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Skeletors vs Beast sticks

T

TNordsk02

New Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2022
Messages
8
Hey guys. New member here. I do not own a saddle as of yet but I’m planning on doing all of my hunting in 2023 out of one (not sure what to get yet but I’m excited to spend the spring/summer getting comfortable with one). Anyway, I’m also interested in getting some better climbing sticks and I’m undecided between the Beast sticks and Skeletors. I know that Beast sticks are the gold standard but I will definitely want to replace the cam buckle with versa straps or something similar. The main reason I’m interested in the Skeletors is the rope/Dynaloc attachment method. My question to you guys is which would you recommend? And the people with Skeletors, how do you like them and are they durable? Would you get them again?
 
Don't buy the sticks because of the strap, buy the sticks you want and use whatever strapping system you want. Amsteel works on buttons as well (you just tie it differently or use a daisy chain) so you don't have to go with tetherd's proprietary system though it seems to work well.

People generally review both sticks favorably however I personally vote beast sricks. Buy once cry once they are great. I am a tethrd hater due to their multiple recall history and do not have direct experience with skeletons (full disclosure). I won't dump on yet another thread but suggest searching more about both in general before purchasing. I own beast sticks and have no plans on ever getting rid of them, even though I've been forcing myself to one-stick mostly so far this season.
 
Find a stick that works well and packs well. I've tried some less expensive sticks and have ultimately spent Beast money. I currently run Tethrd Skeletors, but I'm not liking their "recall" issues on nearly every product they release, barring saddles. Consider buying American manufacturing, if you can.
 
I can't comment on the skeletors, but I've ran the full length beast sticks the last 4 seasons and have 0 complaints.

I decided this season I want to switch to the 20" beast sticks for next year and sold my full lengths. Check this out, I bought the 4 of the 24" in 2019 for $300. Got a great deal, sure, but they were used a season already and retailed for $80 at the time. So I paid close to full retail which was common at that time. When I sold them last week, I sold them for $320. After using them 4 years. So I basically made $20 and had free sticks for 4 seasons.

Tell me another climbing stick out there that can do the same.

The main thing I would say that would make me shy away from the skeletors is the moving steps. Moving parts will wear faster, no doubt. If both sticks were equal in all stats, that alone would make me lean towards the beast sticks. Before beast sticks I ran OG lone wolf sticks and you had to replace washers and do some other preventive maintenance every season. I didn't have to even tighten a bolt on my beast sticks in the last 4 seasons.
 
TNordsk02 said:
Hey guys. New member here. I do not own a saddle as of yet but I’m planning on doing all of my hunting in 2023 out of one (not sure what to get yet but I’m excited to spend the spring/summer getting comfortable with one). Anyway, I’m also interested in getting some better climbing sticks and I’m undecided between the Beast sticks and Skeletors. I know that Beast sticks are the gold standard but I will definitely want to replace the cam buckle with versa straps or something similar. The main reason I’m interested in the Skeletors is the rope/Dynaloc attachment method. My question to you guys is which would you recommend? And the people with Skeletors, how do you like them and are they durable? Would you get them again?
Click to expand...
Learn to tie knots, they will Save Your Life!
 
I'm also in the " no moving parts" camp... I have beast minis and do not see me entering climbing stick market for quite some time... I put amsteel USAs that I made on em but actually I normally use them like normal rope mods.
 
deertrout said:
I can't comment on the skeletors, but I've ran the full length beast sticks the last 4 seasons and have 0 complaints.

I decided this season I want to switch to the 20" beast sticks for next year and sold my full lengths. Check this out, I bought the 4 of the 24" in 2019 for $300. Got a great deal, sure, but they were used a season already and retailed for $80 at the time. So I paid close to full retail which was common at that time. When I sold them last week, I sold them for $320. After using them 4 years. So I basically made $20 and had free sticks for 4 seasons.

Tell me another climbing stick out there that can do the same.

The main thing I would say that would make me shy away from the skeletors is the moving steps. Moving parts will wear faster, no doubt. If both sticks were equal in all stats, that alone would make me lean towards the beast sticks. Before beast sticks I ran OG lone wolf sticks and you had to replace washers and do some other preventive maintenance every season. I didn't have to even tighten a bolt on sticks my beast sticks in the last 4 seasons.
Click to expand...
Beast sticks are nice. If they had a 15" step spacing I would look at them.
But just wondering what maintenance are you are doing on Lone Wolf sticks?
I have been using them for over 20 years. I have never replaced a washer.
Maybe tightened a bolt or two. Replaced straps every so often, but that's about it.
What are you doing?
 
GeoFish said:
Beast sticks are nice. If they had a 15" step spacing I would look at them.
But just wondering what maintenance are you are doing on Lone Wolf sticks?
I have been using them for over 20 years. I have never replaced a washer.
Maybe tightened a bolt or two. Replaced straps every so often, but that's about it.
What are you doing?
Click to expand...

The big one when I had them was replacing those little white nylon washers each year. I'd have one or two on each stick get warped or cracked. The next most common was the hardware would loosen up, actually had a standoff fall off the stick once while I was setting it from the hardware working itself loose over time and me not paying attention.
 
I bought the skeletors before hunting season. I like that the steps fold up so that the don't get snagged on stuff walking through the woods. The stacking pins work pretty well. They hold the sticks together nicely but can be a little tricky to stack in the dark.
The steps folding at an outward angle from the tree were a major buying point for me and they do seem to have enough foot room on the trees I've climbed. The dynaloc cleat I a nice attachment method but I did replace the stock rope with 1/8 amsteel which seems to be more durable.
That said do you research and pick the sticks that suit your needs and not the ones some people on the internet told you to get lol
 
I sold my 24” OG Beast sticks for Skeletors. I can’t say I regret it at all. I don’t have near the time on the Skeletors as I did on the Beast but if money is an issue I don’t think you would regret going to cheaper route. My primary sticks are the 3rd Gen ONE sticks which are my favorite of all sticks I have owned.
 
deertrout said:
I can't comment on the skeletors, but I've ran the full length beast sticks the last 4 seasons and have 0 complaints.

I decided this season I want to switch to the 20" beast sticks for next year and sold my full lengths. Check this out, I bought the 4 of the 24" in 2019 for $300. Got a great deal, sure, but they were used a season already and retailed for $80 at the time. So I paid close to full retail which was common at that time. When I sold them last week, I sold them for $320. After using them 4 years. So I basically made $20 and had free sticks for 4 seasons.

Tell me another climbing stick out there that can do the same.

The main thing I would say that would make me shy away from the skeletors is the moving steps. Moving parts will wear faster, no doubt. If both sticks were equal in all stats, that alone would make me lean towards the beast sticks. Before beast sticks I ran OG lone wolf sticks and you had to replace washers and do some other preventive maintenance every season. I didn't have to even tighten a bolt on my beast sticks in the last 4 seasons.
Click to expand...
Why not just buy 20” posts from beast gear and swap them out instead of buying completely new 20” sticks?
 
The skeletor sticks are fantastic. The only thing I don’t love is how hard they are to get apart with the pin system but will say it’s a fantastic design for packing them, they don’t budge a mm. I have big feet so the way the steps come away from the stick is really nice. Apparently latitude is doing a carbon stick so I’m gonna be keeping an eye out for that project as I really enjoy my method saddle.
 
I have use a lot of different climbing sticks and so far my favorite sticks are the Skeletor . They are rock solid and easy to attach to the tree. They stack really well.
 
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