The Best Climbing Sticks

There are tons of climbing sticks available, but for K.C. Smith, Tyler Jones, and Mark Kenyon, but the Tethrd One Stick stands out.

"On the matter of climbing sticks, I may just have them all," Smith said. "but the Tethrd One stick is the clear choice for me. It’s insanely light, has incredible tree bite, and the easiest attachment system I’ve ever used."

Tyler Jones also cited the One Stick’s tree bite as one of its most impressive features. He also highlighted the angled step, which he noted offers enough space for someone “with a size 14 boot” to comfortably climb.

The one drawback everyone mentioned was the hollow noise the actual stick makes when bumped. To be fair, most sticks aren’t totally silent out of the box and require some kind of aftermarket silencing.

Specifications

• Weight (Per Stick): 1 lbs.
• Total Length: 20.5 in.
• Weight Limit: 300 lbs.
• Material: Titanium/aluminum
• Pros: Super light, Tethrd’s rope containment system, Great tree bite, Quick/easy setup
• Cons: Pricey, Requires aftermarket silencing
• Price: $350 (3-pack)

MeatEater’s Tony Peterson was mobile hunting long before it was cool and trendy. He’s also seen the revolving door of hunting gear fads throughout the years, so he can spot the pretenders. For the past few seasons, he’s been running the Timber Ninja C1 Carbon Fiber Sticks, which have been a “game-changer” for him.

"I can carry four or five of the 20-inch sticks and still be at or under six pounds, which is incredible," he said. "If you do a lot of mobile hunting and want to stay stealthy doing it, I don't know if there’s a better option."

While you can Stealth Strip to your heart’s content, Peterson pointed out that the C1 sticks are quiet, even out of the box. The C1’s carbon fiber and polymer materials help keep the noise down, so you don’t have to worry about a loud clang or hollow knock when you attach them to the tree. The C1 sticks also have a relatively low stack height, which makes them easier to attach to a pack if you’re limited on storage.

Specifications

• Weight (Per Stick): 1.2 lbs.
• Total Length: 20 in.
• Weight Limit: 300 lbs.
• Material: Carbon fiber/polymer
• Pros: Small footprint, Ultralight, Quiet out of the box, Small stack height, Retractable aiders
• Cons: Pricey, Minimal toe clearance
• Price: $165 ea.

For the ultra-minimalist, I can’t think of a better climbing stick. The LWCG Micro Doubles weigh just under one pound and offer a four-inch stack height, which makes them extremely packable. Paired with an aider, three of the Micro Doubles offer plenty of options when it comes to climbing height, and the attachment system requires a simple figure-eight.

The most notable feature (other than size) of the Micro Doubles is the stick’s ability to flex. This took some getting used to, but this feature allows the stick to contour to weird tree shapes and produce an even better bite. The aluminum/metal material is highly durable and boasts a 300-pound weight limit, and I had zero durability concerns while climbing with these sticks.

Out of the box, these sticks require silencing, as the metal-to-metal contact isn’t very forgiving. But other than the Timber Ninja C1s, I’m not sure what climbing sticks don’t require Stealth Strip or hockey tape. The only demerit I noted deals with foot clearance. The small stack height makes this inevitable, so it’s worth considering if you only wear rubber boots or have large feet.

The Micro Doubles are extremely packable, quick to set up/tear down, and super lightweight, but all those premium features demand a premium price. However, these features also make them one of the best climbing sticks that will give you years of reliable service.

Specifications

• Weight (Per Stick): 1 lbs.
• Total Length: 17 in.
• Weight Limit: 300 lbs.
• Material: Aluminum
• Pros: Pack/space friendly, Aggressive tree bite, Made in U.S., Minimal stack height
• Cons: Requires aftermarket silencing, Minimal foot clearance
• Price: $150 ea.

I’ve used the Tethrd Skeletors on and off for the past several seasons. Even though they’re considered “heavy” in the company of one-pound sticks, their packability, rope containment system, and generous foot space keep them in my rotation. They’re super quick to setup and tear down even in the dark.

Most folks will scoff at the Skeletors’ weight (two pounds per stick), but they’re hardly heavy. Not to mention, the StickLoc pin system allows you to pack them tightly together, which makes them compact during transport. Sure, if you’re hunting Appalachia, a lighter stick might make your long trek a bit easier, but the Skeletors shouldn’t slow you down.

While they have a good tree-bite, it doesn’t compare to something like the Beast Gear climbing sticks. I also keep an allen key in my pack, as the hardware tends to loosen over time. However, these are minor issues. For the money, the Tethrd Skeletors are one of the best climbing sticks available.

Specifications

• Weight (Per Stick): 2 lbs
• Total Length: 24 in.
• Weight Limit: 300 lbs.
• Material: Aluminum
• Pros: Affordable, Quick setup, Great rope containment system, Good foot clearance
• Cons: Hardware requires occasional retightening, "Heavy" by lightweight standards
• Price: $225 (Only sold in 4-Pack)

Lightweight (one-pound) climbing sticks typically command a steep price. The durable, lightweight materials usually cost more than the aluminum budget steps you’ll find. However, Latitude Outdoors Carbon SS climbing sticks offer a great value for a stick that weighs just over one pound. Part of this has to do with how it’s made. The Carbon SS consists of a single piece of material.

As you can infer from the name, the Carbon SS are super light. I recently packed them on a scouting trip to hang trail cameras, and they were unnoticeable. While these sticks won’t make the sound of two metal sticks, but I would still recommend Stealth Stripping them.

Like the Skeletors and One Sticks, the Carbon SS have an Amsteel rope that allows for quick setup/breakdowns. There’s probably more rope on here than you’ll need, but it’s better to have than have not. I also appreciate the included rubber belt clip that fastens the stick together. It’s silent, convenient, and quicker to fasten than a typical strap.

While climbing with the Carbon SS Sticks, I noticed they do a great job staying in place. I think the single-piece construction helps with this, even though the teeth appear less than ideal for biting the tree. However, I never had an issue with the sticks moving out of place while ascending/descending the tree.

I’ve hunted or climbed with several different brands of sticks, and the Carbon SS sticks present the best value by far. A set of four will run you $335. That’s roughly $84 per stick, which is almost half the price of other one-pound sticks.

Specifications

• Weight (Per Stick): 1.18 lbs.
• Total Length: 18 in.
• Weight Limit: 275 lbs.
• Material: Carbon Fiber
• Pros: Excellent value, Entire stick is one piece, Speedy setup, Easy stacking for transport
• Cons: Durability concerns, Tree bite could be better, Large stack height
• Price: $84 ea.

Sometimes the killing tree isn’t the one with a straight, limb-free trunk. Typical double steps can be challenging to mount, especially if you’re hunting public land where tree trimming isn’t allowed. Lone Wolf’s Compact Doubles solve this dilemma. Thanks to the pivoting V-brackets and butterfly steps, you can climb trees that have tons of limbs without making alterations to the tree.

Not only do the pivoting V-brackets have a great tree bite, but their angle provides plenty of boot clearance while climbing. You can also adjust the butterfly steps silently, and they require some force, which means you won’t have to worry about accidentally bumping them during your ascent/descent.

But these features that make climbing so streamlined also make packing the sticks, which is half the battle, a breeze. The rubber grommets also allow you to connect the sticks for transport, so you don’t have to worry about another strap to keep up with. The MOLLE ascender hook, a subtle but gold feature, quickly and conveniently clips to your saddle, belt, etc., while climbing. It’s just another aspect that highlights what this stick does best—quick, versatile setups.

Like the Micro Doubles, these sticks command a steep price and require aftermarket silencing. If you’re looking for a lightweight option that offers excellent tree bite and versatile mounting capabilities, the Compact Doubles warrant serious consideration.

Specifications

• Weight (Per Stick): 1.7 lbs.
• Total Length: 14 in.
• Weight Limit: 300 lbs.
• Material: Metal Alloy
• Pros: Butterfly steps great for trees with low/lots of branches, Lightweight, J-hook attachment for LWCG stand, Made in U.S., Pivoting V-Bracket allows for various packing options
• Cons: Pricey, Silencing is a must
• Price: $149 ea.

Of all the climbing sticks I’ve hunted with, the Beast Gear Climbing Sticks have the best tree bite. Once you (properly) attach them to the tree, there’s no play or slippage, which is reassuring when you’re climbing down in the cold and dark. While not included, you can purchase a stick that allows you to neatly stack them together, but a strap works just as well, too.

The Beast Gear Climbing Sticks boast a large stack height that eats up room on a pack, but it is manageable. You’ll also have to buy the Stealth Stripping kit for these sticks. Some climbing sticks can go without it, but these are definitely not one of them.

While these sticks aren’t the most expensive, they’ll run you $109 a piece, which is still thirty dollars less (per stick) than the LWCG or Timber Ninja C1 options. Even when you add in the necessary stealth stripping kits, you still get four of the best climbing sticks for around $500.

Specifications

• Weight (Per Stick): 1.7 lbs.
• Total Length: 20 in.
• Weight Limit: 300 lbs.
• Material: Aluminum
• Pros: Excellent tree bite, Generous step space, Super durable, Aggressive steps for traction, Reasonable price
• Cons: Requires aftermarket silencing, Large stack height
• Price: $112 ea.