One Stick or Multi-Stick...Or Both?

[Michael]

Last week I bought an EWO Ultimate One Stick from Marketplace. I’ve been using a modified Shikar Mini (10”) with double steps on top and bottom and a three step aider, but I wanted an all-in-one stick with platform.

With the Shikar Mini setup, I can get 7.5-8’ on my first set, and then about 5.5’ with each move. (The EWO stick may get me a few inches more from the ground, but it’s pretty much the same 5.5’ with each move after that.)

Yesterday, I played around with setting both sticks to see how high I could climb, and was able to reach 14’ 10” to the top of the platform. I was restricted by a limb on my second set, or I would have easily been able to get another 6” or so. If I really stretched it out, I could probably get close to 16’ total.



I’m sure this isn’t a novel concept, but I kind of like the idea of using this setup in certain situations. I rarely climb over 15’, but I would still be able to make regular moves if I wanted to climb higher. The Shikar setup is only 10” and 1.75 lbs and I’ve gotten comfortable climbing up the 3 step aiders. The EWO stick has the Ultimate Lower Platform which provides a longer standoff for the aider, making it much easier to climb. Of course, I still rappel down so I don’t have to climb down via the aiders.

The EWO stick is relatively heavy (about 5.5#), but I think the setup will work even better with the Arsenal Solo Stick I have on pre-order, which weighs half as much.

[DedDuk]

Personally, I'd rather carry extra sticks than use aiders. I hate using them.

[Dirty Kev]

I do something similar to this 2-stick method for certain trees using just a stick with a 4 step aider and a Hawk helium platform also with a 4 step aider. In just 2 total moves (initial set of the stick and set up platform once on top of the stick), I can have my feet 12'-14' off the ground. In many Texas areas, that is as high as you can get before you are too far into the oak canopy and lose your shooting lanes from being too high up.

[Michael]

Personally, I'd rather carry extra sticks than use aiders. I hate using them.

Aiders made me nervous when I first started using them, but I've gotten much more comfortable (and stable) using them. The OOAL aider I was using with the Shikar is 1/2" tubular webbing with a pretty flexible step insert and low standoff. I will say that the 1" tubular webbing and more rigid step on the Ultimaider is significantly more comfortable and stable. The standoff with the lower platform helps, too. I've actually had to climb down using the aiders and it wasn't a completely terrifying experience.

[Arrowsmith]

I have tried everything other than SRT and DRT. Multi stick, one stick, two stick, two tether and no stick (climbing with my platform only). I have always gone back to multiple sticks. For me multiple sticks are easier (much less physical exertion), quicker and more quiet than the other methods mentioned. I do use a Trango Vergo or Figure 8 on a lifeline to repel if I am coming back to the same set or for an emergency descent. At 71 years old stick climbing is more comfortable and makes more sense for me personally. I am thankful I can still do it.

[Trumpkin]

I've tried a lot of the one stick/two stick/multistep aider stuff myself, and I hunt much more effectively with three 20 LWCG sticks and their loop aiders. But if you're rappelling the multi step aiders are pretty nice.

[Michael]

Just for comparison (and because I wanted to practice one sticking in the dark) I one sticked up the same tree (using just the EWO stick) and made one transition. I tightened up as high as I could possibly get while standing on the platform before reaching down to move the stick. After resetting the stick and climbing up, the top of my platform was right at 13’10”, or one foot lower than using the two sticks. My first set was 7’9”, so I was just over 6’ with my second set. This was a fairly large diameter tree.

[Trumpkin]

My biggest issue with 1 sticking is I would talk myself out of climbing the right trees in the woods. Trashy trees would scare me off.

[Michael]

I'm not sure I can see how multi sticking would be much different in trashy trees than a one stick. Maybe the aiders getting caught up on limbs as you bring it up? (To climb safely) you'd still have to pass your lineman/tether through limb, whether single or multi-sticking. You'd still have to get your strap or rope mod around the tree/branches. I probably wouldn't climb something like bushy cedar (with either method) but I've one sticked up some pretty gnarly live oaks.

[Trumpkin]

I'm not sure I can see how multi sticking would be much different in trashy trees than a one stick. Maybe the aiders getting caught up on limbs as you bring it up? (To climb safely) you'd still have to pass your lineman/tether through limb, whether single or multi-sticking. You'd still have to get your strap or rope mod around the tree/branches. I probably wouldn't climb something like bushy cedar (with either method) but I've one sticked up some pretty gnarly live oaks.

The issue was in the sit and twist to grab the stick for me. Trashy trees catch me, scrape me up, and generally cause problems. That said, nothing will make you second guess one sticking like a hackberry. I hate them, and I have to hunt them pretty frequently.

[Michael]

The issue was in the sit and twist to grab the stick for me. Trashy trees catch me, scrape me up, and generally cause problems. That said, nothing will make you second guess one sticking like a hackberry. I hate them, and I have to hunt them pretty frequently.

Is that because of the slick bark? I haven't climbed a Hackberry with a stick, but you're the second person that has specifically mentioned hunting from a Hackberry tree to me (somebody asked at Bownanza.)

[Trumpkin]

Is that because of the slick bark? I haven't climbed a Hackberry with a stick, but you're the second person that has specifically mentioned hunting from a Hackberry tree to me (somebody asked at Bownanza.)

It's the opposite of slick bark. They tend to have the most abbrasive, bloodthirsty bark you'll find (short of black locust trees). They get tons of knobly protrusions that somehow manage to have sharp edges everywhere. It catches on the stick rope too, making the one stick movement harder.

[Michael]

Just for comparison (and because I wanted to practice one sticking in the dark) I one sticked up the same tree (using just the EWO stick) and made one transition. I tightened up as high as I could possibly get while standing on the platform before reaching down to move the stick. After resetting the stick and climbing up, the top of my platform was right at 13’10”, or one foot lower than using the two sticks. My first set was 7’9”, so I was just over 6’ with my second set. This was a fairly large diameter tree.

I did another test with the one stick today on a slightly narrower diameter tree and made my first set from the ground at 97" (8'1") to the top of my platform. My second set (first transition) was 78" (6'6"), for a total platform height of 14'7". I had to lean way down to retrieve my stick, but it wasn't particularly uncomfortable. The limiting factor the transition is the height of the tether rope.