The XOP X2's are one of the best "bang for your buck" sticks. They offer the furthest standoff room and feature a nice textured finish to prevent slipping. We wanted to develop a way to ascend and descend the tree with these very popular sticks. We finalized the design over the past couple months. Simply rotate the stick outward, and slide the step into the saddle aid. Once at rest, the sticks will not come out as they need to be rotated to be removed.