The right climbing sticks can mean the difference between a successful hunt and going home empty handed. Having the ability to get up in a tree can directly produce more hunting success. Being elevated even just a few feet improves your range of visibility and improves your ability to locate game even quickly.
Not every person is experienced at climbing trees. It can also be particularly hard to climb up a tree with all your hunting gear. This is where climbing sticks come to the rescue. Light, portable, and easy to use – they make an excellent enhancement to any kind of hunting trip. They let you climb up and down trees with ease and safety.
We will breakdown what you need to know about climbing sticks in this article. Then we will recommend the best alternatives readily available on the marketplace.
Top Picks
Climbing Sticks 101
A climbing stick is a gadget that makes going up and down a tree fast and safe. It has a simple design for a simple function. It is basically a vertical “stick” with horizontal “sticks” that serve as footholds so you can climb a tree. A climbing stick is secured to the tree with an adjustable strap. It is affixed onto a tree and also basically works as a ladder. They typically come in sets of 3 or 4 so that you can climb up to 20 feet high. However, they are also sold individually.
They are particularly beneficial for a treestand that has a hang on layout, so you can leave it set up and then lug the light-weight climbing stick with you, so you will not need to worry about continuously taking the treestand down.
Other options for accessing your tree stand include hunting ladders and also screw-in tree steps. Climbing sticks have come to be rather prominent because they are less complicated to transport and are simpler to install than screw-in tree actions would certainly be.
Advantages of Purchasing a Great Climbing Stick
- Safety
- Eco Friendly
- Convenience
Safety
Good climbing sticks offer a considerable advantage over other items when it concerns your security. As soon as you have the climbing stick locked in place, they’re able to support your weight and also stay put as you climb up to a treestand.
Eco Friendly
Unlike the various other options, climbing sticks are pretty environmentally friendly. Tree steps require screws and also various other metal components to appropriately secure it into position. Climbing sticks are affixed with a strap (or rope) that is wrapped around the tree trunk. This guarantees that the climbing stick is effectively held in position without hurting the tree.
Convenience
Setting up a climbing stick is quite very easy, and also doesn’t require any type of additional devices or components. Straps make it simple to set up as well as remove the climbing stick, and also since you do not require to screw anything into the tree, no added tools are required. Reduction in variety of things to attach additionally decreases configuration time.
Lone Wolf – Climbing Stick 4 – Pc. Set
The Lone Wolf climbing stick set is out top pick for ease of use, strength, durability, and safety. This is an outstanding climbing stick set. It is a bit more expensive, but it’s worth the money based on the quality, safety, and performance. It has a light-weight and rugged build, is quiet to install, as well as is easy to disassemble. The footholds are reversible and very easy to switch from right to left side with a quick flip.
The pivoting v-brace truly bites right into the tree to produce a steady climbing stick. This set includes 4 climbing sticks. Depending on your individual set up, it will cover a range of 20 to 25 feet.
Pros
- Reversible Steps
- Supports up to 350 Pounds
- V-bracket Trunk Stabilizers
- Compact and Light
- Easy to Set Up
Cons
- Mounting Straps could be longer
Millennium Treestand M210 Stick Climber
The Millennium climbing sticks are a close second. The set weighs only 17 lbs. and will create a 20 foot climbing range. This can be extended a few feet if you space them farther apart. We love the 7 foot long strap that allows use with very large trees. Of course, the mounting strap is adjustable and will work with smaller trees as well. The no-slip footholds make it safer and more functional than most competitors. It is made to work well even in wet and snowy conditions.
This set delivers excellent value for the price overall. It is light, compact, and easy to transport and install.
Pros
- Extra Long Mounting Strap
- Supports up to 300 Pounds
- Secures well on Tree Trunk
- Easy to Set Up
Cons
- Can be noisy when transporting
- Steps are relatively small
- STICK CLIMBER: Being able to get into and out of your treestand safely and easily while hunting is important. The M210 Stick Climber is a...
- 20-FEET TALL: At 20-feet this Stick Climber delivers the goods to get you up to your stand and back down again safely.
- CAM BUCKLE: The M210 Stick Climber comes with a 7-foot cam buckle for extra large trees.
Guide Gear – Climbing Stick Set 20 Feet
This set of climbing sticks is the most affordable, yet it maintains an excellent standard of quality and safety. It will allow you at least 20 feet of climbing range up to your treestand. Built to last, it is made of stainless steel with a powder coat finish. The mounting strap is nylon with a polycarbonate cam buckle.
Being made of steel, this set is a bit heavier than competitors. This is the downside of the reduced price. The steps are permanently attached with strong welds and the coating provides decent traction.
Overall, these climbing sticks deliver all the essential features, but lacks some of the upgrades of the more expensive models. If you want to save some money, this is your best option. This product will work well, but you will have to give up some bells and whistles. You will also have to carry the added weight.
Pros
- Low Price
- Supports up to 350 Pounds
- Strong and Durable
- Easy to Set Up
Cons
- Heavy
- Footholds have less traction
Conclusion
There you have our top 3 picks for climbing sticks for hunters. Before we end this post, we want to recommend one more piece of safety gear. Did you know that 1 in 3 treestand hunters get injured in a fall every year? Don’t let it happen to you. We advise using a safety harness every time you leave the ground. There are many on the market. Our favorite is the Magnum Elite from Muddy. It is lightweight, comfortable, and you forget that you are wearing it. But if you slip, it can save your life.
Muddy MSH120 Magnum Elite Safety Harness
- ADJUSTABLE SAFETY HARNESS - The Muddy Treestand Magnum Elite safety harness with extra cushion and padded shoulders for comfort is an EZ-ON...
- NO METAL ON METAL CONTACT - With no metal on metal contact you can hunt safely and silently while positioning yourself to take the shot with...
- AIR-FLOW MESH FOR BREATHABILITY - Boasting a lightweight padded nylon construction and air-flow mesh design, this hunting harness from Muddy...
Happy Hunting!
