Want to keep your derrière out of the fire ants when you take a rest while hiking?  You could carry a small stool, but that's one more thing you would have to carry.  Or you can build a hiking stick that converts quickly to a low stool.  The idea for the stick-stool grew from an invention by Paul Cummings of the Loxahatchee chapter.  He devised a three-section hiking stick that converts to an upside down "U" with a straight middle piece on which you sit (somewhat precariously) by using your own legs as the stool's third leg. 

The stick-stool is made basically from 1-inch-diameter PVC pipe and fittings.  If you're a featherweight, perhaps you could get away with PVC of a smaller diameter.  If you're hefty, you might want to opt for a larger diameter.  Three of the four sections are merely tubes with fittings on each end, but one section is more complicated (as explained below).  My sections are each about a foot in length, making a 4-foot hiking stick.  You could make the three simple sections longer to render a higher stool, or make the complicated section a different length to fit your hinder (see the photograph showing the four sections disassembled).  An advantage to having all four sections about the same length is that when disassembled they can be tied together with cord and stuck into your day pack when not being used as either a hiking stick or a sitting stool. 

The PVC fittings that are needed are: 2 caps, 3 male threaded fittings, 3 female threaded fittings, and 3 T-junctions in which the middle hole has a female threaded end.  There is also an optional fitting explained below of which two are needed.  You'll need PVC cleaner and cement, and I recommend a rubber cap that fits snugly over the end fittings.  Optional are a strap for the top of the stick (I use a leather thong), some water-pipe insulation or other suitable material to make something softer to sit upon, and some tape to hold the material on (I use black plastic electrician's tape).  I spray-paint my stick brown, not only for aesthetic purposes but also because the ultraviolet component of sunlight degrades PVC, making it more brittle. 

Construct the gadget as follows.  Cut three identical lengths of PVC to make the stool's legs.  As mentioned, my sections are 1 foot long and I suggest going no shorter than that.  Cement a cap on one end and a male threaded fitting on the other end of two of the pieces.  (These are the top and bottom sections of the hiking stick, which are identical unless you put a strap on one.)  On the third simple piece cement a male threaded fitting on one end and a female threaded fitting on the other. The complicated section is composed of, in order from one end to the other: female threaded fitting, "very short" length of PVC pipe, T-junction, "short" length of PVC pipe, (middle) T-junction, "short" PVC length, T-junction, "very short" PVC length, and female threaded fitting.  The "very short" lengths are just long enough so that the female fitting on the end and the adjacent T-junction abut.  The "short" lengths between the T-junctions determine the length of the whole section.  I used lengths of about 2 inches, but depending upon the size of your fanny, you could make those lengths shorter or longer. The section is thus completely symmetric about the middle T-junction.  This middle T-junction is cemented at an angle with respect to the other two.  The smaller this angle, the higher and stronger but the less stable the stool.  The larger the angle, the more stable but the weaker and lower the stool.  The structural weakness is due to torque on the screw fittings.  My stick uses an angle of about 35 degrees between the middle T-junction and the other two. Remember the optional PVC fitting referred to earlier?  It is a junction piece used instead of or in addition to the "very short" PVC length between the female threaded fitting and the adjacent T-junction.  That PVC length must be so short that the threaded fitting and T-junction abut one another, in order to get the stool's legs as close as possible to the ends for maximum stability.  Both the fitting and T-junction have outside diameters of 1.25 in.  Therefore, a PVC sleeve (either a manufactured fitting or short length of pipe) with that INSIDE diameter can be cemented to hold the female fitting and the T-junction abutted together.  It might be difficult to cement both an inside length of PVC and this outside sleeve at the same time, which is what would be required if both are used.  My stick uses only the outside sleeve. When in the hiking stick mode, the complicated section of the contraption can be either next to the top (as shown in the stick photograph at right) or next to the bottom.  I have used both placements without developing a preference.

When in the stool mode, only the top and bottom sections will have caps on the ground end.  Therefore, I remove the rubber tip and place it on the third leg to prevent sand from getting into the threads (as shown in the stool photograph at left).  What you consider the front and back of the stool is arbitrary.  I usually sit with the outer two legs behind me for best stability.  As mentioned earlier, threaded joints are susceptible to breakage through torque (as if you took the stick and broke it over your knee -- which you probably could not do).  Therefore, it's best to put weight straight down on the vertical stick while hiking and resist rocking to and fro while sitting on the stool.  I have broken my stick only once, after it was several years old and weathered.  Fortunately, I did not have to replace the female threaded fitting because the broken off male piece could be removed from it.  So I made one replacement section. 

The glory of working with PVC is that the fittings are cheap and the pipe itself is very cheap.  So if you don't like the way you made your stick, or you have to replace a section, there's no financial burden incurred.  An advantage of the design is that everyone who sees your hiking stick will say (or at least think) "What the hell is that?"  It's a conversation piece on the trail that could bring you lots of new walking friends. 

Jack P. Hailman, Tropical Trekkers Chapter