Bit the bullet this year. Purchased 2 sets ,20', climbing sticks for our portables. They are great!!!

My other half wonders why he didn't use/try them years ago!

He set out for the woods, by himself, Sunday afternoon, while I headed out to our pro-shop for minor adjustments on my bow. Not even 15 minutes into my drive he was hitting me up on the 2-way to let me know he was up in the tree hanging the stand already!! Standing up I will be over 25 ft.

So far so good this year!! Never using a screw in step again.

Climbing sticks are much better than screw-in steps. Much sturdier, safer and IMO easier to set-up and hang a stand.

I love climbing sticks and lock ons.....http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=2302764

after dealing with screw in steps this year, i really dont think i will use them anymore lol.

just hanging the stands was a PIA...now i gotta go in, in the dark and screw in my bottom 5 steps(took them out so noone is in my stand etc...i can just see some kids like i used to be playing in the woods, climb my stand, get hurt and its now my fault or something...and to keep the theives kinda honest..

but man...its a pain. with the sticks i could take my bottom portion out with my...small and light enough to bring back every morning etc and be safer and easier to use. those screw in steps are tricky to lay out your first couple times i know both stand i hung have about 100 holes in the trees now lol. just took me a while to get it right. but i know i will like just walking to my stand and climbing in and sitting down. less noise and commotion...no noise of a climber on your back...i will stay awake in them because they arent nearly as comfy as my summit viper...they just might help me see deer

I'm tired of the screw in steps!!! Can anyone give me some advice on some decent climbing sticks that won't break the bank?

I went through Sportsmens guide and cabelas.

Big game 20 ft are 49.99 at cabelas.

Thanks I'll check them out.

climbing sticks are the way to go and where they will not work I LOVE the BUck steps by summit.

Tried the Ameristep Non-Typical steps, and have been impressed with them so far.

I set up climbing sticks for one stand for the first time on Sunday. It was a bit of a PIA. There were a few branches kinda in the way and there were lots of briars that needed to be cut, and it was my first time trying to use linesmans belts, but I'm sure next time will be easier. Hanging the stand once the sticks were set up was very easy. I can see how this is going to be much better than lugging the climber around. I bought a sentinal stand from DSG and got 2 sets of their sticks for $30 each. One set is 16' and I thought that was kinda low, and one extension was $15 so I figured I'd just get 2 sets and have some extra pieces. I used one extension and figure I hung my stand at about 18'.