Also, a big guy. Also done my share of weight lifting but sadly have to admit that I am more couch than crossfit at the moment. I realize I am a bit late on responding to this, but maybe this info will help. Seeing these threads pop up every now and then makes me feel like there should be a sticky devoted to things 350 lbs rated, although I don't know that any saddle maker will say their saddle is rated for 350 lbs despite the materials being plenty strong (as far as I understand). I attempted to scour the market last year for anything rated 350 lbs. This is what I came up with.
Climbing sticks rated to 350 lbs:
Lone Wolf: I would consider these a great all around stick. I use them as a go to for longer hikes when my custom DIY sticks are already in the woods as a preset. Light. Short steps. Straight steps. Step only on one side at each height (which I know can be a deal breaker for some people with knee problems.
https://www.lonewolfhuntingproducts.com/shop/Products/Lone-Wolf-Climbing-Sticks-4-Piece__CS4-4.aspx
Xtreme Outdoor Products (XOP): These are my preference for short distances. Heavier than Lone Wolf. Longer steps. More traction. Curve up slightly on the steps to prevent slipping, which I like. Standoffs (the peice between the stick and the tree) are longer than lonewolf and larger. This is great for people with big feet. You can get by with the lone wolfs, but these are just bigger and more solid imo.
https://xopoutdoors.com/collections...ucts/storm-gray-series-climbing-sticks-4-pack
Muddy Aerolite: I got a set of these, and they seem solid. Honestly though they are noticeably heavier and bulkier than both above that I just haven't bothered using them. They are sitting in my garage waiting for the day I run out of other sticks and need to carry these beasts out. Also, in searching for a link to share, I think I discovered that these might not be made anymore...
https://www.amazon.com/Muddy-MUD-MC.../dp/B00TP7UDI8/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_pb_opt?ie=UTF8
Custom made: I made some styled after DIY Hunter in the off season. I purchased double steps, lonewolf standoffs, and made my own buttons. I went with the toughest aluminum square tubing and the thickest walls in it I could find. They are stellar. I think that because I made them two steps instead of 3 the tubing is shorter, and therefore has less pressure to flex. It also allows me to spread them out on the tree, plus have a larger step distance than pre made sticks, and carry 5 sticks to get to the same height or higher than I did with 4 of the others in a more compact package. I have a lot of confidence in these, they pack down small. They are light. Plus I gave them a cool paint job. Highly recommend exploring this if you are a DIY kind of person.
http://diy-sportsman.com/2017/09/24/diy-climbing-sticks-ultralight-video/
Heaven's Trail: These appear to be the most bullet proof sticks out there. They are rated to 400 lbs. I haven't had the money to spend on them. They look heavy and are expensive.
https://htoutdoor.com/products/hang-around-sticks
Climbing methods that I tried and don't trust for me:
Wild Edge steps. They are a great idea. I bought a whole set. I love the design. If I were 100 lbs lighter, I would probably use these when I had time to set them up. However, under my weight there was quite a bit of flex. There was also instability on the tree because of the flex. Just my humble opinion...ymmv. If and when I lose a bit of weight, I will explore these again.
Platforms:
Simply can't find one that is rated at 350 lbs. However, you should be tethered in before climbing on anyways...so there is some built in protection if you do things right. I came up with the following options:
Tethrd predator platform: This one reigns supreme for the most part. Failure point was around 1400lbs if I recall correctly. They are rated by tethrd to 300 lbs, but I think that is just an overly cautious number. I use this as my main platform. I was not impressed with the strap provided. I replaced this with a lone wolf climbing stick strap that is a bit more robust. I also sought out some very strong ratchet straps, which I may switch to at some point. It is solid. I jumped up and down on this set up hard at ground level, and there was no sign of bending or breaking.
Out on a Limb ridge runner: Failure point was around 800 lbs...which is not as great as the tethrd. On the plus side, there is much more room for your feet on this one. It's wider, but not deeper. I like the size. It feels fairly solid. I won't be jumping up and down, and I will be tethered in before I step on it 100% of the time.
Ring of Steps:
Last year I tried the bullman outdoors ring of steps. I was extremely careful and tethered in before using them at all. I didn't die. They didn't crack. They are absolutely not rated for big guys...I believe they are even rated below 300. the weight rating is challenging to find. I found the number at some point after having used them, and was a bit horrified.
I also have a ring of steps with an extremely strong ratchet strap (rated in the thousands of pounds) and squirrel steps. I like it a lot better than the bullman, though because of the design of the steps, they tend to dig into the tree at the bottom and pull away from the tree at the top. They are still very solid, but not as comfortable as a platform. This is obviously a DIY ish method with no specific weight rating, but I am confident in it.
Obviously, do your own research and make your own decisions about what is safe for you. This is just what I have found.