I only have the Heliums. Modded with ropes and cut down.
The Beast offsets squeaking is interesting. I assume on hard, smoother bark like red oaks, smooth hickory? My Heliums do that, but I saw someone claim that the Beast sticks would not. I doubted that claim very highly. The squeak is not bad if you are careful and deliberate climbing. Like many things noise related, acting like a bull in a china closet I suppose you could make it bad. People really exaggerate how bad noises are, or maybe they are just careless, or overly paranoid and don’t know how much you can get away with 50 yards from a bedded buck…I don’t know.
I wouldn’t even begin to consider single-step sticks for climbing utility.
I like the folding steps for the better packability. Well worth the weight penalty to me personally. That’s the factor that rules out Beast sticks for me.
Even if the Beast sticks are better, are they $50 per stick better? I don’t know, my Heliums are pretty awesome. But good for Dan and I am really looking forward to his stand. That one I am planning to probably spring for.