Latitude Carbon Sticks - Saddle Attachment Method?

[thedutchtouch]

The instructions have you do two x loops and use both locking notches (one on each side of the stick). This seems to me to be more of a "keeping the amsteel from slipping" than a "preventing the stick from breaking" thing to me.

I am tempted to just forgoe the whole thing and use my daisy chains with a girth hitch around the stick on one end and a truckers hitch on the other, but that somewhat defeats the purpose of these sticks and would affect the stacking a bit.

 

[Plebe]

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 based 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.

If they could just not fall apart...

Latitude's sticks stack better, have the same standoff distance, more surface area to stand on, rope and cleat attachment, "warm to the touch" carbon fiber, no metal-metal noise, single piece construction, and here are your Mini Beast stick and Beast stick weights without attachment method to compare:








I think the SS sticks have something to offer....if they can just not break.

 

[enkriss]

The instructions have you do two x loops and use both locking notches (one on each side of the stick). This seems to me to be more of a "keeping the amsteel from slipping" than a "preventing the stick from breaking" thing to me.
View attachment 88567
I am tempted to just forgoe the whole thing and use my daisy chains with a girth hitch around the stick on one end and a truckers hitch on the other, but that somewhat defeats the purpose of these sticks and would affect the sticking a bit.

They claim the way they recommend the tube bears the weight not the ears. Sounds like the ears are not weight bearing and they will obviously break if weighted.

 

[onestringer]

I am just here for the comments. I am not a buyer. I just don't understand these fancy attachment methods, what's wrong with a simple rope mod? I could tie off a stick blindfolded quicker than the video @enkriss posted.

 

[Plebe]

I am just here for the comments. I am not a buyer. I just don't understand these fancy attachment methods, what's wrong with a simple rope mod? I could tie off a stick blindfolded quicker than the video @enkriss posted.

I think the advantage of cleat systems is locking the stick in place better before tying off.

 

[thedutchtouch]

I am just here for the comments. I am not a buyer. I just don't understand these fancy attachment methods, what's wrong with a simple rope mod? I could tie off a stick blindfolded quicker than the video @enkriss posted.

In addition to what plebe said, the flatter stacking when packing. But I said earlier I may forgoe that and have a slightly looser stack if the ears don't pan out to be trustworthy. Likely in that scenario though I'll just give up on the sticks entirely though.

 

[Deerman406]

I just bought all Hawk straps, the new ones. I modify tie all my sticks the same way. Wrap around go under wraps around ears or button and done. Never have a stick slip. Like the Hawk Daisy strap better then amsteel or anything else I have used

 

[deertrout]

If they could just not fall apart...

Latitude's sticks stack better, have the same standoff distance, more surface area to stand on, rope and cleat attachment, "warm to the touch" carbon fiber, no metal-metal noise, single piece construction, and here are your Mini Beast stick and Beast stick weights without attachment method to compare:



View attachment 88568


View attachment 88566

I think the SS sticks have something to offer....if they can just not break.

Ok, I'll play

Standoff distance, im pretty sure in this thread someone has a pic of a tape measure showing they're the same as the beast sticks. If I'm wrong there, shame on me.

More surface area to stand on, eh, if the surface area is butted up against the tree, does it really offer much value? I don't know if anyone has ever complained about doublestep sticks not having enough surface area- unless they were using them like a platform, and I don't think anyone will want to use these as a platform.

Rope and cleat attachment, I agree with ypu here. No debate.

"warm to the touch" carbon fiber, Stop it! You can't feel any carbon fiber, it's a filler in the plastic.

no metal-metal noise, no debate from me there, either, except noise is noise when you're tight to a bedding area. You're still gonna wanna stealth strip or silence these in some manner.

single piece construction, eh, after assembly, so are most double step sticks.

Beast stick weights without attachment method to compare, yeah, should a CF stick being released in 2023 offer something significantly better than a stick that came out in 2017-2018?

The more I think about it, the more I realize these are definitely a gimmick. They're not CF sticks, they're plastic sticks with a CF filler. They're part CF, but mostly plastic. The injection molding plastic company that I work for now, and all of them for that matter, don't call a glass filled nylon, a glass part. Telling us they're CF is like a builder telling us that concrete floor in our basement is a rebar floor.

Peek resin comes in a CF filled version, it's great stuff. But molders using it aren't telling their customers they're getting carbon fiber parts. Latitude is obviously great at marketing. I just wish they'd be honest that they're selling plastic sticks.

 

[87v6bird]

I think the biggest attraction for these is their price/weight ratio. I may very well be forgetting a brand but for the weight there isn't a cheaper option. Seems to me like this is being overlooked in all this discussion.

 

[Plebe]

Ok, I'll play

Standoff distance, im oretty sure in this thread someone hasna pic of a tape meausre showing theyre the same as the beast sticks. If I'm wrong there, shame on me.

More surface area to stand on, eh, if the surface area is butted up against the tree, does it really offer much value? I don't know if anyone has ever complained about doublespeak sticks not having enough surface area- unless they were using them like a platform, and I don't thinknanyone will want to use these as a platform.

Rope and cleat attachment, I agree with ypu here. No debate.

"warm to the touch" carbon fiber, Stop it! You can't feel any carbon fiber, it's a filler in the plastic.

no metal-metal noise, no debate from me there, either, except noise is noise when you're tight to a bedding area. You're still gonna wanna stealth strip or silence these in some manner.

single piece construction, eh, after assembly, so are most double step sticks.

Beast stick weights without attachment method to compare, yeah, should a CF stick being released in 2023 offer something significantly better than a stick that came out in 2017-2018?

The more I think about it, the more I realize these are definitely a gimmick. They're not CF sticks, they're plastic sticks with a CF filler. They're part CF, but mostly plastic. The injection molding plastic company that I work for now, and all of them for that matter, don't call a glass filled nylon, a glass part
Telling us they're CF is like a builder telling us that concrete floor in our basement is a rebar floor.

Peek resin comes in a CF filled version, it's great stuff. But molders using it aren't telling their customers they're getting carbon fiber parts. Latitude is obviously great at marketing. I just wish they'd be honest that they're selling plastic sticks.

"The Carbon SS Climbing sticks are a single, continuous piece of carbon fiber composite". They are as advertised.

 

[deertrout]

"The Carbon SS Climbing sticks are a single, continuous piece of carbon fiber composite". They are as advertised.

Like I said, excellent marketing.

 

[Plebe]

Like I said, excellent marketing.

FYI, not made of cement.

 

[BTaylor]

Who's going to be the first to drill and add a cam cleat to one?

 

[LOSTnWoods]

I agree that is carbon fiber and an epoxy mix or something. The fact is the stuff breaks like most any material. My point I guess is that stuff breaks and after looking at the attachment "ears" they obviously look like a weak point.

Agree one thing that turned me away. I was surprised they didn’t do a thinker knob on the front. Can’t use a bolt and then couldn’t advertise no metal. I love my Tethrd Skeletors figure eight hook up.

I am sure they were tested in all kinds of positions and scenarios. Follow the instructions and all should be good. I still say the persons prob didn’t tie it down right. i Suppose he/she is fine or else we would have heard more.

 

[thedutchtouch]

Who's going to be the first to drill and add a cam cleat to one?

The thought did cross my mind to fill in a few holes with epoxy and drill, but more of a sideways post than a vertical button, to retain the stacking. But I generally follow up those thoughts with "return them and go back to the beast sticks" if I'm gonna go that far.

@deertrout the beast sticks are generally considered one of the best for the weight (setting aside the tethered threes... I mean ones. so that's why the comparison is made there. But we both know that already. And I don't personally care if you call it plastic, resin, carbon, or carbon infused whatever. It will likely feel different (better) to hold on to with bare hands in winter than a steel)aluminum stick will. It conducts heat less than metal, so may be easier to handle functionally use when it's cold out. That "may" remains to be tested, but can't really be dismissed offhand. Also "noise is noise" doesn't seem to hold true in my anecdotal experience. Snapping a stick puts deer on alert but they didn't run off, hitting a metal climbing stick step with a carabiner put them on alert AND ran them off. Same deer. I had a clutzy day. One may argue that they hadn't fully calmed down from the stick snap but they had gone back to browsing/it was like 15 agonizingly slow minutes later because I had zero ground shot options.

 

[Horn]

Am I the only one that can handle touching aluminum long enough to climb and set up? Y'all got those 1800$ carbon bows to keep your feelers warm too?

 

[thedutchtouch]

Am I the only one that can handle touching aluminum long enough to climb and set up? Y'all got those 1800$ carbon bows to keep your feelers warm too?

My fancy bow keeps a different feeler warm lol


But in all honesty it's usually a breakdown and pack out issue for me rather than a climbing one

 

[Plebe]

Am I the only one that can handle touching aluminum long enough to climb and set up? Y'all got those 1800$ carbon bows to keep your feelers warm too?

Ooh, I want one of those. The Elite looked nice.

 

[Horn]

Ooh, I want one of those.

I'll admit I looked very seriously at them last fall, very. Shot the carbon one, it's sweet if you like a BT. Couldn't really justify the extra price vs performance myself, given that the warmer feel isn't a big factor to me, I'm a weight Winnie lol

 

[Plebe]

I'll admit I looked very seriously at them last fall, very. Shot the carbon one, it's sweet if you like a BT. Couldn't really justify the extra price vs performance myself, given that the warmer feel isn't a big factor to me, I'm a weight Winnie lol

I've stuck with the XT. Cold wood is incentive to get it done as early as possible.