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Help me figure out which sticks to get

shmelton

shmelton

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2020
Messages
537
Right now my 2 choices are XOP X2’s, and Trophyline Mini’s. I really don’t want to spend more than $250 on a set, and these two seem like the lightest choices.

I can get the XOP for $179, and TrophyLine Mini’s for $229 new. I wear a size 13 so I’m leaning more towards the XOP’s since the standoffs are larger. Is there anything else in my budget that I have missed? I’ve been cruising classifieds on this site, and a few others with no luck on finding anything that meets my desires. If you had my budget what would you buy?
 
I've been very happy with 20" hawk heliums. I made amsteel daisy chains for them that work awesome as well. Frequently take some effort to get back off tree- very solid. I have 12 1/2 boot . Wouldn't want to hunt off them but no problem up n down. $100 for 4 is worth it
 
I'd tend to agree with antirain above... if you're going budget budget, I'd go hawk heliums... next step up I'd probably go with those Trophylines or Tethrd Skeletors even though I'm more of a no moving parts guy... I current run Beast Minis and don't plan on switching anytime soon
 
Tethered 1 sticks really really pleased with their quality and weight. Or the latitude carbon sticks are definitely ground breaking either you won’t go wrong
 
Never had much XOP stuff but I had the trophy line doubles and they were awesome. Would definitely lean that way even over the hawk mentions and XOP stuff. Hawk is cheap which is nice but I just don’t trust hawks stuff. Just my opinion.
 
The Trophylines are made by Novix…what’s the over all opinion on Novix products?


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I'm currently running Skeletors and really enjoy them. Plenty of boot room to climb and simple attachment method
 
shmelton said:
Right now my 2 choices are XOP X2’s, and Trophyline Mini’s. I really don’t want to spend more than $250 on a set, and these two seem like the lightest choices.

I can get the XOP for $179, and TrophyLine Mini’s for $229 new. I wear a size 13 so I’m leaning more towards the XOP’s since the standoffs are larger. Is there anything else in my budget that I have missed? I’ve been cruising classifieds on this site, and a few others with no luck on finding anything that meets my desires. If you had my budget what would you buy?
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I wear a 12 wide, and I don't sweat step and standoff size. It's because I climbed with small, strap on steps for years, and so had to learn the proper use of a lineman's lanyard.

You should be using at least a lineman's lanyard while climbing. I use one and my tether above as a backup.

Anyways, if you lean back into your lineman's and climb with it correctly (not using your hands or trying to stand parallel to the tree), then you can climb the tree on little bumps just big enough to grab and hold the tread of your boots (I could easily climb a tree with titanium Dixie cups embedded into its bark...poor thing). Leaning back somewhat and angling your feet will lever you into the tree. Your sticks or steps are then mainly there to keep you from sliding down.

If you climb like that, you'll be safer and also remove that part of stick selection from your list. Bigger steps/standoffs are certainly a plus, but are no longer a deciding factor for me in the least.
 
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PS

I can't recommend Hawk Heliums. I have a set. Hawk customer service has gone down hill badly since new ownership. Also, the design is flawed. The hole holding the step pivot has to be way too close to the edge of the post. You are putting a lot of mechanical advantage on less than 1/4" of who knows what kind of aluminum that they likely extruded into that shape.

I don't fully trust the set I have. I'd sell them but I'm a gear junkie.

I would likely get the trophylines (based in part on the reputation) and use a carry as you go (CAYG) one step aider and buy 4 sticks but sometimes only use or carry 3.
 
raisins said:
PS

I can't recommend Hawk Heliums. I have a set. Hawk customer service has gone down hill badly since new ownership. Also, the design is flawed. The hole holding the step pivot has to be way too close to the edge of the post. You are putting a lot of mechanical advantage on less than 1/4" of who knows what kind of aluminum that they likely extruded into that shape.

I don't fully trust the set I have. I'd sell them but I'm a gear junkie.

I would likely get the trophylines (based in part on the reputation) and use a carry as you go (CAYG) one step aider and buy 4 sticks but sometimes only use or carry 3.
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Good analysis. I had ordered a set of Heliums on CamoFire prob a year ago but returned for a refund after reading the experiences here. Grabbed some Skeletors and am very pleased with the decision
 
I’ve had several sets including the Hawks…

Get the XOP X2’s and don’t look back. They are the best bang for your buck on the market (in my opinion) and I think it will show once they’ve been around a while (still relatively new to the market).

Sub $200 for 4 sticks and a total weight of ~6.5 lbs is hard to beat. Plus they bite the tree like a pitbull.

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I had the hawk heliums and didn't really like them. Got the tethrd skeletors and really liked those. Much easier to get them cleaned up and back on the pack and bite in the tree great. Got a mini beast to use for my onestick ish setup and it's very nice. But fairly expensive. I have a set of the skeletors with aiders on the classifieds in your budget.
 
I have Lone Wolf originals with a double step on the top step with 1/4" amsteel rope attachment modified which worked great but were long, I also have a set of Hawk full lengths that I modified with 1/4" amsteel rope attachments that have worked great. On both of those sets I have a one step aider on each stick, wire ones on the LW's and amsteel ones on the Hawks. Both work great on the tree but are long when carrying. Last year I bought a set of Skeleton sticks and a moveable 3 step aider that is the bomb as far as carrying, climbing, easy to attach to the tree, stick like glue, have tremendous foot space from the tree and are 2 pounds each. If I carry 3 with the aider I can easily get 18 ft. If I carry all 4 I can get 20 plus without using the aider on the last stick.
I've not tried any of the other sticks but with my limited experience I can't see anything that can be much better than the Skeletors. Oh yeah, the way they stack together make them very easy to carry on my pack in a compact, no noise stack.
Good luck with what ever you get, there are multiple good products out there.
 
shmelton said:
I just bought a used set of Novix Mini’s. I think they will be a good fit.


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Definitely a good call over some of the hawk suggestions. Their quality isn't something I trust anymore. I had a set and they sit in my garage now. I've been using the novix minis the past 2 seasons and really like them.
I did attach a cable aider from EWO and it's been a lot faster getting up the tree. I also usually just run 3 sticks with the aider.
 
I had skeletors for a couple months till they fixed the problems with the tethrd one stik. Sold the skeletors and have the titanium one stiks now. Gotta have plenty of money. I own 4 with aiders and can get to 22’. My only complaint is that your toes are pretty close to the tree but not that big of a deal!
 
jkwill5 said:
Definitely a good call over some of the hawk suggestions. Their quality isn't something I trust anymore. I had a set and they sit in my garage now. I've been using the novix minis the past 2 seasons and really like them.
I did attach a cable aider from EWO and it's been a lot faster getting up the tree. I also usually just run 3 sticks with the aider.
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How high can you get with 3 sticks and aiders?


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shmelton said:
How high can you get with 3 sticks and aiders?


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I have 20" cable loops and if I stretch it between steps I can set my platform around 18-20'. I don't hunt very high though, so if I'm over 15 foot, I'm usually pretty concealed where I hunt.
 
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