climbing sticks
 

We have some good posts on stands going,thought I would throw this out.What are you using for climbing sticks and your experiences with them?Ron

RE: climbing sticks
 

I have several of them and used them from time to time. Usually I put up a couple stands for guest and that's what I use on them. I have two twenty foot ones, a 12 and a 16 foot one. We also use steps but mostly our climbers for our own hunting. I like the sticks well enough. It's just they weigh in at about a pound a foot in most cases.. plus they're a little bulky. So you add a stand and it's not something I like to haul too far. The aluminum ones tend to make noises in the winter and clold weather. I've sprayed them full of foam insualtion which helped some but not worth the effort really. They have their place and I'll always use them. We generally end up with a few screw in steps in addition to the sticks. We use screw in steps more. We also use 2 sections of a stick and steps from 9 or 10 feet up to the stand. That way you can stash a couple sections somewhere to quietly put up to reach the steps and not have someone using your stand or stealing it. Well at least you make it tougher.

RE: climbing sticks
 

i have 2 sets of strong built sticks. theyre cheap, but not too bad

RE: climbing sticks
 

I've got a 20' set of StrongBuilts, too. One thing, make sure you buy some stair tape for the top surfaces of the steps. You might make a quicker-than-desired descent if you don't. I lengthened my ropes to 10' instead of the standard 6', and it makes for easier use on larger trees. I think ratchets would be even better.

RE: climbing sticks
 

I'm not to wild about screw in steps myself.......I prefer sticks and strap on steps.

I have mostly Summit stuff and it's very good. I have 2 Swifttree ladders, and probably Summits best fixed stand item: "BuckSteps"
These are great.......more versatile than a 1 piece ladder style stick. Each section has 2 steps on it that you can stand on with both feet, and since they strap on individually you can use them in trees not possible with a climbing stick.
They are super solid and easy to set up. Plus like Dave mentioned, you can leave the very bottom of the tree blank and start the Bucksteps up a bit where someone can't get at them, and just strap one more on when you get to your tree or use some screw in steps at the very bottom.

I'm going to be painting mine later today (like to play;)) and will try to get some pics up of these.

RE: climbing sticks
 

I have a of set of Gorilla climbing sticks that are 3' long and come in 3 to a set they have 3 steps to each stick and weigh 3lb each they have a strap to attach to the tree.

Also I just got a set of their stack n sticks which came in 4x4' lenghts that also have 3 steps to each stick and attach by a strap. These are ok if you have a perminant stand as you put them together on the ground then lift them into position.

On both sets the steps can be turned from left to right or right to left depending on how you look at it:)

If you are wanting more portable sticks have a look at the climbing sticks I can usually set those up along with my stand and be hunting in about 5 minutes

RE: climbing sticks
 

Last month I bought a set of Lone Wolf climbing sticks. Obviously I have not used them in a hunting situation yet, but I have practiced with them some. They seem to be very stable, quiet and easy to put up. They look very similar to the Gorilla sticks mentioned above.

RE: climbing sticks
 

Since I don't hunt public land much, I use Cranford Ezy Climb screw in Rod Steps......strongest and easiest to use that I have found. But I have been thinking of trying Lone Wolf's climbing sticks since the steps can be reversed. I like the design of Summit's Bucksteps too although I don't know if I would like taking "straight" steps up the tree. I am a little bowlegged.[8D]

RE: climbing sticks
 

My friends dad has the lone wolf steps and they are sweet. They only weigh 7 pounds and you can pack and set them up quietly if you take your time. He has about 20 hang on stands and doesn't leave any steps, just brings them in with him in the morning.

RE: climbing sticks
 

I have several of the 20' Strongbuilt sticks. For the money they can'rt be beat but they are a bit heavy and bulky. I recently bought a set of the Summit Bucksteps and have even tried them out in the woods. I don't think I'll buy anything else from now on.

RE: climbing sticks
 

Some have mentioned the screw in steps.I have never used any.I climb mostly hardwood trees and am curious as to how easy/hard they are to get into the tree when you can only use one hand cause your hanging on for dear life with the other. I would think that if you were to put them up before the season that taking alone a cordless drill and predrilling your holes might make some sense.Ron

RE: climbing sticks
 

nmaineron.... it's called a climbing belt(a.k.a. Linemans belt etc. you can hang there with both hands free to do your work. Secondly, if you're using screw in steps I'd HIGHLY recommend some sort of starting device. I sometimes use a cordless drill with a small bit to pre-drill holes. I also carry a step starter in my stand hanging/climbing gear bag. It's by API I believe, and nothing more than a heavy rubberized chunk of solid pipe with a sharp needle like point on one end. Just whack it into the tree and you have a predrilled hole. I drilled a hole through the back end and put a leather lanyard on it that I can wrap around my wrist so I don't drop it from 20 feet up. I also made one from an masons hammer by sharpening the pointed end. The flat end I use to scrape bark off the tree if it's really rough. When I have time I'll post pictures.

RE: climbing sticks
 

Pictures: Here's what my step starters look like. One good whack and you have a hole that allows for easier screwing in of steps.

RE: climbing sticks
 

I coat about half the threads of my screw in steps with vaseline. I have also found that the Cranford EZ steps have been the easiest to install.

RE: climbing sticks
 

Let me start by saying that this applies only if you have a year-round lease (or own your own hunting land) and can leave your stands/sticks up for long periods of time...

My brother has at least a dozen sets of the Strongbuilt sticks and has used them with great success. Also, at $50 for 20' and $40 for 15' they are a relative steal. We never use the rope that comes with them; we use ratchet straps or cam buckle straps. I'm sure the rope is fine, but as high as we like to hunt, the added comfort of ratchet straps is worth the $5 or so each...

I have a set of SB 15' and 20'. Since the stand I'm putting up this weekend will likely be about 30' up, I use the two as a single set. I also own about ten sets of Big Game 16' climbing sticks. I usually use two sets for one stand to get high. The BG sticks are very sturdy and I like the straps that come with them. However, we still put up a ratchet strap on the bottom stick and the next-to-top stick for added security. We've already put up five stands for bowhunting this fall. Gives the animals time to get used to them. I posted pics for each of the five stands in another thread (the one titled "Which type of Tree Stand") if anyone is interested. All the sticks in those pics are BG's.

RE: climbing sticks
 

I've been using the Lone wolf sticks for 4 years. Trully incredible. Light weight, fast to setup, quiet. I can't tell you many times I've setup in the afternoon only to watch deer say an hour later get up out of their beds not 30 yards away and walk right by my stand.

RE: climbing sticks
 

Thanks Dave,I have tools very similar that I could use as well as the drill.Sometimes you have your own answer without even realizing it! I'm sure I could improvise a linemans belt. Are there steps better than others?Ron

RE: climbing sticks
 

Lone Wolf sticks. Ultra quiet, very light and easy packing.

slayer

RE: climbing sticks
 

Lone wolf is simply the best. Just over 2 pounds each. they attach to the back of there stands also. I can set up 50 yards from the deers beding area quietly and fast. I watch deer rise from there beds often. I have taken 17 record class bucks and passed on quite a few also. Lone wolf is the olnly stick or stand for me! The only down fall is the price, but you pay for American made quality. Gorrilla actually copyed Lonewolfs stick, guese they found some way around the pattent or something. Gorrilla is made over sea's and marketed here for cheap. Some one mentioned that there steps goe both directions. Last time I looked, only Lonewolfs did. The gorrilla sticks had to be stagered left and right. therefore they had to be put up in a specific order.

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RE: climbing sticks
 

I've owned Summit bucksteps and Lonewolf sticks and definitely prefer the lonewolf sticks. i don't own a lot of stands since i use a climber mostly so i don't worry about the price of two sets of sticks - they are just so much easier to carry, put up and take down in my opinion that if you need 3 sets or less you should definitley go with the lonewolf. I don't really have places where i feel comfortable leaving stands up very long either so i need stuff that is very mobile and light

by the way, climbing straight up on those bucksteps is sort of a pain and i'm not bull legged. they were still good steps, just not as good for me as the lonewolf sticks IMHO. They do have there advantages though.

RE: climbing sticks
 

Just a tip if your considering screw in steps. I either weld on a nut and carry a wrench or use an ajustable wrench with the stock step. I also made my own out of square stock forming "L"s and welded the two pieces together. Then I drilled holes and use three-four inch heavy weight screws. I also made a 20' climbing stick. They all work great. Now if I only had more comfy hang on stands!

RE: climbing sticks
 

I own two climbing sticks. The fist set I bought so long ago I don’t remember the brand name. They were bought from Dicks Sporting goods. Rivers Edge maybe? Anyway it’s 14’ and the feature I like the most about them is the ability to start the stick up off the ground. Some sticks have to be butted to the ground causing you to loose a couple feet right off the bat! I don’t know what it’s called (T-Bar maybe) like tying a boat off at the dock, anyway that’s how you latch it to the tree and it’s really quiet and fast! Probably not the strongest design and may be why I don’t see it much anymore. Held my 170.lbs so far without failure. I would always need a few screwin steps but two or three are better than 8 or 10 any day!

Last year I bought the 18’ stick from Gorilla. I didn’t really get to abuse it much because I used a climber a lot last year but first impressions were ok. The top section has a ratchet strap that I hate untangling every time I get to it. Another feature I didn’t like, they didn’t stack up to well when hulling them around. I think they’re better than most I looked at.

Not to long ago someone posted a picture of their summit setup. They had the bucksteps strapped to there lock on. They look pretty versatile and compact; I might try them this year.

RE: climbing sticks
 

I have a set of the Summit (think they are the Bucksteps Matt mentioned) that I use occasionally. Work very well though I still find myself using the strap on steps instead of the ladders for the areas that I hunt.

RE: climbing sticks
 

Ron, in my opinion the screw in steps made by Cranford are definately the best as far as screw in steps go. I've tried and used almost all of them and Cranfords steps screw in easier. The rod steps are my favorite because of the longer length, strength, and they have a slight upsweep on the end of the step.

RE: climbing sticks
 

I have 2 sets, one is made by Rivers Edge 16 ft and use a ratch type to secure to tree which works well. They are a little bulky and heavy to carry but I bring them out withmy ATV and once there up the stay up. The other set is made by Non-Typical Tree satnds and are called rapid rails. THEY ARE OUTSTANDING! Light and can be carried out. They are 4 sections that fit inside one another. You secures them to the tree with a rope that slides and "S" hooks. The good thing about them is that you can moved them around the tree as you climb and if there are limbs in the way.

I noticed that in the most recent REDHEAD catalog I see some that are called Grizzly Rapid Rails and they sure look like the ones I have. I bought mine at the sportsman show at the Big E in Mass. but they weren't there this year so you knows maybe they sold out to Grizzly.