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Kestrel Buckles

Hillclimber

Hillclimber

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2018
Messages
464
Location
WV
Is there anybody replacing the metal buckles on the kestrel with lighter, less noisy plastic ones?
 
I sewed up a few of these from neoprene. I got the idea from here, from Erniepower I believe

4a4f6ff0bd278af696d97bbc83348b35.jpg



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I tried not to give him a hard time sounded like he had a lot on his plate. Just didn’t want anyone to find that old thread & send money.
 
Well my 1st set of ameristeps was from a member. They were mostly the recall steps....
It was in the early years of saddlehunter.com and I gave the benefit of the doubt that he just didn’t know any better. I didn’t know any better until I asked if the step should flex. Then we got to the bottom of it and @redsquirrel researched and posted the recall id numbers. It was a good education for all of us. Chalked it up as a learning experience.
 
Yikes. That sucks. He was all good when he first posted that. End of day it’s just some neoprene sewn together. I just didn’t have a sewing machine.


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Hillclimber said:
Is there anybody replacing the metal buckles on the kestrel with lighter, less noisy plastic ones?
Click to expand...
Hillclimber said:
Is there anybody replacing the metal buckles on the kestrel with lighter, less noisy plastic ones?
Click to expand...
I cut off the legs straps and replaced the waist buckle with a plastic buckle that I had in my stash of goodies. I don't recommend modifying a saddle's structural integrity in any way, but I have used my trophyline saddle for 16 years with leg straps and shoulder straps removed and it has no waist buckle. I've had a couple of minor slips over the years but always climb with a linesman belt and never have slack in my tether or linesman belt. I don't like clankity metal things and I go very sloooow when climbing and descending.
 
swampsnyper said:
Well my 1st set of ameristeps was from a member. They were mostly the recall steps....
It was in the early years of saddlehunter.com and I gave the benefit of the doubt that he just didn’t know any better. I didn’t know any better until I asked if the step should flex. Then we got to the bottom of it and @redsquirrel researched and posted the recall id numbers. It was a good education for all of us. Chalked it up as a learning experience.
Click to expand...
Recall steps are fine for a platform. never had one break. I buy them cheaper and hold on to them.

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Asked boswell why those particular buckles were used and complained about the weight, he said they were chosen because they were QD and met their safety requirements.

John E cut those straps off his Kestrel, there's an old thread with pics...
 
Yea I wouldn’t want to cut em off. But maybe incorporate plastic like the hss.
 
actually most of the buckles on a hss are metal, similar type

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I've hunted off of recall steps for years without any issue. I bought them on AT and didn't know, any better at the time either.


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Bigterp said:
I tried not to give him a hard time sounded like he had a lot on his plate. Just didn’t want anyone to find that old thread & send money.
Click to expand...
Yep. He kinda disappeared. To bad cause I wanted to order a few more sets



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Erniepower said:
Yep. He kinda disappeared. To bad cause I wanted to order a few more sets



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Click to expand...
Hopefully he is OK. If his handle is any indication, he's got some life experience

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I don't wrap my kestrel buckles. There is potential for make some noise. I have had my cam on my bow hit them and when you take kestrel off there is the possibility they may bang together.

I'm more intrigued with cutting the dang things off... John E. gave me some ideas with his modded kestrel. But i'll buy another kestrel to mod before I cut up the one I have.
 
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