Best Climbing Sticks

Saddle hunting is one of the best ways to stay mobile while getting in, up close with big bucks.

And one of the most important parts of any saddle hunting set up is your climbing sticks.

Whether you're looking for the lightest sticks on the market or just want something that isn't going to break the bank...

We've got you covered!

In this article you'll learn what to look for when picking climbing sticks and what climbing sticks are best for your situation.

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What are Climbing Sticks

Climbing sticks are exactly what they sound like.

They are sticks used for mobile hunting to help you climb into a tree without having to pre-set up a ladder stand or something like that.

They are mainly used for saddle hunting but also have some other uses.

What makes them so useful is how much you can customize it to the situation

Whether you're changing how many sticks you use, what you have attached to the sticks,(like an aider to get further up a tree) and things like that

Climbing sticks really let you customize your loadout to make it perfect for your hunting situation and allow you to be more mobile and quiet.

What to Look For in Climbing Sticks

​Since saddle hunting has exploded in popularity in recent years, it's not that surprising that there's been a flood of climbing sticks following it

Which is great if you know exactly what you're looking for.

But for someone new to mobile hunting it can be a little overwhelming trying to figure out the difference between some of these…

Especially since most of this stuff you can't try out in a store!

So here's a few things to keep in mind when looking for climbing sticks

Size

​First things first, how big of climbing sticks do you want?

There's some models out there that have 3 or 4 steps per stick.

Which is great because it means you need less sticks to get higher in the tree…

But that also means they're a little more difficult to maneuver with.

On the other side of the spectrum, you can get mini sticks, which are very small.

But they're easier to move around with

Also aiders can make a difference.

Aiders are essentially extra rope steps you can attach to the bottom of your climbing sticks so you can spread your sticks out more.

Which usually means using less sticks & a lighter set up

And that leads into the next thing to focus on…

Weight

Depending on your hunting style and how far you plan on going from the truck, the weight of the climbing sticks can start to be a big factor 

With that there are obviously some models that are way lighter, making them easier to carry in a mile or more.

But usually that lightweight comes with some trade-offs. 

These tend to be shorter so you're probably going to need aiders to try and get some extra length out of them. 

They also tend to not be able to hold as much weight.

Stackability

​This is going to be similar to the size.

If you're running multiple sticks you're going to have to stack them together to pack them in and really what makes a difference here is how tall is that stack.

With something like the trophy line hyper light sticks they stack together extremely tightly so then you don't really have as big an issue with this so

they don't take up as much space in your pack.

Again this is really going to depend on how far you plan on walking in

If you don't plan on going more than a half mile from the truck this may not matter

If you play on going two miles from the truck consistently this can make a big difference on how much you have to have in your pack.

Strength

This one's really there for the big boys.

Most climbing sticks are rated for between 275 lb and 300 lb

Usually the ones on the lower end of that range are going to be the most lightweight ones so if that's a concern for you I've made sure to include what climbing sticks go above that.

There are both climbing sticks and platforms out there specifically that go up to 350 lb and I made sure to point those out for anybody that needs that.

If you need that extra 50 lb of rating this is really going to become the first thing you look for in climbing sticks and then everything else comes off of that

Unfortunately usually that does mean they are going to be a little heavier but other than that they'll still the job done

Best Climbing Sticks For Mobile Hunting

Trophyline Hyperlite Climbing Sticks

$445 4 pack

Stack height: 6.25”

Stick weight: 1.1 lbs

Weight capacity: 300 lbs

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Best Climbing Sticks For the Money

TETHRD Workhorse Climbing Sticks

$230

Weight Capacity: 300 lbs

Total weight: 7.6 lbs

Stick Weight: 1.9lbs

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Best Climbing Sticks For Big Guys

Trophyline Rival Climbing Sticks (350 lb rating)

$200 4 pack

Steps: 17.25".

Stick Weight: 1.8 lbs.

Weight Cap.: 350 lbs.

Stick length: 19.25”

4 pack: 7.2 lbs

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Best Climbing Sticks For Hang on Stands

Hawk Helium Climbing Sticks

2.9 lbs per stick

14 lbs 4 pack

3 step sticks

30” long

Fold up steps

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Best Climbing Sticks for Saddle Hunting

Tethrd One Sticks

Specs:

​$140 each

$500 4 pack

Total Weight (Single): 1.3 lbs

Total Weight (4 Pack): 4.25 lb 

Weight Capacity: 300 lbs

Total Height (Single): 18.5"

Total Height (4 pack): 22” 

Step-to-Step Height (Single): 17"

Stack height: 7.5”

FAQs

How many climbing sticks do you need for saddle hunting?

Generally speaking, 3 to 4.

That’s why so many manufacturers sell them in 3 or 4 packs.

BUUUTTTT….

There are ways to get that number down using aiders.

With 3 step aiders, you can get away with 2 climbing sticks.

If you’re really trying to cut down on weight, you can do what’s called ‘1 sticking’, where after you climb past the top of your stick, you secure your tree tether, undo your climbing stick and then reattach it further up the tree.

In that case you’re getting by literally using 1 stick.

That being said, I personally really don’t suggest going that route, especially if you’re newer to using climbing sticks.

How to carry climbing sticks while saddle hunting?

Most of the time it's something as simple as a loop or small hook on the side of your saddle.

 I have seen people use little snap buttons to connect their sticks to their saddle as well though.

What is the best climbing system for saddle hunting?

​Generally speaking, just using climbing sticks is the best way to go for most saddle hunters.

Do you need climbing sticks for saddle hunting?

The short answer is yes.

You can technically use other things to get up into a tree like a ladder for a ladder stand.

But its bulk ultimately defeats the purpose of saddle hunting.