How to modify your Hawk Helium climbing sticks - A step by step guide for dummies (aka me)

[ricky racer]

Maybe I'm a little slow on the uptake, but I don't really understand the motive behind cutting down sticks. I understand that shorter sticks will be lighter and easier to pack but to me the math doesn't add up.
Let's suppose my full length sticks are 30" long. I place the first step 20" off of the ground (I'm using round numbers for easy math) and 20" between sticks. Using simple math and 4 steps, the top step would be at 200" or about 16.5 ft.
If I cut my sticks down to 20" (again to keep the math simple). With my first step again starting at 20" from the ground and 20" between sticks, 4 sticks will only get me 160" or just a little over 13'. To achieve the same height as 4 full length sticks I have to add another step or resort to using an aider. So adding another step removes most if not all the weight savings of the cut sticks. If I decide to use an aider (which adds another level of risk in my opinion) with my 4 cut down sticks why not use an aider with 3 of the full length sticks? What am I missing????

 

[CZMark]

@bowhuntr09: I did when I shortened mine. I cut the tops off, and using a spacer, located the top V bracket in the old versa hole. If I had to do it again, I think I would use the Lone Wolf Versa Buttons with 1/4" bolts.

 

[elk yinzer]

Maybe I'm a little slow on the uptake, but I don't really understand the motive behind cutting down sticks. I understand that shorter sticks will be lighter and easier to pack but to me the math doesn't add up.
Let's suppose my full length sticks are 30" long. I place the first step 20" off of the ground (I'm using round numbers for easy math) and 20" between sticks. Using simple math and 4 steps, the top step would be at 200" or about 16.5 ft.
If I cut my sticks down to 20" (again to keep the math simple). With my first step again starting at 20" from the ground and 20" between sticks, 4 steps will only get me 160" or just a little over 13'. To achieve the same height as 4 full length steps I have to add another step or resort to using an aider. So adding another step removes most if not all the weight savings of the cut sticks. If I decide to use an aider (which adds another level of risk in my opinion) with my 4 cut down sticks why not use an aider with 3 of the full length sticks? What am I missing????

Ok, I'll engage. I would say you are missing the perspective of having moved beyond the theoretical in this instance. In the real world I inhabit it is simply easier to carry shorter sticks. Ok, sure 30"+ sticks are fine packed and stacked on a treestand of equal length, but usually ridiculous to pack otherwise. There is no comfortable way to pack a 30" stick I've found. I am a real weenie about packability I guess but I don't have the pleasure of hunting flat terrain in 40 ac squares. As for height...at a minimum, one aider on the bottom stick, which passes even by my delicate safety sensibilities, makes up the delta.

 

[CZMark]

My cut-down sticks are 23" long with 21" between steps. With a single step aider on the top two sticks, and a five-step aider on the bottom stick, I have an easy-to-carry system that will get me 18'-20' high.

 

[TNSTAAFL]

If I decide to use an aider (which adds another level of risk in my opinion) with my 4 cut down sticks why not use an aider with 3 of the full length sticks? What am I missing????

Aiders definitely add risk, but you are missing people's willingness to trade risk off against weight & bulk.

Plus, I doubt many people are using 4 sticks with an aider. If they are it is because they want to go higher of course (than 3 cut sticks).

For my math I'm going to assume a 24" step between aider or stick since that is a common goal and makes the conversion from inches to feet easier. Given that Hawk sells them in threes, 3 cut down 24" sticks with a 48" CAYGA (top step) gets you 6' per stick, or 18' plus platform, weighs 6.x lbs, and is much less bulky to pack in.

Conversely three stock sticks with no aider gets you 3 x (30" + 24") = 162"/12 = 13.5', weighs 9 lbs, and is significantly harder to pack through the brush.

If a person does add a 4th cut down stick they are simply adding another 6' of climb against 2.x lbs of weight. Similar weight as 3 stock sticks, but way higher in tree by 10.5 feet.

Whatever number of sticks you want to use, the math is endlessly in favor of the cut/aider approach.
6' per stick at 2.x lbs vs 4.5 feet per stick at closer to 3 lbs. Multiply by each based on how high you want to climb and how much you are willing to spend & carry.

Adding an aider to a stock stick certainly changes the math, but not the weight/bulk problem. 3 x (30" + 48") = 19.5' but weighs close to 9lbs and is bulky to pack. Even here I think the 4 aiderless cut sticks win with 16' of climb, similar weight, but less bulky to pack in.

If you want to compare using aiders on both stick sizes you have 6' per stick @ 2.x lbs and better packability vs 6.5' per stick @ 3 lbs and less packability. So it largely comes down to packability, with some possible weight savings depending on stick numbers. @elk yinzer did a much better (and more succinct!) job of explaining that.

 

[jdickson78mu]

Finished mine per G2’s instructions. Awesome video! Added this CAYG aider to get above 20 feet. I used a lone wolf strap extension to create the loop for attaching to the top of the stick. Also bought some clear hose to beef up the steps with camouflage duct tape and reflective tape on the edges. It’s working great so far.