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Climbing Sticks

1

1canvas

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Joined
Feb 3, 2022
Messages
586
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The Great State Of Ohio
Watching posts about climbing sticks the focus seems to be mostly on weight, yet the biggest danger is the stick kicking out. For me safety is the most important and that makes stand off the most important to me, both in how far they set the steps from the tree but mostly how well they grab the tree. My Tethrd Skeletors have great stand off, they set the steps far from the tree for outstanding footing. Most times when I use them when I take the rope off the stick stays stuck to the tree.
What are some other lighter sticks that have the similar stand off design?
 
Ballshooter said:
I feel most are missing the point of saddle hunting it was meant to be lite, mobile, and compact. Carrying sticks Your limiting your hunting height. Sticks suck! 2T/C is by far safer than climbing sticks.
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I have to disagree, with the small super lightweight sticks available today you can stay very lightweight and compact, it’s just a matter if you want to pay the price :tearsofjoy:.
 
XOP X2's weigh a lb less on a set of 4 when I switch them to amsteel; $45 cheaper and maybe slightly more overall footroom. Theyre extremely solid on the tree as well. Only minus is steps dont fold up but I dont notice it buckled onto my ambush platform walking in and dont have to deploy as I set them up.
 
The x2s are about 1.7 lbs each without a strap so 4 sticks about 6.8 lbs. without any attachment. My 2T/C set up is 1.8lbs and I can climb as high as l want. If I use my 11.4 mm set up it comes in at 2.3lbs. Now if I add in my platform along with the 2t/c system total weight is now 6.6lbs.
 
1canvas said:
Watching posts about climbing sticks the focus seems to be mostly on weight, yet the biggest danger is the stick kicking out. For me safety is the most important and that makes stand off the most important to me, both in how far they set the steps from the tree but mostly how well they grab the tree. My Tethrd Skeletors have great stand off, they set the steps far from the tree for outstanding footing. Most times when I use them when I take the rope off the stick stays stuck to the tree.
What are some other lighter sticks that have the similar stand off design?
Click to expand...
The stand offs are important, but the versa button or strap connection point is just as important.
Some of the new sticks with a high connection point like these LWCG long sticks, tend to kick out more them a stick with a lower point.
LWCG 1.jpg
Screenshot_20230711_124353_Gallery.jpg
 
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GeoFish said:
The stand offs are important, but the versa button or strap connection point is just as important.
Some of the new sticks with a high connection point like these LWCG long sticks, tend to kick out more them a stick with a lower point.
View attachment 116335
View attachment 116337
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It seems that the shorter sticks don’t have much of an issue with kicking out with the reduced leverage. I haven’t had any issues with Muddy Pros, or my Skeletors and have a lot of climbs with both.
 
I am a stick guy too..with a lot of testing the past few years. Two friends have gone the way of JRB's Marvrick rope setup and like it, but as of yet it hasn't been convincing enough to invest in ropes and such. I have single step Amsteel aiders and an EWO two-step Ultimaider, which has yet to convince me that going with a one-stick and longer aider is a better approach. I just don't care for that wiggly-jiggly aider feel. compared to the solid feel of a stick step. Those who advocate that method are comfortable with a long aider and that is fine...just not for me.

I tried Skeletors for a couple seasons with mobile fixed stands and was so-so about them. Thus they were resold to help fund a set of Latitude SS carbon sticks that I liked better for my first couple saddle seasons... but not the end-all option. I also bought a set of 20" Beast Gear sticks that I like quite a bit, especially after making DIY Amsteel daisy chains and getting the trucker's hitch process down. The only drawback on the BG sticks is they are heavier than the Latitudes.

With all that in mind, I just completed a fairly complex process of reselling the Latitudes and obtaining a set of four Gen 3 Tethrd One Sticks. They just arrived late last week, so have not yet been on a tree for actual field testing. But they are lighter than anything else I have owned...pack really nice on each of my pack options...and came virtually new already Stealth Stripped. Strapped to a Tethrd Predator pack w/shoulder straps and a Predator V platform w/cam strap and necessities pack...the whole rig weighs in at 11#. That is very do-able for me, especially after lugging in a mobile setup nearly 17# and a climber nearly 20# for several seasons.

So with the One Sticks as my longer distance mobile setup option, the Beast Gear as my closer distance mobile setup option and a set of Tethrd Grit Workhorse my wife gifted me with for Christmas as presets...I think I am pretty well set for the 2025 season. I like that the Workhorse and One Sticks have the same attachment method, so there isn't anything else to think about in the dark on the side of a tree.
 
I looked hard at the One Sticks but with big feet I have safety concerns, the stand off seems short. I haven’t totally eliminated the the One Sticks option but for the cost I really have to be sure, the lightweight is amazing.
 
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