• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

What is your preferred step aider for Helium or other sticks and why?

Ghetto

Member
Mar 12, 2019
61
33
18
45
What works best for you?

I have 3 Helims on the way and one wild edge step. I prefer to hunt 25 ft or a little more.
 

Bwhana

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Dec 8, 2017
2,291
4,719
113
Hickory, NC
I love a CAYG one step aider. Doubtful you could get 25ft with 3 sticks though.
Keep in mind you are limited by the maximum attachment point of the sticks, so the best you can do per stick is going to be around +-7 ft, depending on your height and reach.

As to the aider, a cayg aider is simple and works well. I used it all last season, but I am using a knaider/swaider now and cut my heliums to 15" and still can get over 20ft with 3. I prefer the weight and bulk reduction.

Keep your nose to the wind, and your eyes along the skyline.
 

Ghetto

Member
Mar 12, 2019
61
33
18
45
I was hoping to use a wild edge step and aider for the first step btw.
 

DaveT1963

Well-Known Member
Vendor Rep
Dec 2, 2014
3,511
5,467
113
My CAYG aider. I can get 21 foot easily with my 3 modified sticks
 

parkersdad

Well-Known Member
Jan 7, 2015
695
716
93
I have a black diamond five step aider. you clip it on climb up to the stick, un-clip it and move to the next one.
 

Aeds151

Well-Known Member
Aug 16, 2018
2,448
1,683
113
A piece of climbing webbing tied for 2 steps. This gets moved as I climb my 3 unmodded Heliums and ties nice around the sticks for noiseless, tight packability.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:

Bach55

Well-Known Member
Jul 24, 2019
231
101
43
36
Indiana
A piece of climbing webbing tied for 2 steps. This gets moved as I climb my 3 unmodded Heliums and ties nice around the sticks for noiseless, tight packability.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Any pictures or videos of your setup or something similar? I am interested in using a one step aider on 3 unmodified Heliums to get to about 18’.
 

State forest hunter86

Well-Known Member
Dec 26, 2018
204
76
28
38
Hey Davet what do you use to keep your webbing open at the bottom of your cayg aider? I bought 3/4" pex pipe for mine used it a couple times but seems to stiff?
 

b73

Well-Known Member
Aug 6, 2019
264
206
43
51
DIY aider. Top of stick is 8’ so with 3 LW sticks I get to around 25’. I’m 6’1” so your height is based on how high you can put your stick.

I like the idea and how easy it looks. I hope to give this a try once I get my saddle in.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

CZMark

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Sep 21, 2018
1,551
2,266
113
65
Foggy Bog, WI
In my experience, Dave T's CAYG aiders are the best design for many reasons. When I first saw them, I thought they were too long and would thus be unstable. Experience has shown that any aider connected to the bottom of MY sticks tends to cause the bottom of the sticks to kick out--I have yet to have a CAYG aider kick out on me (although I know it's possible).
 
  • Like
Reactions: Patriot

20ftup

Well-Known Member
Aug 18, 2017
430
273
63
32
platform.... I can get 19 1/2 top of third stick

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

How long is your aider and spacing distance? I’m 6’1” with decent stretch the most I can get with 24 in aider and 22 in step spacing is 18 ft. Not calling bs, but am I missing something?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Rangermatthews

Active Member
Vendor Rep
Jun 3, 2019
153
289
63
50
Chassel MI
How long is your aider and spacing distance? I’m 6’1” with decent stretch the most I can get with 24 in aider and 22 in step spacing is 18 ft. Not calling bs, but am I missing something?

I just measured it and the hook is 34.5” from the ground. The reason it works is because the bungee pulls away from the body and is hooked on the stick by your hand. If you go in the kitchen you will see that if you lean back you can get you foot on the 36” counter. Once you are hooked on the bottom step it is easy cause your other foot aider goes on the middle step. The really nice thing is that because of the bungee the hooks come off the steps all by themselves as you go up the tree. The top of the stick in the video is right at 8’. You can reach up and put the stick as high as possible. I hated movable aiders and figured it was pointless to mess with a 6 step aider so I made something different.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk