Trophyline HyperLite climbing poles in test: ultra-light or ultra-hype?

I’ve hunted with all sorts of climbing poles, from the cheap $30 models to premium offerings from innovative brands. After nearly 20 years of experimenting and doing side-by-side comparisons, I’ve developed an appreciation for the latter.

One of the latest lightweight solutions for mobile hunters, the Trophyline Hyperlite uses a new material called Magnite. It also has the easiest attachment method I’ve ever used. I tested this new climbing pole to see if it lives up to expectations. Here’s my opinion.

• Weight (four sticks): 4 pounds 4.3 ounces (weighed)
• Weight of each stick:
  • Stick 1: 1 pound 1.8 ounces
  • Stick 2: 1 pound 1.7 ounces
  • Stick 3: 1 pound 1.8 ounces
  • Stick 4: 1 pound 1.7 ounces
• Made from Magnite magnesium alloy
• Length: 16 inches from step to step
• Packed dimensions: 18 inches long, 6 inches high and 9 inches wide
• Attachment method: 72 inch AmSteel rope with Prusik knot
• Made in the USA
• Price: $450 for four sticks

Magnites

Magnite is a proprietary magnesium alloy that Trophyline says is 33 percent lighter, 22 percent stronger and three times more vibration-damping than aluminum.

Weight comparison

The Hyperlite rackets are some of the lightest rackets on the market, weighing around 1 pound 2 ounces. Here are some of the other comparable rackets and their weights:

Attachment

Instead of an X-wrap or a complex knot, the Hyperlites are attached to the tree and tightened with a Prusik rope. This simplifies the process a lot, as all you have to do is put a loop over a cleat and tighten the Prusik rope.

Testing the Trophyline Hyperlite

After unboxing my Hyperlite climbing poles, I wasted no time setting them up. I tested the poles on tree species common throughout the whitetail deer’s range, including maple, oak, and walnut. The test focused on the most important factors bowhunters consider when spending their hard-earned money. Weight and size, stackability, attachment method, material, noise, and climbing comfort were all considered throughout the testing process.

My first impression was how compact the poles stack. Unlike other poles that overlap when stacked together, the HyperLite uses a FlatStack design that matches the length and width profile of a single pole. This means that the overall length does not increase as you continue to stack your poles. When stacked together, the HyperLites are just 18 inches long, 6 inches tall, and 9 inches wide. My set of four HyperLites weigh just 4 pounds 4.3 ounces, making it an ideal option for hunters who value weight.

The HyperLites are made from Magnite, an entirely new material for climbing poles. It’s similar to the material used in the Bowtech Honor, and the same properties that make it a great material for bow crampons make it ideal for climbing poles: it has a high strength-to-weight ratio and dampens vibration better than carbon or aluminum. While any metal-on-metal contact still creates an audible noise that will spook nearby deer, Magnite doesn’t create as much “ding” as an aluminum climbing pole.

In my testing, they were easy to switch without making any noise as the only contact point is on the back of the spacer. I would recommend applying a small strip of hockey tape or Stealth Strips to the contact points to avoid any unwanted noise.

The HyperLites are strong and rigid and didn’t bend while climbing. The attachment method in particular is the best of any pole I’ve tested. The Hyperlite climbing poles use an AmSteel rope with a Prusik knot to strap them tightly to the tree. This friction knot is commonly used on line ropes and saddle belays, but this is the first time I’ve seen one used to attach poles. Compared to other AmSteel attachments that require knots or special wraps to belay, it’s very quick and easy to use. Another benefit is that you can use the Prusik as a weight on the end of the AmSteel rope, making it even easier to throw it around large trees. Once the AmSteel is threaded through the pole, you can simply tighten the Prusik knot. At only 183cm of AmSteel, I would have liked a longer overall length. It is one of the shorter AmSteel ropes compared to other poles on the market, which would make climbing larger trees more difficult.

I found the Hyperlites to be easy to pack. You simply wrap the AmSteel around the top and bottom poles and then use the included bungee cord to tighten the rope around the top pole. This prevents the end from coming loose and keeps the poles neat. And best of all, the AmSteel rope doesn’t affect the stackability of the Hyperlites when packing.

Where Trophyline Hyperlite can offer improvements

The Hyperlite is made entirely of Magnite, and although it is a high-quality metal, it will make noise if you carelessly slot the poles into each other. This is a problem with almost all metal climbing poles, but since the Hyperlite slots tightly together, it is something to be especially careful of.

Apply a thin layer of hockey tape or Stealth Strips to the back of the spacers to eliminate unwanted noise. You don’t need a lot of tape since this is the only point of metal-to-metal contact.

What the Trophyline Hyperlite does best

Of all the Hyperlite’s features, the attachment method is my favorite. A Prusik knot on the AmSteel rope easily attaches to the pole’s integrated QuickHitch tabs, which are essentially wings that extend out the side of the pole. Each wing has a hole in the center so a simple AmSteel loop can be placed over it and tightened with the Prusik knot. I like the attachment method so much that I would buy the AmSteel rope and Prusik knot separately and use them with other poles that have this feature.

Final thoughts

The HyperLite is a great all-around climbing pole that gives mobile hunters the flexibility to hike deep into the terrain without the burden of bulky gear. Once in the tree, it securely attaches to many types of trees using a simple system and packs away into a compact, minimalist package. If you’re looking for a climbing pole that doesn’t skimp on features, the Trophyline Hyperlite is the answer.