casts_by_fly
Well-Known Member
Hi all,
I have the full length heliums. I put single rope aiders on the bottom two sticks and left the top two naked. I’m not terribly aggressive with my spacing or starting step and get to around 18’ pretty comfortably. This is about the right height for what I hunt around here. The heliums are pretty light for what they are, especially compared to steel steps or other older options. However I’m looking to try some other options this or next season. I don’t carry a backpack so I might try strapping 4 sticks (two per side) to a pack, but then I’m adding a backpack to my setup. Instead, I’m thinking about only using two sticks but putting three step aiders on each. By my math, three 18” steps plus 30” is right at 7’ each for 14’. I can get around 18” each for the first step into each aider to hit 17’. Then I put my platform a foot above my last step and step onto it. That’s a nominal 18’ and right about where I am now (30”+18”)*4 + 2’ of aiders plus a step onto platform. I’d cut about 6# off plus only have to set two sticks getting in.
two questions for those more experienced.
1- am I missing something figuring how high I can get? I’m not going to quibble over a foot here or there. I’m normally around 18’ but I killed my buck much closer to 14‘ to the top step this year because that’s what the tree needed. Later in the season when leaves are gone I prefer to be higher and I can always bring a third stick if I know I’ll need it. I’m using the factory versa button and daisy chain strap, and I think I can get the full extension of the aider and strap in the step.
2- are multi step aiders really that unstable that far down? I take more care stepping into a single aider going down but as long as I catch it around the arch of my foot there is no problem. I’m 5’9” and relatively fit and flexible. Is a two step and three step aider that much different? I could also do three two-step aiders and carry three sticks.
thanks
rick
I have the full length heliums. I put single rope aiders on the bottom two sticks and left the top two naked. I’m not terribly aggressive with my spacing or starting step and get to around 18’ pretty comfortably. This is about the right height for what I hunt around here. The heliums are pretty light for what they are, especially compared to steel steps or other older options. However I’m looking to try some other options this or next season. I don’t carry a backpack so I might try strapping 4 sticks (two per side) to a pack, but then I’m adding a backpack to my setup. Instead, I’m thinking about only using two sticks but putting three step aiders on each. By my math, three 18” steps plus 30” is right at 7’ each for 14’. I can get around 18” each for the first step into each aider to hit 17’. Then I put my platform a foot above my last step and step onto it. That’s a nominal 18’ and right about where I am now (30”+18”)*4 + 2’ of aiders plus a step onto platform. I’d cut about 6# off plus only have to set two sticks getting in.
two questions for those more experienced.
1- am I missing something figuring how high I can get? I’m not going to quibble over a foot here or there. I’m normally around 18’ but I killed my buck much closer to 14‘ to the top step this year because that’s what the tree needed. Later in the season when leaves are gone I prefer to be higher and I can always bring a third stick if I know I’ll need it. I’m using the factory versa button and daisy chain strap, and I think I can get the full extension of the aider and strap in the step.
2- are multi step aiders really that unstable that far down? I take more care stepping into a single aider going down but as long as I catch it around the arch of my foot there is no problem. I’m 5’9” and relatively fit and flexible. Is a two step and three step aider that much different? I could also do three two-step aiders and carry three sticks.
thanks
rick