I have to say up front that I'm a dedicated one stick climber. After three years of climbing this way I can't see myself approaching it much differently.
For me personally, it's not about the weight. I'm more of the opinion that I like the flexibility of being able to climb as high as the situation may require (be that 10 ft or 30+ ft) with equipment I can carry inside of my pack. The 20" one stick I carry fits right in the middle of my back inside the pouch of the turkey vest I use for a pack. There's no chance of any loose sticks or brush rattling off it as I walk into a setup. The fact that it is lighter is a bonus, but it there was an equivalent or better option that I could hold in my hand but weighed 20lbs I'd probably consider it. It also affords me the ability to constantly change locations. I rarely repeat trees so presets just don't work for my style of hunting.
As far as noise climbing, I haven't found anything I can do that's quieter. If you watch the timed video I put out last year you can see for your self just how quiet it is. And consider, when making that video I was focusing on speed, not stealth. There is some consideration that has to be given to the movement factor as I do tend to slide to the side of the tree for each stick move but I can control that a bit if I need to, it's just makes the climb a little more fiddly when it comes to re-attaching the stick to the tree.
I will also say that I don't find climbing using the one-stick method much more strenuous that climbing a set of sticks. I'm a self described old fat guy (OFG for short
) and I really find the climb to be way less strenuous than I did using a climbing treestand. In fact I always broke a sweat going up the tree in the climber no matter what the weather. I hardly ever break a sweat one sticking.
The added bonus that one sticking gives me that I don't see mentioned enough is that I can leave the stick on the back side of the tree from where I set my platform. That typically gives me that one extra step I need to walk around the tree if I need to. It's already on the tree, why not use it.
For me the biggest downside of one sticking is the slack incurred in the tether as you advance up the stick. I typically get 3.5 -4 ft of slack each step up. I recognize the risk and have taken the measure of adding some protection were a fall to take place with slack. As with anything, you have to weigh risk/benefit for your personal level.
I realize one sticking may not be for everybody but for me it's the best solution available.
For me personally, it's not about the weight. I'm more of the opinion that I like the flexibility of being able to climb as high as the situation may require (be that 10 ft or 30+ ft) with equipment I can carry inside of my pack. The 20" one stick I carry fits right in the middle of my back inside the pouch of the turkey vest I use for a pack. There's no chance of any loose sticks or brush rattling off it as I walk into a setup. The fact that it is lighter is a bonus, but it there was an equivalent or better option that I could hold in my hand but weighed 20lbs I'd probably consider it. It also affords me the ability to constantly change locations. I rarely repeat trees so presets just don't work for my style of hunting.
As far as noise climbing, I haven't found anything I can do that's quieter. If you watch the timed video I put out last year you can see for your self just how quiet it is. And consider, when making that video I was focusing on speed, not stealth. There is some consideration that has to be given to the movement factor as I do tend to slide to the side of the tree for each stick move but I can control that a bit if I need to, it's just makes the climb a little more fiddly when it comes to re-attaching the stick to the tree.
I will also say that I don't find climbing using the one-stick method much more strenuous that climbing a set of sticks. I'm a self described old fat guy (OFG for short
) and I really find the climb to be way less strenuous than I did using a climbing treestand. In fact I always broke a sweat going up the tree in the climber no matter what the weather. I hardly ever break a sweat one sticking. The added bonus that one sticking gives me that I don't see mentioned enough is that I can leave the stick on the back side of the tree from where I set my platform. That typically gives me that one extra step I need to walk around the tree if I need to. It's already on the tree, why not use it.
For me the biggest downside of one sticking is the slack incurred in the tether as you advance up the stick. I typically get 3.5 -4 ft of slack each step up. I recognize the risk and have taken the measure of adding some protection were a fall to take place with slack. As with anything, you have to weigh risk/benefit for your personal level.
I realize one sticking may not be for everybody but for me it's the best solution available.
