I really was looking forward to getting some muddy pros this season and you all have made me rethink it....
I have the 2018 muddy pros. I only have a few climbs in them, a few being practice and I got a buck opening day last year so didn't actually hunt much with them. I just got a set of 2019 Hawk Heliums and haven't had a chance to do a practice climb with them yet.
With those caveats, my observations are as follows.
4 muddy sticks vs 3 full length hawk heliums are probably ballpark comparable in weight.
The cam cleat on the muddy sticks is very fast. You can set a stick in 5 or 10 seconds tops. I just got some 8mm rope today to try with the hawks rather than the strap that comes with them. I used one of the helium sticks with the stock strap to set a trail camera high and it was awkward even at ground level, so I don't want to proceed with that. Even if everything works as planned, I expect it will definitely take longer to set them given the way I need to thread around the button. However, I don't expect it will be too bad, especially with practice.
Both have foldable steps, but the hawks seem a lot more stable with the way the steps rest against the frame. The muddy pros have some play in the step as it's a separate assembly more on the front of the stick. I don't notice it too much, except when I'm standing on the top step to set my tether.
I think the heliums stack better, but the suction cups alone aren't enough.
In sum, there are pros and cons with each, but for me personally I prefer the Hawks slightly based on my experience so far.
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