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Latitude Rebel Platform Initial Thoughts

Mopar1169 said:
I am gonna try keep this one stock for the flat carry on my back. My other platform is a pain to carry without the sticks attached to it. I gotta position it just right on the platow so it doesn't dig into my back. If I just carry it with sticks it is great because the sticks are flat against my back. The hard edge shouldn't be a big deal with the Crispi Thor's or my other pair since the soles are stupid stiff. Another reason I can stand any position on a stick without it bothering my feet. If I do add something later on it will just be a piece of 1" on a angle to keep weight down.
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It looks pretty good as is. The pic of you standing with feet bridging the main platform and wings, Latitude should be advertising that.

And, probably traction is slightly less an issue on this one.

I've got the mountain boots for late season, so...we'll see how the mock up goes.
 
Plebe said:
It looks pretty good as is. The pic of you standing with feet bridging the main platform and wings, Latitude should be advertising that.

And, probably traction is slightly less an issue on this one.

I've got the mountain boots for late season, so...we'll see how the mock up goes.
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Yeah I think they should of advertised it more also. The platform feels alot bigger then it is just because the way it is layed out. Feels alot bigger then a predator. Obviously you gotta be alittle more mindful of how you step. But I think it will be more versatile then the rebel. My opinion only
 
Plebe said:
It looks pretty good as is. The pic of you standing with feet bridging the main platform and wings, Latitude should be advertising that.

And, probably traction is slightly less an issue on this one.

I've got the mountain boots for late season, so...we'll see how the mock up goes.
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regarding traction on these....for me, i think it would primarily be an issue if my boots are muddy or its raining....otherwise the boot rubber is going to catch given the force involved, i think

folks are talking about textured coatings or grip tape....i just don't think that is going to work with muddy boots....you need something raised slightly that will push through the mud and dig into your boot treat.....otherwise you're just going to have textured stuff that is slick from being caked with mud....the texture might work okay with clean boots and rain.....but how often do you have clean/not muddy boots when hunting in the rain?
 
raisins said:
regarding traction on these....for me, i think it would primarily be an issue if my boots are muddy or its raining....otherwise the boot rubber is going to catch given the force involved, i think

folks are talking about textured coatings or grip tape....i just don't think that is going to work with muddy boots....you need something raised slightly that will push through the mud and dig into your boot treat.....otherwise you're just going to have textured stuff that is slick from being caked with mud....the texture might work okay with clean boots and rain.....but how often do you have clean/not muddy boots when hunting in the rain?
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I'm sure there's a broader experience but for me the worst is ice. Icy boots.

The way you lean on the X-Wing, shouldn't matter much.

But, I'll take the OOAL finish on a smooth surface over some grooved aluminum I've hunted from.
 
raisins said:
regarding traction on these....for me, i think it would primarily be an issue if my boots are muddy or its raining....otherwise the boot rubber is going to catch given the force involved, i think

folks are talking about textured coatings or grip tape....i just don't think that is going to work with muddy boots....you need something raised slightly that will push through the mud and dig into your boot treat.....otherwise you're just going to have textured stuff that is slick from being caked with mud....the texture might work okay with clean boots and rain.....but how often do you have clean/not muddy boots when hunting in the rain?
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I get what you are saying. Would of probably been good if they machined some texture into them. I just haven't had much need for more then some texture might be just the aggressive vibram soles on my boots they grab and hold on all the edges. I try to get the excess mud off before I go up drives me nuts when it starts drying and falling off my boots moving around. Can't go wrong with more traction for safety though. Maybe they will incorporate something in future versions.
 
I hope to have a x-wing video uploaded on my channel by this weekend if anyone is interested. I can't test it with ice but i'll put water on it and put boots in mud before climbing on. Grip is also a concern of mine. I may hit it with a grinder and put some grooves in it or use anti skid tape. If you put tape on tho you'll want to do little strips not a full run. That way there is a little raised edge. And ooal's coating would be great. That stuff is legit
 
This traction talk really REALLY makes me want to put my hands on one, mine (purchased/bought it) or not. I'm green as possible but we're into machining territory, which I'm not so green at lol. Grumpy as all get out about machining but not green lol
 
Plebe said:
But, I'll take the OOAL finish on a smooth surface over some grooved aluminum I've hunted from.
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It's good stuff! Even a well thought out and executed platform would probably benefit from that coating, or with some foresight on the design end could be made to benefit.
 
Horn said:
This traction talk really REALLY makes me want to put my hands on one, mine (purchased/bought it) or not. I'm green as possible but we're into machining territory, which I'm not so green at lol. Grumpy as all get out about machining but not green lol
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Your more then welcome to try mine out if you want.
 
Mopar1169 said:
I get what you are saying. Would of probably been good if they machined some texture into them. I just haven't had much need for more then some texture might be just the aggressive vibram soles on my boots they grab and hold on all the edges. I try to get the excess mud off before I go up drives me nuts when it starts drying and falling off my boots moving around. Can't go wrong with more traction for safety though. Maybe they will incorporate something in future versions.
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From a manufacturing cost standpoint this doesn't make financial sense. this is assumed to be machined from a ground piece of flat stock. In order to add anything raised the entire stock would need to be ground thicker and produce more wasted material and time from machining. This would increase the cost significantly. I don't have a good solution for them other than to do so and raise the cost.
 
It's true, adding traction would add cost. That doesn't mean it's necessarily super expensive. Gotta do cost/benefit analysis to decide.

I don't want to derail here, we can talk machining all day privately or in a more appropriate thread. I had material removal, like a ridge runner in mind for texture so no change in stock/casting. If designed in up front, I'm not sure the texture would be all that much more to manufacture.
 
I did some measuring and I don't think the platform is thick enough to machine grooves into it. It is only 5/8 thick. You would not be able to go very deep before risking integrity be worried about adding any stress risers. I was thinking about adding a few before coating it but I am gonna leave it alone I would hate to break it in half because I removed some material.

I did talk to ooal and they will still do coating for people's platforms. So if anyone wants to go that route it is available.
 
Well, I found a store with rebels in stock. I was really leaning x-wing but I'm weak willed...

More to of a general question that latitude related but has any one tried squirrel steps or the like on the outside of a 12" wide platform? Like BB if the x-wing was stuck to the sides of the rebel making it wider?
 
Got my X-Wing today and I’m really liking it…
I could not get my feet to slip, I didn’t try it with water but I don’t think traction grooves would have mad a difference with this platform.
 
TK161BOONER said:
Got my X-Wing today and I’m really liking it…
I could not get my feet to slip, I didn’t try it with water but I don’t think traction grooves would have mad a difference with this platform.
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do you think that standing fully (no help from tether) and then rotating for a weak side shot while standing will be a problem with the x wing? it is just such a different shape that i'm afraid it will be easy to step off of it or something (my foot intuition probably favors a box shape...but that's a guess).
 
raisins said:
do you think that standing fully (no help from tether) and then rotating for a weak side shot while standing will be a problem with the x wing? it is just such a different shape that i'm afraid it will be easy to step off of it or something (my foot intuition probably favors a box shape...but that's a guess).
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I did stand on the platform with my back to the tree and felt pretty comfortable, but I always put my tree tether across my chest.
I could see some people having a issue standing on it with their back to the tree, but I was pretty comfortable.
 
Got an x-wing, it's sweet!! - short version

@Mopar1169 , thank you very much for offering to let me try your platform

-long version
Well I ended up with an x-wing I found a store with those in store too. I was able to try it and a method 2 at the store today. If either store had both platforms I'm not sure I wouldn't have went rebel to be honest.

Zero slip for me, but not hard to move your feet either. It's waterjet, and at least on mine the bottom side from water jet is up for the user, and it's sharp ( not deburred or chamfered /radiused) so I suspect if there's any texture on your boots that helps grip.

Locks on incredibly solid, took side pressure great. As usual there's a sweet spot for strap tightness and canning. I found it comfortable to lean, it feels kind of cramped standing up but definitely doable. Maybe if i had bigger feet ( size 10) bridging the gap from center to wing would feel better?

The leveling screw has a lot of adjustment, It adjusts about 45° down, and maybe 15° ( 20?) Up.

Mine comes in at 2 pds 10.2 oz, no strap.
 
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