The sticking power of friendship: How a bit between friends became a massively successful Instagram account
They’re short. They’re long. They’re thick. They’re thin. They’re covered in mushrooms. They’re gnarled and knotted. They’re bone white and onyx black. One even resembled an anatomically correct heart. But, above all, they’re sticks. At least, as judged by the friends who run the popular Instagram account @officialstickreviews.
After launching in September 2023, the account now has nearly 3 million followers. Social media users from more than 120 countries send in hundreds of video and photo submissions a day, including Hamilton creator Lin Manuel Miranda and record producer Fred Again. The ages of these stick-finders ranges from the very young to seniors. But, everyone joins in on the fun thanks to Boone Hogg and Logan Jugler.
The pair have been friends for over a decade and did not expect the success their venture would have when they were hiking together in southern Utah. At the time, it was a joke. Jugler picked up a stick and started talking about what was cool about it.
“It was kind of, like, a bit at first,” Hogg told The Independent earlier this month. “But, we all kind of understood that, ‘Oh, yeah, this is like a cool stick. We hadn’t really done that since we were kids. So, it just felt kind of nice to do and then it was funny, as well.”
At the end of the trail, they filmed a video of Jugler reviewing that first stick. The habit stuck. They kept making the videos and began to post them. By January of last year, they had 14,000 followers. Since then, the account’s following has skyrocketed. But, it’s also become what the friends describe as a “refreshing” corner of an increasingly tumultuous internet.
That’s partially because of the nature of sticks. They’re free, they’re largely accessible, and they tap into peoples’ imaginations. With a stick, people can hold a wizards’ staff, a Jedi’s light saber, or a knight’s sword.
Although, the Utahans post sticks that maybe aren’t as magnificent, too. Some of them are pretty wonky. One stick shared from a beach in Italy looked “cursed.” The duo say they’re not “trying to make an art gallery.” So, what makes a good stick?
To Hogg and Jugler, it’s all about their aura.
“It all comes down to just people connecting, [and] if the stick has a cool aura or energy. That’s what we like to say is the main thing: the main magic of the stick is the aura,” said Hogg.
They held a “historic” tournament to determine the best of the best last year, and they’re aiming to be more interactive with members of “Stick Nation.” They’re currently working on something called Stick Quests, which call on Stick Nation to find different types of sticks and do puzzles. There will be prizes. They said they were thankful to Stick Nation, and would keep it going as long as they can and the community wants it.
“Hopefully, it just becomes kind of a staple on social media,” Jugler said.
But, don’t confuse them with influencers. They both have separate careers. Nearly two years later, they still feel like experiences on the platform are funny, fun, and unique.
Hogg and Jugler hope to partner with more non-profit organizations in the future. They’ve helped to raise more than $2,000 in relief aid following the devastating wildfires in Southern California.
“We want to push for good and be an outlet for positive impact in the world, outside of just being a social media account that posts videos,” Hogg explained.
