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ClemsonTiger

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hey guys, been eyeing saddle hunting for the past couple of years due to the weight savings over my climbing stand and finally got a saddle setup. I've been researching different climbing sticks and can't really decide which direction I want to go so I figured I'd ask on here.

I definitely want to use aiders since they'll help me get up a bit higher.

That being said, I'd like to get y'alls input on different sticks and lengths. I've been looking at the Skeletors, Hawk Helium, & Muddy Pro steps but I'm not dead set on any of them. I just liked them for the price and reasonable weight. If I do go with the Helium steps I'll need to pick between the 20 & 30" steps.

Any input or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks!
 
#4 ·
I used Helium 20" steps last year, my first year saddle hunting. I made my own one-step aiders. I just used 3 sticks and was up high enough for my needs.

If the Skeletors had been out then I would have gone with them. Basically a better version but similar to the Heliums.

I'm looking into a movable aider this year and maybe a small climbing platform to use instead of sticks.
 
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#5 ·
Going to be some new sticks hit the market sometime this summer/fall. 2 that I know of that are coming are Cruzr & Latitude. Supposed to be very lightweight & pack better than current offerings. "Game changers" supposedly. I'm sure they will also be expensive. Hopefully they make it out before season.

In my experience with sticks, you get what you pay for. Didn't like hawks much. Lone wolfs are decent but bulky, prefer double steps too. Beast sticks very nice but don't pack great. Pros & cons to every option, the perfect climbing stick hasn't been made yet in my opinion. All the new gear coming out, interesting time to be a saddle hunter.
 
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#6 ·
Beast stick minis for me with cable aider on each stick. I also made amsteel daisy chains for the attachment.

I tried the movable aiders and the swaider, but like the cable aiders so much better.

I had the Hawk sticks before my Beasts and they were OK, but like said before you get what you pay for. There is a big difference in the way the Beast bites the tree and how light they are compared to the Hawks.

Beast, LWCG and EWO sticks would be the three I'd be looking at. Buy once/cry once

The Skeletors have had known problems and I tend to stay away from anything Tethrd.
 
#7 ·
Lots and lots of factors go into which stick you'll like the best.

Price
weight
length
single or double step
fixed, or folding step
attachment method
packability
etc etc etc

Of the 3 you mentioned, my choice would the Skeletors, which I do own. I also own Muddy Pro's. But the list is very very long. You can research them all on Youtube and get pretty good feedback.
 
#8 ·
I have tried just about every type of stick on the market, for portable stands and saddles.

The only one that I finally consider perfect, is LWCG double steps, with cable aiders. They fit together so well, and are so light, that I literally carry a 3 pack in my non bow hand. They are fast to deploy this way, and I can push brush out of my way instead of leaving scent on it. Truly the perfect stick in my eyes.
 
#10 ·
They aren't "sticks" but check out the Wildedge SteppLadder System. I'm using it this year. Very awesome and simple design, easy to carry in and out. It's worth a look. Hunting Equipment | SteppLadder Climbing System. Be sure to check out the videos on their site on how easy they are to set on the tree. Thats what sold me.
Also a veteran owned company which is a plus for a guy like me.
 
#11 ·
20" hawk heliums with a one step aider work well for me, but i have little experience with anything else. They were easy to use. This year I will be switching to some sort of amsteel tree attachment instead of the included straps to save a little weight and cutdown on potential noise.
 
#13 ·
The Heliums steps were just too close to the tree for me. I’ve had Muddy Pro stick for about 6-7 years and they work great. They are very easy to be quiet with and extremely easy to use. The downside is the Muddy’s have a bit of weight to them but they work great. I had bought the Skeletors a few months ago and they seem like the Muddy’s but much lighter. They hold together good, easy to use and be quiet with.
They had an issue with the stand offs digging into the tree and bending so people (including me) started to bevel the bottom of the stand offs and it seemed to fix the problem. If your going to a saddle for lightweight the Skeletors would be a good choice.
I use to use longer stick but the short ones are much easier to use, especially around tree branches.
I do have a long set of XOP sticks that I use when wearing heavy boots. The steps are thick, long, and upswept, and the standoffs are longer putting the stick farther from the tree giving me a great foot hold.
They lock together for packing but also a bit heavy.
 
#14 ·
Man climbing sticks have gotten crazy the past 5-10 years. For the price, I think it’s hard to beat heliums. I despise climbing sticks in general so I’d never flip the coin for a really good set. I’ve been going back to my climber more and more after realizing I could still get up 95% of the trees I climb with my sticks and saddle, there’s no stick left at eye level for deer to see while I’m hunting, and it’s easier/quieter to get set up in. Don’t get me wrong, climbing sticks have their place and my saddle is comfy but I’m starting to think they are a more of a pita than they are worth. Once I pack my sticks, saddle platform, saddle, etc, I’m basically at the same weight as my summit viper sd, which has a full sized platform and comfy seat.
 
#16 ·
I have the 3 step hawk and the 2 step hawk and the new ones from terhrd. The heliums you have to replace the strap with something functional. And the retention system that holds the sticks together sucks.. the skeletors (sp) the Amsteel Is great . They aren't bulky but the orange pins that hold them together break easy.. I'm going to add a one step aider to mine this week. Using amsteel.
 
#18 · (Edited)
I had a set of full sized Hawk Heliums, but didn't care for them nearly as much as my original LW....other than the folding double steps. Even after modding out the strap system and adding an aider, they were not just what I wanted and ended up in the resale pile.

I "discovered" EWO on an AT thread a year ago and ordered 3 of their bolt-on double steps for the top of each LW stick, along with their daisy chain straps. That made them much better in my estimation, but still long for carrying. They serve as my secondary system during season.

After shopping the mini-stick options this past winter, I went with a set of Thethrd Skeletors. There are a lot of nice features built into the Skeletors, but as 1canvas noted, the standoffs need to be beveled to prevent too much dig into the bark and potential bending. A group of folks on AT are very anti-Tethrd for their own reasons, but I am OK so far with the Skeletor purchase.
 
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#19 ·
ClemsonTiger said:
Hey guys, been eyeing saddle hunting for the past couple of years due to the weight savings over my climbing stand and finally got a saddle setup. I've been researching different climbing sticks and can't really decide which direction I want to go so I figured I'd ask on here.

I definitely want to use aiders since they'll help me get up a bit higher.

That being said, I'd like to get y'alls input on different sticks and lengths. I've been looking at the Skeletors, Hawk Helium, & Muddy Pro steps but I'm not dead set on any of them. I just liked them for the price and reasonable weight. If I do go with the Helium steps I'll need to pick between the 20 & 30" steps.

Any input or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
The 30" Hawks are bulky and a pain to carry. I originally tried 4. It was too much to strap to my pack and walk through the woods. Changed to three with a 2-step aider on the bottom. Still bulky and just hated trying to maneuver with them.

Last year I bought a 12-step set of Wild Edge steps. The weight is about the same as the three Hawk sticks, but theyre much more compact and offer much more height without aiders. I can throw the bag inside of my pack. When I climb, I throw the bag over my shoulder and place as I climb.

Made in the U.S. and veteran owned as well. They take a little bit to learn the knot and get good, but I love them.

www.wildedgeinc.com

Wild Edge Inc.

www.wildedgeinc.com www.wildedgeinc.com

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