Best Climbing Sticks

Are you in search of the best climbing sticks? With so many brands and models of climbing sticks on the market today, it can be a little overwhelming at times to find just the right climbing sticks for your hunting needs. In this guide, we reviewed some of the best sticks to help you find the right one.

1. Hawk Helium Climbing Stick (3 PK)

The Hawk Helium Climbing Stick is made of aircraft-grade Aluminum with weight-reducing cutouts making each 30-inch section 2.8 pounds. With its Silent Lock Technology, the steps snap together quietly with a suction cup design. It features stability with its traction-grabbing steps on both sides when you ascend or descend.

Additionally, these climbing sticks fold up and stick tightly together with its lock technology suction cups. It also features a new Versa button silent strap setup that reduces the noise during setup. Its Tree-Digger teeth bite into the bark for more stability. This is a 3-pack package and is one of the best climbing sticks for hunting.

What We Like:

• Silent Lock Technology
• Aluminum-Grade Construction
• Lightweight Portability
• Tree-Digger Teeth
• Silent-use Versa Button

2. Hawk Hunting Helium Climbing Sticks (4Pk)

The Hawk Helium climbing sticks are a 4-pack package. It is constructed of Aluminum. When packing and installing, noise is minimized with its silent-use versa button. Hawk Helium climbing sticks also feature boot gripping steps with raised ends to provide non-slip performance. It features stability thanks to its tree-digger teeth biting into the bark. It has a weight capacity of 300 lbs.

What We Like:

• Silent-Use Versa Button
• Stability
• Non-Slip Performance

3. Muddy Pro Sticks (4-Pack)

The Muddy Pro sticks is a 4-pack that is made of Aluminum. It features a rope Cam system that makes installation quick and quiet. It also offers stability with extra grip thanks to its built-in teeth. It also features Aluminum bark biters that attach to the tree offering additional stability.

Additionally, it works well for trees with a minimum size of 9-inch diameters. It has a height of 12.5 feet, a width of 9.25 inches, and weighs 10 pounds.

What We Like:

• Rope Cam System
• Aluminum Bark Biters

4. Rivers Edge RE719 Tree Stand Climbing System (3-Pack)

The Rivers Edge RE719 features a double-step design with two steps at every level. It also features a permanent anti-slip coating called Tractionite. This system attaches to the tree using a cam strap or ratchet straps. The Rivers Edge RE719 also features a grip rail. Its silent RawHorn attachment system eliminates metal-on-metal contact which makes it a quiet scenario when climbing.

What We Like:

• Double Step Design
• Noiseless Strap Attachment
• Permanent Non-Slip Coating
• No Metal-On-Metal Contact

5. Hawk Helium 1PL Climbing Stick

This Hawk Helium 1PL climbing stick features a dual-sided step design for ascending and descending. It is made of ultra-light aircraft Aluminum that renders it portable. With its superior step traction step grooves with raised ends, you benefit from non-slip performance.

Additionally, its lock technology allows for a quiet setup as the steps quietly snap together with a suction cup design. It also features tree digger teeth that provide a secure and stable climbing platform as it bites into the bark.

What We Like:

• Lightweight Portability
• Silent Lock Technology
• Silent-Use Versa Button
• Tree-Digger Teeth

6. XOP-XTREME Bottomland Climbing Sticks

The XOP-XTREME climbing sticks are made of Aluminum which makes them lightweight. It features a deep stand-off bracket that provides more space between your feet and the tree. With its lock-tight stacking system, there is no need for straps. This is a 4-pack and each climbing stick is 34 inches long and weighs 3.2 pounds. It has a weight capacity of 350 lbs.

       What We Like:

• Lightweight
• Seamless Integration
• No Straps Needed

7. Hawk Treestands Ranger Traction Climbing Sticks (3pk)

The Hawk Treestands Ranger climbing sticks feature angled tree steps for increased foot contact and security. It provides non-slip performance with its dual traction steps with raised ends. Its tree attachment hooks provide fast and silent deployment. You also benefit from ergonomic hand grabbing with its oval tubing rail. Each weighs 4.6 pounds.

What We Like:

• Angled Tree Steps
• Dual Traction Steps
• Good Stability
• Ergonomic Hand-Grabbing Security
• Silent Deployment

8. Guide Gear Climbing Stick Ladder

The Guide Gear is made of durable tubular steel with a weight capacity of 300 pounds. It features angled steps that provide an easy and safe climb. It is portable and dismantled into 5 sections for transport and storage. It is 25 feet long with an extra 5 feet of height. It has a weight capacity of 300 pounds.

What We Like:

• Durable
• Angled Steps
• Portable

9. Muddy Quick Stick XL Climbing System

The Muddy Quick Stick is designed for use as a fully assembled ladder. It is all steel welded with five-sleeved sections. This system is secured to the tree with 5 one-inch cam-buckle straps. It weighs 25 pounds and has a weight capacity of 300 pounds.

What We Like:

• All Steel Welded
• Five Sleeved Sections
• Weight Capacity of 300 lbs.

10. Rivers Edge Tree Stand Climbing System

The Rivers Edge Tree stand features an alternate step design that reduces the weight and offers a quick and easy way to access this system. It is light and portable and is 20 feet in height.

What We Like:

• Alternate Step Design
• Lightweight & Portable

Saddle Hunting

Deer hunting from an elevated position using a tree hunting saddle is referred to as saddle hunting. The hunter uses a hunting saddle, lineman’s belt, or rock climbing harness to connect to a secure anchor when you reach the height for hunting or when you run out of climbing sticks.

Saddle hunting is not a new thing. It has been in existence for more than 30 years but is just getting noticed by the larger hunting population. Saddle hunting has many benefits than traditional tree stand hunting options.

Benefits of Saddle Hunting

Saddle hunting benefits include lightweight tree saddles that allow you to be more mobile. Saddle hunting also produces almost no noise which is ideal for hunting. There is no noise from pulling up tree stands.

Moreover, there is more safety when saddle hunting and the incidents of tree fall are drastically reduced as compared to conventional tree stand hunting. When saddle hunting, you are tethered to the tree as soon as you are no longer standing on the ground. There is minimal impact.

What To Look For In The Best Climbing Sticks

1. Height

The height is one of the important features to consider when choosing the best climbing sticks. You want a climbing stick that is high enough in relation to your height and that of anyone who will use it. Many climbing sticks are built with a height of 20 feet. The climbing sticks usually go over your treestand for safety reasons. We shared information on how to hunt from a tree stand that you can read in this article.

2. Weight

Most climbing sticks are designed in a number of sections with each section weighing a few pounds. The weight of the climbing stick is another important factor to consider when choosing a climbing stick. The total weight is usually the sum of the individual sections. You want a durable, yet lightweight climbing stick that is easily transported.

3. Weight Capacity

The weight capacity of the climbing stick is very important. This information indicates how much weight the climbing stick is designed to carry. It is good practice and a safety measure to make sure the weight of the individual, with all gear and clothes, using it is below the weight capacity.

4. Noise

How much noise the climbing stick generates is another important factor to consider when choosing a climbing stick. Most of the best climbing sticks are designed to be silent with silent attachment hooks, silent lock technology, and silent-use versa buttons.

5. Durability

You want a durable climbing stick system. Durability is another important factor when choosing the best climbing sticks. Most are designed with aircraft-grade Aluminum that is lightweight and durable.

6. Portability

For climbing sticks and the nature of their use, you want them to be portable. Most of the best climbing sticks are designed to be lightweight and portable for transport and storage.

7. Step Size

The step size is very important. Some of the best climbing sticks are designed with double step design as it makes it easy and comfortable to climb. The smaller the steps, the harder it will be to climb. Make sure the steps have adequate room for boots and teeth for traction.

8. Versatility

You want climbing sticks that are versatile. This allows you to set it up on any tree. Some of the best climbing sticks feature adjustable standoff brackets that allow you to use them on any tree.

Types Of Climbing Sticks

There are mainly two types of climbing sticks. Single climbing sticks and ladder-style climbing sticks.

1. Single Climbing Sticks

Single climbing sticks are individual sticks that have two or three steps that can be attached to the tree. You have the luxury of attaching any number that you want. The single climbing sticks can be used in almost any tree whether it is crooked, gnarly, or straight.

2. Ladder Style Climbing Sticks

Ladder-style climbing sticks feature a metal tube in the center with steps on both sides. It is pre-assembled and set up against the tree as a single unit. It is used on straight trees with no limbs or branches in its path. This ladder-style climbing stick generates a good amount of noise during setup and is not expensive.

Walmart Climbing Sticks

Walmart carries a wide variety of climbing sticks.

If you want to see the climbing sticks at Walmart, click this link.

Climbing Sticks Accessories

1. Climbing Stick Transport Bracket

The climbing stick transport bracket attaches the climbing sticks to the tree stand with no straps.

2. Tree Stand Stabilizer Straps

The tree stand straps hold the tree stand together keeping it quiet when you walk through the woods or
when hauling in your vehicle.

3. Self-Tapping Screw Mount

The self-tapping screw mount is used for climbing tree stands.

4. Hunting Safety Linemans Rope

The hunting safety linemans rope is used to climb treestands.

Best Climbing Sticks

The Bottom Line

Climbing sticks are very useful for hunters as they make it easy to get in and out of the tree stand.  If you want to learn how to hunt from a treestand, then read this article. In this guide, we not only reviewed some of the best climbing sticks on the market but also discussed the factors to consider when choosing climbing sticks. Our choice for a climbing stick is the Hawk Helium Climbing Stick (3 pk).