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API huntn stick

B

beej32

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 10, 2017
Messages
279
anybody using these or attempted to modify them at all?

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/api-outdoors-huntn-sticks-climbing-system
I have a set and am considering trying my hand at some mods.

The run and gun line of thinking is new to me, but a few short ventures quickly revealed why the 32” length of these is a problem for that.

But to me it seems like it’d be trivial to cut off 10”, drill a new hole for the bottom step, and use the existing hardware to wind up with stackable sticks at around 2.5lbs each,19” between steps. They wouldn’t be super light, but it seems otherwise not too different from bowhunter15’s custom sticks.

Any thoughts, experiences or suggestions are greatly appreciated before this newb potentially hacks up a decent set of sticks
 
beej32 said:
anybody using these or attempted to modify them at all?

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/api-outdoors-huntn-sticks-climbing-system
I have a set and am considering trying my hand at some mods.

The run and gun line of thinking is new to me, but a few short ventures quickly revealed why the 32” length of these is a problem for that.

But to me it seems like it’d be trivial to cut off 10”, drill a new hole for the bottom step, and use the existing hardware to wind up with stackable sticks at around 2.5lbs each,19” between steps. They wouldn’t be super light, but it seems otherwise not too different from bowhunter15’s custom sticks.

Any thoughts, experiences or suggestions are greatly appreciated before this newb potentially hacks up a decent set of sticks
Click to expand...
If you already have them I say go for it.

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They would be SUPER light on a 1” x1”x1/16 wall tube. There isn’t much there as far as the steps are concerned. I’m not sure if the standoff’s as I’ve never seen any. Post up some pics!


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This became a Friday night project and was pretty simple- just some measuring, a single cut and one new hole drilled in each stick. Sticks are now 22” and ~2lbs 3oz each, excluding rope/strap, with 19” steps. Wound up dropping a little over 13oz per stick. Could be much lighter with thinner aluminum if that’s what you’re going for.

I’ll post some pics later this weekend, but I’m pretty pleased with the results. Now need to decide on an approach for an aider (attached or movable?) and figure out what to do with the steps I removed- seems there’s a platform option there somehow...
 
beej32 said:
This became a Friday night project and was pretty simple- just some measuring, a single cut and one new hole drilled in each stick. Sticks are now 22” and ~2lbs 3oz each, excluding rope/strap, with 19” steps. Wound up dropping a little over 13oz per stick. Could be much lighter with thinner aluminum if that’s what you’re going for.

I’ll post some pics later this weekend, but I’m pretty pleased with the results. Now need to decide on an approach for an aider (attached or movable?) and figure out what to do with the steps I removed- seems there’s a platform option there somehow...
Click to expand...
Yes. Post up some pics! That sounds like an easy enough mod and you don't hear much about API sticks. Would like to see better pics.

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I let’s see some pictures. Interesting stick


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Here are some shots of the sticks before mods, though I had replaced the straps/buckles with rope
 

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Here are my mods. The one concern is whether the low button placement will affect the hold on the tree. Any idea?
 

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beej32 said:
Here are my mods. The one concern is whether the low button placement will affect the hold on the tree. Any idea?
Click to expand...
I would think ideal placement would be a few inches higher than where it is. Try it out if it doesn't give you any problems there's no sense in moving it.

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Very nice. Do you know what they weigh now that they are shortened?

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Do u know what a single stand off weighs?




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Tapeworm said:
Do u know what a single stand off weighs?
Click to expand...

I didn't weigh just the standoff, but did weigh:
single step + standoff + bolt = 10.2oz
single step + bolt = 6.1oz

So, that'd mean right around 4oz just for the standoff, but I can confirm that this evening.
 
Ontariofarmer said:
Memory says. 160 g for muddy
85 g. Lone wolf stand offs

Times 2 for each stick.



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Click to expand...

I finally found an old post of urs and those numbers are right

LW 89g each

Hawk 108g each

Muddy 163g each




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beej32 said:
Here are my mods. The one concern is whether the low button placement will affect the hold on the tree. Any idea?
Click to expand...

Could just leave button in original hole & spin steps around so face opposite direction



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Tapeworm said:
Could just leave button in original hole & spin steps around so face opposite direction
Click to expand...

It's tough to see in the picture, but the button actually is already slightly closer to the top standoff than to the bottom one, by about an inch. I still haven't tested out whether it's even necessary to move the button, but should be easy to do. Just need a slightly bigger drill bit for a hole on the back of each stick that the nose of the button fits into when they're stacked.
 
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