PVC Hiking Staff

I bought a hiking staff at Walmart for $12.88 and just loved it.  A hiking staff is helpful going down hills and crossing creeks. A staff is also good to have when encountering unleashed dogs on the path.  I felt that the light weight staff I got at Walmart would not be too helpful in any dog vs man situation. So I came up with a good and sturdy staff using 1" PVC pipe. At least with this pole I can whack a dog good and protect myself. I could also add a camera mount.

Step 1 Materials Needed

4 feet of 1 inch diameter schedule 80 PVC pipe.  The thick stuff. (Home Depot)
Two 1" PVC pipe caps (Home Depot)
Nylon cord for handle (Walmart)
Rubber bumper (Hardware Store)
Screw and nut for the rubber bumper.
Optional paint for the pole.

Comments

[l8nite]

I saw a couple of Halloween prop type staff/canes, at the thrift store,that where really flimsey, but I thought of this "ible" when I saw them and picked up all 5 for $3us.
I had some 1/2 sched40 laying around and now have 3 perfectly usable canes, the longest one at 43" is amazingly sturdy, it handles my 240lbs w/o bowing at all..

[botronics]

PVC is very strong stuff! The 1/2 inch makes a lightweight cane. I bet you can find a rubber foot to fit, the kind for regular canes, at the hardware store. Slip in a white led joule thief circuit and you can use it at night on Halloween.

[l8nite]

the dollar store sells some really neat led flashlights, one thats supposed to slip over your ear and has a long stalk the led is in, it worked great on the one cane

[corey11]

Well, if people are worried about the regidity then what you could do maybe, is add some high density expanding foam to the inside of the staff. Simple and not as heavy as getting 80 sched. Instead!!

[botronics]

I can't see how foam would add any strength. Use that hollow space for stuff. Schedule 40 is plenty strong. I am still using mine every couple weeks for a hike and its holding up very well. I use it more than my Walmart aluminum tube one. Those aluminum tube sticks can get bent easily. A heavy staff out of schedule 80 would get tiresome really quick.

[pmooreknife]

They also make PVC in a thicker grade like Sch 80 pipe. Little more weight, but walls would be 2X the thickness.

[botronics]

I stand corrected! My staff is made from schedule 40 PVC.  I have only seen two types at Home Depot. Schedule 20 and 40.  This Schedule 80 is thicker and is not too common at home builders stores.  My schedule 40 pipe is strong enough without the extra weight.

[botronics]

Mine is made of the thick stuff, schedule 80. I've been hiking around in the hills and it has held up well. If you put a Lego rubber tire just below the handle and mount a video cam on the pole, you can hold just below that tire.  Let it balance as you walk about.  The pole will act a a Steadicam for your camera. I've tried it with a Zi8 with good results.

[botronics]

I stuffed a mini first aid kit at the end of the staff. Just a shorty ziploc bag with some Curad silver bandaids and benzalkonium chloride towelettes. The ziploc keeps things dry.

[l8nite]

Is the pvc really strong enough to use as a hiking aid? It is a great idea and pretty inexpensive for light duty. I keep a small saw handy for when I see a pile of tree trimmings and have a small collection of sticks from cane to extra long staff size. No Im not a big hiker, I have back problems so a staff comes in handy as a support for just standing as well as a balance aid when walking

[meddler]

I injured my back in the military. I can sympathize.

[botronics]

Plenty strong enough. The hiking pole I got at Walmart probably could be bent in my bare hands. The 1 inch diameter PVC would be hard to break. Use the thick kind that is about 1/8th inch thick. Tried it out at Garin Park on Christmas. Photos at:
http://www.panoramio.com/user/1933804