Tree stands are heavy. While most options can weigh close to 30 pounds, Beast Gear’s Stand and Sticks deliver all these criteria at nearly half of that weight. This light weight makes it an ideal option for mobile hunters who regularly hang and hunt and don’t want to sacrifice comfort in the tree.
Most importantly, this stand offers quick, silent setup for close-quarter scenarios. Though I spend a lot of time in the saddle, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the versatility of the Beast Gear setup, which has quickly become a contender for my go-to tree stand hunts.
Tree saddles are all the rage these days, and it might seem like you’re behind the curve if you’re not hanging in a butt hammock. I’ll admit I’m part of this cult following, too. But, with the heyday of saddles in full swing, it can be easy to forget how effective hang-on tree stands are for mobile hunting. They can provide plenty of platform space, maneuverability, and comfort for all-day sits.
In short: The Beast Gear Stand and Sticks is a premium lightweight mobile hunting setup that offers discreet packability, a silent setup, and comfortable stand options.
- Stand:
- Weight: 6.8 lbs.
- Platform Dimensions: 29 in. x 16 in.
- Weight Rating: 275 lbs.
- Seat Height: 21 in.
- Material: T6 Aluminum
- Includes: Seat cushion, shoulder straps, fastening straps
- —:
- Sticks:
- Weight: 2 lbs. with strap
- Height: 20 in.
- Weight Rating: 300 lbs.
- Material: 6061 Aluminum
- Includes: Fastening straps
Pros
- Lightweight
- Generous platform space
- Easy to carry on hunting pack
- Sticks and stand have excellent tree bite
Cons
- Noisy without Stealth Stripping
- Stand exhibits minimal flex
Beast Gear Stand and Climbing Sticks: Review
Testing the Best Gear Stand and Climbing Sticks
The big buck serial killer, Dan Infalt, is the mastermind behind the Beast Gear stand and sticks. Birthed from his bed hunting strategy, this lightweight setup is ideal for getting tight to buck bedding undetected, especially when it requires long treks in the dark.
This fall, I’ve been able to hunt with the Beast Gear stand and sticks for deep public tracts or hang-and-hunts on the family farm. For testing purposes, I considered this setup’s packability, overall weight, ease of setup, and quietness.
Beast Gear designed the stand and sticks, with the connecting rod, to pack neatly together. Of course, you can forego the rod and use bungee straps or other methods to hold your sticks in place during transport. Either way, this stand’s (6.8 pounds) and stick’s (1.7 pounds each) weight make it a breeze to carry through the woods. Even at 15-16 pounds, depending on how many steps you hunt with, the Beast Gear stand and sticks are lighter than most hang-on stands alone.
Getting tight to bedded deer won’t do you any good if your stand creaks or tings every time you bump it. Using Stealth Strip or other aftermarket silencing materials is a must for this setup, otherwise, it’ll sound like you’re ringing a bell every time the climbing sticks touch.
It’s worth the extra 50 or so bucks to silence this setup. I used the custom Stealth Strip kits designed for the stand and sticks, which make it virtually silent as long as you’re not careless.
Setting It Up
Setup for the Beast Gear stand and sticks is quick and painless. Beast Gear’s Antler Bracket design plays a huge role in this. Both the stand and sticks have great tree bite.
Sure, most climbing sticks and even some stands will stick to the tree after you take the strap or ropes off, but I’m more impressed with how well a stick stays in place when you misstep or bump the top step on your way up. I tested this on the Beast Gear sticks by intentionally bumping the sticks with my boots during a climb, but they didn’t move.
Unlike most hang-on tree stand options that can weigh 15 pounds or more, the Beast Gear stand makes it easy to set up when you’re attaching it to the tree and need a free hand. I’m also a huge fan of the compact, yet comfortable, seat, which stows quietly when you need to stand to make a shot or just reposition during long sits. While the stand doesn’t include the premium seat, it’s definitely worth upgrading if you plan to pull dark-to-dark sits or spend dozens of days in the tree each season.
What the Beast Gear Stand and Climbing Sticks Do Best
Both the stand and sticks provide exceptional tree bite, exhibiting almost zero play when you attach them to or ascend the tree. The sticks have quickly become my favorites for this reason, and I’ve been running them with my saddle setup as well.
It’s great to have four sticks for certain situations, but I’ve found that three of the sticks provide plenty of height for most hunting scenarios. Of course, after-market aiders are always an option if you’re bent on climbing super high.
One of my favorite things about the Beast Gear stand and sticks is the packability. While Beast Gear designed both the stand and sticks to pack neatly together, it’s also not a burden to attach the stand to a hunting pack since it’s so lightweight. This makes it a great option for deep public hunts where you need to pack a day’s worth of gear.
Because the stand weighs less than 6 pounds, it’s a dream for public land hunters. Its weight makes it a versatile option for most hang-and-hunt scenarios, and it accommodates most tree diameters. Even if you spend most of your time in a tree saddle, the Beast Gear stand is light and versatile enough to use as a premium platform.
Where the Beast Gear Stand and Climbing Sticks Can Improve
Out of the box, this setup is loud. I wouldn’t recommend buying it without also purchasing the Stealth Strip kits that Beast Gear cut specifically for the stand and sticks. So, if you’re spending $1,000 on the set, go ahead and spend another $50 to make it silent.
Stacked together, the Beast Gear sticks aren’t the most compact, thanks to the Derlin Beast Button where you attach the straps. This certainly isn’t a deal breaker for me, but I know the ultralight and compact sticklers out there will sniff this out.
While Beast Gear includes it with its ready-to-hunt package, it would be nice to see the premium seat included with the stand instead of the black foam one, especially for around $650. Same for the included shoulder straps. They feel cheap, and I’ll be replacing these.
While this stand’s weight is impressive, I did notice a little flex when standing near the edge of the platform. This isn’t surprising or a red flag for me, but it is worth mentioning.
Final Thoughts
The Beast Gear Stand and Sticks require a beast of an investment. A $1,000 price tag might give some people pause, but if you’re a public land hunter who needs a durable, lightweight setup, I can’t think of a better option. Besides, there are plenty of people who have spent way more than that just to shoot a big buck. If this setup helps you do just that, I’d say it’s money well spent.
