• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

Lightest stick for one stick climbing?

Seekbigger

Seekbigger

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Sep 5, 2022
Messages
435
Location
Means, Ky
Okay fellow saddle hunters, I had placed an add looking for a one stick with no platform, just double steps on top and bottom, with cam cleat and 3 step aider! Several people offered to sell me one with a platform, which I already have. So my question is what stick could I buy that would be the lightest that I could add my own cam cleat too to make a very light one stick setup? My plan for this is to use the very lightweight one stick to climb and to use my xwing platform at hunting height with the top of my one stick just off to my left for a little movement around the tree! Just looking for ideas here, thanks and God Bless!
 
I’m on the same plan, I’m going to build one with components from eastern woods outdoors. I’m gonna skip the top step and just do top stand-off cleat bottom double step with aider and stand-off. Probably won’t make the 1” tubing be longer than 10-12”.
If you want to buy one ready to go the shikar mini stick is your best bet and I believe you can add a cam cleat and aider from the factory.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Seekbigger said:
Okay fellow saddle hunters, I had placed an add looking for a one stick with no platform, just double steps on top and bottom, with cam cleat and 3 step aider! Several people offered to sell me one with a platform, which I already have. So my question is what stick could I buy that would be the lightest that I could add my own cam cleat too to make a very light one stick setup? My plan for this is to use the very lightweight one stick to climb and to use my xwing platform at hunting height with the top of my one stick just off to my left for a little movement around the tree! Just looking for ideas here, thanks and God Bless!
Click to expand...
DM me. I have one I use for setting cameras that I would part with. I do not have a three step aider but I do have a 4 and a 2. We could make a deal I am sure.
 
I used a mini shikar last season. Really liked it for what you plan to do. I paired it with a predator XL. Decided to a platform and didn’t like it as much. I think the mini shikar shines with one sticking with a separate platform.
 
tylerray378 said:
I used a mini shikar last season. Really liked it for what you plan to do. I paired it with a predator XL. Decided to a platform and didn’t like it as much. I think the mini shikar shines with one sticking with a separate platform.
Click to expand...

How do the rotating standoffs work? Do they just rotate into place when ready to climb then they are fixed?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
UPDATE: Item sold
****
I also have a mini Shikar I would consider selling. It is drilled by OOaL for a cam cleat and I have a cam cleat for it and a 3-step aider. I don't think I have an Amsteel or other rope attachment for it (swapped that to my EWO UP).

It is a light and compact little stick. I never climbed with it as other 1-sticks caught my eye before giving it a go. Just sitting in my bin now. Should be used by someone.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
Trentrivs said:
How do the rotating standoffs work? Do they just rotate into place when ready to climb then they are fixed?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Tighten the knob down with the standoff at a 45 degree angle. Then turn the standoff to make it ultra tight. The step is milled to fit the post.
 
Not double steps and this has the harken micro cleat, which some may not advise using.
I often use this as you described when I'm going to also hang a platform.
 

Attachments

  • SmartSelect_20231210_095616_Chrome.jpg
    SmartSelect_20231210_095616_Chrome.jpg
    151.4 KB · Views: 67
Seekbigger said:
Maybe it’s just me, but no way I’m one sticking without the cam cleat, just like the simplicity of it!
Click to expand...
So what have you tried? Have you ever tried a cam strap? You can’t get more simple than a cam strap.

I run a cam strap on the One stick.
 
I’ve tried cam straps and daisy chains but to me the quickest and easiest to adjust is the cam cleat for me! Each to their own but I just like the cleat!
 
It's not the lightest option but what ever I try I keep coming back to a short Hawk Helium (with Harken Cam cleat) with a single step aider attached to the bottom standoff. I like the fact that the steps fold up without the additional fiddle factor of positioning and tightening of the Shikar components at the base of the tree. My second choice is the Shikar style as it does pack up very flat.
 
Seekbigger said:
I’ve tried cam straps and daisy chains but to me the quickest and easiest to adjust is the cam cleat for me! Each to their own but I just like the cleat!
Click to expand...
I do hear that a lot, but I haven’t heard anyone explain why unhooking & rehooking the cam cleat vs loosening & moving the cam strap is more efficient.
 
Cbigbear said:
I do hear that a lot, but I haven’t heard anyone explain why unhooking & rehooking the cam cleat vs loosening & moving the cam strap is more efficient.
Click to expand...
For me I always felt that using the rope and cam cleat is the easiest most proficient, reasons for this as follows: with the rope I can flip it up higher than the stick so that I attach my stick about 8 or so inches below the back of the rope going around the tree, this allows me to have plenty of slack when I reach down to grab my stick, then I find it much easier to flip the rope up than the strap and the I couldn’t get the strap to attach with the downward angle that I like. Like I said this just works for me!
 
Cut down tethrd one stick. Cam cleats aren’t needed. Just adds noise
 
I used a cut down hawk helium stick with a cam cleat installed. Cheap enough since I had the stick already, but not sure about weight.
 
I’m using a the Tethrd one stick, I get up plenty fast without the cam cleat


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Seekbigger said:
Okay fellow saddle hunters, I had placed an add looking for a one stick with no platform, just double steps on top and bottom, with cam cleat and 3 step aider! Several people offered to sell me one with a platform, which I already have. So my question is what stick could I buy that would be the lightest that I could add my own cam cleat too to make a very light one stick setup? My plan for this is to use the very lightweight one stick to climb and to use my xwing platform at hunting height with the top of my one stick just off to my left for a little movement around the tree! Just looking for ideas here, thanks and God Bless!
Click to expand...
OOAL Shikar FXD at your desired length. You can get it from 12" to 20". Non-FXD Shikar is maybe ounce heavier, but collapses flat. Folding standoffs sometimes loosen on uneven contact. I filed grooves into mine so they don't twist. If you order directly from OOAL you can ask for folding stick with FXD standoffs. They're tiny bit more hassle to unfold without the spring, but you only have one stick and need to do it once per hunt so I don't think it matters one bit. I have 12" Sh1kar that is essentially FXD with platform and 17" folding Shikar. Just ordered 2 more 17" shikars to multi-stick in slippery conditions when long aiders simply don't work reliably.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top