I own two Folstafs, one Orvis with the paracord, one Simms aluminum before they "improved" (and ruined) it, and one REC wading staff with a spring inside and Neodymium magnets at the joints.
A couple of observations: the Simms, Orvis and trekking poles do NOT deploy one handed. That means you have to do something with your rod to extend it so most likely have it dragging behind you all day because it's a PIA to fold them back up and redeploy when needed.
However an advantage to these wading staffs is no elastic shock cord which will require replacement eventually. No shock cord also means you can store them folded up in the trunk of your car and they will NOT pull apart if the bottom section gets stuck in the mud.
Other observations: the Orvis, Simms, REC and many other staffs are 4 section wading staffs and MUCH longer folded up than a Folstaf. That means you looks like you have an umbrella at your side and I personally don't like having a long folded up staff bouncing on my thigh all day like a cutlass.
Many of the 4 section staffs have ski pole style handles that you have to grip correctly so they fit in your hand properly, another hassle. I rather have a straight grip made of cork or something other than plastic.
Another thing I found with the Orvis, Simms & REC staffs, they all come with a Neoprene scabbard that fits the staff fine but because the scabbard is long and stretchy, it is a PIA to repeatedly put the folded up staff back in the scabbard...
Another reason you will probably have it dragging behind you all day...
I have been using a Folstaf ever since Joan Stoliar gave me my first one in her Greenwich Village basement back in the 1980's. I prefer it over anything I have ever seen or used for a lot of other reasons and I keep my other staffs stored in my car as back-ups:
First, I can keep my much smaller folded up Folstaf in a MOLLE water bottle pouch and it is completely enclosed and out of the way with no lanyards or other things hanging about waiting to get snagged on a tree branch. If you bushwhack and want to use a staff so you don't fall and smash you knees on a rock, you'll appreciate snag free compactness.
A Folstaf has tapered joints as opposed to a straight joint as are found on the the REC and the Riverstick. Straight joints don't jamb, however they ALL pull apart MUCH easier than the tapered joints of the Folstaf which means they pull apart a lot easier if stuck in the mud.
FWIW - the Neodymium magnets at the joints of the REC don't help as much as I hoped for with the mud issue but rather help more with one handed deployment.
Folstaf joints can jamb however periodic waxing and tapping the entire staff on a hard surface at the tip or tapping the effected joint on a hard surface has NEVER, EVER failed me getting it unstuck.
The joint sticking and pulling apart thing are minor hassles and easily managed to get the compact size folded and the one hand deployment. I also like the fact I can get it serviced if needed.
I take the advice of Folstaf and store my staff long term fully extended which lessens the tension on the shock cords which extends their life and I never store it long term in the heat of a car trunk.
I use the
Orvis version of the Gear Keeper wading staff retractor that utilizes a Spectra cord versus a coated steel cable and leave the Folstaf cord intact and just wrap it around my staff and secure it with a couple of o-rings.
I wouldn't recommend using the threaded stud on the Orvis retractor. Instead I use the
MOLLE swivel mount that Gearkeeper sells separately to secure my retractor.
Good luck!!
