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Stepp Ladder reviews...

Wow, this tread sure changed subjects in a hurry.
 
I bought a set of 8 with the aider and will start experimenting when I get back from Florida. I am planning on ascending with them but will use a cinched climbing line to rappell down after the hunt and then grab each step as I go by. I will shoot some video and see how it works out.
 
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My rappell line doubles as my tree tether and ascending safety line trying to streamline as much as possible.
 
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cedar paul said:
I bought a set of 8 with the aider and will start experimenting when I get back from Florida. I am planning on ascending with them but will use a cinched climbing line to rappell down after the hunt and then grab each step as I go by. I will shoot some video and see how it works out.
Click to expand...
Would you mind doing a short video of descending the tree using the stepps? I'd really like to see a clip of someone new to this system heading back down the tree. I'm sure there is a learning curve, but I would like an idea of how steep!
 
SteppsbyWildEdgeInc said:
Hey Everyone!


I love reading your posts and enjoy seeing how you break everything down and analyze everything to the T! I owe credit to you all for motivating me to make the SteppLadder Aider, it took some time to get the design down but from the reactions from the Harrisburg show and these threads I believe the system is unbeatable!


The key to remember with the Aider is to make sure you always put the loop that you step into through the stepp below the one you are hooked to prevent your foot from sliding around the tree. Another way to hook the Aider to the stepp is to hook it to the bottom V or the pick end of the Stepp so that it doesn’t slide on the bar or the rung. Another great point was made on this thread, always point your toe against the tree to keep from kicking to the side around the tree. Make sure you are always wearing a safety belt as well!


As far as the SteppLadder goes, I always tell people to properly assemble and cam over the stepp the key is to always pull the stand offs up as high as you can against the tree above the rope going around the tree and put some “testosterone” (effort) into camming it over so that it is solid! You cannot break the Stepp, always put equal pressure on the stand offs and cam it over as hard as you can! Once you get the tension down you will be able to feel when the stepp is solid just by camming it over. Once you hear that “snap” you know that stepp is solid.


When you first take your new Stepps out of the bag you will have to cam them over a few times in order to compress the new rope and tighten up the spliced end!


As for making the platform when hunting out of a saddle I will post a few videos on my techniques on how to get the stepps at the same plane around the tree without touching the rope with the standoffs.


Stay tuned on our website as we will have padded cushions to add to your carry bags very soon! We will also be releasing our own Wild Edge Saddle Sling this summer, which I know you will all love! We will also be releasing our own safety harness around the same time!


Stay tuned and keep the ideas flowing! Keep checking out youtube channel (Wild Edge Inc.) for new videos! Don’t forget to check us out at the Springfield Sportsmen’s Show next weekend Feb. 24-26 at the Big E, booth #410 for sweet deals!


All my best,

Andrew
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I tried the aider for the first time today. Easy to use going up. The stiffness of the rope kept the loop open so it was easy to get your foot in the loop. Unfortunately this made it more difficult to thread it through the lower step when going down.

It will teak some more trial and error, all in all worth it to get higher with fewer steps to carry.

SMV
 
Sounds about right for the first time out. I'm looking forward to trying some soon


Sent from my
Sit drag, Ernie's outdoors linesman belt,
At 20' up
 
Smv said:
I tried the aider for the first time today. Easy to use going up. The stiffness of the rope kept the loop open so it was easy to get your foot in the loop. Unfortunately this made it more difficult to thread it through the lower step when going down.

It will teak some more trial and error, all in all worth it to get higher with fewer steps to carry.

SMV
Click to expand...
This is what I thought the 1st time too. I got to use it more this weekend and everything is getting smoother and faster and SAFER for me. I would like to see a video on how to get multiple steps at the same height.

As far as going down, I keep my flip line above the step that is roughly waist/hip high. Then I hold the bottom of the wider with 1 foot below my hand and lean down to wiggle it through the rung I am standing in. Sometimes I have to nudge it with my boot to get it to go through. I usually get it the 1st try. I have been wondering about putting a slip weight of sorts on the loop to help get it through the lower runs when decending... But then you have noise, less foot to loop contact and more weight. I think the more I use it, the smoother I will get. Going down in the dark is a bit more challenging to thread it through but still very doable. If you have a red head lamp, it is much easier!
 
Andrew posted a video on youtube and the wildedge site showing how he makes a platform with steps at the same height ;)

I would post a link but the internet filter at work wont let me get to the sites.
 
Stepp Ladder Steps at the same height to make a platform.

Here is the info for the youtube video. Just copy and paste. This is a much simpler method than what I tried to do this weekend.
Sometimes we over complicate things because we think we have to. Simple is always nice!
I have had 3 steps (6 o clock, 10 o clock and 2 o clock on the smaller trees and they work great! I can see how 4 would be needed on bigger trees.
 
ImThere said:
Good video I am excited to try some


Sent from my
Sit drag, Ernie's outdoors linesman belt,
At 20' up
Click to expand...
They are a lot of fun and get easier every time. I have only had a chance to really use them a handful of times. Just remember, when they are new, practice and use ALL of them at ground level as the rope does have a slight amount of stretch initially. Once you have stretched them out, you are good to go. I was goofing off this weekend on a telephone like (that used to be a basketball goal). They are great and with minimal practice, easy and quiet!
 
Another update and new knowledge! Yesterday was the 1st time I climbed above 12 or 15 feet. I bought a set of 12 stepps with the aider. I have just been using them and not the complete setup (backpack, gear, bow hanger ect). Yesterday I started climbing a tree and just kept going. I had 1 step on the ground to act as the bow that I have to pull up once at the top (down to 11 stepps). With the aider I climbed up and had 3 stepps at the top. Only used 9 for climbing and was at 28'. I know this because that is how long my bow line is. There might have been 7" of slack in the line. Needless to say, since I hunt mostly at 15 to 18 feet off the ground, I could save a few pounds and she'd a few stepps... but then again, if you are trying new areas, I like the option of going higher.

The new knowledge is that when using the aider and going up, I just pull it up through the stepp it was clipped on and hook it on the next one up. For some reason I hooked it from the inside out so the open part of the hook with the keep was facing me. DO NOT DO THAT! As I passed the hook with the linemans belt and one foot on the aider, the aider hook (that was facing me) hooked and latched onto part of my saddle as it grazed it as I went by. Now I am between steps and hooked to the aider hook that is mounted to the stepp! Slow and steady will free you. Please make sure you do not do something stupid like me and keep the aider hook facing away from you and always hook from the outside of the stepp in towards the tree.

On the bright side, I had a doe ease in on me and I was not trying to be quiet. She could hear me and was mad but could not see me as I used the stepps around the tree to move around and stay hidden!

Stepp Ladder and a sitdrag/RC harness is an awesome combo!
 
Gettin Closer said:
Another update and new knowledge! Yesterday was the 1st time I climbed above 12 or 15 feet. I bought a set of 12 stepps with the aider. I have just been using them and not the complete setup (backpack, gear, bow hanger ect). Yesterday I started climbing a tree and just kept going. I had 1 step on the ground to act as the bow that I have to pull up once at the top (down to 11 stepps). With the aider I climbed up and had 3 stepps at the top. Only used 9 for climbing and was at 28'. I know this because that is how long my bow line is. There might have been 7" of slack in the line. Needless to say, since I hunt mostly at 15 to 18 feet off the ground, I could save a few pounds and she'd a few stepps... but then again, if you are trying new areas, I like the option of going higher.

The new knowledge is that when using the aider and going up, I just pull it up through the stepp it was clipped on and hook it on the next one up. For some reason I hooked it from the inside out so the open part of the hook with the keep was facing me. DO NOT DO THAT! As I passed the hook with the linemans belt and one foot on the aider, the aider hook (that was facing me) hooked and latched onto part of my saddle as it grazed it as I went by. Now I am between steps and hooked to the aider hook that is mounted to the stepp! Slow and steady will free you. Please make sure you do not do something stupid like me and keep the aider hook facing away from you and always hook from the outside of the stepp in towards the tree.

On the bright side, I had a doe ease in on me and I was not trying to be quiet. She could hear me and was mad but could not see me as I used the stepps around the tree to move around and stay hidden!

Stepp Ladder and a sitdrag/RC harness is an awesome combo!
Click to expand...

I hate this site!!! Every time I come to see whats happening someone is posting stuff which leads me to spending more money.

I believe you on the height. Placing the steps at 3 feet apart and using the aider to divide the distance in half makes sense. One concern would be is that they are louder than sticks because you have to cam them over. Would you agree? Thanks for the review. A video in real time would be great (hint, hint)
 
In my little experience I do not think that the camming over makes much noise at all. And the thud it makes is not metal on metal.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Waymore said:
I hate this site!!! Every time I come to see whats happening someone is posting stuff which leads me to spending more money.

I believe you on the height. Placing the steps at 3 feet apart and using the aider to divide the distance in half makes sense. One concern would be is that they are louder than sticks because you have to cam them over. Would you agree? Thanks for the review. A video in real time would be great (hint, hint)
Click to expand...
I agree with Jeff. It is a more dull this is a deeper pitch. It cannot be heard far. No where near the clang of a metal buckle hitting a stick. It would be similar to saying that climbing sticks are noisy because they drag against the bark after you strap them down initially and stand on them.

I will have to work on the video when my wife and I get a chance and it is enough light to video.
 
You can limit the thud from camming them over. In reality if they hear it they would probably hear the rope dragging the bark when you take it around the tree and tie the knot. If they are that close they will likely see you. Nothing is as quiet as a preset but they seem to be as quiet as anything else you are going to be mobile with. My lone wolf sticks make noise too. Now that they make the aider I can definitely see adding them to my collection in the future.
 
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