Shepherd's / Laird's / Day Plaid... with a backpack?

[creagdhubh]

Kyle, if I may trouble you, do you have any recommendations for the height of the top of the crook / handle for a cromach when held vertically as far as relative to one's own height?

Is there a rule of thumb for how high up on one's body it should come?

I often see people leaning against them at an angle with the handle somewhere between the navel and the mid chest, or holding them upright and almost hanging off of them near shoulder height when they are that vertical. Having it come up high certainly would have the advantage of also pinning down the plaid when worn, but how long is practical? Do you have ones that have a joint in the middle that can be unscrewed for travel? A long cormach certainly would be tough to move form the USA to Scotland via airplane if it did not unscrew into shorter lengths.

Slàinte!

I was always told no higher than your sternum, so about mid-chest height when holding the crook and shaft straight in front of your body. I am 5' 10" tall and my rams horn cromach measures 53" from the very bottom tip of the brass ferrule, to the very top of the crook. No, all of my cromachs are of solid construction with no joint(s), but I have indeed seen sticks that unscrew into three pieces. I feel that would compromise the durability and strength of the stick, especially if you want to use it for more strenuous hill-walking. When I travel to Scotland, I typically borrow one of my cousin's many cromachs. If I ever wanted to bring one of my own, then I'd probably just ship it there, then ship it back home before leaving. That may sound a wee bit daft, but I've heard of crazier things!