Alright all you seasoned Saddle Hunters, has anyone tried the attached approach for ropes with the WE steps? I got a wild hair up my rear tonight and thought I'd try it out. Seems very solid and no knots to deal with at all. Your thoughts?
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WE Step with Amsteel whoopie Sling? Pics
- Thread starter Stickman
- Start date
Wow, this looks awesome. Just curious, how long have you owned the stepps? Do you think you'll make the switch and run this method full time? Any downsides? Thanks for sharing.
I like it! That really looks like it really has potential. I have discounted whoopie slings for most applications for securing things to trees because you can't get that last little bit tight. However, with the stepps you need a little slack anyway to be able to cam them over. I am definitely ging to give ths a try. Eliminating the knot would be huge! Way to go @Stickman!
EDIT: It just occurred to me that this mod could be made using the existing WE rope as well. Wild Edge already makes a whoppie sling aider from that rope so the whoopie sling is possible using the existing ropes so maybe you don't need to invest in a bunch of amsteel.
EDIT: It just occurred to me that this mod could be made using the existing WE rope as well. Wild Edge already makes a whoppie sling aider from that rope so the whoopie sling is possible using the existing ropes so maybe you don't need to invest in a bunch of amsteel.
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I'm no seasoned veteran, and the mod looks like it works, but with the routing of the amsteel loop and the tucking it under the bottom leg of the step it's about what I have to do to tie on the regular knot. If you can get the tension adjusted properly and it seems faster/easier/more secure for you then I say nicely done.
Looks like you’ve got it working well! I tried it on my Steps but found I was a faster with just tying it with the “loop” method.
I would also wonder about being limited on what size tree you can climb, based upon where the whoopie knot is. You may find some trees too small for it to engage. Maybe not tho.
I would also wonder about being limited on what size tree you can climb, based upon where the whoopie knot is. You may find some trees too small for it to engage. Maybe not tho.
I have not tried it on WE, but like the others stated already, I can tie the WE knot faster than I could adjust a whoopie on sticks. The other issue I had with whoopies is I have to mess with it to get it loose again after it is on the tree. Just not worth it from my experience, but maybe you can get it to work for you.
John H., Hickory, NC
“You sure are cocky for a starvin’ pilgrim.”
John H., Hickory, NC
“You sure are cocky for a starvin’ pilgrim.”
This will be my first year with these steps, so I'm the green one on this site for sure. There are some real OGs here though and gotten tons of great info from them, wealth of seasoned pros.
I won't make the full time switch "full time" at home here in Eastern WA cuz I'll have 12-15 stands with steps on my private properties and its just different than midwest here. Also, it's better for my wife and kids. I'm going to use the saddle settup for my IA and WI whitetail hunts where I have to travel and don't live there year around. Also, going to use it in the mountains in ID a bit on public land.
I tried it on an 8" tree and it works. I won't climb one smaller than that.
Thanks, you're right about the slack. That's why I didn't use them on my sticks for very long. Love the weight, packability, quietness, etc. But, they take some getting used to, like anything else with this stuff. But on these the slack you mention is actually just perfect for camming the step over.
The standard WE knot is not rocket science and basically same time and finess needed to slip loop over the leg as rope method. But, I'm a greenhorn and paranoid about my inadvertently screwing up the knot. Not major advantages to Amsteel I don't think other than, lighter, packs in 50% of the space, slightly easier to take down, have more mental confidence that I didn't screw it up. Probably "sixes" for most guys. Like all this stuff, there is not one way to do most of this.
Been messing with it a bit more and came up with another mod. Seems like the biggest issue is the loop that goes around the tree and back to the step has a tendency for the fibers to snag on the sharp edges going around the end of the step. Also, could be a little bit of an issue in the cold and/or dark with keeping the loop open to loop over the end of the standoff. So, I dipped it
. Fixed !!
. Fixed !!
Tried it out for you, works great! But the standard 6ft rope is too short for a respectable tree. 8ft might do. This picture shows about the largest tree you can go. The issue is the slack you need to get the loop over the stand off.
Attachments
Look at you! My only strong recommendation is that you fish one side so that its picking up both the vertical and horizontal bars so that the rope has not chance to slide towards the center of the horizontal step bar, see attached. So, you'll have one side fixed like you have done it but then the side that will be connected upon installation on the tree (the side with the whoopie handle) needs to loop in the fashion of my pics. Clear as mud?
Fair recommendation but I am not even sure how to create loops at both ends the way you did. Honestly worked so well I wouldn’t bother, aside from the rope itself being too short for it to be practical as is.
Because the camming is what finally tenses the system, you aren’t trying to pull a fully cinched whoopie out. So it’s pretty easy to undo.