RE: shooting sticks
Might laugh at me, but my "shooting sticks" set up is home made. Three hickory saplings about 3/4" in diameter and 5'6" long and a "band" made from a strip of rawhide wrapped several times firmly around the sticks. Stripped off the bark. Had these for I guess 35 years. Easy to adjust from seating height to standing height. Just roll the band to the preferred height and open the tripod. Not vertical ? slid ehte offending pole to the right height in seconds.
One draw back. No good in prone position.
Don't come any cheaper ... and not a bad walking stick !!! I'm old, I need one !!!
Hey, this tripod steadied me for a standing 350 yard kill shot on a fine Montana mule deer! So what if it ain't "slick"? Works for me.