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Catalyst Ion

I was asked via PM about EWO vs Ion, since I have both. Thought I'd share my reply publicly.

Did a few climbs in the yard this morning (10 feet). A few thoughts on it, from a novice.

1) Does not bite into the tree as well.
2) Have not figured how to tidy everything up at the end as well, it's a bit sloppy packed up.
3) The top platform definitely will bruise some shins along the way.
4) Because of preventing bruised shins, my instinct was to do a side leg wrap up and down the tree. I know that can lead to kickouts. I'll have to go into woods to do some 20 foot climbs and see if it gets to be second nature.

I do like it, but currently as of today, if I was grabbing between the two, I'd grab the EWO. I will do more climbs before I give up on it. And of course, because of availabilty and vendor participation on the site and in our meet-ups, I would always recommend EWO first. On the five climbs I've done in the yard, there is nothing about it that was vastly superior to the EWO, IMHO.
 
If you are hitting your shins on the ION you are absolutely destroying your shins if you are using a scout or UP with your EWO stick. It comes out further…

I do wish he made a few recommended design changes but ignored. Such as moving the post out. Would of mitigated the flex and would of been able to get more aggressive with the tooth geometry but oh well.

I think it’s the best thing out there at this time. Is it leaps and bounds better than the EWO…. Nope.

Are there things I wanted changed…YEP!
 
Ordered a UP from EWO, comes in Tuesday. I have an ION as well. The ION is well machined and though out, but my EWO single stick with double steps just seems to bite the tree better and steps are futher away from the tree. Ill share my thoughts once I have both.
 
I just received my ION first impression top notch fit and finish and built to last a life time.
I haven’t had it in a tree yet but plan to give it a try today or tomorrow so I’ll see how I like it for my setup.
These guys really make high in stuff for us saddle hunters and I hope they hire a customer service person because IMO no one makes better gear than them.
Worth the wait of 15 weeks YES if I knew that up front or was given up dates rather than guessing or asking other guy’s on here what they have heard.


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I agree with the bite on the tree. Once it’s set the bottom doesn’t move but the top does move if both sides aren’t touching. It flexes back and forth. I was a little surprised by that myself. If it was my company I would of held off opening orders and waited to get feedback from everyone whose names you put on the website to drag through the mud…

Personally I think moving the post out would of reduced the radial flex substantially. Maybe even move the cleat position up a bit?

You would probably laugh if I said it was rushed…
 
I wonder what's taking the Wingman so long to market. It looks to have the largest platform (furthest from tree).

I noticed the ION flex in video reviews, but every one of these comparable stick platforms has shown some.

The ION looked to me to have the best ergonomics, but EWO benefits from a bit of extra toe space for hunting. I would have expected the bigger bottom step on the ION to make it more comfortable to climb.
 
I just went out and climbed with my ion and ewo stick. They both have just as much movement with the ion feeling a little more solid. I will stick with my previous statement. It’s the best option we have.
 
I tried using 6mm sterling instead of the amsteel on the ION. Seems to bite the tree a little better and take some movement out of the top platform (possibly from the stretch in the sterling?) But not enough to switch.
 
jhunter13 said:
I tried using 6mm sterling instead of the amsteel on the ION. Seems to bite the tree a little better and take some movement out of the top platform (possibly from the stretch in the sterling?) But not enough to switch.
Click to expand...

The EWO stick with a scout moves just as much if not more than the ION.
 
enkriss said:
I just went out and climbed with my ion and ewo stick. They both have just as much movement with the ion feeling a little more solid. I will stick with my previous statement. It’s the best option we have.
Click to expand...

+ Looks like the ION holds the aider open a touch wider.
+ I assume the ION has less horizontal difference between leading edge of bottom step and platform (7"-5"=2") but not by much, maybe 2.5" for UP.
+ ION has more bottom step surface area
+ ION fit and finish
- ION is almost unattainable
- ION has less bite to tree
-UP has 13.5" wide platform, ION 10"
 
10835944feafbfa9aa88e93ab91df55a.jpg

It’s a small compact climbing stick that is built like a tank and works really well on a tree.and that is what’s important to me.
I’m not going to worry about slight movement or platform size it does what they designed it to do better than anything I’ve seen so I’m very happy with it.


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I've got to try it but you know how you turn a stick sideways to get to the next daisy link. I'm wondering if I can do this with the ion and get it to bite the tree better at height. I actually don't have much of a issue myself but I can see where it has a little more fiddle to get it set
 
And I stand by my statements. It's the best thing available. The U.P. tears my shins up and the angle is too harsh for my liking. But catalyst has dog **** service. I expected this when he asked me to be a part of giving input on it. But he was worse at following through and getting caught in lies than a 4y old
 
Sounds like a pre-sale :tearsofjoy: Sorry they've left you hanging.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Treehopper2 said:
It’s a small compact climbing stick that is built like a tank and works really well on a tree.and that is what’s important to me.
I’m not going to worry about slight movement or platform size it does what they designed it to do better than anything I’ve seen so I’m very happy with it.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

IDK, platform size is nice. But, I think its pretty well built as is. There is a sweet spot with these things.
 
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