Best Climbing Sticks for Saddle Hunting: Methods, Gear, and How to Climb

The Short Answer: The best climbing sticks for saddle hunting are lightweight, quiet, and pack tight, so a mobile hunter can slip into a tree without spooking deer. JX3 Climbing Sticks give a saddle hunter all three. Made of reinforced aluminum, they are lightweight at about 2 pounds each; their nested design allows them to pack tight, and the zig zag cleat allows for a quiet, buckless attachment point. They create a climbing system that works with a few different climbing methods depending on how you like to hunt.

There is no single right way to climb a tree with a saddle. What works for you depends on your style, how far you walk, and how much weight you are willing to carry. Some setups are stripped down and light, while others trade a little weight for more comfort and a bigger platform. The trick is matching your climbing sticks and your method to your saddle hunting setup.

What Makes the Best Climbing Sticks for Saddle Hunting

A good saddle hunting stick comes down to three main things: weight, noise, and how it attaches to the tree. You carry these on your back and set them in the dark, so every ounce and every sound counts.

Weight

Weight is the first thing a mobile hunter looks at. A lightweight climbing stick lets you hike deep into public land without wearing yourself out before the climb. Look for sticks made of sturdy, lightweight materials that are easily packable.

Noise

Noise comes next. Ratchet straps and metal buckles can create unnecessary noise echoing through the woods, so a quiet attachment method matters just as much as a light one. A stackable design that does not rattle on the walk-in keeps you from scaring off every deer in the area. The quieter your climb, the closer you can hunt.

Attachment and Grip

Last is how the stick meets the tree and how it holds your boot. The last thing you want is to have a stick to kick out while climbing. The JX3 Climbing Sticks are designed with a mini-ladder design, which makes them extremely secure versus the single-center post design of most other sticks. Rope cleats, cam buckle straps, and aiders all get you up, but they differ in speed and noise. Beyond that, look at the details that keep you planted: solid contact points underfoot, a step with real grip, and a rope with the tensile strength to trust your weight with.

JX3 Climbing Sticks

JX3 Climbing Sticks were built to hit all three marks at once. Each stick weighs just 2.3 pounds and measures 22 inches long, with 18 inches between steps and a 9-inch width, so you get real reach from a compact climbing stick you can pack deep.

Our reinforced aluminum sticks have a 300-pound weight rating, and the rope cleat attachment lets you wrap the tree, cinch it tight, and lock in without the click of a metal buckle. The sticks nest together and stack tight for a quiet pack-out, and the slip-resistant powder coating keeps your boots planted in frost or light rain.

What really sets JX3's apart is the shape. Most climbing sticks use a single center post with one or two steps at the top and one at the bottom. Ours uses a mini-ladder design instead, with a rail on each side and a step at the top and bottom, so your foot has more to land on and a steadier base to stand on. The sticks nest to stack tight, and they are built to fit directly on the JX3 Hybrid with no extra straps.

Other Sticks Hunters Use

Climbing sticks come in a lot of shapes, weights, and price points. Custom makers build light, packable sticks for the run-and-gun crowd, and you will hear hunters talk about everything from carbon builds to one-stick rigs. Any of them will get you up a tree, but JX3 built theirs to make the climb lighter, quieter, and simpler.

Climbing Methods: Multi-Stick vs. One-Stick

Once you have your sticks, the next choice is how many you carry and how you climb with them. Most saddle hunters land in one of two camps.

Multi-Stick

The multi-stick method uses three or four sticks stacked up the tree, one above the next, until you reach hunting height. This is the simpler way to learn. You set a stick, step up, set the next, and keep going, so you are always standing on solid steps.

It is faster to climb and easier on your nerves your first few times up. The trade-off is weight and a slightly bulkier pack-out, since four sticks weigh more than one. The JX3 Climbing Stick Set comes with four sticks and a wide top step, the best climbing stick setup for this method.

One-Stick

The one-stick method is exactly what it sounds like. You climb with a single stick, moving it up the tree as you go while you are secured to the tree with your saddle. It is the lightest climbing method and the most packable, which is why deep-woods and public-land hunters like it.

This method takes more practice and confidence, since you are resetting the same stick above you as you climb. A single JX3 Climbing Stick paired with an aider is a common one-stick build. Quality cord on your sticks and tether keeps the setup light and strong.

How to Climb a Tree With Climbing Sticks

The mechanics are simple once you have done them a few times. Here is the basic sequence for a multi-stick climb.

Set your first stick low, with the bottom step about one stride length above ground level. Wrap the rope around the tree, lace it through the cleat, and pull down on the stick to cinch it tight. For a deeper look at rigging your sticks, see our guide to climbing stick attachment methods.
Set your second stick the same way as mentioned above at about one stride height above the first stick.
Attach your lineman's rope around the trunk so you are connected before your feet leave the ground. Climb the first two sticks, keeping your lineman's rope snug as you go, and with your final two sticks attached to you via your preferred method.
Repeat until you reach hunting height.
When at hunting height, girth hitch your tether rope around the tree at about head height and clip a carabiner onto your saddle bridge. Loosen your lineman's rope and allow the tether rope to support your weight and settle into your set platform or wide top step.
Finally, pull your bow with a haul line, and you are ready to go.

Keep these in mind the whole way up and down:

Hold three points of contact at all times, meaning two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand, on the sticks. The same rule applies whether you climb with sticks or step into a hang-on stand, and state wildlife agencies stress it for anyone hunting from height.
A wider step, closer to 10 inches, gives your boot more to stand on when you are working the tree.
Move slowly and deliberately, especially in the dark, and let the rope do the work rather than muscling each step.
If anything feels loose, reset it before you trust your weight to it.
Pro tip: A pack like the JX3 Versa Pack System keeps that gear organized and easy to haul up as you climb.

Built to Work With the JX3 Hybrid

JX3 sticks work with any saddle or mobile setup, so they fit right into the rig you already run. Pair them with the JX3 Hybrid hunting saddle, and they are designed to lock right on, so you can stay compact and lightweight. That means less time rigging gear and more time hunting.

If you are newer to this style, our complete guide to saddle hunting walks through the whole setup from the ground up. Whatever method you land on, practice it at ground level before you trust it in the dark, and stay connected to the tree the whole way up and down.

When you are ready to build a mobile setup that climbs quietly and hunts comfortably, take a look at the full JX3 Outdoors lineup and see the gear in action on the JX3 videos page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many climbing sticks do I need for saddle hunting?

Most hunters use three or four sticks to reach a comfortable hunting height, usually around 15 to 20 feet. One-stick hunters carry a single stick and move it up the tree as they climb, but that takes more practice. If you are just starting out, use a full set of four.

How much do JX3 Climbing Sticks weigh?

Each JX3 Climbing Stick weighs 2.3 pounds. The reinforced aluminum keeps them light enough to pack deep into public land while still holding a 300-pound weight rating.

What attachment method is quietest?

Rope cleat systems, like the one on JX3 sticks, are quieter than those utilizing metal buckles. The stackable design also keeps the sticks from rattling on the walk-in.

How do I keep climbing sticks quiet in the dark?

Stack and strap them tight so nothing rattles on the walk-in, and use a rope cleat or silent strap instead of a ratchet. Set each stick deliberately, and practice your climb in daylight so you are not fumbling with gear in the dark.

Are climbing sticks safe for saddle hunting?

They are when you use them right. Stay connected to the tree with a lineman's rope on the way up and a tether off at hunting height, keep three points of contact, and check that each stick is set before you put weight on it.

Can I use climbing sticks as a platform?

It depends. Traditional soft saddles typically require a platform, as their design requires you to stand at all times during your hunt. If you are hunting out of a JX3 Hybrid hunting saddle, its design allows you to sit or stand, only requiring a place to prop your feet. In this case, climbing sticks are perfect with no platform needed, saving you money and weight. The JX3 Climbing Sticks with the wide top step give you a bigger, more comfortable base for better mobility around the tree. It basically comes down to the type of saddle you hunt out of and how comfortable you want to be.

JX3 Hybrid Features

One of a kind patented design.
300 lb load rating/weight rating.
All safety components tested and meet or exceed industry standards.
Sewn loop lineman, tether, and prusik ropes.
Contoured EVA foam shoulder straps.
Cobra style metal buckles.
Molle gear loops on the waist belt, main harness, and shoulder straps.
Built-in ground chair feature.
Built-in pack frame harness with adjustable clamps.
The back adjustment belt adjusts the angle of back support.
Adjustable standoff tree fork with 1 - 7 inches of adjustments.
Built-in bow holder.