The Perch

[Allegheny Tom]

I wonder how many guys that have been anxiously awaiting this release have now decided to just buy a Predator instead??

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[Gamover06]

I can tell you that even though I wasn't surprised about the price and could see were the price came from (ha before when I thought a small manufacture was making them now not so much) I was planning on buy it. I was actually planning on selling my Heliums and going to WE steps and the perch but when they were saying it was going to be 130 and then factoring in shipping and the cost on the steps on top of it I realized it was going to be one expensive system. Although the math says I was wrong but didn't have to sell sticks and buy steps.
8 WE steps 130
Perch 147
shipping 20
Total $300

4 Hawks modified (got hawks on sale also) $120 ($175 plus mods(ropes and versa) $200)
Podium (on sale) $120 (no sale) $160
Total $240 (no sale with mods) $360

I wonder how many guys that have been anxiously awaiting this release have now decided to just buy a Predator instead??

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[Zddog]

When I saw the price of coming in under $150 I thought it was a good price. The only other platform that is less money is the podium platform ($140) which looks like it's the equivalent of a rivers edge treestand platform and would make a sound when it gets really cold out as the cheap treestand platforms do. I'd gladly pay 7 dollars more for a well-built product. The other thing I've read is if you sell more you will make more money. That couldn't be further from the truth if don't price a product correct as you are forgetting to take into account the profit margin per sale. If you have a company that profits $1.00 per sale they need to sell 50 more products to equal the profit of a company that profits $50 per sale. You also forget a product like the Perch is a one time purchase, so they have to sell a product that has a high profit margin and not a low to medium margin.

I agree they are trying to sell/accommodate their current WE Stepp customers, but I do think they are trying to sell a vertical product to their stepps so you will buy their stepps and ditch your old setup. It's a smart move on their part because it's definitely the lightest setup around (non DIY). I'm interested in both the Predator platform and the Perch, but if you think the Predator platform is a big saving compared to buying 1 WE Stepp and the Perch I can tell you haven't done the math. It's a $7 dollar difference (Total To Door for TETHRD SYSTEM - $179.99 Predator Platform, offers free shipping or flat $6 shipping, Total To Door for WE SYSTEM $187 TYD - WE Step $20 and Perch is $147 plus $20 shipping.)

I think both companies are coming out with great products I just think we should be excited for the saddle industry instead of bashing a company for innovating and coming out with new products. If they don't make enough money the products they sell then they will cease to exist.

 

[Murph4028]

Ok, I wasnt going to get one but when my wife told me she wanted to start saddle hunting obviously I was happy about that. So I bought her an aero hunter kite and we started looking at platforms and it didnt take long for her to claim my lone wolf DIY platform lol. So my platform search began. After looking at the Predator, LWCG, Podium, WE Perch, and DIY options I actually settled on the Perch for a few reasons. Predators are nice but have a history of squeaking or popping and Im not about to spend 180 bucks on a platform that I have to take apart to grease it myself to have it ready to use and re grease it X amount of times in the future. Not bashing tethrd, its a great company, I own a Mantis and dont plan on changing that in the near future. The LWCG platform is massive and unnecessary for my style of hunting. The Podium....not for me. Then theres the Perch. Whats appealing about the perch is that for me, a platform doesnt need to be deep but it needs to be wide to get around the tree. I like the fact that it breaks down into two pieces for packability and easy mounting to the tree. Unless a weld breaks, it will last forever and it has no rotating parts that need to be greased or snugged up every once in a while. Not bashing any other brands especially because they have all made their contributions to us through the many options they have provided. As far as the price goes, yes its up there but most of us said the same thing about every other piece of equipment that has hit our market no matter the brand. Sucks to pay high prices but they know well pay it in the end. If I could weld I probably wouldve made one but unfortunately not an option for me. And for the record, I have never owned a wild edge step.

 

[Zddog]

Ok, I wasnt going to get one but when my wife told me she wanted to start saddle hunting obviously I was happy about that. So I bought her an aero hunter kite and we started looking at platforms and it didnt take long for her to claim my lone wolf DIY platform lol. So my platform search began. After looking at the Predator, LWCG, Podium, WE Perch, and DIY options I actually settled on the Perch for a few reasons. Predators are nice but have a history of squeaking or popping and Im not about to spend 180 bucks on a platform that I have to take apart to grease it myself to have it ready to use and re grease it X amount of times in the future. Not bashing tethrd, its a great company, I own a Mantis and dont plan on changing that in the near future. The LWCG platform is massive and unnecessary for my style of hunting. The Podium....not for me. Then theres the Perch. Whats appealing about the perch is that for me, a platform doesnt need to be deep but it needs to be wide to get around the tree. I like the fact that it breaks down into two pieces for packability and easy mounting to the tree. Unless a weld breaks, it will last forever and it has no rotating parts that need to be greased or snugged up every once in a while. Not bashing any other brands especially because they have all made their contributions to us through the many options they have provided. As far as the price goes, yes its up there but most of us said the same thing about every other piece of equipment that has hit our market no matter the brand. Sucks to pay high prices but they know well pay it in the end. If I could weld I probably wouldve made one but unfortunately not an option for me. And for the record, I have never owned a wild edge step.

Murph great points. Just a word of advice if you are looking at the WE stepps. They take some getting used to as do any of the steps on the market. I was so frustrated with them the first time officially using them but then I thought back to my first 20 times using the lone wolf steps and remembered all the choice words I used trying to get into the tree using the lone wolfs for the first time. Just keep at the WE Stepps because they are a really great step. Also if you are ever coming down the tree and the step uncams they didn't go anywhere when it happened to me, not sure if that always happens or if I got lucky. I remember I didn't stretch the ropes like WE suggest doing before using them (havent had any issues after the rope stretched) and two of my stepps in a row uncammed themselves and I was really nervous looking down from my WE platform thinking how am I going to navigate this situation... I eventually just stood on the uncammed step and they just slid a little down the trunk of the tree and then was able to stand on them without them moving.

 

[skyjacker]

Perch shipped today. I was one of the first orders, so ya'll should be getting an email anytime.

 

[CRC]

anyone having issues with the Perch? I'm frustrated...I have 10 WE steps, for the most part have few issues climbing a tree until I get to the top. My last 2-3 steps are used as my ring of steps. Once I attach my Perch to my center top WE step and step on it (most of the time it comes loose and only the bottom point of 3 points is holding me up). Today I climbed 3 trees; 1 in the morning for morning hunt, 2nd to hang a trail cam over a hidden scrape I found and 3rd for my evening hunt. I got Lucky this morning because for the first time when I mounted my Perch it was Rock Solid, I didn't use the Perch when installing my trail cam , but on my evening Hunt, I spent 15-20 minutes trying to secure the final step to the tree with the perch installed...I gave up and came back down the tree. Once the Perch is installed it puts so much pressure on the resting step, most of the time they come loose. Instead of having 3 points of contact you have one, which for me at 18-20 feet up is Scary. This scenario is played out on most of my hunts this year, been out 5 times with the Perch...Never a problem if I don't use the Perch. I'll be writing Wild Edge about this, but anyone else experiencing this? any solutions out there?

 

[Bourdeau]

There is a little bit of fiddle factor with the perch for sure, if it doesn't cam over securely it will not stay tight. Also the type of tree makes a huge difference(how easy the bark allows the stand offs to sink into the tree). I almost gave up using it and have had more than a few times when it gives you that feeling you're going for a ride! The biggest help I can offer is this:
1. ALWAYS BE TETHERED IN SOME WAY TO THE TREE
2. WHEN CAMMING IT OVER KEEP TRYING UNTIL IT'S RIGHT(TIGHT IS RIGHT)
3. LIFT IT UP SO THE ROPE IS IN LINE WITH THE HORIZONTAL BAR WHEN CAMMED OVER.
4. JUST LIKE ANY PLATFORM GET IT AS TIGHT AS YOU CAN
I don't use WE Steps as my climbing device just one for my perch.

 

[drew13]

anyone having issues with the Perch? I'm frustrated...I have 10 WE steps, for the most part have few issues climbing a tree until I get to the top. My last 2-3 steps are used as my ring of steps. Once I attach my Perch to my center top WE step and step on it (most of the time it comes loose and only the bottom point of 3 points is holding me up). Today I climbed 3 trees; 1 in the morning for morning hunt, 2nd to hang a trail cam over a hidden scrape I found and 3rd for my evening hunt. I got Lucky this morning because for the first time when I mounted my Perch it was Rock Solid, I didn't use the Perch when installing my trail cam , but on my evening Hunt, I spent 15-20 minutes trying to secure the final step to the tree with the perch installed...I gave up and came back down the tree. Once the Perch is installed it puts so much pressure on the resting step, most of the time they come loose. Instead of having 3 points of contact you have one, which for me at 18-20 feet up is Scary. This scenario is played out on most of my hunts this year, been out 5 times with the Perch...Never a problem if I don't use the Perch. I'll be writing Wild Edge about this, but anyone else experiencing this? any solutions out there?

I don't have the perch but I do use WE stepps for part of my platform. When setting more than one stepp at the same level, I find the first one is the easiest to set securely and each subsequent one is harder and harder to get right since you have to avoid the other ropes. So I would try setting your perch as the first stepp you cam over to make sure you get it nice and tight.

Another option is to only use one stepp with the perch for your platform and then put another kind of step to the left or right of it as needed. I am guessing that the perch is the primary place you put your feet and you just want extra steps to be able to step out around the tree, so you just need a couple of "pegs" for that. Lot of options out there for that - screw-ins (if legal), squirrel steps/ameristeps on a separate strap, cranfords, etc. Personally I put one or two cranford rope steps right on my WE step rope itself.

Just some thoughts/ideas. Use them (or not) as you wish.

 

[Art_Vandelay]

anyone having issues with the Perch? I'm frustrated...I have 10 WE steps, for the most part have few issues climbing a tree until I get to the top. My last 2-3 steps are used as my ring of steps. Once I attach my Perch to my center top WE step and step on it (most of the time it comes loose and only the bottom point of 3 points is holding me up). Today I climbed 3 trees; 1 in the morning for morning hunt, 2nd to hang a trail cam over a hidden scrape I found and 3rd for my evening hunt. I got Lucky this morning because for the first time when I mounted my Perch it was Rock Solid, I didn't use the Perch when installing my trail cam , but on my evening Hunt, I spent 15-20 minutes trying to secure the final step to the tree with the perch installed...I gave up and came back down the tree. Once the Perch is installed it puts so much pressure on the resting step, most of the time they come loose. Instead of having 3 points of contact you have one, which for me at 18-20 feet up is Scary. This scenario is played out on most of my hunts this year, been out 5 times with the Perch...Never a problem if I don't use the Perch. I'll be writing Wild Edge about this, but anyone else experiencing this? any solutions out there?

I had this problem too. Fortunately it was over the summer and not mid season, so I’m sure it’s extra frustrating for you. Making sure all your ropes are stretched is a must. I didn’t do this, but it sounds like the best way to stretch them it’s put them on as large of a tree as you can fit and leave them overnight. I just kinda used mine until they started staying solid. If you don’t, adding the extra leverage of the perch really exaggerates the problem. I also found that caming the step over with the perch in it gets it a lot tighter. You won’t get it perfect on the first attempt everytime, at least I don’t. Trees with deep groves in the bark are hardest for me.

I usually cam my step at about knee high. Put my perch in, uncam, tighten the rope about 1/8-1/4 inch and then pull the top two standoffs as high up the tree at I can and cam it over again.

also, I did find a step that I think works best with my perch and I always use that one. Maybe the rope is super stretched or fits in the standoffs well... or both. Idk but sticking with one works well for me.

 

[CRC]

I never heard about stretching the ropes, with that said I received my steps back in May, I've been up at least 30 tree's since then. I would think my ropes have stretched by now, if not pleased advise. Also anyone having issues un-tieing the knot? Sometimes it's a rear fight to get the knot undone. I carry everything in a Tenzing 2220 back pack; set of 10 Wild Edge steps, Sit drag with 3 dump pouches and my basic necessities with Perch straped to outside. It weighs just shy of 30lbs. It's easier to carry then when using my Lone Wolf sticks which would be straped to the back of the pack, but I can get up the tree faster with the sticks. It's a learning curve I hope will pay off, but it's been a lot of work.

 

[Jefferson10940]

There is a video somewhere on here, you leave a loop instead of pulling the entire tag end through and it is easier to untie.

 

[Jtaylor]

I never heard about stretching the ropes, with that said I received my steps back in May, I've been up at least 30 tree's since then. I would think my ropes have stretched by now, if not pleased advise. Also anyone having issues un-tieing the knot? Sometimes it's a rear fight to get the knot undone. I carry everything in a Tenzing 2220 back pack; set of 10 Wild Edge steps, Sit drag with 3 dump pouches and my basic necessities with Perch straped to outside. It weighs just shy of 30lbs. It's easier to carry then when using my Lone Wolf sticks which would be straped to the back of the pack, but I can get up the tree faster with the sticks. It's a learning curve I hope will pay off, but it's been a lot of work.

I never pre-stretched mine either. Turns out they did that attached to the tree while hunting. Are you sure you're tying the loop correctly? I could tie a similar looking loop with the rope under rather than over and it was harder to untie. I also uncam them when taking em off and push the tag end with a little jiggle and the loops seem to come out pretty effortlessly. Study the knot on the bag, maybe you're doing what I was doing at first making them harder to untie.

 

[CRC]

That may be the case, I just watched a couple You Tube videos on knot tying. I believe I sometimes get it wrong. More practice...