Talked to john the other day. Sold out of the sticks pretty quickly. I’m not surprised.
I still hate sticks.
But, I’ve used the JX3 sticks on several hunts. I hate the same things about these sticks as I do any others. Packing them in and out, unpacking them at tree, and packing them up at end of hunt.
Having said that, my exact quote to john is “they are exactly what you were going for.”
They’re light for how robust they are. Will work really well for big fellas. Who shouldn’t be ounce counting on sticks anyways. Think rapid rails not 40” long.
Can easily stand with two feet on top steps in lots of different patterns with your feet. Point out in sideways whatever. Yes, only one foot on bottom step, but nothing to move to choose, and either foot works.
Attachment method can be done without looking. Simple fast and quiet. This “cleats” generally. But this one in particular is fast and simple and located in a way that makes it ergonomic.
I’ve only hung them on a half dozen trees. But they set easily, and don’t move once set. A stick is a stick in this regard to me.
If aiders are your thing, you’ll have no shortage of options to attach aiders that stay open and away from the tree.
Top stick wing works great as a platform. It may actually move me off of squirrel steps even when I’m not using all the sticks to climb. Taking a leak much easier off this thing than the SS. And I can still do everything I need to do up there without steps on back of tree.
My hybrid is heavily modified so they don’t stack and hang like they’re supposed to on it. But they pack like any other fixed standoff and step stick. They’re bulky, like any other fixed standoff and step stick. I would imagine if you’re a normal person with a normal hybrid, this will improve with the intended design.
They’re as loud as any other stick because they’re made of metal. Easy to keep tight packing. But the same thing I hate about all other sticks - packing and unpacking, is where noise potential lies. Tape em or stealth strip em and should be fine. I’m just being careful for now.
There’s nothing to break really. They’re just tubing with a bolted on cleat. I guess you could break the cleat throwing them in a truck or something. But otherwise, they’re a lifetime item.
Ropes are fine. I’m sure you can save an ounce or two with amsteel. You’d have to play with the diameter and cleat and buries and figure out right stuff. I wouldn’t it’s not worth it.
There are lighter and more compact sticks. If I weighed 240+lbs, I wouldn’t want lighter or more compact sticks. Or if I walked less than half a mile on most hunts, I wouldn’t value lighter or more compact sticks.
That’s where these will live for me. Close to access hunts, or hunts with someone else. Or where someone might hunt my set. I know I can rely on them to be solid and easy to climb and trust them for someone else not having to think or execute tightly.