Amsteel or rigging rope for climbing sticks ?

[sojourner]

For me, I think the big issue is with the wrap twice method, if any pressure sideways or lack of pressure, it can cause the wraps to become loose and lose the cinch.

I do not see that with lone wolf straps or muddy pro cam cleats. Neither will loosen its grip on the strap/rope if pressure is taken off the stick. If the whoopie sling will act like the lw straps / muddy pro cam cleats, then I will look to use it for my modified heliums.

As a heavier guy, I do not want to be worrying about how I step onto and off sticks at height. At this point in time, and for me, muddy pro cam cleats are #1 and lone wolf straps are #2. I will give the whoopie slings a try after seeing how it is done on the forthcoming video.

 

[kenn1320]

Behind. That amsteel blue is slick and slippery!

Interesting, that's how I'm doing it. You doing the half hitch on opposite side? Also are you using amsteel blue or the cheaper winch line? 1/4" right?

 

[sojourner]

Yes opposite side. Amsteel blue in gray color a 1/4”

 

[Allegheny Tom]

Okay, I self-filmed myself hanging stick with an Amsteel whoopie. Now I just need to figure out how to post it. Is Youtube basically the only way to post vids?

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[Allegheny Tom]

Okay...1st attempt at posting a Youtube video. No wonder I hunt with trad gear...technology confuses me! LOL
I hope this upload works and I hope it helps better explain how I use a whoopie sling on LW sticks.
SAFETY DISCLAIMER>>> This is modified equipment with unproven safety. If you use these modifications and techniques, you do so at your own risk! And understand that climbing trees can lead to injury or death. Make sure you take all safety precautions and proper use of gear. STAY SAFE!

 

[Gumbymedic]

Okay...1st attempt at posting a Youtube video. No wonder I hunt with trad gear...technology confuses me! LOL
I hope this upload works and I hope it helps better explain how I use a whoopie sling on LW sticks.
SAFETY DISCLAIMER>>> This is modified equipment with unproven safety. If you use these modifications and techniques, you do so at your own risk! And understand that climbing trees can lead to injury or death. Make sure you take all safety precautions and proper use of gear. STAY SAFE!

Thanks for the video. After seeing it in action, I still like this better than any other rope mods. I've get a new project and my Helium's get whoopies.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

Thanks for the video. After seeing it in action, I still like this better than any other rope mods. I've get a new project and my Helium's get whoopies.

You are welcome. I hope it made my description easier to understand. And the mod should take a half hour for 3 sticks...this crap is easy.
One thing I noticed after I posted was I inadvertently called the Amstep strap an Amsteel strap. OOPS.

 

[Iowabucksnbass]

Okay...1st attempt at posting a Youtube video. No wonder I hunt with trad gear...technology confuses me! LOL
I hope this upload works and I hope it helps better explain how I use a whoopie sling on LW sticks.
SAFETY DISCLAIMER>>> This is modified equipment with unproven safety. If you use these modifications and techniques, you do so at your own risk! And understand that climbing trees can lead to injury or death. Make sure you take all safety precautions and proper use of gear. STAY SAFE!

Great video!!! Good Job!


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[DaveH]

My original Rapid Rails (early-mid 1990's) came with whoopie slings so I've used this stick attachment method a very long time and am quite comfortable with it. I get no more kickouts using the whoopie sling than I did when using accessory cord and half hitches. Like any other mod, not everyone is going to like it.

 

[kenn1320]

Video looks good Tom, thanks for taking the time. I see now what you mean about pulling it opposite way of what's intuitive. You do leave a lot of slack, guess you just get used to amount of slip down the tree based on bark type to keep spacing consistent? That slack is what's keeping it from being a pain staking 2 hand on the whoopie job.

 

[sojourner]

Okay...1st attempt at posting a Youtube video. No wonder I hunt with trad gear...technology confuses me! LOL
I hope this upload works and I hope it helps better explain how I use a whoopie sling on LW sticks.
SAFETY DISCLAIMER>>> This is modified equipment with unproven safety. If you use these modifications and techniques, you do so at your own risk! And understand that climbing trees can lead to injury or death. Make sure you take all safety precautions and proper use of gear. STAY SAFE!

Thanks for making the video. Definitely makes it easier to understand how you are using the whoopie sling.

Did you make the video in the rain? I hear rain, but you didn’t seem to be getting wet. Just curious.

Again, thanks!

 

[Allegheny Tom]

Video looks good Tom, thanks for taking the time. I see now what you mean about pulling it opposite way of what's intuitive. You do leave a lot of slack, guess you just get used to amount of slip down the tree based on bark type to keep spacing consistent? That slack is what's keeping it from being a pain staking 2 hand on the whoopie job.

I do have to start a few inches higher to allow for the drop when I set the stick. It hasn't been a problem.

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[Allegheny Tom]

Thanks for making the video. Definitely makes it easier to understand how you are using the whoopie sling.

Did you make the video in the rain? I hear rain, but you didn’t seem to be getting wet. Just curious.

Again, thanks!

It wasn't raining. But we did have an ice storm and the ice was melting from the trees.
They had it bad a little North of here. Thousands of customers have no power...could be out for days.

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[Sandor27]

@Allegheny Tom -

The way I do it, the most difficult part is tossing the light, unweighted Amsteel around the tree.

A trick I have learned is to hold the stick like a sword in one hand, put it behind and around the tree, then throw the line over the stick. Use the stick to retrieve the rope. This gives you a lot of extra reach for those trees you cant get your arms around.

 

[Mike Nutto]

So guys we need a video here I think. please no arguing , this happens and guys get mad. My question to begin with was about rope. I think the idea of the whoopie sling will work, its just a matter of practice. I wouldn't just go in the woods in the dark and try these methods. You need to practice this stuff. I think 8mm rope would work , with half hitches , when we start talking amsteel I wouldn't trust it with half hitches with it around a tree. Weight savings is not an issue between 8mm rope and my life.
Now with the whoopie being what it is Id be more app to trust that on a tree , as Ive watched the videos on how to make it and the guys using hammocks use and even small diameter rope to hold themselves up with. So if Allegany Tom can make a video that would be cool! I think getting the idea how to properly use this method would be great.
I climbed trees three times last Saturday with the buckle system , and trust me it was annoying.

 

[Mike Nutto]

Okay...1st attempt at posting a Youtube video. No wonder I hunt with trad gear...technology confuses me! LOL
I hope this upload works and I hope it helps better explain how I use a whoopie sling on LW sticks.
SAFETY DISCLAIMER>>> This is modified equipment with unproven safety. If you use these modifications and techniques, you do so at your own risk! And understand that climbing trees can lead to injury or death. Make sure you take all safety precautions and proper use of gear. STAY SAFE!

Thanks for the video !!!!!!

 

[kenn1320]

So guys we need a video here I think. please no arguing , this happens and guys get mad. My question to begin with was about rope. I think the idea of the whoopie sling will work, its just a matter of practice. I wouldn't just go in the woods in the dark and try these methods. You need to practice this stuff. I think 8mm rope would work , with half hitches , when we start talking amsteel I wouldn't trust it with half hitches with it around a tree. Weight savings is not an issue between 8mm rope and my life.
Now with the whoopie being what it is Id be more app to trust that on a tree , as Ive watched the videos on how to make it and the guys using hammocks use and even small diameter rope to hold themselves up with. So if Allegany Tom can make a video that would be cool! I think getting the idea how to properly use this method would be great.
I climbed trees three times last Saturday with the buckle system , and trust me it was annoying.

What is/was annoying about the buckle? The buckles actually work very well. We go to rope for less weight and to avoid clanking the buckle accidentally. I double wrap my versa button with the amsteel, then a single half hitch.

 

[Mike Nutto]

What is/was annoying about the buckle? The buckles actually work very well. We go to rope for less weight and to avoid clanking the buckle accidentally. I double wrap my versa button with the amsteel, then a single half hitch.

Kenn if the half hitch works that is great! I don't like the buckles because they are cumbersome , they clank , they are a pain to wrap up and I have to put them in my pocket to use them as I go up the tree. No doubt they work and they work well. Im just looking for an easier way to attach these to a tree. Seeing Toms video it makes perfect sense to me to use the whoopie sling now. I also liked his bungee idea at the end to attach the slack line.

 

[hickstick]

I don't understand your question. Please describe in more detail your exact route that you wrap the button. The part I underlined is what really confused me.
We are talking about the button wrap, right? I just want to understand if there is a better way to route the wrap. And just so we are all on the same page, we are talking about 1/4" Amsteel. A different diameter will obviously cinch differently around the button.

FWIW...
I take the rope around the tree, then under the button, then behind the rope (the section that's where the fixed loop splices) and pull tight so it wedges in, then over the button and around the buttoning more time then back to the rope that came around the tree and make half hitches. I believe that is the way I've seen it demonstrated in some vids on this forum, or am I routing the wrong way? We've tried several different routes and that is the one that seems to grab the best for us. Maybe there's a wrap technique I haven't tried????

Yes, that exactly how I do it EXCEPT I go OVER the button, behind the loop, pull tight to lock the loop and tag inside the button, then two half hitches. Been using this method for 4 seasons now, never had any slippage. I'm 215 on a good day.

 

[DaveH]

Nice video, Tom.

I handle the whoopie sling slightly different than Tom shows in his video. I do not extend the whoopie to full size starting out. In fact, I do not want it to fully reach all the way around the tree. Once I've tossed the rope around the tree, I pull on the adjustable loop end, opening the loop to just the right length to get around the tree and over the button. Seldom do I need to pull on the tag end at all. Once you practice this a little, you develop a feel for the process and it works real slick. What you have to keep in mind is that the rope should never be tight around the tree or you'll have trouble removing the stick.

Regarding the whoopie bury, I used a 5.5" bury since I figured that I've eaten way more cheeseburgers than Tom (230ish). I suspect that the longer bury may not have been necessary but it has worked flawlessly.