Collapsible walking sticks

Nope, must be checked.
A recent thread:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/packing/hiking-poles-426a9772-219f-4f57-bc78-972f7aa5239b

The big issue comes down to the tip of the walking stick. If you buy one made for use as a cane or walking aid, and it only has a rubber tip, then those are fine. But the hiking poles so many buy, have a sharp metal, essentially spike, at the end, sometimes with a plastic or rubber cap. Those will not be allowed.

As an aside, the advice to stick to a carry-on size bag is to help limit you in what you pack, and for ease of getting around. If need be, there is no sin in checking a bag. I usually do not check on the way over, only because once I land, I am off. But if I were to stay in my arrival town for a couple days, I have no problem checking. I almost always check my bag on the way home.

Can you take a collapsible cane? I've seen people turned away by TSA at various airports due to walking sticks in their carry-on, but a cane is a necessary walking aid.

A cane is a medical device. I show it to the TSA screener and ask if OK and have never been turned away. I strap it to the outside of my carryon through the x-ray scanner and they haven't blinked. But mine is cheap and easily replaced so I take the risk if I have to leave it behind. YMMV.

I travel with a Leki stick/cane. It's a single stick and collapses down. I tuck it into a handle on the outside of my suitcase. It has been on dozens and dozens of trips with me. I have never mentioned it to anyone and I have never been asked a question at any US or foreign airport. It certainly is a medical assistance device for me but it really doesn't look much different than a walking stick - although it's shorter I guess. I see a lot of people with walking sticks that look like ski poles - my stick is nothing like that.

I use this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TA4NV6C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You can use a carryon size bag for ease of movement in Europe and still check it on the flight over.

I faced the same dilemma two summers ago, after seeing a few airline sites that definitively listed collapsible hiking poles as not allowed in carry-on bags. I ended up renting a good pair of collapsible poles at an outdoor equipment shop when I arrived in Zermatt, for 4 Swiss francs per day. I was very glad to have the poles while hiking, and also glad to not have to carry them for the rest of my trip. Another option you could consider, as it seems you haven’t bought poles yet, is to buy a pair in Switzerland, and check your bag on the trip home.

I have seen TSA confiscate them several times. You will need to either check your bag or rent/purchase them once you arrive.

I am 1 for 1 getting the cheap Amazon folding walking sticks through security at Minneapolis, Paris and Zurich in 2022. I kept the big rubber tip protectors on them and folded up tight. I plan to do the same in July. If flagged, I can toss them or check the bag.

Definitely consider renting them upon arrival if you don't want to deal with transporting them. There were stores renting them in all the mountain villages I was in.

Ive seen this asked on several other forums. Some say they had no problem as long as they were collapsible. Others opposite. Tsa also states they are not allowed but they also state everything up to discretion of agent. However, you can bring antlers in carryon..go figure.
A poster on other site said they purchased there..and pricey..also said they saw them in gift shops and were cheaper..did not mention quality. Also sportXX in switzerland will deliver to your hotel if you order online. Not sure if you are on TA, but many posts about it. Im going to buy mine there. And yes many rent.

I am planning a hiking tour through switzerland. I have arthritic knees and would like to use walking sticks. My thought is to get collapsible ones for ease in packing. I know I can take them in a checked bag but like Rick Steves advises, I only use a carry-on. Will I have a problem getting these through TSA? I'm reading mixed responses online. Has anyone tried taking them through security in a carry-on?

I can't answer your air related question, however as someone with arthritis living in Switzerland I'd like to point out that SAR services are very expensive here because it almost always involves an air lift and a bill of 80K - 100K is not unusual for something like an air lift from a mountain resort to a hospital in the next town or city.

Like most Swiss I make a donation to an organisation called Rega (https://www.rega.ch/en/) and carry a little card that entitles me to free services. So make sure you have some kind of cover to address such issues.

We didn't want to risk losing our expensive break-apart hiking sticks on last year's trip that included 4 days in Wengen where we hiked extensively. We rented them from Alpia Sport.