Here’s the Best Climbing Sticks for Deer Hunting in 2024
With so many options available today, it can be tough to decide which climbing sticks best meet your saddle hunting needs.
I’ve tried to make the process easier by doing my own research and breaking down some of the most popular sticks on the market, covering the specs and best features of each, then comparing those features with the price tag to help you make a decision you’ll be happy with for seasons to come.
By the way, I’d love to hear your thoughts, as well. Be sure to drop your experience with different climbing sticks in the comments section below.
- Best Overall: Tethrd One Climbing Sticks
- Runner Up: Latitude Carbon SS Climbing Sticks
- Best Value: XOP X2s
- Another Great Option: Tethrd Skeletors
- Best Budget Option: Muddy Pro Climbing Sticks
Best Overall: Tethrd One Sticks
Specs:
Length: 18.5 inches
Weight: 15.9 ounces including the attachment rope
Weight Limit: 300 lbs
Step Configuation: Dual steps
Sold in a pack of three
What I Like:
- Lightest sticks on the market that I’m aware of
- Steps point away from the tree like the Skeletors
- Dynaloc Tab and Dynalight rope attachment method
- Glow tabs on each step help you see them in the dark
- StickLoc pin system
As I mentioned above, Tethrd One sticks are what I use, and my only complaint since I’ve owned them is that a few of my StickLoc pins that hold the sticks together during transport broke. It was a common issue with when they were first released, but has since been resolved with new pins.
Tethrd One climbing sticks are super lightweight at 15.9 ounces each. That’s thanks to the titanium tubes and 6061 aluminum machined steps. I would recommend putting some Stealth Strips on the hollow tubes because they can be pretty noisy if you accidentally hit them together during setup.
Runner Up: Latitude Carbon SS
Specs:
Length: 18 inches
Weight: 19 ounces per stick
Weight rating: 275 pounds
Step Configuration: Non-folding double steps
Sold in packs of 3, 4, 6, 8 or 12.
What I Like:
- Strong one-piece carbon fiber design
- No metal parts to make noise
- Super lightweight at just 19 ounces each
- Fast, quiet Amsteel attachment method
- Made in the USA with 5 year warranty
Latitude is known for great quality saddles, but last year all the attention was focused on their new one-piece carbon climbing sticks. And it’s easy to see why. They hit a home run with their Carbon SS sticks.
Using technology from the automotive and aerospace industries, Latitude created a solid, lightweight stick that rivals anything on the market. The one-piece, metal free design will help you stay quiet during setup and tear down, and the Amsteel attachment method allows you to quickly mount the sticks to the tree.
Best Value: XOP X2s
Specs:
Length: 18 inches
Weight: 26 ounces per stick (1.625 lbs)
Weight rating: 350 pounds
Step Configuration: Non-folding double steps
Sold in four packs
What I Like:
- Easily stackable with two options – on top of each other or side-by-side.
- Reasonably priced for the included features
- You get four sticks
XOP offers a wide variety of climbing sticks including a pivoting step, two-step stick; a fixed step, two step stick; and a pivoting step, three-step stick. For the purpose of this buying guide, we’re going to look at the XOP X2 fixed double-step sticks.
The XOP climbing sticks feature a unique slide-lock technology that allows you to neatly stack them on top of each other or flush side-to-side for low profile transport. The large 10-inch steps and increased stand-off offers plenty of grip and foot room for even the largest boots. XOP’s sticks are crafted from powder-coated 6061 aluminum.
Another Great Option: Tethrd Skeletors
Specs:
Length: 20 inches
Weight: 2 pounds including the attachment rope
Weight Limit: 300 lbs
Step Configuration: Dual steps
Sold in a pack of four
What I Like:
- Steps that point away from the tree giving more foot room
- Dynaloc Tab and Dynalight rope attachment method that is extremely quick and quiet
- StickLoc pin system to firmly hold the sticks together during transport
This is one of two Tethrd climbing sticks on our list for saddle hunters. The Tethrd Ones discussed above are what I currently use, and I truly believe they are the best sticks on the market. I’m not aware of any other climbing sticks in existence that weigh less than one pound each. However, they are also pretty pricey at over $300 for a pack of three.
Realizing that the Tethrd Ones are out of the price range of many saddle hunters, Tethrd went back to the drawing board and came back with their new Tethrd Skeletors. The Skeletors share a lot of the same features as the Tethrd One sticks, but at a much lower price point.
In fact, not only are they cheaper, but you get four of them as opposed to three. So why would anyone choose the Tethrd Ones over the Skeletors? Simple. Each Skeletor stick weighs twice as much as their Tethrd One counterpart. Saving weight comes at a premium when it comes to saddle hunting gear, especially climbing sticks.
Best Budget Option: Muddy Pro Climbing Sticks
Specs
Length: 20 inches
Weight: 2.5 pounds each
Weight Rating: 300 pounds
Step Configuration: Two sets of double folding steps
Sold in a pack of four
What I Like:
- Unique rope cam system for quick and quiet installation
- Affordable price point
- You get four sticks
The Muddy Pro climbing sticks feature the peg-pack series that allows them to pack together with several of the Muddy hang-on treestands. Of course, that’s not going to be real helpful if you’re using them for saddle hunting!
Regardless, each aluminum stick features built-in teeth for extra grip and a unique rope cam system for a quick and quiet installation. These sticks are the heaviest on the list at 2.5 pounds each, but if you can tolerate the weight, you can’t beat the price point.
Features to Consider
When you think about climbing sticks for saddle hunting, it may seem they’re all basically alike, making it tempting to base your decision on price alone. However, if you do your research, you’ll quickly realize there are actually some major differences among the various options.
Here are the key features we recommend investigating when comparing climbing sticks for saddle hunting that should ultimately help you make your final decision.
Weight
Probably the biggest factor when purchasing gear for saddle hunting is weight. The whole purpose of saddle hunting is to be lightweight and mobile, so you don’t want to be weighed down by a heavy set of climbing sticks.
Just keep in mind that light weight typically comes with a higher price tag as you saw in the products outlined above.
Length
Not only does the length of your climbing sticks impact the overall weight, they also can impact the packability of the sticks as well. Longer sticks strapped horizontally to your pack can be a nightmare hanging on every sapling and vine you pass by, so keep that in mind when deciding what length climbing sticks you ultimately choose.
Climbing stick length also impacts how how high you can climb with those sticks, and ultimately how high you can hang your hunting platform. Obviously, longer sticks with three sets of steps will allow you to climb higher than the same number of shorter sticks with just two sets of steps each.
Weight Limit
This is not going to be an issue for most saddle hunters, but it’s something to keep in mind. Most all of the climbing sticks discussed above have the same 300-pound weight rating with the exception of the XOP sticks which have a 350-pound rating. My guess would be all these figures are pretty conservative, but I wouldn’t recommend exceeding them regardless.
Attachment Method
The way you attache a climbing stick to the tree may seem somewhat trivial, but to me it’s one of the main considerations when buying climbing sticks. You want to be able to attach your sticks to the trick quickly and quietly, and you want them to be secure.
To me, Tethrd has the best attachment method, hands down, with their patented Dynalite rope and tab. Both their One sticks and Skeletors feature this design.
Step Configuration and Spacing
The final feature to consider when choosing the best climbing sticks for saddle hunting is the step configuration and spacing. While having single steps may shave a few pounds of overall weight, it may create issues when climbing or descending the tree.
I prefer dual step models where I’m not limited in which foot I move up or down at any given time. It’s also nice to be able to rest both feet at the same level when hanging your platform or adjusting your lineman’s rope. In my mind, there’s less chance of missing a step as you climb up or down the tree in the dark, too.
For those reasons, I mainly featured double step models in this article, although several of the manufacturers offer single-step models if that’s what you prefer.
Give Us Your Feedback
If you have experience with these or any other climbing sticks, we would love to hear about it in the comments section below.
