I dont hunt much in trees anymore. I got some beast sticks that grab a tree real good.

 

I wish they weren't so expensive or I would get some of those. I heard those are the best.

 

My personal choice is Lone Wolf. Easy up and grabs trees securely.

 

I don’t really see the benefit of upgrading from heliums to skeletors. For me personally anyway. There some to be desired running heliums, but brass tax is there cheap and they do everything I need them to. And there 17”
Step to step. I’m pretty sure that’s the same for the skeletors. I just picked up a 3 pack a them carbon latitude sticks solely because they stack without flat without a versa button. That something that important to me. I’m OCD with mass. Not so much weight but mass. I guess we’ll find out here when they get here. Ultimately tho, if your sold on the skeletors, by all means do it up. Hopefully you can find a screaming deal being cyber Monday and whatnot. I’m sure they rock. I just don’t really see a ugradeable difference between them and the heliums. Then heliums and their combat stands are legit. I love my hawk stuff.

 

F

The issue I have with my heliums is the way they attach and detach from each other. 3 of the male buttons broke within 2 times of using them. Pulled the screw straight out the aluminum. It’s a pain to get them apart when your hanging from a tree. I was more looking at the attachment system and how much neater they are when you wrap the amsteel up and ease of use. Rather than the weight of sticks or how good they bite the tree. And from what I read they have a better stand off then the heliums.

 

I love my skeltors. The attachment system is the best I've ever used, and the fact that I don't have to deal with straps all over the place is a serious win. The standoff is awesome, and they bite the tree like crazy. I can undo the amsteel after use and the stick is still stuck to the tree.

 

I had Helium sticks for a few years....only sticks that I experienced a kick out.....twice. I did DIY versa button mods with a rope, but still didn't love them...so I sold them and bought Skeletors to replace the Hawks. I liked everything about the Skeletors, except their orange peg attachment system. It was not intuitive for me to get them all aligned in the basement, let alone with cold hands in the dark after a hunt. Genesis 3D has an aftermarket attachment system, but you need two for 4 sticks and it didn't look like much of an upgrade for the cost.

So I sold the Skeletors this fall and bought Latitude SS carbon sticks a few weeks ago. Thus far, I am liking the ultra-lightweight, packability and ease of attachment. Just last week I got my order from Stealth Strip and got them done up, so they are both camoed and quiet. If you act right now, Latitude has them on sale for their Black Friday-Cyber Monday sale. I wish I had gotten them at the sale price....but I did order a 4th at the sale price to have a full set. I just got some Amsteel aiders to test out, but the 4th stick may make those less adventageous, since I don't typically hunt way up.

 

I did some reading on the carbon as also. Some folks were complaining that they flex a lot especially on the top step, have you experienced that?

 

Have used Tethrd Skeletors for two years now and have had zero complaints.

They are lightweight, they bite the tree nicely, and they are easily packable with the way they clip together.

 

Just the thread I was looking for! Tethrd is having a holiday sale right now too. I just moved to the east coast from the west coast and I'm just figuring out whitetail hunting and tree stands. So thanks for asking the question @guest29.

 

Lone wolf custom gear 20" double steps ..they stack and pack the best..was money well spent for me ..I use them all the time

 

Latitude Carbon SS sticks have been great for me this season. Lightweight, attach solid to tree, very packable, hardly any noise.. And with the sale price right now you can’t go wrong with them IMO.

 

Used these sticks this year and I’m a big fan for all the same reasons.

 

Anyone have the XOP X2 Double steps?

 

I have used the original XOP sticks (the single step ones) without any issues. They are heavy but bite well and pack well.

The newer XOP 2 step sticks look good but I've seen at least one issue on the saddlehunter forums of the step or stand off breaking (can't remember which one).

 

I upgraded from my Muddy Pro sticks this year in search of some lighter sticks and landed on the XOP X2 4 Pack Sticks and added a rope mod in place of the buckle straps and I really like these sticks. They are light and they have great grip. They do sit away from the tree enough to have plenty of foot room for my size 11 Danners that are big and bulky late season boots.

 

I've heard the One sticks, Latitude Carbons and Skeletors are legit. Just wish they didn't cost an arm and a leg for them.

 

Anyone have the XOP X2 Double steps?

I do

I've heard the One sticks, Latitude Carbons and Skeletors are legit. Just wish they didn't cost an arm and a leg for them.

Check out Latitude's BF sale. My Carbons were a lot cheaper than my LWCG compacts

 

Skeletors are on sale (last day is today I believe 15% off).

 

PSA on the glorified plastic latitude sticks. Make sure you're routing the rope thru exactly how latitude says. There's been numerous cases of these snapping off. Someone is going to get hurt bad.

 

Do you have any more links to this problem? I just ordered a set.

 

Surprised no one mentioned the Shikar sticks from OAL. The fixed model is absolutely my fav. I 3D printed a rope cleat similar to the Tethrd and use 1/8" Amsteel for attaching to the tree.

 

I use the shikar 14" fxds, and like them a lot. They offer one of the best standoff distances available and bite as good as any stick.
Beast sticks and EWO both are top of the list as well. I emailed Beastgear about them making a 14" stick and they said they have thought about it/it's a possibility in the future. I think the beast sticks are a little higher quality than the shikars.

 

Beast Mini's - I've tried several and these are the best imo. No moving parts, light enough, rock solid on the tree and I trust them!

 

I wish they weren't so expensive or I would get some of those. I heard those are the best.

I've heard the One sticks, Latitude Carbons and Skeletors are legit. Just wish they didn't cost an arm and a leg for them.

If you want nicer, better quality gear you have to pay for it. Cheaper gear will get the job done, but sometimes you are better off investing a bit more for a better product that you will be using for several years.

 

I wish they weren't so expensive or I would get some of those. I heard those are the best.

If you want nicer, better quality gear you have to pay for it. Cheaper gear will get the job done, but sometimes you are better off investing a bit more for a better product that you will be using for several years.

I agree. If you don't use yours does that mean yours are wasting away and you need to get rid of them?

 

Beast sticks hands down. Nothing bites like them, built like a tank and with Amstel are like 1.5lbs per stick for the full lengths. I have a set of prototypes that are 5-6 years old and rock solid.

 

Novix sticks are stupid light.... I went with the long ones and most of the time only carry 3 of the 4... Keeps weight down

 

This is a post I've been needing. I'm getting sick of my Hawks kicking out and an awful mounting system. Bought them since they're cheaper and just getting into mobile/saddle hunting but now I have to spend more on a better strap yet still be worried they will kick out

 

Man I can’t tell you how frustrating the cam buckle strap is or just no bite these sticks have. Mine kick out but I’m fairly agile to make it work. I’ve had my share of scares though. From what I hear and see all the ones suggested are legit. You just have to cry once but once.

 

I will have to look into them
And get some for my 6 sticks. Do you use the same for a platform or what?

 

I've just been using the cam buckle on my platform, but I could use the daisy chain webbing if I wanted to.

 

Anyone that is having trouble with Hawk Heliums (unmodded...so they aren't kicking out because of something you did)....needs to revisit their stick climbing method. Because Hawks are known for being average to above average as far as sticking to the tree.

1. you should be rotating around the tree to stay on the high side (where gravity pulls you to tree)....within reason that is...if you have to rotate around the tree too much then it's a bad tree....and being slightly off the high side will work if careful (see below)

2. there are some trees that you just can't climb with sticks....for instance, I would never put my stick angle past maybe 1:30 on a clock face

3. you have to get them tight and there are ways to get them even tighter than a cam buckle (google daisy chain trucker's hitch)

4. you should pull the bottom of the stick out and pull down to set before stepping

5. you should be using a lineman's lanyard properly so that as you stand on the stick the lineman's is jamming you into the stick....so you aren't standing straight up and down at all...rather your weight is continually pushing the stick teeth into the tree...this also helps with step size....you are instead using the steps like little bumps that a telephone lineman might use to climb up a pole while using their gear properly

 

I think Skeletors are a great upgrade, the steps are farther from the tree for a much better foot hold. The stand offs are sharp to eliminate your sticks from kicking out. The orange tabs Alaska referred to is a bit of a pain but not a deal killer by no means for me.