John H
Nyack , Ny

Apr 18, 2015

Pros: Material, Balance

Cons: None

Really nice - been asking for it.

Just got this last week. This is generally something I have been asking them about for a while now. Shorter than I wanted for a hiking staff and not tapered to fit the Bushman blades for a spear (both which I have asked about many times), but still a great item and I knew the length, etc when ordering it. Solid as a rock, thicker than you might think and it does have some weight. You will not be fast with this unless you practice - a lot. I haven't really had the chance to work with it a lot yet, but wanted to mention something to anyone else who might order this. The stats say 1.5 inch diameter which is bigger than you might think so don't be surprised. I noticed right away when I had it in my hands that the staff is slightly tapered. Maybe just a defect in mine (no big deal if it is). One end is 4 5/8" around and the other end is 4 2/8" around - so there really is a top and bottom. Just a FYI to buyers.

Timothy Von G, Ii
Roswell, Ga

Jun 10, 2015

Pros: Weight, Material, Balance

Cons: None

probably one of my favorite cold steel weapons

First off, lemme get this out of the way. Its about as much a "trainer" as an actual wooden staff would be. Maybe even less if you practice a Chinese martial art and use the super light and flexible wax wood staffs, because this thing is sturdy and only flexes to absorb blows really. Its a lot more comparable to a medieval quarter staff, due to the length and thickness, though is a bit more octagonal like a japanese bo. This is a legitimate weapon as it is hard enough and hefty enough to be made out of a wood, albeit a smidge lighter and more durable due to the high-density polypropylene. For reference on the height, I'm 6'4"-5" roughly and it comes up to the base of my sternum on my chest, which makes this either a quarterstaff or a Jo staff in length. And I love it. Super long staffs are a bit impractical these days but a jo staff is easily used to give length whilst being compact enough to be easily carried or used as a walking stick. the girth too is good for someone with big hands like mine, while the octaconal nature means its straddles the comfortable line in its diameter for the hand to grip. I always loved octaconal staffs more than round. Speaking of which, I was making something in line with a modern tactical Japanese Yari after getting a couple Yari Blades from Kriss Cutlery, and I had been shopping around for a hard ironwood to make the shaft out of. Now I'm switching it to getting another one of these for the shaft, because this is both inexpensive, made of super durable modern materials, and is already the exact length I'd need it for. Would definitely buy one of these again, Cold Steel really needs to keep making these ad infinatum.

Gordon
St. Augustine, Fl.

May 18, 2015

Pros: Weight, Material, Balance

Cons: None

Love this thing.

I like a heavy staff, this is a heavy staff and it would take getting used to and developing the muscles to use it. Cold Steel says it's 40.3 Oz. I figured that out to be 2.8 pounds. It's definitely not a "training" staff. It does have a little flex to it but that's a good thing, no more than a hardwood staff would have. And it would be impossible to break. I really like the octagon shape of it too, it really does improve the grip. If your looking for a modern staff that's doesn't have the problems that wood has get this one.

David G
Flint, Mi

Apr 04, 2016

Pros: Material

Cons: None

More Then a Simple Trainer

Cold Steel's line of training weapons has yet to let me down and this training staff actually exceeded my expectations. I purchased it mostly as a walking staff for outdoor wood walks or daily jaunts around my neighborhood to keep me in shape with the secondary purpose of self defense. Like all of the CS trainers, it is made out of super tough polypropylene, so it won't crack, swell or shrink like wood and is completely water proof, a big concern where I live thanks to rain and snow and is nearly unbreakable. It has a really neat wood grain pattern cast into it that gives good grip along with it's octagonal cross section. At 54" in length, it has plenty of reach and leverage but not overly long. My only "complaint" is the weight, which is about almost double compared to most woods staffs. But if you want to build up your upper body strength and want something that will put a serious smack on a feral dog or bad guy without worrying about breakage, this is the one to get and worth the money. One simple modification I did to this staff was the installation of a rubber chair cap I purchased for 60 cents at a local hard wear store. Although they didn't have a 1.5" dia. cap, I was able to use a 1.25 dia. one by soaking it in boiling water for a couple of minutes while letting the end of the staff soak in a bucket of ice for the same amount of time. This process worked like a charm and it would take an incredible amount of work to remove it.

Ewc
Tennessee

Aug 15, 2016

Pros: Material, Balance

Cons: None

Training Jo

The product meets all of the requirement. I only wish it wasn't nearly one inch thick in diameter. A jo needs to have a smaller circumference.

Ken
stok

May 27, 2015

Pros: Material

Cons: None

Small disappointment

The diameter is bigger than I expected. Was hoping they would've been the same as maybe the askreema stick. but over all it's a solid staff and will serve it's purpose

In Training
USA

Jun 15, 2017

Pros: Weight, Material, Balance

Cons: None

IT WOULD BE HARD TO BREAK THESE

I bought 4 of these to use for staff and short stick training, as we have broken wood staffs. I cut 2 to 48'' length which is what I use. I cut 2 so as to have a pair of 24'' and a pair of 30" short sticks. Cuts on the 24" measure gave me one 24'' and one 30''(less the thickness of the 90 degree miter caw cut) from each 54" staff. Before cutting the 54" staff, I did 2 impact tests. Full power over hand 2 hand swing into a concrete floor. Slight 1/8'' scuff on the side of the end of the staff. Full power overhand 2 hand swing into a horizontal log, striking about 1/2 way down the staff. Slight scuff only. There is not much vibration transferred to hands upon impact. They are heavier than most wood. I like the octagon shape. When cut some slight voids/bubbles were found, match head sized, they do not matter to me.

Mark
Virginia

Mar 17, 2015

Pros: Material, Balance

Cons: None

Nice heft and size.

After I drill two holes and thread 550 cord through them I will be using this as a hiking staff. It performed well this afternoon on a short four mile hike, but the grip was slightly difficult due to the smoothness of the material. After a few strikes at a heavy bag, I feel it is slightly heavy for a training staff. All of my Bo staffs are much easier to control. But only the weight is the issue. After those same hits, the heavy bag was moving alot more than after the hits with a traditional Bo staff. If you hit something with this, it is going to definitely cause an immense amount of damage, if you can control the swing.

David G
upstate NY

Jul 13, 2015

Pros: Weight, Material, Balance

Cons: None

Almost perfect

Since I have to use a cane as a result of an accident, I wanted a cane /staff that didn't have "victim" written all over it.. Street thugs love that. My cane collection has grown considerably-mostly with Cold Steel items. Unfortunately, only the new Ten Shun cane has a traction device. I brought this to Cold Steel's attention. I can usually find something that will work, but it detracts from the overall appearance of "not a victim" that I'm looking for.