Hawk 4-Pack 20" Helium Sticks, Grey

These were great first sticks. I bought them, modified them to something that made sense, sold them, then bought what I actually wanted. Stock, they stack terrible, weigh so much more than necessary, create a billion pinch points, make noise and avoid any sense of efficiency and mobility. That said, they let me learn what I needed in a modern stick. I made a ton of modifications, made them usable, enjoyed them and sold them. Great memories. These are average, but very modifiable. Makes me wonder why they don't have people in house making them right in the first place. I can't imagine a world where anyone loads these stock in a bag and thinks, "yeah, let's sell these just like this". Still, these are wonderful for modification. The world is your oyster. Buy these, make them right, you're good to go.

I bought these because I wanted to have more options of trees to climb than a climbing tree stand allowed. I got these after reading reviews about the stacking buttons breaking off hoping I could figure out a way to prevent it from happening to mine. The first time out none broke but the second time out several broke. Unfortunately I didn't figure out that there is a lip inside the hard cup that holds on to the button to keep the sticks together. After shaving off this lip, they came apart easily. Hopefully, Hawk will replace the plastic buttons that broke... IF ANYONE GETS THESE, SHAVE THE INSIDE LIP OFF THE CUP AND YOU WILL BE GOOD TO GO! The sticks will not stay together without a bungee or strap holding them together, but you will have to anyway when the buttons break off. With the lip shaved off and unbroken buttons, the sticks are more stable when stacked than with broken buttons. I'm 6'1" 255# and these steps are stable for me. After snugging up the strap, you have to pull out and down on the bottom step of the stick to get it set in place before putting all your weight on it.

I bought these sticks not to long ago and I put them together and stacked all of them and the very first time I went to use them all of the suction cups broke that holds them together

The sticks themselves are great, bite the tree securely I like the step on both sides. Super lightweight and added Amsteel daisy chain for little more weight saving. The NOT so good: The material that the travel buttons are made of need a major redesign. In the cold, they don’t want to release and all 4 of them now are broken and don’t stay together on their own anymore. I have lost all the advantages these should have givven because I now have to add more weight with bungee cords to keep them together. A simple material change will make the is sure homerun, I hope your listening hawk! I need more and am currently looking at the XOP ultra series. Fix the issue, it is well known.

Overall seem good. Consistency in strap's daisy chain hole location not great (tradeoff of mass production). Some hardware wasnt completely machined (hex screw heads not machined and unable to put together). Otherwise good. Wish they were lighter!