TL;DR All climbing methods are just about the same when viewed in proper context. People don't typically view them in the proper context. The variable that matters most is hidden in the profile of the climber/hunter/style of hunting - not the climbing method used. Study yourself and your habits.
These conversations/debates always end up being circular. We all lack the proper context and perspective to compare with each other. This is why I always try to broaden the questions being asked.
Folks seem to hone in on one negative or positive about equipment, or conflate certain aspects with other unrelated equipment/methods.
I try to think about climbing methods the following way:
I consider all aspects of a climbing method.
- How much does it cost compared to other methods, and in the context of my own budget?
- If it has any complexity to it, or moving parts, how accessible is service and replacements?
- How much does it weigh?
- How well does it pack for scouting, hunting, packing out with deer parts added to the mix ( l like to make one trip in, one trip out when possible)?
- How much time does it take me to learn to use the equipment/method compared to other equipment/methods?
- How much risk do I incur compared to other equipment/methods, in the context of my whole hunting experience?
- How much time/effort does it take me to prepare the stuff to go hunting, comparatively?
- How much time/effort does it take me to walk in with the stuff, comparatively?
- How much time/effort does it take to unpack and prepare the stuff to start climbing, comparatively?
- How much time/effort does it take to climb up with the stuff, comparatively?
- How much time/effort does it take to prepare the stuff to start climbing down, comparatively?
- How much time/effort does it take to climb down with the stuff, comparatively?
- How much time/effort does it take to pack up the stuff to walk out, comparatively?
- How much time/effort does it take to walk out with the stuff, comparatively?
- How much time/effort/space does it take to store the stuff at home, comparatively?
If that seems insane, it is. I'm single, don't have kids, have disposable income, and like to hunt and play with hunting gear.
What I've found, is that when you do this analysis, ALL climbing methods become indecipherable from each other, with all variables held constant but the climbing method. What does change, is the weight that each individual person applies to each of the above aspects.
I'm personally happy that no one really thinks about this stuff in any great detail. Why? It's the reason we have such an awesome classifieds section. People buy stuff because one guy says one aspect of a piece of equipment makes it a game changer. 50 people buy it immediately, and then regret doing so, because they lacked the context of their own hunting situations/styles. They end up selling it at a good discount.
But here are some things that might clear up some of the conversation about using a single stick to climb:
Single stick climbing, conceptually, is different from using multiple sticks, in two ways - you only have one stick, and your feet are not on a stick when you attach the "next" stick.
Complaints about noise, complexity, etc. are absurd in my opinion. But I can see how they come up from folks who aren't thinking about the problem properly. Attaching a stick to a tree makes the same amount of noise, whether it is one stick being reused, or a second stick. If you make too much noise while repositioning the stick, it's because you're not experienced enough doing it, not flexible or strong enough to execute it, or some random thing during your climb causes it. That doesn't make one stick climbing noisy, it makes you noisy. Complaints about complexity make no sense. You're attaching a stick to a tree 2-6 times, the same as you would when you use multiple sticks. Yes, you add advancing a tether, and reaching down for a stick. Guess what? You take away the need for removing sticks if you rappel down. And even if you don't, you eliminate the noise/effort of unpacking and packing up, and climbing up and down with multiple sticks.
Much of the issues brought up regarding stability, leaning trees, risk, etc. seem to center on aiders. Guess what - you can single stick without aiders. Or shorter ones. But the issue isn't single stick climbing, it's aiders, and your relationship to them. However, if you're comparing climbing multiple sticks to a single stick, but both have, or don't have aiders, you've eliminated that variable from the picture. If you are comparing it to some completely different climbing method, all the other factors above come back into play, and the total sum difference disappears. See a trend here?
One complaint I see a lot is the time needed to become proficient with the method, compared to others. One could make the argument that folks should be spending a lot more time thinking about, practicing, and perfecting even the simplest of climbing methods. Just because you CAN be mindless about attaching multiple sticks to a tree, or using a climbing platform (that doesn't exist commercially today), doesn't mean you should. It shows a lack of understanding of risk, as well as an incomplete comparison to the other methods being considered.
Another issue that gets talked about in a weird way, is the fact that all youtube videos of climbing methods are on straight, limbless trees. People rightly intuit that climbing a leaning tree, or one with branches, is more difficult/time consuming/risky than climbing a straight one with no branches. What they get wrong is neglecting to consider that ALL climbing methods get more difficult/time consuming/risky with a leaner/branches. When you consider the delta between climbing a straight/limbless versus leaning/limbed for a single climbing method, it leaves out important context. You have to take that delta, and plug it into the multivariate analysis above. What you find is that the time/effort/risk delta is largely swallowed up by the total difference across all of those other important factors.
You can compare this to the silly heavy/light fixed/mechanical debate on arrows. Same issues.
If you're thinking about trying one stick climbing - it is going to be better or worse than what you're currently using to climb. That's a fact. However, it will likely be much less better or worse than you have in your head. Only you can determine this, and it can only be determined through a pretty thorough analysis.
If you're thinking about getting away from one stick climbing, any other method will definitely be better or worse. That's a fact. However, it will likely be much less better or worse than you have in your head. Only you can determine this, and it can only be determined through a pretty thorough analysis.
