Beta for building a stick clip (budget friendly)

I’ve decided I need to graduate from using sticks and tape to buying an actual stick clip. I want something compact that I could clip to my harness. Anyone got brands of sticks and brands of attachments that they really enjoy? Bonus points if it’s cheap.

a $25 super clip is the best clip i've tried. you can put it on the cheapest collapsable mop handle you can find at walmart.  when you want something longer, you can hunt for a painters pole at goodwill.

If you want it light enough to climb with, you need the kailas or beta sticks 

More $ than diy though

As Mat said its hard to find telescoping poles that are light and small enough for climbing while also extending a good amount. I made a mini stick clip out of a telescoping fork and an alligator clamp (I found the fork in the camping section at a sporting goods store) but it only extends about 4ft so its only useful for cheating up well bolted sport climbs. I have also seen compact stick clips made out of old tent poles. In general the big painters poles are the DIY clip stick of choice though.

Superclip attached to an avalanche probe works pretty well if you have one laying around.

Super clip fitted on a 3 section vileda mop handle. 

budget breakdown...

The Kailas clip is $50 shipped from their website (15% off code is on their site, free shipping over $50), using a superclip style head. 

So for $25 more than the superclip head only, you get the lightweight aluminum pole - 10-12oz* ish total, from what I recall. If you have to purchase a pole for the superclip, how much are you really saving?
(their newest version uses a thicker pole, so it is sturdier and probably 2oz more than the one I have)

Re: telescoping poles - search for golf ball retrievers.

Andrew Childwrote:

As Mat said its hard to find telescoping poles that are light and small enough for climbing while also extending a good amount. I made a mini stick clip out of a telescoping fork and an alligator clamp (I found the fork in the camping section at a sporting goods store) but it only extends about 4ft so its only useful for cheating up well bolted sport climbs. I have also seen compact stick clips made out of old tent poles. In general the big painters poles are the DIY clip stick of choice though.

Not to derail the thread, but what on Earth is someone using a 4ft telescoping fork for?!

I bought a 8’-24’ pole this year and I strongly recommend getting it to slick clip chains and top rope the world. 

$10 + $25 = buy the Kailas one for $15 more - I guarantee the design will work much better at extension than a golf ball retriever. 

If you already own the superclip, go for it. 

I have an 8 ft painters pole with a a super clip that I’ll sell for $15. Budget AF. Local pickup in SLC only. 

Bryanwrote:

I bought a 8’-24’ pole this year and I strongly recommend getting it to slick clip chains and top rope the world. 

that might even reach the first bolt on Barbecue the Pope!

Budget way is spring clip hose clamp or duct tape and whatever pole you can scrounge. For a few more bucks the super clip and an extendable pole is much much nicer. 

I used the kailas one a few years ago, so I don’t know if they’ve improved the design since, but it wobbled all over and felt very janky and didn’t seem like it would last. Was light and small so maybe good for traveling or clipping all the way up a closely bolted route or something, but if you are just looking to clip the first draw or two I would go super clip/painters pole all day.

How long are people's poles? (haha) 

I got a superclip thinking I could use the painters pole I already had, but it's pretty short and I'm looking to buy a new one to use just for climbing. 

Creed Archibaldwrote:

I have an 8 ft painters pole with a a super clip that I’ll sell for $15. Budget AF. Local pickup in SLC only. 

Wish I was in SLC!

Why climb with a stick clip to begin with?