Skeletors' Climbing Height

[Crawdaddy4]

I'm curious to how high other hunters are getting with their Skeletors (or similar 20" climbing sticks). I'm getting the top of my 4th stick to right at 14' without any aiders. I'd like to get up higher and wondering if I'm just putting them too close together or need to utilize an aider?

 

[Still Kicking]

It all depends upon your comfort level for a step height. At my age, not wanting to strain anything, a 14" step is what I prefer so I use 5 sticks with a 3 step aider on one set and 5 sticks with 14" aiders on 4 sticks and none on the top. I mainly use sticks to make presets for SRT so go a bit higher than I hunt for the preset.

 

[thedutchtouch]

There is no magic to height, the sticks on the market only vary by a few inches apiece, so either using a one step aider on each stick and a multi step aider on the bottom one, or a knaider/swaider etc is the only way to get more height with the same # sticks.

 

[CP3]

I run a double on bottom step the single on the next. Then two bare sticks. Can get to 20 pretty easy. I really like these sticks.

 

[bigmike23]

On the one sticks, I get 24-25. I put a 3 step ladder aider on the bottom stick, then the backwoods one stick versa button style for the rest. First stick gets me a lil over 7 feet, then the rest are 6 feet a stick. If i used a big telephone tree with the movable ladder on each, 4 sticks would get close to 30.
However, I consider the ladder aider dangerous beyond the first stick, and I also very athletic and tall. So, I stretch pretty good with each stick.

 

[GeoFish]

The higher I go the less I like aiders. The more a tree leans the less I like aiders.
A another option is to use a few tree steps at the base of the tree. Three Apex steps RTH only weigh 14oz.

 

[JBDCPA]

I'm old but can still do the splits on the ground or put one foot straight up in the air so I do have the benefit of flexibility even in my hunting gear. I use full length sticks because for one I hate hanging sticks and I'd rather hang 3 30" sticks for 90" than 4 for 80".

I only use an aider on the bottom stick, they're homemade from left over static rope from my rope mod and I cut a section of old garden hose. The aider hangs 24-25" from my bottom step and that first initial step I can get that aider comfortably 30" from the ground.

Sticks 2 and 3 I hang just above my knee so when I pull it down it's about knee level. With 3 30" sticks I can comfortably get about 15' to the top step but my platform is set between the 2nd & 3rd step of my top stick so it's a safer transition to the platform.

Realistically I rarely use all three sticks. I hang stick 1 with that aider as high as I can comfortably reach and it makes my top step on stick 1 almost 7' high. I hang stick 2 like normal and it gets my top step about 11 1/2' up and my platform is say 10' and I'm sucked back into cover. When I can get by with only hanging 2 sticks I feel like I've won at life. LOL!

The whole reason I moved away from my beloved climber was I bought some hunting land in 2019. It had been logged at some point in the past. I have no shortage of straight, limbless climber trees but they are ALL out in the open, canopy is 25' high or so and they get too skinny to climb in a climber over 10'. So 10' high out in the open left me sticking out like a sore thumb.

The learning curve on a climber is learning how much to angle it at the base of the tree, some times you win and some times you lose. My learning curve right now is my land has a lot of swoops and valleys which can make a tree look like it's straight up and down but when you get to hunting height you realize you're about to fight gravity all day.

 

[Crawdaddy4]

I'm old but can still do the splits on the ground or put one foot straight up in the air so I do have the benefit of flexibility even in my hunting gear. I use full length sticks because for one I hate hanging sticks and I'd rather hang 3 30" sticks for 90" than 4 for 80".

I only use an aider on the bottom stick, they're homemade from left over static rope from my rope mod and I cut a section of old garden hose. The aider hangs 24-25" from my bottom step and that first initial step I can get that aider comfortably 30" from the ground.

Sticks 2 and 3 I hang just above my knee so when I pull it down it's about knee level. With 3 30" sticks I can comfortably get about 15' to the top step but my platform is set between the 2nd & 3rd step of my top stick so it's a safer transition to the platform.

Realistically I rarely use all three sticks. I hang stick 1 with that aider as high as I can comfortably reach and it makes my top step on stick 1 almost 7' high. I hang stick 2 like normal and it gets my top step about 11 1/2' up and my platform is say 10' and I'm sucked back into cover. When I can get by with only hanging 2 sticks I feel like I've won at life. LOL!

The whole reason I moved away from my beloved climber was I bought some hunting land in 2019. It had been logged at some point in the past. I have no shortage of straight, limbless climber trees but they are ALL out in the open, canopy is 25' high or so and they get too skinny to climb in a climber over 10'. So 10' high out in the open left me sticking out like a sore thumb.

The learning curve on a climber is learning how much to angle it at the base of the tree, some times you win and some times you lose. My learning curve right now is my land has a lot of swoops and valleys which can make a tree look like it's straight up and down but when you get to hunting height you realize you're about to fight gravity all day.

Which 30” sticks are you using??

 

[Shapeshifter]

Last season I used 3 Hawk minis with a knaider and swaider and I was able to get about 20 feet to my platform. I'm 1 sticking this season but when I plan to use my sticks I will be using CAYG 2 step aider , with a 16" step spacing and I believe that should get me about the same height as last season. If I were you I definitely use at least a single step aider.

 

[Crawdaddy4]

Last season I used 3 Hawk minis with a knaider and swaider and I was able to get about 20 feet to my platform. I'm 1 sticking this season but when I plan to use my sticks I will be using CAYG 2 step aider , with a 16" step spacing and I believe that should get me about the same height as last season. If I were you I definitely use at least a single step aider.

I bought a 2 step aider from The Amsteel Guy to use on my bottom step. Excited to see how well this works. I like being able to transition horizontally to my platform and not having to make a huge leap/parkour up from my top step.

 

[Longbowwally]

I have a 3 step aider for the bottom stick and then use 3 more sticks with no aiders. I get about 16 - 17 feet. I don't stretch out the distance between sticks. Some of the numbers I see some guys posting on how high they get(not on this thread) is hard to believe.....Cover is more important than height....

 

[Dsabhunt]

I use a Backwoods mobile gear 2 step carry as you go aider on my first 2 sticks and I can get to 20' or so without stepping up to my platform. I leave my platform level with my top stick

 

[JBDCPA]

Which 30” sticks are you using??

I'm using the Hawk 30" at the moment but I may break down and make a change. I get VERY sentimental about anything my Mom, Dad, wife and kids give me. I recently lost my Mom and Dad just a couple months apart and one of the last Christmas gifts she gave me was this four pack of 30" Hawk sticks and 8 fishing rods I was wanting. LOVE my rods, but me and the sticks sometimes get along and sometimes don't.

I hate hanging sticks and one reason I only carry two full length and make them stretch, but to be honest I've been practicing hanging the sticks and stand a LOT for the last month (old climber guy) and wondering if maybe I'd hate hanging them less if maybe I had Skeletors for example and used that attachment method.

Here's my deal in a nutshell - I've tried the rope mod, buckle less strap and amsteel daisy chain along with the stock cam buckle. The cam buckle definitely works the best but I hate it the most. The rope, buckle less and amsteel I've had some kickout at the bottom more than once. I'm leaning toward the positioning of the versa button on a 30" stick is the cause. So I'm not sure if it's just a Hawk thing and would happen on 20s or 30s or if the shorter 20" Hawk's versa button is more conducive to the positioning of the button vs the length.

I can go down the street from my office right now to Sportsmans Warehouse and pick up a 4 pk of Hawk 20s for $99, but not sure if I'd have the same kickout problem as the 30s. I weigh 230# if that makes a difference.

 

[Cotehex]

Skelators: I run double aider on the bottom and singles on all the others. I typically hit 18-19 on 3 sticks and seldom use the 4th.

 

[Antirain]

I've been using 20" heliums for just 2 seasons (going into 3rd now) and started right out making my own daisy chains. The strap buckles worked great, just noisy and a little bulkier/heavier. Initially I did have a couple kick outs but got better at rotating the stick to get that next loophole, or rarely using the trucks hitch, and now they are always rock solid. For aiders, I have a homemade versa aider with my 4 sticks gets me 17' easily and for the occasion I want higher, I just got a BWMG moveable 3 step aider for first stick or 2. Have a few practice climbs using the 3 step on 1st 2 sticks and get 14' with that but need more time to get comfortable on that 2nd move.

 

[Crawdaddy4]

I'm using the Hawk 30" at the moment but I may break down and make a change. I get VERY sentimental about anything my Mom, Dad, wife and kids give me. I recently lost my Mom and Dad just a couple months apart and one of the last Christmas gifts she gave me was this four pack of 30" Hawk sticks and 8 fishing rods I was wanting. LOVE my rods, but me and the sticks sometimes get along and sometimes don't.

I hate hanging sticks and one reason I only carry two full length and make them stretch, but to be honest I've been practicing hanging the sticks and stand a LOT for the last month (old climber guy) and wondering if maybe I'd hate hanging them less if maybe I had Skeletors for example and used that attachment method.

Here's my deal in a nutshell - I've tried the rope mod, buckle less strap and amsteel daisy chain along with the stock cam buckle. The cam buckle definitely works the best but I hate it the most. The rope, buckle less and amsteel I've had some kickout at the bottom more than once. I'm leaning toward the positioning of the versa button on a 30" stick is the cause. So I'm not sure if it's just a Hawk thing and would happen on 20s or 30s or if the shorter 20" Hawk's versa button is more conducive to the positioning of the button vs the length.

I can go down the street from my office right now to Sportsmans Warehouse and pick up a 4 pk of Hawk 20s for $99, but not sure if I'd have the same kickout problem as the 30s. I weigh 230# if that makes a difference.

I started with the 20" HH sticks (also previously was a climber guy) and had a love/hate relationship with them. Used the included straps for a bit, but got tired of the bulk. Went to the daisy chains, but often found myself between holes (yes, even with turning the stick sideways to remove slack). Had several incidences of kickout with the daisy chains. Went to the rope mods and had better success with those, although they were the slowest method (for me) to hang.

I now have the Skeletors and love them. These sticks bite so hard into the tree that I often have to pull them off after completely removing the amsteel rope from around the tree. I also love the attachment method that comes with these.

 

[JBDCPA]

I started with the 20" HH sticks (also previously was a climber guy) and had a love/hate relationship with them. Used the included straps for a bit, but got tired of the bulk. Went to the daisy chains, but often found myself between holes (yes, even with turning the stick sideways to remove slack). Had several incidences of kickout with the daisy chains. Went to the rope mods and had better success with those, although they were the slowest method (for me) to hang.

I now have the Skeletors and love them. These sticks bite so hard into the tree that I often have to pull them off after completely removing the amsteel rope from around the tree. I also love the attachment method that comes with these.

I literally went to Tethrd's website last night to pull the trigger on the Skeletors and I also had a 10% code but they're backordered. Some other places have them in stock but I wouldn't get my 10% (not a huge deal for $25) but I've never done business with any of these places nor heard of most, makes me a bit leery. It says a new shipment in the week of the 18th but they're already spoken for.

 

[LOSTnWoods]

I have the skelators. im new to this game. U will love them.

I have double aider on the bottom and a single on on the others. I just climbed today practice run and got to 17’ platform height about 8” adobe stick step. Three sticks. I didnt stretch them out like I should have. Still learning the aiders (single) ones.

I might get rid of the single aiders and go with 4 sticks.
to each their own I suppose

 

[Crawdaddy4]

I literally went to Tethrd's website last night to pull the trigger on the Skeletors and I also had a 10% code but they're backordered. Some other places have them in stock but I wouldn't get my 10% (not a huge deal for $25) but I've never done business with any of these places nor heard of most, makes me a bit leery. It says a new shipment in the week of the 18th but they're already spoken for.

I’ve never bought Tethrd gear from anyone but Tethrd so I can’t comment on an alternative source’s validity. Maybe someone else can?

 

[RedJB81]

I have the skelator sticks and with using all 4 sticks without using any aiders I can get to around 14-15 feet with the platform without stretching myself out too much. I use a 2 step aider on the bottom stick and can get up to around 17-18 feet. You could use a single aider on the other 3 sticks and probably get up to around 21-22 feet; I've never tried it though. I love the sticks, and for the price you can't hardly beat them. But I'm probably gonna run with this setup for this season and then switch over next year to one sticking with an Ultimate One-Stick so I can get up higher in the tree without packing anymore sticks or using more aiders.