First impression of climbing with LW Hand Climber

[Cajunyankee]

BINGO DINGO!!!!!

I may have missed this in the thread... are you adding the tubing to help the belt slide up the tree? I have had it catch on the back of the tree a few times and found it difficult to get it to slide up the tree.

 

[TNSTAAFL]

BINGO DINGO!!!!!

Looks good. How long is the tubing? I went with 1 foot but it looks a little small and I wonder if I'll still catch bark where the tubing ends. Yours looks like it would go around the tree more. Can't really confirm until my saddle comes in and I can actually practice.

Also, did you use 1" inside diameter tubing? I did and it went on loosely. Heard others needed to use cordage to pull there's through. Not sure if that matters.

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[pesqimon]

Yeah the hose is to keep the teeth from catcing the bark. I used 1ft to start with and so far it’s working fine.

@Cajunyankee you mean that you have a bungee over the tops of feet and the second one on the heels? That is something i might try if my single bungee across the tops becomes insufficient. So far so good.

 

[REID2168]

I may have missed this in the thread... are you adding the tubing to help the belt slide up the tree? I have had it catch on the back of the tree a few times and found it difficult to get it to slide up the tree.

yes the main purpose of the tube cover is to alleviate the square edge catches of the belt on the bark..…….Good Luck!!!!!!!!!

 

[REID2168]

Looks good. How long is the tubing? I went with 1 foot but it looks a little small and I wonder if I'll still catch bark where the tubing ends. Yours looks like it would go around the tree more. Can't really confirm until my saddle comes in and I can actually practice.

Also, did you use 1" inside diameter tubing? I did and it went on loosely. Heard others needed to use cordage to pull there's through. Not sure if that matters.

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yes i used 1" tubing & mines 24" so I can close the belt down to my tightest tree setting ill climb and have full tube coverage of the belt...……...the rest of the time on bigger trees it will cover as much as possible setting it up this way originally...……..Good Luck!!!!!

 

[bongo]

Just tried a black rubber heater hose on mine. I was not happy took it off Hunting pine trees might be better on cabbage palms. Just me some other trees might be better.


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[Cajunyankee]

Has anyone tried flipping the platform arms so the smooth side of the belt goes against the tree?

 

[REID2168]

Just tried a black rubber heater hose on mine. I was not happy took it off Hunting pine trees might be better on cabbage palms. Just me some other trees might be better.


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rubber heater hose also has a grabby surface whereas the reinforced clear stuff I used has a slick surface and the colder it gets the better it should work and more rigidity to help the belt ...…..I originally thought about black rubber tubing of the same BUT then knew better in the long run IMO to get the best result......Good Luck!!!!!

 

[Cajunyankee]

Yeah the hose is to keep the teeth from catcing the bark. I used 1ft to start with and so far it’s working fine.

@Cajunyankee you mean that you have a bungee over the tops of feet and the second one on the heels? That is something i might try if my single bungee across the tops becomes insufficient. So far so good.

Not exactly. I have the gear ties made into foot sturrups. I will get a picture and post it.

 

[REID2168]

Has anyone tried flipping the platform arms so the smooth side of the belt goes against the tree?

your still gonna have a square edged belt exposed to the bark regardless of the way the teeth are directed ILO a round surface with the tubing applied to as much as your comfortable with...……...IMO its the tubing .....Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Cajunyankee]

That’s t

your still gonna have a square edged belt exposed to the bark regardless of the way the teeth are directed ILO a round surface with the tubing applied to as much as your comfortable with...……...IMO its the tubing .....Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!

Good point.

 

[Cajunyankee]

Not exactly. I have the gear ties made into foot sturrups. I will get a picture and post it.

 

[pesqimon]

Ohh I like that!

 

[TNSTAAFL]

View attachment 5586

That's pretty sweet! Thanks for sharing the pic.

I must admit I have no experience with gear ties. I assume they stay rigid for easy on and out with foot. If so, do you find them out of the way at hunting height?

Also, I think you mentioned these in the context of going around branches. Can you elaborate on your process for this. I think I can see it conceptually, but struggling without a saddle top experiment with. Would love to not be limited to telephone pole trees.

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[Cajunyankee]

That's pretty sweet! Thanks for sharing the pic.

I must admit I have no experience with gear ties. I assume they stay rigid for easy on and out with foot. If so, do you find them out of the way at hunting height?

Also, I think you mentioned these in the context of going around branches. Can you elaborate on your process for this. I think I can see it conceptually, but struggling without a saddle top experiment with. Would love to not be limited to telephone pole trees.

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I just step on the gear ties, smash them down when hunting and then reach down and pull them up to start going down the tree.

I am still playing around with my process for going around limbs. The easiest seems to be to lengthen my tether and use my foot to push away from the tree this allows me to pick up the platform and move it above a limb. Once the platform is above the limb, I put my foot against the front edge of the platform and pull myself up by grabbing the carabiner on my tether.

I have also used a multi step aider attached to a secondary lineman rope that is girth hitched above the limb. I like this for going around a limb in the way back down the tree. It is easier to get my feet into the aider on the way down.

 

[bongo]

I just step on the gear ties, smash them down when hunting and then reach down and pull them up to start going down the tree.

I am still playing around with my process for going around limbs. The easiest seems to be to lengthen my tether and use my foot to push away from the tree this allows me to pick up the platform and move it above a limb. Once the platform is above the limb, I put my foot against the front edge of the platform and pull myself up by grabbing the carabiner on my tether.

I have also used a multi step aider attached to a secondary lineman rope that is girth hitched above the limb. I like this for going around a limb in the way back down the tree. It is easier to get my feet into the aider on the way down.

Pretty cool thanks for the post.


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[TNSTAAFL]

I just step on the gear ties, smash them down when hunting and then reach down and pull them up to start going down the tree.

I am still playing around with my process for going around limbs. The easiest seems to be to lengthen my tether and use my foot to push away from the tree this allows me to pick up the platform and move it above a limb. Once the platform is above the limb, I put my foot against the front edge of the platform and pull myself up by grabbing the carabiner on my tether.

I have also used a multi step aider attached to a secondary lineman rope that is girth hitched above the limb. I like this for going around a limb in the way back down the tree. It is easier to get my feet into the aider on the way down.

Cool. Thanks for sharing that.

I wonder if the Knaider/Swaider approach would work with the LWHC when going around branches?

I'm picturing the platform getting moved up to around hip height once above the branch (while you are hanging from tether in saddle). Then hook Swaider to front edge of platform, step up to hook Knaider and then step onto platform.

Again, all conceptual until that saddle comes in and I can experiment.

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[Bert Sullivan]

I use a twelve foot tether while climbing with XOPHC and add a foot loop on a prussic below my rock harness attachment point. When I have to step off the XOPHC, I put one foot in the loop. It allows me to drop down enough to adjust the belt on the hand climber and step back up onto the platform. Same principle will work on limbs and knots. I have to adjust for tree taper several times on way up and down many of the trees I hunt from, being able to leave the platform is the best way to fix the problem. Most frustrating situation is to hang the strap under a bark plate in the dark and can not see the situation, then you have to leave the platform and feel for the problem fix it and then climb back on the platform.

 

[bongo]

I use a twelve foot tether while climbing with XOPHC and add a foot loop on a prussic below my rock harness attachment point. When I have to step off the XOPHC, I put one foot in the loop. It allows me to drop down enough to adjust the belt on the hand climber and step back up onto the platform. Same principle will work on limbs and knots. I have to adjust for tree taper several times on way up and down many of the trees I hunt from, being able to leave the platform is the best way to fix the problem. Most frustrating situation is to hang the strap under a bark plate in the dark and can not see the situation, then you have to leave the platform and feel for the problem fix it and then climb back on the platform.

That’s a really good idea. Thanks for sharing.


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[Cajunyankee]

@bongo i really got the inspiration to try this method after seeing your video. I had read the threads and figured it would be a great system to try, but stayed on the fence until I saw your video.