Back when I was younger and we used to do a lot of family hiking, I put a pretty neat survival kit in our walking sticks. I made them with 1 1/4” pvc pipe and found some cast aluminum points that looked like a well point which was threaded - I cemented a pvc adapter for the same thread and screwed the point in. With that on one end and then filled them with everything from first aid kit to strike anywhere matches as well as water purification drops, a pocket knife and a string saw and 2 mil plastic sheet wrapped up really tight - amazing how much they hold. I wrapped some sport grip cushioned tape for a handle, drilled a hole through the top and put a lanyard through it which kept everything in as well as giving you a wrist strap.
That way, everyone had not only their own survival kit, but a very effective defense tool for bears, rowdies, etc. and it made hiking a lot more fun - pushing brambles aside, extra balance and so on.
My kids after grown took theirs with them and wife and I still have ours around somewhere.
Excellent idea! I keep all that stuff in the backpack (in addition to keeping a “to go” bag in the truck with essentials. Always best to be prepared.
It doesn’t make your stick really heavy? We love to hike and I’ve looked into lightweight collapsible sticks.