Trophyline HyperLite Climbing Sticks Evaluate: Ultralight or Extremely Hype?

I’ve hunted with all types of climbing sticks, starting from the $30 cheapos to premium choices from modern manufacturers. After almost 20 years of experimenting and conducting head-to-head assessments, I’ve developed an appreciation for the latter.

The Trophyline Hyperlite is among the newest light-weight options for cellular hunters, and so they use a brand new materials known as Magnite. In addition they have the simplest attachment technique I’ve used. I’ve been testing this new climbing persist with see if it lives as much as the hype. Right here’s what I believe.

• Weight (4 sticks): 4 kilos 4.3 ounces (weighed)
• Weight of Every Stick:
  • Stick 1: 1 lbs 1.8 oz
  • Stick 2: 1 lbs 1.7 oz
  • Stick 3: 1 lbs 1.8 oz
  • Stick 4: 1 lbs 1.7 oz
• Fabricated from Magnite magnesium enable
• Size: 16 inches from step to step
• Packed Dimensions: 18-inches lengthy, 6-inches excessive, and 9-inches extensive
• Attachment Methodology: 72 inches of AmSteel Rope with prusik knot
• Made within the USA
• Value: $450 for 4 sticks

Magnite

Magnite is a proprietary magnesium alloy that Trophyline says is 33 p.c lighter, 22 p.c stronger, and has 3 times the vibration dampening of aluminum.

Weight Comparability

The Hyperlite sticks are among the many lightest sticks in the marketplace at round 1 pound 2 ounces. Listed here are among the different comparable sticks and their weights:

Attachment

As a substitute of an X wrap or complicated knot, the Hyperlites use a prusik to connect and tighten to the tree. This simplifies the method significantly and all that’s concerned is placing a loop over a cleat and pulling the prusik tight.

Testing the Trophyline Hyperlite

After unboxing my Hyperlite climbing sticks, I wasted no time in getting them arrange. I examined the sticks on tree species frequent all through the whitetail’s vary, together with maple, oak, and walnut. The take a look at targeted on key elements bowhunters think about when spending their hard-earned money. Weight and dimension, stackability, attachment technique, materials, noise, and climbing consolation have been all thought-about all through the testing course of. 

My first takeaway was how compact the sticks stack collectively. In contrast to different sticks that overlap when nested collectively, the HyperLite makes use of a FlatStack design that matches the size and width profile of a single stick. Meaning as you proceed to stack your sticks collectively, the general size doesn’t enhance. When stacked collectively, the HyperLite’s stow to a modest 18-inches lengthy, 6-inches excessive, and 9-inches extensive. My set of 4 HyperLites weigh simply 4 kilos 4.3 ounces, making them a perfect choice for hunters who prioritize weight. 

The HyperLites are made from Magnite, an all-new materials for climbing sticks. It’s just like the fabric getting used within the Bowtech Honor, and the identical properties that make it nice bow riser materials, make it perfect for climbing sticks: it has a excessive strength-to-weight ratio and dampens vibration higher than carbon or aluminum. Whereas any metal-on-metal contact nonetheless produces an audible noise that may spook close by deer, Magnite doesn’t produce as a lot “ting” as you’d discover in an aluminum climbing stick. 

Throughout my testing they simple to silence, as the one level of contact is on the again of the standoff. I’d suggest a small strip of hockey tape or Stealth Strips utilized to the contact factors to treatment any undesirable noise.

The HyperLites are sturdy and inflexible, and didn’t produce any flex whereas climbing. Notably, the attachment technique is one of the best of any stick I’ve examined.  The Hyperlite climbing sticks use AmSteel rope with a prusik knot to cinch tightly to the tree. This friction knot is often utilized in lineman’s ropes and saddle tethers, however it’s the primary time I’ve seen one used for attaching sticks. It’s very quick and simple to make use of in comparison with different AmSteel attachments that require knots or particular wraps to safe. One other profit is you should utilize the prusik as a weight on the finish of the AmSteel rope, which makes it even simpler to toss it round massive timber. As soon as the AmSteel is threaded by means of the stick, you possibly can merely tighten the prusik knot. At simply 72-inches of AmSteel, I might’ve preferred to see an extended general size. It’s among the many shorter AmSteel ropes when in comparison with different sticks in the marketplace, which might make it tough to climb bigger timber. 

I discovered the Hyperlites simple to pack. You simply wrap the AmSteel across the prime and backside sticks after which use the included bungee twine to stress the rope across the prime stick. This eliminates any chance of the tag finish coming free and retains the sticks organized. Better of all, the AmSteel rope doesn’t intrude with the Hyperlite’s means to stack collectively when packed.  

The place Trophyline Hyperlite Can Enhance

The Hyperlite is made solely of Magnite, and although it’s a premium metallic, it can produce noise should you carelessly nest the sticks collectively. This is a matter in almost all metallic climbing sticks, however because the Hyperlite nests tightly collectively, it’s one thing to be additional conscious of.

Place a small layer of hockey tape or Stealth Strips on the bottom of the standoffs to treatment undesirable noise. You received’t want a ton of tape, as that’s the one level of metal-on-metal contact.

What the Trophyline Hyperlite Does Greatest

Of all of the Hyperlite’s options, the attachment technique stands out as my favourite. A prusik knot on the AmSteel rope simply secures to the stick’s built-in QuickHitch Tabs, that are primarily wings that protrude from the aspect of the stick. Every wing has a gap by means of the middle, permitting for a easy AmSteel loop to be positioned excessive and cinched tight by the prusik knot. I really like the attachment technique a lot I’d purchase the AmSteel rope and prusik knot as a standalone and use it with different sticks that’d accommodate the characteristic. 

Ultimate Ideas

The HyperLite is a superb do-it-all climbing stick that provides cellular hunters flexibility to hike in deep with out cumbersome gear weighing them down. As soon as on the tree, they make the most of a easy system to tightly connect to many kinds of timber, and stow away in a compact, minimalistic bundle. When you’re searching for a climbing stick that doesn’t skimp on options, the Trophyline Hyperlite is your reply.