Frequently asked questions
>> Small Stick Plus
Can I clip up using the Small Stick Plus without a quickdraw?
Yes! Absolutely!! That’s one of the key benefits of the Plus – you can bunny ears your heart out, no quickdraw required. And just in case you’re reading this and wondering how and when that’d be useful: when climbing anything with draws already on it, whether they’re permanently there or somebody left their personal ones up.
Does the Small Stick Plus replace my existing stick clip?
Kind of… The Small Stick Plus is designed to bridge the gap somewhat between the OG Small Stick and a regular-sized stick clip. That being said, it is still relatively short for a stick clip (of course, or it wouldn’t be a Small Stick). If you’re climbing somewhere with high first bolts, you’ll probably need a big stick clip too. But if the bolting at your crag is friendly, and the first bolts aren’t super high, you could well get away with just a Small Stick Plus – and your bag would be extra light that way, too.
Why is the Small Stick Plus more expensive than the original?
Simply because it costs more to produce: with added size and functionality comes added expense. But, on the flipside, we have dropped the price of the Original Small Stick – our costs have come down with the increased volume we’ve been able to manufacture at, so it was only fair that our prices decreased too.
Can I upgrade my Original Small Stick to a Small Stick Plus?
Yes… soon. We’re currently in the process of making an adapter that’ll allow the OG Small Stick head to go on the new Small Stick Plus pole (which will be sold separately). But as of right now, it doesn’t exist yet. We’ll get the adapter + pole combo live on the site as soon as the adapters are ready!
Will you sell replacement poles?
We sure will. All telescoping poles eventually fail, which is why we designed the head of the Small Stick to be removable. And if you have the most recent version, you don’t even need any tools: it comes off with a simple thumbscrew. So if your pole wears out, you can order a new one (which will be much cheaper than buying a whole new Small Stick + better for the environment) and simply switch your existing head out onto the new pole.
>> Original Small Stick
Can I clip up using the original Small Stick without a quickdraw?
Technically, you can – and we have in a pinch – but it’s not recommended. Clipping up that way puts a lot of force on the pole, which is super small and ultra-lightweight (by design). But you can always add another quickdraw to an existing draw, allowing you to clip up no matter what: that’s what we do when climbing perma-drawed routes.
If being able to clip up without a draw is important to you, consider the Small Stick Plus instead – that’s exactly what it’s built for!
Does the Original Small Stick replace my existing stick clip?
Unless your stick clip is also small and mighty, no. The OG Small Stick isn’t designed for the role of a regular stick clip – that is, stick clipping high first bolts. It’s a totally new tool that’s an addition to your sport climbing kit, not a replacement for something already in there. Why? The OG Small Stick is just… not that big! Intentionally: that’s what makes it so great for its intended purpose as a mid-route stick clip.
What if the pole breaks?
Good question, you. Good question. If you’re engineering-minded, you might look at the OG Small Stick and marvel at its cool, sturdy aluminum head, but simultaneously wonder how strong the pole it’s attached to is. In short: yes, the pole will eventually break.
But we designed the head of the Small Stick to be removable – older versions have a small Philips head screw, and newer versions come off with a thumbscrew (no tools required). So you can replace the pole and let the head of your Small Stick live on! We’ll be selling replacement poles at a fraction of the price of the full Small Stick to accommodate this.
And we’d like to think of it as a net positive: the life span of your Small Stick will be long – especially compared to other stick clips with permanently attached heads, which are useless once the pole dies (and all telescoping poles do die).
Plus, the Small Stick comes with a one-year warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee. So if the pole breaks in the first year, we'll send you a new one free of charge. And if you get a Small Stick and hate it, well… that would be sad – but you can absolutely get a full refund.
Why did you lower the price?
In short, volume. Now that the Small Stick is an actual bona fide product, we’ve been able to scale up production – and that, in turn, lowers our costs. What we’re trying to do here is make something good at the best price possible. So if we get to spend less, we’ll pass that on so you can spend less too.
To all the people who purchased a Small Stick at the higher price: thank you. We hope you understand that if we could have set out at the lower price to begin with, we would have!
>> All Small Sticks
How do I choose which Small Stick to get?
The Original Small Stick is smaller, lighter, and more optimized for wearing on your harness without even noticing that it’s there. But when extended, it’s shorter (giving you less reach). Plus, you can’t clip up without a quickdraw. And it sits at a cheaper price point: $79.99.
The Small Stick Plus is bigger, heavier, and a bit more noticeable on your harness. But trust us, it’s still MUCH smaller and lighter than the other options (Trango Beta Stick we’re looking at you) – and plenty small and light enough to take whips with (we’ve taken a lot). When extended, it’s 10 inches longer than the OG, and you can clip up without using a quickdraw. It’s also big enough to double as a regular stick clip, if you’re climbing at crags without super high first bolts. And with its extra mass, the Small Stick Plus will likely last longer. With all that, it is a little more expensive than the OG: $99.99.
If you want a super-optimized mid-route stick clip for projecting, get the Original Small Stick.
If you want a mid-route stick clip that has greater reach and more features, get the Small Stick Plus.
Is the Small Stick’s attachment strap adjustable?
You bet! You can adjust where the aluminium collar that attaches the strap to the pole is positioned and which direction the cord goes (up or down). Plus, you can tie a new knot at any point to make the strap shorter or longer – everybody’s different, so we wanted you to get to choose what works best for you.
Fair warning: more than one person has sat on their Small Stick with the head facing down, so we recommend that you use it head-up. And that’s the default position it'll come in, too.