Viper-Flex^® in the press

Rifle Shooter Magazine · August 2022

Viper-Flex Styx PRO on test

Paul Austin tests the all-carbon incarnation of the Styx PRO — slimmed to 850 grams from its predecessor’s 1,050, with tube diameter down to 18 mm without losing the all-important stiffness. The old plastic sleeves have been replaced with rubber, which he calls "a huge improvement": quicker, quieter adjustment and a grippier carry. The sticks stretch to 2.10 m and pack into a weapons case next to the rifle. With the optional extra leg fitted you have, in Austin’s words, "the most stable standing shooting platform on the market" — his go-to for zeroing in the field and extreme long-range shooting. The conclusion: "Many would argue that the best just got better."

Erhverv Danmark (Danish business press) · November 2018

Danish shooting sticks help hunters worldwide

Business profile of the company behind the sticks: Claus Christiansen is a former competition shooter, yet still knew the shaking hands when a big buck stood in the scope. With his friend René Knutzen he developed a four-legged shooting stick for his own use — and a few years later Viper-Flex was a reality. The article follows the growth from DKK 125,000 in first-year revenue (2013) to DKK 2.4 million in 2017, with sales in 17 countries from Europe to Australia and South Africa. The newest models were the first in the world with a handle for single-hand operation. It also tells the story of the Danish version of Dragons’ Den (DR’s "Løvens Hule"), where investors competed to get on board — designer Ilse Jacobsen bought 20% of the company in January 2018. Read the Danish national broadcaster’s coverage of the investment (in Danish).

Press release · 2018

New and improved Viper-Flex^® shooting sticks launched

The press release that launched the Styx generation — Viper-Flex Styx Elite and Styx Journey. It tells the development story: the Elite from 2013, the travel-ready Journey from 2015 with three-piece legs for the suitcase, the fifth leg that supported roughly 85% of all rifle shots, and the Go-Lo accessories for seated shots in the highlands. The new Styx models added the world’s first single-hand operation via a handle (patent pending), a lever that switches for left-hand shooters, variable height fine-tuning for uphill and downhill shots, a wider front rest, new rubber feet and rubber between all components — so the metal-on-metal noise is gone.

Shooting Times UK · April 2014

Choosing the right stalking sticks

Dominic Griffith debates the merits of the market’s shooting aids — bipods, tripods and quadpods — and their strengths for each type of stalking. The Danish-developed quad is singled out for being "re-engineered to a fantastic standard of build quality": internal spring-ball catches instead of external plastic hasps that rattle or break, legs that open only as far as necessary, and a rubberised forward rest allowing controlled lateral movement. Under 1.2 kg. His conclusion: "the most versatile and practical product of its type that I have ever seen" — while using many of its competitors "is like trying to erect scaffolding at the most sensitive moment of the stalk".

Sam Thompson tests five sets of stalking sticks — from home-made garden canes to the most advanced on the market. The Danish-made quad (then sold in the UK as the Hammond Quad Pod) is described as having the most solid adjustment on test, made entirely of aluminium and "feeling like something built to last a lifetime". The wide cradle allows plenty of lateral movement and an easy handhold. In the accuracy test — three-shot groups at 80 metres with a Tikka T3 in 6.5x55 — the quad delivered the tightest group of the test at 30 mm. Thompson’s verdict: it’s the one he reaches for when heading into the woods, "built to last".

The Field UK · April 2014

Quadpod review

Dominic Griffith debates the merits of the market’s shooting aids — bipods, tripods and quadpods — and their strengths for each type of stalking. The Danish-developed quad is singled out for being "re-engineered to a fantastic standard of build quality": internal spring-ball catches instead of external plastic hasps that rattle or break, legs that open only as far as necessary, and a rubberised forward rest allowing controlled lateral movement. Under 1.2 kg. His conclusion: "the most versatile and practical product of its type that I have ever seen" — while using many of its competitors "is like trying to erect scaffolding at the most sensitive moment of the stalk".

Sporting Gun · April 2014

Long-term test by Jon Snowdon

Jon Snowdon’s long-term test after months of daily use in the field. He highlights the strong, light, powder-coated aluminium construction, the rubber lining in both saddles that protects the rifle and gives a firm hold, and the spring-ball fastenings that — unlike the plastic screw-type fittings on most other sticks — do not slide while you try to hold your zero. The full adjustment from standing down to a low kneeling position gets praise, and as a first, the rifle can be moved laterally after game without moving the legs: "No quadpods that I have tried successfully managed to do this before." The verdict: "Light, strong, easy to erect, very stable and well made... these are by far the best. I use mine daily. How did I manage without it?"

Norwegian hunting press · 2017

Norwegian group test of shooting rests

Norwegian group test of the market’s shooting rests — monopods, bipods, tripods and quads. Both Viper-Flex models stood out: the Basic earned the verdict "very steady laterally with support in front of and behind the rifle, stiff and solid legs, huge height range — nothing to pick at". The Journey (990 grams, aluminium and carbon, fits in a suitcase) was crowned "best in test" with a top dice roll of 6 and the words "clear test winner". The tester went on to use it on an African hunt where 36 animals were taken — several of them shots he wouldn’t have had the chance at without it. "An incredibly good and steady shooting rest that raises your marksmanship — recommended in the strongest terms."

Geartester (Germany) · May 2016

Viper Flex Journey — "Viel Geld für viel Produkt"

The German reviewer already knew the classic Viper-Flex but was after sticks for travelling hunts — the classic model was too long and heavy for a suitcase. The Journey settled it: the carbon mid-section splits the sticks down to a 65 cm pack size, and the two-point rifle support allows longer and above all safer shots than sticks of the traditional kind. The same sticks serve standing, kneeling and seated shooting. The price of around 300 euros gets his closing verdict: the confidence at the moment of the shot is worth every bit of it — he puts a clean shot above saved euros. A reader adds in the comments: "jeden Cent wert" — worth every cent.

Geartester (Germany)

Field test of the Viper-Flex Elite Set

The reviewer hunted for years with a Primos Trigger Stick until it failed — and the switch to the Viper-Flex Elite Set proved an eye-opener. The set pairs the four-legged sticks with the extra leg that clicks on and lets the sticks stand on their own. At 1.1 kg and 110 cm pushed together, it rides along in the car on every hunt, and 17 height settings cover hunters from 120 to 200 cm. The quadpod function makes the strongest impression, with both fore-end and stock resting in the supports: the rest is, in the reviewer's words, outstanding and gives enough confidence for long shots. The wide front support lets the rifle follow moving game to either side.

Geartester (Germany)

ViperFlex Carbon Stalking Sticks Styx PRO

Geartester places Viper-Flex firmly in the premium segment: robust, well thought through — and the price has its reason. The Styx PRO is built mainly from carbon, and the wide opening angle allows shooting in most positions, prone and kneeling included. The grip below the front support lets the hunter reposition the deployed sticks with one hand, and with the fifth leg clicked on, the sticks stand on their own and provide an extremely solid rest. The reviewer repeatedly preferred the sticks to the fixed rest in the high seat — and leaves readers one piece of advice: practise the handling before the first stalk.

Best Deer Call (Ireland/UK) · April 2016

Rock Solid — Viper Flex Quad Shooting Sticks

Irish deer stalker Jody Creane describes how buck fever and unstable rests cost him chances for years — until a hunting friend let him try quad sticks on steel targets out to 475 metres. A steel fox dropped at 250 metres with his .308 Blaser sealed it. He chose the carbon Viper-Flex Journey: 990 grams, a 65 cm pack size and build quality he praises detail by detail — welded joints, spring-ball clips as used on crutches, and letter/number markings so the height is found again after disassembly. His conclusion speaks for itself: today he wonders how he ever managed without them.