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NEED ADVICE ABOUT SADDLE SETUP!

B

buckwild

New Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2017
Messages
4
Im on the fence about a couple of purchases....any and all thoughts/advice would be appreciated!

Im getting a complete rig together...New Tribe Kestrel, Climbing Sticks, and screw in steps for platform.

Im planning on going with Cranford steps.

Question #1-Has anyone tried the Cranford EZY Folding steps for the platform? am I better off with the non-folding Cranford's for the platform?


I'm on the fence between Lone Wolf and Muddy for sticks...Longest I hike in is about 1mile each way, but the terrain is dense briars, young growth, (lots of knee crawling)etc. and need to get my platform steps 20-25 feet of the ground. Most trees I sit in are Beech, Oak or Ash...about 6-10" in diameter. Id plan on using the webbing modification on the bottom of my first step.

Question #2- Are either Lone Wolf or Muddy better for my scenario?

I would be packing this set up in and out with each hunt.

Thanks in advance...Fire Away!
 
I personally like the folding cranford steps because they store smaller for the hike in. And I like the muddy sticks with etriers. Three sticks with suffers can easily get you up almost 20 feet. 4 is even higher. The rope on the muddy sticks is also a lot easier to attach above your head.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
 
I carry 4 lonewolf sticks and my platform consist of 5 ameristep on a ratchet strap. I also just bought 10 steppladders and an aider. They are more compacted and would be easier to go through brush with and you could get away with less steps using the aider. I can't use screw in steps because I hunt all public land. Hope that helps.
 
Folding steps will catch in the lugs of your boot. When you lift your foot they rise up , release, and clang against the tree. It doesn't happen very often, just at the worst possible moment.
I use cranfords folding for climbing but not the platform.
 
never used muddy pros, but I'm guessing lonewolfs will get you higher for lighter, but muddys have those comfortable double steps.

I wish I could have muddy steps on top of my lonewolf sticks, if that makes it a harder choice for you...youre welcome

They are both good choices, you cant go wrong.

But wait...Hawk Heliums?

you can try the cranfords for a platform, but you also need to eventually put together a xop seat like platform to compare. The cranfords are simple and cheap...but depending on your boots they may get uncomfortable.
its the problem with saddle hunting. there is no perfect setup for all, so you have to figure out whats perfect for you....and when something new comes along, ya never know ;) tinkerer gene
 
Last edited:
sb220 said:
never used muddy pros, but I'm guessing lonewolfs will get you higher for lighter, but muddys have those comfortable double steps.

I wish I could have muddy steps on top of my lonewolf sticks, if that makes it a harder choice for you...youre welcome

They are both good choices, you cant go wrong.

But wait...Hawk Heliums?
Click to expand...
not really. shorter stick means longer, lighter aider. custom short stick with aider is the lightest

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BassBoysLLP said:
not really. shorter stick means longer, lighter aider. custom short stick with aider is the lightest

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
maybe a mini lonewolf then? those muddy steps probably bring the weight. Never handled one though

Still double top step is worth its weight in climbing
 
Use cranford T-steps for your platform if you are gonna use screw-ins. There is no better option.
 
sb220 said:
maybe a mini lonewolf then? those muddy steps probably bring the weight. Never handled one though.
Click to expand...
Dan Infalt is coming out with a stick soon. it's worth the weigh (or lack of). or you could build a very good one lime Bowhunter15.

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BassBoysLLP said:
Dan Infalt is coming out with a stick soon. it's worth the weigh (or lack of). or you could build a very good one lime Bowhunter15.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
yeah I saw that, but I wouldn't hold out for this season. Reads like he has hoops to jump through still
 
buckwild said:
Im on the fence about a couple of purchases....any and all thoughts/advice would be appreciated!

Im getting a complete rig together...New Tribe Kestrel, Climbing Sticks, and screw in steps for platform.

Im planning on going with Cranford steps.

Question #1-Has anyone tried the Cranford EZY Folding steps for the platform? am I better off with the non-folding Cranford's for the platform?


I'm on the fence between Lone Wolf and Muddy for sticks...Longest I hike in is about 1mile each way, but the terrain is dense briars, young growth, (lots of knee crawling)etc. and need to get my platform steps 20-25 feet of the ground. Most trees I sit in are Beech, Oak or Ash...about 6-10" in diameter. Id plan on using the webbing modification on the bottom of my first step.

Question #2- Are either Lone Wolf or Muddy better for my scenario?

I would be packing this set up in and out with each hunt.

Thanks in advance...Fire Away!
Click to expand...

Buckwild I think if you do some searching on the site you will find a lot of info on sticks, steps, and platforms. I think there have been numerous threads on Lone Wolf sticks vs Muddy sticks Vs Helium sticks. You can find a ton of info on all those topics by searching here or Google many have discussed these topics already. Good hunting.

Roger,
 
You can't go wrong with Muddy or LW. I use LW with 3 step etriers on each stick.

I also modified my sticks with a double top step. Search the forum and you'll find it. You need a double to step to maximize your etriers. That's why I recommend the Muddys.

How tall are you? If you are over 5'10", I'd recommend 3 Muddys with a 5 step etrier on the bottom and 3 or 4 step etriers on the next 2 sticks. You'll be over 20'

If your under 5'10" you probably can't use a 5 step etrier and I'd recommend 3 or 4 steps on each Muddy sticks. Good luck.

I'd also recommend Ameristep strap on steps over screw in steps. Your feet will Thank you.

Sent from my Galaxy S8.
 
g2outdoors said:
You can't go wrong with Muddy or LW. I use LW with 3 step etriers on each stick.

I also modified my sticks with a double top step. Search the forum and you'll find it. You need a double to step to maximize your etriers. That's why I recommend the Muddys.

How tall are you? If you are over 5'10", I'd recommend 3 Muddys with a 5 step etrier on the bottom and 3 or 4 step etriers on the next 2 sticks. You'll be over 20'

If your under 5'10" you probably can't use a 5 step etrier and I'd recommend 3 or 4 steps on each Muddy sticks. Good luck.

I'd also recommend Ameristep strap on steps over screw in steps. Your feet will Thank you.

Sent from my Galaxy S8.
Click to expand...

I'm 6' 3" tall. I like the sounds of using the etriers. Any specific etriers you would recommend(brand, etc.)
 
yep, if you are 6 feet tall plus or minus a few inches, you will get about 7.5 feet per stick. 4 sticks puts me at 30 feet, 3 at 22.5, and so on.

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buckwild said:
I'm 6' 3" tall. I like the sounds of using the etriers. Any specific etriers you would recommend(brand, etc.)
Click to expand...
I like the black diamond etriers. I have the 5 step and they stay open which is good for a large boot.
 
If you get the black diamond 5 step you can later try them as just an aider climber alone.
 
I use the cmi 3 steps mainly because of cost https://www.ropesgear.com/products/cmi-climbing-etrier

It also seems that I cant place my stick higher than a 3 step hangs below the way I climb( 1-stick).
A lot of times I'm placing my first foot into the middle or even top loop of my 3 step cmi. but the 4 step is just a few bucks more
 
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