ExtraLimb Walking Sticks

Designer/maker Christopher Poehlmann introduces his new handcrafted ExtraLimb Walking Stick, a mobility aid that is as much an art and fashion statement as it is functional. The ExtraLimb walking sticks playfully remove any stigma attached to the idea of a cane and importantly expand the maker’s renown in rustic modern design.

Designed with an ergonomic grip and a lightweight aluminum body referencing a wooden branch, the ExtraLimb Walking Stick extends designer Poehlmann’s tongue in cheek play on traditional carved wood, which has gained international renown through his Rustic Modern newGROWTH series of light fixtures for his brand CP Lighting. Unlike the bespoke branches of chandeliers, Poehlmann’s walking stick for the physically impaired brings the branch back to the ground.

The ExtraLimb Walking Stick grew out of his wife’s need for stability and support after she progressed from knee scooter to crutches during recovery from an accident that smashed her heel and L1 vertebrae. Unwilling to settle for a Plain Jane cane from the pharmacy or a suitable stick found in the woods, she implored her industrial designer husband to help her take the next steps, to craft something super cool. The seeds for a cane, once marinating in Poehlmann’s sketchbook for a number of years, rapidly grew into the ExtraLimb Walking Stick.

Poehlmann says: “When thinking about canes and walking sticks what comes to mind? Often it’s negative words like cripple or disabled or old, rarely do you hear cool or beautiful or even interesting. The ExtraLimb walking sticks aim to remove that stigma through good ergonomic design and a bit of humor. The ExtraLimb should be seen as a design statement, a cool accessory, a bit of functional art to help you get through your day with character and style. Sure, you may need it for some extra balance but don’t let that stop you from enhancing your mobility. ExtraLimb gives a nod to wooden walking sticks with a very contemporary take on that tradition.“