Walking stick issues

I didn't buy folding poles as I didn't trust them. Interesting that you have had problems with them. It would be good to hear if there are some robust ones out there.

I have OA in both knees and developed hip pain too, so needed robust sticks. After much deliberation I bought lightweight telescopic ones that shorten quite small, small enough to go in my rucksac, tops out, but much too long to fit in a medium bag. They are probably not suitable for what you want right now.

I figured that as I will probably be using them on and off for the rest of my life, even after my knees are replaced, to spend once for something very durable, but didn't look too clinical. I went for the Leki Super Micro, a pair, with the rubber base. I'd had a set of Leki treking poles that never let me down, so felt I could trust them to take my weight. I looked at cheaper similar options but I didn't think they were strong enough. Very expensive, yes, but I'm happy with them. Because I need to use them so much I now just have them at their useable length, and don't telescope them down.

As my sticks are 'senior' sticks as opposed to trekking poles, they can be taken as cabin luggage on planes as they are mobility aids.

Also, just to add, if your knee osteoarthritis gets bad in both knees equally, that 2 sticks are so much better than just one. I found a single stick threw far too much stress on the knee on the same side as the stick, and actually made things worse, and for a long time avoided using sticks because of this.