take two hands to put it away too. It isn’t cheap but it is backed by Orvis. It has a much nicer handle than the Simms but like the Simms, it is NOT as sturdy as the Folstaf.
I own one but use it only as a back-up if I forget my Folstaf. It is well made and I like the way it is held together, but I can't speak to durability however, I trust Orvis to make good if something goes wrong.
There are also staffs out there by Fishpond & L.L. Bean that are twist-lock adjustable like hiking poles but they seem too complicated, heavy and less reliable to me so I never tried one. I often put all my weight on a single wading staff in situations where staff failure could result in a nasty fall, a dunking or worse. It is for those reasons I never looked at any collapsible staff that could ever collapse in use.
Of course, lots of folks will tell you to "just use an available stick, ski pole or hiking pole". That decision is up to you but if it was me, even with my complaints I'd go with a Folstaf and take care of it as the manufacturer recommends.
I bought my first Folstaf in the 1980’s and I was friends with the designer & owners of the company. It has been rebuilt a few times and I have a spare. It is what I use almost 100% of the time and most likely will be unless I ever get around to fabricating my own design.
Good luck!
