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Buy or DIY Aiders?

huck72412

huck72412

Well-Known Member
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Nov 27, 2014
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3,406
Im going to be getting some climbing sticks and based on my findings here I'm gonna need aiders to achieve my desired hunting height. Do you folks make them or buy them? Where should I start my search to find what I need?
 
huck72412 said:
Im going to be getting some climbing sticks and based on my findings here I'm gonna need aiders to achieve my desired hunting height. Do you folks make them or buy them? Where should I start my search to find what I need?
Click to expand...

How many steps do you plan on using on them?
 
Black
Diamond are the most recommended.
If you already have a bunch if webbing you can tie loops but it requires experimentation to keep them open.

I recommend buying...I just bought one on eBay and waiting for it to arrive. But I might end up not using it. I don't like to stand higher than 15' anyway but I'm always interested in cutting weight and bulk
 
redsquirrel said:
How many steps do you plan on using on them?
Click to expand...
Red I'm trying to get to 25 ft but wouldn't cry about 20 ft. I'll be using 3 Heliums. I'm 6' 1" . Kenn gave me some direction about how he does it but I'm not sure where to get the things or if I should make them.
 
justsomedude said:
Black
Diamond are the most recommended.
If you already have a bunch if webbing you can tie loops but it requires experimentation to keep them open.

I recommend buying...I just bought one on eBay and waiting for it to arrive. But I might end up not using it. I don't like to stand higher than 15' anyway but I'm always interested in cutting weight and bulk
Click to expand...
Diamond!!!!! Ok that's a good start. What do you do you use to make it not so pliable where you actually step into it? If I were to make them .
 
Last edited:
huck72412 said:
Red I'm trying to get to 25 ft but wouldn't cry about 20 ft. I'll be using 3 Heliums. I'm 6' 1" . Kenn gave me some direction about how he does it but I'm not sure where to get the things or if I should make them.
Click to expand...

I find the one step sisters to be more manageable. I'm using 3 sticks with one step aides and then 2-4 cranford rope steps plus my platform to get additional height. I think it's a good compromise. I wouldn't want to do a whole tree with the rope steps but a few is very easy. It also lets me adapt my height pretty easy.
 
I've built a 3 step with paracord and got rid of it in favor of a commercial 4 step. I am 6'1, use a 4 step aider on the bottom stick, and get to about 25'. With 3 steps and one aider I believe you could reasonably get to 20'. http://www.metoliusclimbing.com/4-step_aider.html


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4 sticks plus platform to 25'


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4 sticks. Bottom stick has a 4 step aider and I get to around 25'. If you use 3 sticks and one of them has an aider I can see you making 18-20' depending on the space you put between sticks. Add an aider to your second stick and I don't think you'd have any issues making 20+. I keep my aider on the bottom because I'm uncoordinated and climbing down in the dark after an all day sit I'd like to limit my potential fall to about 5-6'. I've missed the stirrup before and it's definitely an art


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I am 5'9'' and with 3 heliums I only use two 3 step aiders. I use the CMI ones on the first two sticks and then will use the last stick by itself. I am getting 24 feet with that set-up. The CMI aiders are very well made and stay open with out any issues as of now. They do come in a variety of colors which you will not have a chance to pick out. Its kinda of a random selection. When I ordered them I ordered 4 total and got a red, blue, orange, and purple one. No big deal though I went to the craft store and bought some Ritz black dye to use on the synthetic materials and dyed them black. Some came out dark black and some were a dull black color. It did not affect the stitching and they work flawless.
 
I put 3 step aiders on 3 muddy 20" sticks prior to this season. I had the steps spaced 18" apart to match the muddy steps. I cut oak dowels at about 7" long, rounded the ends and inserted them into the tubular webbing to stiffen up the step when I constructed them. I found that it was too much space for my short legs. I'm 5'7" @ 160#. It was too hard to get my foot in while keeping upright with my linemans belt around tree. They worked fine practicing in the back yard without linemans belt in the daylight, but in the dark fully geared up it was a pain. I went to 16" and it made a big difference. I figured I could get to 20' to the top stick, add 2 cranford steps and platform to get to 24' when extra hight is needed. After 4 sits I have never felt as though I wish I could get higher, and I haven't used the cranfords It takes some patience coming down but I haven't felt it is unsafe. I enjoy the fast set-up, light weight, packability and height I get out of this setup. I carry them in a cabelas pack with a bird bad type pouch on it. Works great. Fastest I have ever got 20+ up a tree with a mobile set-up.


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redsquirrel said:
I find the one step sisters to be more manageable. I'm using 3 sticks with one step aides and then 2-4 cranford rope steps plus my platform to get additional height. I think it's a good compromise. I wouldn't want to do a whole tree with the rope steps but a few is very easy. It also lets me adapt my height pretty easy.
Click to expand...
I would never bring a step sister. Nothing good can come of this.
 
I ran across this diy sportsman guy on youtube a short while back. He's got a few videos on climbing with 1 stick, climbing with no sticks, and stuff on aiders. One thing he did was to stuff a chunk of rope inside his webbing at the step locations so the loops stay open until you put your foot in.

No, I have not made them yet. I was finally able to pick up my Muddys today (not really impressed with them so far), might get a chance to start playing around on Friday or Saturday. Here's some links:

http://diy-sportsman.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrWvet_L5H1_AV3kATmydnQ
 
junkpile said:
I ran across this diy sportsman guy on youtube a short while back. He's got a few videos on climbing with 1 stick, climbing with no sticks, and stuff on aiders. One thing he did was to stuff a chunk of rope inside his webbing at the step locations so the loops stay open until you put your foot in.

No, I have not made them yet. I was finally able to pick up my Muddys today (not really impressed with them so far), might get a chance to start playing around on Friday or Saturday. Here's some links:

http://diy-sportsman.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrWvet_L5H1_AV3kATmydnQ
Click to expand...
He is on this forum @bowhunter15
 
Keep in mind some of us are more acrobatic than others. Ive missed the aider when I had the 5 step one on the bottom of my LW stick. I panicked and basically did a hap hazard jump to the ground. It was dark and what a pain to find each step when they are dark. Climbing up is easier, but its easy to have your toe slip off the tree, or have the aider end up too close to the tree so getting your foot in the next step fully is impossible. You only need to get scared one time to know what works for you.
Also as mentioned above, big difference between leaning back and reaching a high step and being hooked via lineman belt and reaching a step. 1" military hollow strap with water knots is simple and effective. You can make a single step or inline ladder style. Home depot has the small water pipe that works well to keep the aider open. Dave has a vid on Youtube showing it, that's where I saw it.
 
Thanks for all the ideas fellas! Lots of help. Looks like I'll buy some and put them on my bottom stick. A little apprehensive about using the higher up the tree until I get used to finding them with my feet in the dark. And I didn't think about them getting close to the tree and having to essentially step into it with just the toe of my boot.:fearful:
 
huck72412 said:
Thanks for all the ideas fellas! Lots of help. Looks like I'll buy some and put them on my bottom stick. A little apprehensive about using the higher up the tree until I get used to finding them with my feet in the dark. And I didn't think about them getting close to the tree and having to essentially step into it with just the toe of my boot.:fearful:
Click to expand...

I find that I have to toe hook, kick out to the side, then slide my boot into the loop. Bring the foot back to the tree to support my weight, loop with my next toe, and repeat.



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