I don't mean to sound like a hater cause Inreally like what Latitude is doing, but I think the way they're using CF for these sticks is a gimmick. They're not using the CF in a way that truly displays the amazing properties CF has. For example, in the mid-2000's orvis started using military grade resin in its fly rods that gave us featherlite rods but stronger and better performing than normal rods did at the time. With CF, it's all about the resin, or in this case plastic. Whatever they're using now isn't highlighting the properties of CF to its full potential.
For example, I think the actual weight on one of these is 1lb 4oz. That's for a 17" stick. When beast sticks first came out, they were 24" long and the actual weight (minus gear strap) was a smidge over 1lb 8oz.
Add to that, if an aluminum or titanium stick were released today that was the exact size, weight and shape of the latitude sticks, most guys would rip it apart for the step design not giving you enough to grab onto, being to slick, and not far enough out from the tree. We're not really seeing that cause they're CF.
I kind of gotta laugh at the "no metal clink sound" praise, it's still a completely unnatural sound I don't want to be making tight to a bedding area, you still gotta stealth strip em.
I do like the way these attach to the tree, but if that attachment isn't very durable as evidenced by the broken one, maybe it's not so great and needs beefed up.
I think it's gonna be a few years before we see CF sticks and platforms that hit that next level and live up to the hype.
These sticks are printed, right? I was thinking that based on the visible layers on the back of the standoffs, but can't tell if a parting line is present ased on pics which would mean they're molded. Either way, CF is adding strength to the plastic, but it's not making them lighter. These aren't CF sticks, they're plastic sticks.