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First Setup Error Checking

Curtis

Curtis

New Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2016
Messages
12
Location
Virginia
Howdy.
I am about to start ordering things and have zero saddle experience.
So before I do thought I would list my setup game plan here for input / error checking.
General Info: 195 lbs 5'10 Pretty Fit, 34 pants, Bow Only, Came from Climbing Stand.
Saddle: Aero Hunter Evo NEW - 12ft Strap - Size 1
Ascent: Muddy Pro Sticks - 1 Stick adding the Tubular Webbing Stirrups to bottom stick.
Platform: Still working this out but to start my testing will climb to top step then add two or three screw ins. I do need a non screw in solution.
Please comment / advise / as able.
Thanks!
 
You're off to a good start there already. The platform is the biggest issue, and what you've already suggested is workable. Lots of us use ameristeps on a single strap, or various other steps as platform. That one is just gonna take you some time to figure out what you like best.
Carrying all that stuff is the other thing. You might end up with what you've already said, but yOu might tweak that too. Especially carrying all the sticks.
But you're probably starting off ok. You'll need something to hang your bow/quiver/pack/whatever on once you're up there. Mostly it just takes some tinkering. Part of the fun
 
The top step of your stick with 2 strap on steps on a single strap is a really good solution. That's what I use most of the time.
 
If you're going to use screw ins for your platform, pick up 4 or 5 of the cranford ez screw ins and you'll be set. It will only take you a few minutes to put them in. Everything else sounds like a great place to start. You may want to pick up a couple of ropeman 1's for your tether and lineman's belt, using the blake's hitches gets old quick.
http://www.backcountry.com/wild-country ... er-wdc000p
 
Came by to update.
Got my muddy pro sticks and love them - tested yesterday with my muddy safety harness and lineman's belt.
On order: Two ropeman 1s, and I went ahead and got some knee-pads ( https://www.amazon.com/Next-Generation- ... B00PBF0HTS )
currently struggling to find a platform system for the spots that don't allow screw ins.
Was thinking of getting Cranford EZY Climb Folding Rope Step 4 Pack https://www.amazon.com/Cranford-Climb-F ... B0000AVZZ5 and taking off the ropes and lacing in a ratchet strap trough 1 D and around the step then through the other D like the attached terrible Photoshop.
Would on run 4 on one strap and put it basically in line with my top muddy stick since I will stand 99% of the time on muddy and only use these to go around as needed.
What should my concerns be if any.
Ameristep strap on steps are like super rare Pokemon or something.

hqdefault.jpg
 
Curtis said:
Came by to update.
Got my muddy pro sticks and love them - tested yesterday with my muddy safety harness and lineman's belt.
On order: Two ropeman 1s, and I went ahead and got some knee-pads ( https://www.amazon.com/Next-Generation- ... B00PBF0HTS )
currently struggling to find a platform system for the spots that don't allow screw ins.
Was thinking of getting Cranford EZY Climb Folding Rope Step 4 Pack https://www.amazon.com/Cranford-Climb-F ... B0000AVZZ5 and taking off the ropes and lacing in a ratchet strap trough 1 D and around the step then through the other D like the attached terrible Photoshop.
Would on run 4 on one strap and put it basically in line with my top muddy stick since I will stand 99% of the time on muddy and only use these to go around as needed.
What should my concerns be if any.
Ameristep strap on steps are like super rare Pokemon or something.

hqdefault.jpg
Click to expand...

That idea has been tried and doesn't work very good. Some people have had experiences where the hooks on the steps bent from cinching the steps down after running a strap through it.
 
Thanks redsquirrel.
I'll keep brain storming.
I have tools might just try and make something like so many of us get stuck doing.
How someone isn't mass producing a solution is beyond me.
 
Last year I used the top step of my sticks along with 2 Ameristep steps (1 on each side of the tree) on a strap with the boat buckle. This system worked EXTREMELY well and I'll continue to use it. I'm adding climbing spurs into my arsenal this year. With the spurs I'll use a DaveT platform.
 
Reporting back in with my new tribe aero hunter.
Sat about 5 feet off the ground last night for maybe 10 min, mosquitoes killing me so I bailed and I need to figure on some adjustments.
Going to play around some more this afternoon.
Couple of questions
1) I bought 2 Ropeman 1s and hadn't really thought about where to use them. My first though was one on the tree strap to bridge carabiner. Good idea bad idea should I use the second?
2) Any good methods to adjusting - back was working hard and legs felt the straps a lot.
 
Curtis said:
Reporting back in with my new tribe aero hunter.
Sat about 5 feet off the ground last night for maybe 10 min, mosquitoes killing me so I bailed and I need to figure on some adjustments.
Going to play around some more this afternoon.
Couple of questions
1) I bought 2 Ropeman 1s and hadn't really thought about where to use them. My first though was one on the tree strap to bridge carabiner. Good idea bad idea should I use the second?
2) Any good methods to adjusting - back was working hard and legs felt the straps a lot.
Click to expand...

Yes, you should use 1 ropeman on your tree strap where you said, and you can use the other one on your linemans belt so you can adjust the length with 1 hand.

For starters, with your adjustments: Loosen up the leg straps so that they are not putting any pressure on your legs. Slowly adjust them until they are just putting a slight amount of pressure on your legs. I call this "the sweet spot". Some of the other straps you will just have to adjust as you see fit, but that was the most important adjustment I made. When I'm hanging in the saddle I loosen up the waist strap and the smaller strap across the front so that they don't put any pressure on me. Good luck and keep at it.
 
Curtis,
I have 2 extra Ameristeps and an over center buckle/strap that I could sell you. I did the Cranfords before I found my ameristeps. The way you are showing it, they work fine, Some people ran the straps behind which puts all the stress on the hooks. But they are NOT as easy to deal with as Ameristeps.

If you want, I can throw in some Cranfords but they won't fit on the straps I use. I recommend you use your Climbing stick plus 2 steps at least until you can find more. The Ropeman works great on your Linesman's belt as well as the Tree Tether. Shorten your bridge and experiment with setting your tether lower on the tree and see how it feels. Initially most people have their bridge and tether too long and it makes you work to lean forward.
 
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