3. Eastern Woods Outdoors - Ultimate Lower Step

[Brian in TN]

I am brand new to the forum and haven't purchased the first piece of saddle hunting equipment yet. My goal is to be ready to one-stick and saddle hunt this fall. I've been watching tons of videos and am about to make some purchases. Eastern Woods Outdoors markets an "Ultimate Lower Step" for its one stick that positions the aider farther from the tree. However, it adds weight. For those of you who climb with aiders, would you find it beneficial if your aider was farther from the tree? My foot is size 10 so not sure it would help me as much as others with longer feet. Thanks!

 

[Bigterp]

I am brand new to the forum and haven't purchased the first piece of saddle hunting equipment yet. My goal is to be ready to one-stick and saddle hunt this fall. I've been watching tons of videos and am about to make some purchases. Eastern Woods Outdoors markets an "Ultimate Lower Step" for its one stick that positions the aider farther from the tree. However, it adds weight. For those of you who climb with aiders, would you find it beneficial if your aider was farther from the tree? My foot is size 10 so not sure it would help me as much as others with longer feet. Thanks!

You have time see if someone is close & try it out. One sticking first season in a saddle is a lot of moving parts. How are you climbing now?? I’m not saying it’s not doable, but a simpler approach to get real comfortable with your saddle & then tinker with climbing methods. To answer your initial question the stock ewo step is fine with aiders & I have size 15s I like to keep my toe right against the tree anyway……

 

[Brian in TN]

Thank you @Bigterp. I use a ladder stand or my Summit Viper climbing stand now. A friend gave me a 20' stick ladder that I plan to assemble on a tree behind my house. I will then buy a saddle, lineman's belt and tether and just practice climbing the ladder using the belt and practice hanging in the saddle (starting a low heights and working my way up). After I get comfortable with that I plan to practice rappelling down. Then I'll try the one-stick. I will be looking for an opportunity to meet with some experienced saddle hunters and there are a few near me. It might be better if I've done a little work on my own first, though. I am retired so I can devote more time to practice. If the one stick method doesn't work out I can just pick up a set of sticks and climb that way. I like the option to go higher with the one-stick method so would love to be able to master that technique. It is a lot to learn for sure.

Back to the original question, if you're okay with a size 15 shoe then I should be fine without the lower platform. I'll bet I can add it later if needed. Thanks again!

 

[Still Kicking]

Welcome from Central Illinois!

 

[Bigterp]

Thank you @Bigterp. I use a ladder stand or my Summit Viper climbing stand now. A friend gave me a 20' stick ladder that I plan to assemble on a tree behind my house. I will then buy a saddle, lineman's belt and tether and just practice climbing the ladder using the belt and practice hanging in the saddle (starting a low heights and working my way up). After I get comfortable with that I plan to practice rappelling down. Then I'll try the one-stick. I will be looking for an opportunity to meet with some experienced saddle hunters and there are a few near me. It might be better if I've done a little work on my own first, though. I am retired so I can devote more time to practice. If the one stick method doesn't work out I can just pick up a set of sticks and climb that way. I like the option to go higher with the one-stick method so would love to be able to master that technique. It is a lot to learn for sure.

Back to the original question, if you're okay with a size 15 shoe then I should be fine without the lower platform. I'll bet I can add it later if needed. Thanks again!

Yeah I tried out 4 different top platform options & settled on a full ewo stick about 18” long ( really stable) & a flat ooal monarch on top. Great setup…….

 

[Jammintree]

Welcome to forum!

Remember safety comes first.

Keep the slack out of that tether!

 

[Brian in TN]

Another helpful answer from @Bigterp! So you find an 18" stick to be more stable than a shorter stick. I can see that being the case. I watched a Staggs in the Wild video where he liked a 12" stick and I have seen others using a 12". It seems to me you would be giving up a little climbing distance on each move with a shorter stick, but it may be that with longer aiders and a 12" stick you are at the limit of your reach anyway.

Also, I see you are using a flat platform. I'm strongly considering a Tethyrd Ultralock saddle that is supposed to be really comfortable in which case I might sit more than lean. It flat better for sitting? Thanks!

 

[Brian in TN]

Welcome to forum!

Remember safety comes first.

Keep the slack out of that tether!

Amen. I've seen many videos where tethers get a lot slack when folks are one sticking. I will likely use my lineman's belt to try to limit the potential for a long fall before the tether catches me. I haven't one sticked yet so I don't know exactly how I will manage this but it is one of my biggest concerns. I have seen folks use the lineman's belt with the tether though, so I will figure it out. Thanks

 

[CharlieTN]

Amen. I've seen many videos where tethers get a lot slack when folks are one sticking. I will likely use my lineman's belt to try to limit the potential for a long fall before the tether catches me. I haven't one sticked yet so I don't know exactly how I will manage this but it is one of my biggest concerns. I have seen folks use the lineman's belt with the tether though, so I will figure it out. Thanks

What you’re seeing is guys who are more focused on how fast they can climb and how many feet they can get up in each move. Move the tether up with each step up and you will reduce the slack down to simply how high you’re single step is. That’s a very minimal drop if you were to slip or something happen. DO NOT do like I see so many and climb all the way up to the top of the platform before moving their tether which is now down at their ankles. That would make for a very painful and dangerous drop.

Adding a lineaman’s while you climb may not necessarily reduce how much you drop, moving the tether will.

 

[DroptineKrazy]

Welcome to the forum from coastal Maine. Just take things slow and spend a lot of time at 3ft until you get the hang of things. Check out our saddlehunters member's map. I'm sure there are some guys on here that are close enough so that you can try out some gear. The art of saddle hunting has really gained a lot in popularity in the last few years so I'm sure some guys are close to you. Most everyone on here is super helpful and will be willing to help you out.

 

[Bigterp]

Another helpful answer from @Bigterp! So you find an 18" stick to be more stable than a shorter stick. I can see that being the case. I watched a Staggs in the Wild video where he liked a 12" stick and I have seen others using a 12". It seems to me you would be giving up a little climbing distance on each move with a shorter stick, but it may be that with longer aiders and a 12" stick you are at the limit of your reach anyway.

Also, I see you are using a flat platform. I'm strongly considering a Tethyrd Ultralock saddle that is supposed to be really comfortable in which case I might sit more than lean. It flat better for sitting? Thanks!

Differing opinions, but my experience was the short stick with big top platform was easier to make kick out ( still rare & tree dependent) but the extra 6” in stick weight was negligible for the security it gave. Two things you didn’t ask but I’ll vote anyway……
I’d climb with a LB so you can get comfortable with the wider, I know a lot don’t but that geometry puts your feet against the tree & centers you ( especially if your new to aiders) & like mentioned above don’t worry about how much distance you cover with each move. Quiet & slow is the key, you’ll speed up with practice. The extra move or two won’t matter in the long run & you have to climb to cover anyway so no perfect science there.
If I was buying a new saddle it would be a tx5 or CruzR ( my 2 cents) , as for sitting vs. leaning you have no way to know what you like until you get a bunch of hours on stand.

 

[Brian in TN]

Welcome to the forum from coastal Maine. Just take things slow and spend a lot of time at 3ft until you get the hang of things. Check out our saddlehunters member's map. I'm sure there are some guys on here that are close enough so that you can try out some gear. The art of saddle hunting has really gained a lot in popularity in the last few years so I'm sure some guys are close to you. Most everyone on here is super helpful and will be willing to help you out.

Thank you! I plan to practice at low height for sure. I have checked the map and there are three saddle hunters within 25 miles of me so I will reach out soon.

 

[Brian in TN]

Differing opinions, but my experience was the short stick with big top platform was easier to make kick out ( still rare & tree dependent) but the extra 6” in stick weight was negligible for the security it gave. Two things you didn’t ask but I’ll vote anyway……
I’d climb with a LB so you can get comfortable with the wider, I know a lot don’t but that geometry puts your feet against the tree & centers you ( especially if your new to aiders) & like mentioned above don’t worry about how much distance you cover with each move. Quiet & slow is the key, you’ll speed up with practice. The extra move or two won’t matter in the long run & you have to climb to cover anyway so no perfect science there.
If I was buying a new saddle it would be a tx5 or CruzR ( my 2 cents) , as for sitting vs. leaning you have no way to know what you like until you get a bunch of hours on stand.

Thanks for the extra 2 cents! Ha! I appreciate all opinions at this stage.

 

[Brian in TN]

What you’re seeing is guys who are more focused on how fast they can climb and how many feet they can get up in each move. Move the tether up with each step up and you will reduce the slack down to simply how high you’re single step is. That’s a very minimal drop if you were to slip or something happen. DO NOT do like I see so many and climb all the way up to the top of the platform before moving their tether which is now down at their ankles. That would make for a very painful and dangerous drop.

Adding a lineaman’s while you climb may not necessarily reduce how much you drop, moving the tether will.

Thank you. Moving the tether is something I was thinking about as well and your response gives me confidence to know that at least one person is successfully climbing that way. You all are really helpful.

 

[BTaylor]

What part of TN you in?

 

[Brian in TN]

What part of TN you in?

Kingsport. I'm 90 miles east of Knoxville and an hour and 15 min north of Asheville, NC.

 

[Alec]

Amen. I've seen many videos where tethers get a lot slack when folks are one sticking. I will likely use my lineman's belt to try to limit the potential for a long fall before the tether catches me. I haven't one sticked yet so I don't know exactly how I will manage this but it is one of my biggest concerns. I have seen folks use the lineman's belt with the tether though, so I will figure it out. Thanks

I’m probably in the minority, but I can’t imagine one-stick climbing without a lineman’s belt anymore. It feels much safer, plus it’s so easy and natural to lean back a bit to keep the lineman’s belt taut as you step up the aiders/stick. Even with the lineman’s belt, I’ll advance my tether with each step, which is made easy with two small loops of paracord on either side of my girth hitch.