API huntn stick

[beej32]

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

 

[ImThere]

I can’t never find any in stock.


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[denots]

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

If you already have them I say go for it.

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[ImThere]

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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[beej32]

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...

 

[pilgrimhunter]

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...

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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[Ontariofarmer]

I let’s see some pictures. Interesting stick


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[beej32]

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

 

[beej32]

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

 

[denots]

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

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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[lincolnt]

awsome job they look great.

 

[pilgrimhunter]

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

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[Tapeworm]

Do u know what a single stand off weighs?




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[beej32]

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

Without ropes, they were 2lbs 5oz each, according to my cheap kitchen scale. The original weight was 3lbs 3oz each.

 

[beej32]

Do u know what a single stand off weighs?

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.

 

[ImThere]

It looks to be a muddy standoff’s @Ontariofarmer can tell you what a muddy standoff weighs. I forgot


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[Ontariofarmer]

It looks to be a muddy standoff’s @Ontariofarmer can tell you what a muddy standoff weighs. I forgot


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Memory says. 160 g for muddy
85 g. Lone wolf stand offs

Times 2 for each stick.



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[Tapeworm]

Memory says. 160 g for muddy
85 g. Lone wolf stand offs

Times 2 for each stick.



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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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[Tapeworm]

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

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



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[beej32]

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

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.