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XOP Climber seat as climber and platform?

third climb I realized that I could pull the platform up to me close enough with my feet legs while I adjusted belt tension, so scrapping the sidekick stick idea.
Now I'm thinking of some kind of adjustable sling connected to my tether that Id have hanging behind me. Then slide it under the back side of my knees to mechanically keep them tucked to my chest while working on the climber belt.

And so far its pretty stable at hunting height. Ive just been looping a bungee around the belt in front of the tree. You cant put force directly into the sides and you cant put your feet and weight right where the platform and tree meet.
Going to play with creating a hinge to flip up a bar with a batwing at the top, versa button and strap

This is my first time post to this site. I used my TL saddle for the first time this fall. I really like the idea of using the LW seat as a platform. For adjusting the platform would adding a couple of prusik loops to your tether allow you to take your weight off the platform, make the adjustments and step back on? You should also be able to use the loops to start higher in the tree and avoid needing to adjust right away when you get past the wide base.

Note: it would also be a place to stand if I ever dropped the platform.
 
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This is my first time post to this site. I used my TL saddle for the first time this fall. I really like the idea of using the LW seat as a platform. For adjusting the platform would adding a couple of prusik loops to your tether allow you to take your weight off the platform, make the adjustments and step back on? You should also be able to use the loops to start higher in the tree and avoid needing to adjust right away when you get past the wide base.

Note: it would also be a place to stand if I ever dropped the platform.

really my problem with adjusting the belt stemmed from having the belt bars locked into the down position with zip ties. It made it extremely tough to get the belt to go into the bar due to the two being at different angles usually. It was taking me too long and the position you are in isn't comfortable for long
With the bars free moving I just keep my toes/platform teeth pushed into the tree and lean over to the side and one hand adjust in a couple seconds.

Also a loose length of paracord tied from my platform and clipped to the back of my saddle keeps things from falling to the ground.

A prusik on the tether would work for a quick foothold. I just use a separate aider if a situation arises that I need to adjust my tether up/down tree while standing in it though.

Got this lock-on bar on, in its first rough version. Initial test at the base of a tree yesterday was promising.
 
sewed up some new footstraps too. Thinking separate straps will get my feet as tight to the platform as possible.

IMG_0876_zps0ncn3amo.jpg
 
Seems the buckle straps over the toes would work, but I bet some 1/4" bungee cord over the toes and another to pull up over your boot heels would be idea. So much easier to get your feet in/out. My old summit had bungee on the heels and it was sweet. Pull back enough to get your toe out from under the strap and you didn't even have to bend down to get your feet out.
 
Seems the buckle straps over the toes would work, but I bet some 1/4" bungee cord over the toes and another to pull up over your boot heels would be idea. So much easier to get your feet in/out. My old summit had bungee on the heels and it was sweet. Pull back enough to get your toe out from under the strap and you didn't even have to bend down to get your feet out

Yeah I started out with bungees, but my first time being tough I pretty much decided to change everything. I decided that if the belt hung up at all a bungee just causes you to lose some control of the climber by stretching. So Ive been trying to achieve a ski boot-like connection that's light.

current straps look like
IMG_0878_zpsod8wkyq9.jpg

not the easiest to get into, but not so bad that I'm going to change up yet. They are making the tightest connection ive had to the stand so far though.

So tonight Ive realized that just climbing down with this climber is faster than setting/packing up ropes to rappel. Climbing down is also easier than going up and may be just as fast. Exception would be if you worked past limbs on the way up.


So I strapped up the loc-on bar at hunting height and one of the lonewolf bolts bent. Probably due to the 1/16 tube deflecting on the front, but Ive got a 1/8 otw. Ive got a 3/16th but think(hoping) its overkill and unnecessary weight.
IMG_0883_zpsiurovmbr.jpg


Oh well show must go on....
A couple of dances. I wasn't sure which way to hold the phone to avoid the small screen :blush:
Both are same thing, just me moving around platform


pretty solid so far. Gonna beef up the tubing and try different types of trees
 
Bummer on the bolt, was it a grade 5 or 8? Video looked great, are you using the tether to hold your weight, or are you putting most your weight on it? How much do you weigh? Did the new vertical bar improve stability? Looks solid in the video.
 
Bummer on the bolt, was it a grade 5 or 8? Video looked great, are you using the tether to hold your weight, or are you putting most your weight on it? How much do you weigh? Did the new vertical bar improve stability? Looks solid in the video.
not sure about the bolt, its one of the bolts from my lonewolf stick.
when I'm facing the tree in the vid I guess I'm 50/50, on the sides of platform I'm leaning out putting weight into the sides of it. When I turn around I'm grabbing the tether with my right hand and and kind of swinging it over my shoulder and then leaning into the tether with my right shoulder.

6'2" 225 (pre holidays)

yeah its kind of a cam lock thing like the video of the guy with the lock-on above. I tighten the strap and with the foot straps still on my feet I just lift my heels, disengaging the climber teeth and the "stick" does the down the tree/tighten the strap thing. Then when you engage the climber again, the stick strap already being tight really makes the climber dig in
 
not sure about the bolt, its one of the bolts from my lonewolf stick.
when I'm facing the tree in the vid I guess I'm 50/50, on the sides of platform I'm leaning out putting weight into the sides of it. When I turn around I'm grabbing the tether with my right hand and and kind of swinging it over my shoulder and then leaning into the tether with my right shoulder.

6'2" 225 (pre holidays)

yeah its kind of a cam lock thing like the video of the guy with the lock-on above. I tighten the strap and with the foot straps still on my feet I just lift my heels, disengaging the climber teeth and the "stick" does the down the tree/tighten the strap thing. Then when you engage the climber again, the stick strap already being tight really makes the climber dig in
I'm not really following you. I might need to see a video to understand. Do you have one you could share?
 
I'm not really following you. I might need to see a video to understand. Do you have one you could share?
a video of how I put it on the tree? I'm still working on this atm, but once I'm done with it Ill try to make one
 
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Awesome. Thanks.


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Yeah I started out with bungees, but my first time being tough I pretty much decided to change everything. I decided that if the belt hung up at all a bungee just causes you to lose some control of the climber by stretching. So Ive been trying to achieve a ski boot-like connection that's light.

current straps look like
IMG_0878_zpsod8wkyq9.jpg

not the easiest to get into, but not so bad that I'm going to change up yet. They are making the tightest connection ive had to the stand so far though.

So tonight Ive realized that just climbing down with this climber is faster than setting/packing up ropes to rappel. Climbing down is also easier than going up and may be just as fast. Exception would be if you worked past limbs on the way up.


So I strapped up the loc-on bar at hunting height and one of the lonewolf bolts bent. Probably due to the 1/16 tube deflecting on the front, but Ive got a 1/8 otw. Ive got a 3/16th but think(hoping) its overkill and unnecessary weight.
IMG_0883_zpsiurovmbr.jpg


Oh well show must go on....
A couple of dances. I wasn't sure which way to hold the phone to avoid the small screen :blush:
Both are same thing, just me moving around platform


pretty solid so far. Gonna beef up the tubing and try different types of trees

Well look at it this way, if you don't kill a deer from it, at least you're in first place for treestand gymnastics haha jk! Platform looks awesome and sturdy. I wonder if you used a batwing from a stand vs the standoff from a stick if it would have less leverage and not bend the bolt?


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Well look at it this way, if you don't kill a deer from it, at least you're in first place for treestand gymnastics haha jk! Platform looks awesome and sturdy. I wonder if you used a batwing from a stand vs the standoff from a stick if it would have less leverage and not bend the bolt?


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The bolt that bent was actually the middle step bolt from a stick and it bent on the threaded portion that was straddling the hole in stick. I switched to a known grade 8 bolt and even though the threads were still straddling the stick wall it didn't bend tonight.

Yeah if you could only see my hands and arms. The stick pirouettes were magnificent.
 
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Looks good!


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The bolt that bent was actually the middle step bolt from a stick and it bent on the threaded portion that was straddling the hole in stick. I switched to a known grade 8 bolt and even though the threads were still straddling the stick wall it didn't bend tonight.

Yeah if you could only see my hands and arms. The stick pirouettes were magnificent.

Glad you got it figured out, and yes, I'm sure the deer were getting a good laugh lol


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Wish I had seen this befor I bought a set of Stepp Ladders. But I'm sure they will work in some sets.


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How do you navigate branches with your climber?


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How do you navigate branches with your climber?


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Choose a climb without branches, cut them or remove climber from the tree and reattach above the limb
 
I guess I have a lot to learn.


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