An aider is a short rope, webbing, cable or rigid step that hangs below a climbing stick. It gives you an extra step or two, so the same number of sticks gets you higher, or fewer sticks get you to the same height. You don't need one. Many saddle hunters use one anyway because it is the lightest way to add height.
I climb a Hawk Helium 4 pack with a ZIVOXIA aider, and with my full setup I hunt at about 20 to 25 feet. The rest of this page is researched, with sources at the end.
How much height an aider buys
Mobile Deer Hunter ran a simple test with 18 inch spacing between steps:
| Setup | Platform height in their test |
|---|---|
| 3 two-step sticks, no aiders | about 10.5 ft |
| 3 two-step sticks, one-step aider on each | about 14.5 ft |
| 3 three-step sticks, one-step aider on each | about 19.5 ft |
Your numbers will change with stick length, spacing and how tall you are, but the pattern holds: one aider per stick adds roughly one step of height per stick.
Where aiders belong on the stack
The common advice is a multi-step aider on the bottom stick only, and single steps above it.
- Mobile Deer Hunter recommends "not going above a one-step aider on the second, third, or fourth sticks for safety reasons," and says you're better off adding a stick than risking a fall.
- On the Saddlehunter.com forum, several hunters describe the same setup: a multi-step aider on the bottom stick and single or cable aiders above it.
Stay connected from the ground up with a lineman's belt or a lifeline, as the Treestand Manufacturers Association's safety guide recommends for climbing. An aider is a step, not fall protection.
The downside of soft aiders
Rope and webbing aiders are light and quiet, but they move. Mobile Deer Hunter notes that "it can be easy to miss an aider with your foot," and that they "can also kick out from the tree if your weight isn't perfectly balanced in the middle of the step." Coming down in the dark is where hunters complain most. One forum poster says he would not want to climb down in the dark on his aiders and rappels instead.
Aiders compared
| Aider | Type | Weight | Rating | Approx. price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZIVOXIA aider | rope, single step | 1.6 oz | 800 lb (maker) | $11.99 on Amazon | slide buckle fits steps 0.5 to 2 in thick (maker) |
| Arsenal MAXX Step Double | rigid plates on rope, two steps | 13 oz | 300 lb (maker) | $59.00 from Arsenal | 8 x 6.5 in plates, tree teeth, 18 in step to step |
Specs and prices from the makers' pages and the Amazon listing, checked October 10, 2026. Ratings are maker claims.
What you give up going cheap: a soft step that can swing or fold. What you give up going rigid: more weight and bulk, and Arsenal's own review summary notes some shorter hunters find the 18 inch spacing too tall.
Do you need one?
- Skip it if your sticks already get you high enough and you'd rather have solid steps the whole way.
- Add one if you want to carry fewer sticks or gain a few feet without another stick on your pack.
- Practice first. Try it low to the ground in daylight before you climb in the dark.
Other good options
- Built-in stick aiders. Outdoor Life notes Timber Ninja offers an optional aider that retracts into its carbon C1 stick, and an aider that hooks over the front of the aluminum A1. See Outdoor Life's climbing stick review.
- One more stick. Heavier, but every step is solid. Our climbing sticks comparison covers options.
Questions hunters ask
How many aiders should I use? The safety advice above points to one multi-step aider on the bottom stick at most, and single steps elsewhere.
Are rigid aiders more stable? That's the pitch. Arsenal says its tree teeth grip the trunk to cut sway, and its review summary praises the solid feel on the way down.
Do aiders work with any stick? ZIVOXIA says its buckle fits most sticks with steps 0.5 to 2 inches thick. Check your stick's step before you buy.
Sources
- Mobile Deer Hunter, "How Many Climbing Sticks Do I Need for Saddle Hunting?": https://mobiledeerhunter.com/how-many-climbing-sticks-for-saddle-hunting/
- Saddlehunter.com forum, "Aider Advice Needed!": https://saddlehunter.com/community/index.php?threads/aider-advice-needed.47514/
- Arsenal MAXX Step Double Aider product page, checked Oct 10, 2026
- ZIVOXIA aider Amazon listing, checked Oct 10, 2026
- Treestand Manufacturers Association safety guide: https://tmastands.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/English-TSG.pdf
- Outdoor Life, Best Climbing Sticks: https://www.outdoorlife.com/gear/best-climbing-sticks/