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Whats up with the 'Sladder Climbing system"?

How necessary are the extensions? That's probably been my biggest hangup on ordering. The price without is already past my comfort zone. They had a deal last Fall where they were included. Maybe I should've jumped on that but I'm more at like, $180 with extensions included. $150 without.

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TNSTAAFL said:
How necessary are the extensions? That's probably been my biggest hangup on ordering. The price without is already past my comfort zone. They had a deal last Fall where they were included. Maybe I should've jumped on that but I'm more at like, $180 with extensions included. $150 without.

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I don’t think you really need them if you’re sticking to Vollyball-Basketball sized trees.
 
woodsdog2 said:
I don’t think you really need them if you’re sticking to Vollyball-Basketball sized trees.
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Good to know. I mostly stick to those but... then it happens.

Anyone got a "not for me - like new" Sladder they want to recoup some money and get me closer to my price point?

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I know I am going to need the extensions but I didn't buy them yet because I want to try it put first. I will say, in my opinion they should be included for the price but it is what it is.
 
I would see how much would it cost to purchase the Amsteel and build it yourself I think personally if I would get the sladder, I’d feel more comfortable with 3/16 am steel I asked him if it would work and he said he hasn’t tested it, but it should work also
 
I climbed a couple trees with mine the other day. Gets easier every time. I would like a middle of the road sized am steel, somewhere between what comes on it and that with the extension
 
Been eyeing the sladder for a little while off and on. Would anyone consider this a replacement for climbing sticks or not so much?
 
I used it exclusively last year, with the Jx3 hybrid and Jx3 top stick setup.

I have a 2 step aider on the stick, totaling about 4-5’ height above whatever is below bottom step of aider.

I set the sladder from the ground, climb into stirrups, pull bottom up and set, climb up into stirrups, and set my top stick. Hunt.

To climb down, reverse process. Climbing up is about 3-5 minutes to top of stick hanging from tether. Climbing down is about 10 minutes from clipping in my lineman’s to packed and ready to walk out (less clothes change if needed).

I didn’t intend to hunt this way. I bought it to hang cameras. I quickly realized I could get 5-18’ off the ground faster than any other method I’ve used yet. It’s been awesome. I’m sure I’ll find a tree or situation that makes me feel different. I’ll let everyone know when it happens.

It’s simple and quiet and light and fast.
Westdesign03 said:
Been eyeing the sladder for a little while off and on. Would anyone consider this a replacement for climbing sticks or not so much?
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Tethrd VersaLinks - 4 Pack | MeatEater

Introducing the most ultralight and versatile climbing stick attachment method for saddle hunting. Seriously. VersaLinks™ don’t just work for sticks. They can be used anywhere an ultra strong daisy chain style strap would work. VersaLinks™ have a 2.5″ link spacing and are specifically designed...
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Westdesign03 said:
Been eyeing the sladder for a little while off and on. Would anyone consider this a replacement for climbing sticks or not so much?
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I’m hoping that this method replaces my 5 Teathrd one sticks.
I’m hoping it’s lighter, and faster to pack up. Rappelling down and having to stop 4 times to get a stick off the tree is time consuming.

We shall see.
 
arrowchukker said:
I’m hoping that this method replaces my 5 Teathrd one sticks.
I’m hoping it’s lighter, and faster to pack up. Rappelling down and having to stop 4 times to get a stick off the tree is time consuming.

We shall see.
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Yeah that’s kind of what I have in mind too. As much as I love fancy new sticks hitting the market, I am getting to the point I want to be done buying and selling, at least for a long while, and just land on that “perfect” solution. Oh wait, that probably doesn’t exist and never will.
 
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I received mine yesterday. Two climbs in so far. My thoughts:
First climb was rough. Don’t try this in Crocs ( don’t laugh, it’s hot here) or soft rubber boots like Xtra Tuffs. You are going to need a boot with some spine to help keep the Sladder off the tree.
The actual climb was ok. Obviously I’m rusty since I have not made a climb in a while. I never was a big “aider” guy, so there was definite “pucker factor” involved.
I struggled at the top with foot space off the tree. I got through it, but struggled. Also being tall, the bending down to get the Sladder up was a PIA. I have not had any trouble “unhooking” the bottom for the next ascension. Got to height, attached rappel gear and came down. I doubt I’d ever use the Sladder to descend unless I absolutely had to.
I went back and watched his videos again. He had some techniques that I would try in the second climb.
Second climb was actually pretty smooth. Used the recommended technique for spacing and raising the Sladder. I felt much quicker and was actually at 16’ in 3 minutes. Different boots, better technique, way better climb. Pack up was a breeze.
There are couple things you can nitpick about the Sladder. Most already mentioned here. Like any method, some guys will like it, some will not. All personal preference.
 
arrowchukker said:
I received mine yesterday. Two climbs in so far. My thoughts:
First climb was rough. Don’t try this in Crocs ( don’t laugh, it’s hot here) or soft rubber boots like Xtra Tuffs. You are going to need a boot with some spine to help keep the Sladder off the tree.
The actual climb was ok. Obviously I’m rusty since I have not made a climb in a while. I never was a big “aider” guy, so there was definite “pucker factor” involved.
I struggled at the top with foot space off the tree. I got through it, but struggled. Also being tall, the bending down to get the Sladder up was a PIA. I have not had any trouble “unhooking” the bottom for the next ascension. Got to height, attached rappel gear and came down. I doubt I’d ever use the Sladder to descend unless I absolutely had to.
I went back and watched his videos again. He had some techniques that I would try in the second climb.
Second climb was actually pretty smooth. Used the recommended technique for spacing and raising the Sladder. I felt much quicker and was actually at 16’ in 3 minutes. Different boots, better technique, way better climb. Pack up was a breeze.
There are couple things you can nitpick about the Sladder. Most already mentioned here. Like any method, some guys will like it, some will not. All personal preference.
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Yeah, personally I don’t have any interest, but it’s “conceptually adventurous.” The amount of new ideas coming out is amazing(and a wallet killer).
 
It’s going to be just like any other long aider on a leaning or crooked tree. You would use the same thought process and techniques. Same with branches - whatever you do with sticks, do that. It’s actually better though because you have a single connection point for every 5-8’ you move up the tree.

It’s not a magic bullet.

I really think people are missing its real value. Skip rappel gear, skip resetting 4 times, skip leaning trees, and aerial acrobatics.

Use it to get 5-15’ in any 6-18” diameter, generally straight tree. In less than 5 minutes. And be down in less than 5 minutes. Quietly.

If you’re trying to get 30’, or climb a horizontal tree, or want to get weird, there’s better options in my opinion.

The sladder, tether, lineman’s, Jx3 hybrid and top stick, as I have them set up, weighs less than 15lbs. I can get 0-18’ in complete silence, in less than 5 minutes each way. Pack and unpack in less than 2 minutes each way.
 
kyler1945 said:
I really think people are missing its real value. Skip rappel gear, skip resetting 4 times, skip leaning trees, and aerial acrobatics.

Use it to get 5-15’ in any 6-18” diameter, generally straight tree. In less than 5 minutes. And be down in less than 5 minutes. Quietly.
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I absolutely love this response - thank you! Currently I use Wild Edge stepps with a knaider. And while I am very proficient with that method, and love how versatile and compact that system is, for me it is SLOW. It usually takes me 20+ minutes to be set up in a tree at 16+ feet. I know it's not a race, but it would be worthwhile for me to be even more mobile and hop up and down trees in 5 minutes.

Also, I don't have rappel gear, so going down this road was another hesitation I had. But I'm not trying to get past 18' or 20'. Fifteen feet in 5 minutes would be an absolute win. But then again, I'm only 5'8", so not sure how high I can get with only 2 moves.
 
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