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Are wild edge stepps for real?

B

blakeman

New Member
Joined
Jun 17, 2018
Messages
20
How well do they work?
Are they safe?
How hard are they to use?
Are they better than sticks?
What's the biggest tree you can use them on?
Anything else you can add, please do?
Thanks for any help on these steps
 
Biggest tree goes to length of your length of your rope on the stepp and the length of your lineman lanyard. Also a contributing factor is the size of your foot. I find it more comfortable to have the stepps not in a column going up the tree as it gives more space for a foot. I have a size 14.

I think sticks are a lot easier. However, there are trade offs. The weight is a huge difference when you see how they are used. They do take,some practice. Once they are crammed over they are rock solid. You do need to stretch the rope by cramming them over. Some guys use an aider with them and use only 5-6 stepps to get 20+. I think @BassBoysLLP said he gets 30 ft.

I feel safe using them. One of the guys on here reversed tying the knot and made it simpler.


http://saddlehunter.com/community/index.php?posts/93546/


simplified knot:
 
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Definitely for real and a very viable option for mobile hunting.

Higher learning curve VS sticks for sure, but not bad once you get the hang of it. The hardest thing for me was realizing how tight you need to get your stepp to the tree before trying to cam it over. Still not sure I will run with them for a platform, though.
 
Main benefit of stepps over sticks is packability. No sticks and standoff’s sticking out on your bag snagging stuff. If you are using them on field edges or clean open woods. Sticks a better option because they are easier to set up for a comparable height.
 
blakeman said:
Do they work on any tree? hard, soft, big bark, smooth bark?
Click to expand...

They don’t wrk too well on the really small trees, but not much does... I’m not a huge fan because it is attaching a rope EVERY step up the tree.

There are some good aider options, I can’t remember who all made them. Wild edge has an aider, I think red made an aider, and there is the “Knaider in action” thread that is pretty slick. All three aider types reduce the number of stepps needed.


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I have only tried one tree that was too soft. I still made it work. I committed to giving them a fair chance and used them almost exclusively last year. Using an aider the feet per pound ratio is great and just the compact size and stability are the main reason I will continue to use them. They aren’t as fast as sticks but aren’t as slow as some people like to say. There is a learning curve. But unlike sticks you don’t have to experiment with different methods of carrying them up the tree with you. As far as tree size the standard rope works on anything a standard lone wolf stick will work on.
 
I love the heck out of mine. Definitely a learning curve. Very safe and extremely packable. Most compact option for folks that can't spur or drill. Not really that much slower than sticks once you get the hang of it.

HUGE plus for me is that one bag of eight stepps is my climbing method AND platform. Pretty convenient.
 
They are for real. Have to practice and then practice some more and you'll get fast. I used mine twice and thought it wasn't for me as it took me forever to get them to cam correctly. Then one day I got good. Just takes time.

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I just got eight for this coming season and will be learning to use them this summer. I can't wait, I'm making some kaider's and will try that and the @redsquirrel method once I'm healthy again. I have heard and haven't confirmed that you need to stretch the ropes out before using them on a hunt. I think you just put them all on a tree and leave them for awhile. If someone can confirm that this is a requirement for new WE Stepps that would certainly help.
 
Yes, Andrew at WE has a video saying the ropes should be stretched. Easiest way is to just leave them on the tree.
donnieballgame said:
I just got eight for this coming season and will be learning to use them this summer. I can't wait, I'm making some kaider's and will try that and the @redsquirrel method once I'm healthy again. I have heard and haven't confirmed that you need to stretch the ropes out before using them on a hunt. I think you just put them all on a tree and leave them for awhile. If someone can confirm that this is a requirement for new WE Stepps that would certainly help.
Click to expand...

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
HunterDaddy said:
Yes, Andrew at WE has a video saying the ropes should be stretched. Easiest way is to just leave them on the tree.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Actually, I believe someone asked about leaving them on the tree once and Andrew said, it was better to cam each step over 3 or 4 times instead of leaving them on the tree. The "stretch" is coming from the splice.
 
I order 8 steps last year and then decided to get 2 more steps and another bag to hold 10 steps. I should have just ordered 10 steps and the bag from the beginning I could have saved money. Buying single steps can be expensive.
 
I'm probably one of the few who didn't love them. PUt some serious time in with them and yew, they solid and the pack great, but I just much preferred my lw mini sticks. Maybe it's where I'm hunting in the NE, or my body shape or what, I couldnt tell ya. I've heard nothing but good about them and their quality was awesome. You'd probably love them. I really wanted to love them...I really did...
 
donnieballgame said:
I just got eight for this coming season and will be learning to use them this summer. I can't wait, I'm making some kaider's and will try that and the @redsquirrel method once I'm healthy again. I have heard and haven't confirmed that you need to stretch the ropes out before using them on a hunt. I think you just put them all on a tree and leave them for awhile. If someone can confirm that this is a requirement for new WE Stepps that would certainly help.
Click to expand...
 
I tried them long enough to know I preferred my sticks and sold most of them. They certainly work but weren't for me.

Safety, yes I think they are as safe as any other climbing method, provided you are following proper fall restraint protocols.

I would say harder to use than sticks, especially at first. Once you get the hang of the loop and camming them over, it's certainly not a huge hassle.

I have size 11 feet and didn't feel that getting both feet on one stepp was particularly easy in certain situations.

Tree diameter, both on the low and high end was more restrictive than my sticks.
 
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