As a newcomer to Nordic walking, a type of offseason ski-walking, I discovered a whole science in choosing the correct length of pole.
Oupa se kierie...to reach to the hip joint
Hiking stick...to reach to the elbow.
Wading stick...up to shoulder height
White stick for the blind...up to chin level.
My wading staff length, is that of a blind man....it is definitely catching on as some commented on my fishing the same
To stick or not to stick is up to you, but for me, a wading stick is an essential piece of safety kit.
Play around with different lengths of sticks...you will not go blind and may just see the difference.