Standing at a workstand for hours does a number on your back, but pulling up a random chair puts you at the wrong height for most bike work. The Park Tool STL-1.2 splits the difference with a shop stool designed specifically for the heights and movements that bicycle mechanics actually need. The adjustable range runs from 25 to 32 inches, which covers everything from low slung wheel truing to standard workstand height without forcing you into awkward postures that leave you sore at the end of a shift.

The base uses five caster wheels that roll smoothly across shop floors while supporting up to 300 pounds. When you need to stay put, the foot ring gives you a place to brace while applying torque or holding a wheel steady. The seat itself measures about 15 inches in diameter with dense foam padding over a steel frame, giving you enough cushion for extended use without bottoming out like cheaper stools tend to do after a few months of daily abuse.

Height adjustment happens through a threaded post mechanism rather than a pneumatic cylinder, which means no gradual sinking as the gas charge fades over time. You set the height once and it stays there until you decide to change it. The all-steel construction throughout the base and post explains the weight, but that mass translates to stability when you're leaning into a stubborn bottom bracket or putting pressure on a stuck seatpost.... Read More