Best budget portable stand setup?

[AncientSword]

Hey guys, I know the info is probably here somewhere to find, but I am swamped just trying to read up on getting the beast style tactics down.

I have a couple cheap, ladder stands, but I need to get a portable setup going. Any suggestions on some cheap, usable gear to get me by till I can get some Lone Wolf or maybe Dan's stuff?

I don't really want to just pick something cheap, I would like the best cheap gear that functions well. I do have 12 and 14 year old boys that will be joining me in the woods soon. They will get the hand me downs next season.

Any helpful suggestions appreciated. I have 3 kids and a limited budget, just like lots of you guys out there.

[ZSV]

I tried going cheap when I first started hunting mobile. In the long run I ended up spending more. If I were to do it over again I would ground hunt until I could find a good deal on Craigslist. The deals are out there you just need to check constantly. A couple months ago I got an older lone wolf with 3 sticks for my wife for only $150. I’ve never used one, but I think a few guys on here use hawk helium stands. They seem like the best cheapest option to me, but I think they are $150ish for just the stand. Hope I helped a little. Good luck!

[pewpewpew]

If you are going to really be into mobile hunting, just wait and get a Lone Wolf. I’ve done the cheaper options. I spend probably $500 on several cheaper options. I should have just bought a LW.

[Ahawk116]

I agree with these guys. Keep tabs on Craigslist and see if you can find a lone wolf, or xop. I’ve got plenty of cheaper lockons but they just don’t cut it.

[AncientSword]

Thanks for the comments, I'll take them into consideration. The areas I will be hunting are super thick. I'd rather get up in the air a little. Maybe I'll sell some other gear to fund a stand.

I've been watching Craigslist in my area. There is an older LW climber posted for $150. I was looking more for a hang on. I've never used a climber.

What do you guys like for sticks? Any suggestions? I'm not too worried about a little extra weight, don't have to have the absolute lightest.

[ZSV]

Thanks for the comments, I'll take them into consideration. The areas I will be hunting are super thick. I'd rather get up in the air a little. Maybe I'll sell some other gear to fund a stand.

I've been watching Craigslist in my area. There is an older LW climber posted for $150. I was looking more for a hang on. I've never used a climber.

What do you guys like for sticks? Any suggestions? I'm not too worried about a little extra weight, don't have to have the absolute lightest.

Buying a climber was the first mistake I made when going mobile. In my area it’s very hard to find a tree that they work in and I’d end up settling on the spot I wanted to be in after I scented the area up wandering around.

I use 3 XOP sticks with a rope mod and don’t have any big complaints. I like how they lock together and how big the steps are. I brought one of my wife’s lone wolf sticks with me last hunt to get a little higher and I didn’t care for the step size. It was raining and my boots were muddy. I did not feel safe on the lone wolf stick. My only real complaint with my xop sticks is I’ve got a couple steps that constantly need tightened. I would like to get something different though. I don’t like the moving parts. I might save up for Dan’s sticks, but I also like the idea of the wild edge stepps with their aider.

[elk yinzer]

The X stand Xpedition is a good stand for fairly cheap. Performance wise it's about the same as my XOP. Just took more work to silence it.

[elk yinzer]

The X stand Xpedition is a good stand for fairly cheap. Performance wise it's about the same as my XOP. Just took more work to silence it.

Yinzer how did u deal with the attachment the straps to the tree

Just replaced to the ratchet with a cambuckle and it works fine. The hanging bracket is pretty neat actually.

[headgear]

If you aren't in a hurry watch craiglist, I picked up a lonewolf hangon for $100 and missed one for $60, there are deals out there if you can be patient. Like you I am picking up some extra stands/sticks for the kids.

[mauser06]

Like was said, watch various classified sites.

I got my alpha and sticks for less than $150 if I remember correctly. It was cheap...so cheap I took the seller a couple jars of trapping bait (knew he was a fellow trapper).

There's a reason most of us use LWs. I once thought my climber was just perfect. I didn't realize what I was missing. You can hear a guy with a climber on his back or setting up from 200yds away. That alone is huge on setting up on bedded bucks. Also never realized how I had to hunt for a tree to climb...never seemed "hard" to find a tree to climb...but now that I have the LW I learned I don't look for trees. I hunt for the exact spot and climb the tree that grew where I need to hunt. 6" thick...limbs..whatever.

[PK_]

Scrap plywood + Spare rope = Free stand

[Rich M]

Save and get what you need, don't try to cheap it. Quality lasts a long time.

[hambone]

Get a set of WE Stepps, a RC harness and make a fleece saddle. A couple of 10' pcs. of 11mm rope with biners and prussik knot or Ropeman 1 and you can go anywhere with a safe, inexpensive and light set up.

[Killemquietly]

The cheapest and most effective set up for Beast style would be a rock harness combined with a homemade sitdrag saddle. (very comfy surprisingly) You can get steel climbing sticks dirt cheap, a little heavier to carry but shouldn't be too bad if you're not having to carry a stand too. Don't skimp on the saftety harness and linemans belt. Your life depends on those...

[Weaver.b]

I mowed yards on the side this summer to buy a brand new lone wolf and sticks and mods. My wife stays home with our 2 kids we are broke haha but you can make it happen if you set your mind to it.