The key comment is at the end of course. A random TSA officer may decide it’s not allowed. Probably better not.
One of my main peeves—aside from the general which I mostly avoid with TSA Pre—is a hiking pole which I often want to use at a random destination I’ll just use carryon for. But it’s not allowed in carryon.
I have a camera tripod[0] with detachable legs, allowing you to use it as a monopod. The thing's incredibly sturdy, and the monopod could easily be used as a hiking pole. Similarly, maybe there's a way to DIY a tripod out of hiking poles?
The rules really are ridiculous. You aren't allowed to bring a clear bottle of water, but you are allowed to bring fish in your carry on. Freeze that water, or put a fish in that bottle of water, and it is allowed, because you're transporting live fish! I was going through a checkpoint a few weeks ago and forgot a filled, reusable water bottle in my backpack. Instead of just letting me dump the bottle out and proceed, the TSA handler made me go to the back of the line and go through the entire checkpoint, body scanner etc again. If I had just brought a fish with me, I could have avoided the whole thing.
Fish are allowed in small bottles of water (though filled "water" bottles are not) because the presence of a living fish in the liquid is a pretty clear indicator that the liquid in the bottle is water, and not something else like explosives.
I actually have a walking stick with a removable end knob that exposes a tripod screw. However I assume I wouldn’t convince any TSA agent that the item in question was not in fact a walking stick. (Also not sure it gets short enough to fit in carryon.
Since the final decision rests with the TSA officer.. maybe.. just maybe you can sweet talk them and they'll allow it since it is _just_ a hiking pole.
One of my main peeves—aside from the general which I mostly avoid with TSA Pre—is a hiking pole which I often want to use at a random destination I’ll just use carryon for. But it’s not allowed in carryon.