Not bad but does not trigger enthusiasm

The initial situation: I am in this floor-type stand with staff combined, came because I like to wander, while often a DSLR have been doing. Always as a precaution to lug a tripod, just because it might be practical in low light conditions and at the telephoto focal range, seemed to me not the wisdom to be last word on life. Often enough I have carried around tripod then not used and annoyed by the unnecessary smuggling. But as so often: I had left it at home sometimes, did not miss me promptly with a great recording.
With sticks I not wandered beforehand rather, because I found it impractical. To hold in each hand a stick means indeed to have no free hand for the camera. And the constant "What to do with the sticks" I wanted also the carefree shooting in landscape not do. Thus a combined walking stick therefore seemed to be a clever idea. Now that I've made several trips so I would like to describe my impression.

1. Question: Is a single floor at all useful? Actually yes. Most use two poles at the same time as it improves the operating safety and protects the joint. I have read that the benefits of walking sticks in non-Alpine area in the order of 10% relief and also less fatigue to lie. Already the use of only one individual stocks increases the slip resistance for me and also for slope I find him really very practical. But I can well imagine that the body is unilaterally loaded differently when I - as I do - always use it in the same hand and the page does not change. Personally, I can still find no disadvantages by far, that I have a stick only and also used on only one side. I like it too much to have the second hand free.

2. Question: Is the monopod at all useful? Limited Yes. A tripod is more flexible and more durable than this monopod, but indisputably he does his job. Better than nothing, and sometimes really useful. But I have the tripod function rarely needed than expected, and he can not completely replace a real tripod. Who wants to make, for example, macro shots, it should not even try it. The "Installation" of the stand, often with adjustment of the height is, annoyingly associated with effort, as I then again zurückbauen everything after photographing and my "ride height" has to adjust the floor.

3. What is the workmanship? Goes so. The floor itself is fine, but not really high quality. Even dangerous poorly processed was unfortunately the handle: the foam on the handle was loose and almost immediately had to deal with special glue from me again to be fixed (since he keeps safe). If he had come loose at the moment, while I was on a slope shifted my weight on it, that could have been a nasty fall. The compass in the handle is just a gimmick. The screw to adjust the camera, however, is in order.

Conclusion: The "BIG monopod walking stick" is neither a particularly good nor a particularly useful walking stick monopod. The processing is convenient and without luxury. But since I since the acquisition take him every time, I have to say that it - has been proven in use - even if it is not really good. A useful product up, which I give 3 stars to 4. tendency to Stern (whom it has but playful by the lack of good workmanship in the Griffverklebung).