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Aiders in the dark

elk yinzer said:
7.5' per stick I would think would be tough with a single loop. I have a double loop and it is stretching that first step to get that height. More comfortable/realistic is a little over 6.5' per stick. Which still gets me to 20' , and more often than not I find 15' is enough and don't even use the aider on the third stick much of the time.

I like 20" steps. I played around with 22" and even 24" and just couldn't get as comfortable with them in bulky clothes.

View attachment 5110
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Calling out all aider users!! I would like to make an aider like this with amstel! Question is....how? I can make a big loop, guess I could lock stitch the other ones......thoughts?
 
DaveT1963 said:
I easily get 6 with a single loop that hangs 24 inch below stick and my 22 inch heliums and can stretch it to 6.5 foot per stick if I want to.
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Hey Dave,
I have trouble with the math.

24 inches to the aider, 24 inches to the stick, 22 inch stick and three sticks . Is 210 inches.... or 17.5 feet. Are you really getting 6.5 feet per stick.

I just wonder if you have measured it. Just wondering how you figure 6.5 feet per stick.
 
I am debating what to do this year. Taking large steps on an aider is generally when you have a kick out.
  1. An amsteel aider does not stay as open as a black diamond aider
  2. The advantages of a six step or 5 step black diamond aider.
  3. Your form is better when climbing short steps vertical position on the tree
  4. It is very easy to put your foot is a black diamond aider IMO>
  5. Disadvantage - a lot of steps
  6. Advantage - I can get 9 feet with the first stick if I place the first stick high using a second step. -
  7. Advantage - I am thinking of using a short stick and a multi step aider to get 9 feet the first stick...I did that all last year. and 7 feet with the next sticks or 7.5 feet.
  8. A short stick is very packable and lighter.
  9. Or maybe I will use a single step aider like reds... I can 30 inches on the first step by pulling my foot up and then 24 inches to the stick and then the stick length. Form is worse and kick outs happens easier.
  10. As far as the original question... I have no problem using an aider in the dark... form and technique are important.
  11. Foot fully inserted... stay upright... foot against the tree... do not lean back... hands on the tree .. I do not have kickouts when I climb a multi step aider with good form.
I am still not sure what is best.
 
I often step further into the wider then 24 inches especially from ground. I also step up 24" on to platform. 3 sticks x 6 foot is 18, 2 foot up on platform = 20 foot. Add 4 inches between sticks is 21 foot
 
DaveT1963 said:
Google continuous loop
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A continuous loop would make one step, I was referring to the one that had 2 steps, but they aren't the kind that sticks out on each side, rather they are both in the center with rope on each side. I guess it looks like a figure 8. I'll try and attach the photo.
 

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donnieballgame said:
A continuous loop would make one step, I was referring to the one that had 2 steps, but they aren't the kind that sticks out on each side, rather they are both in the center with rope on each side. I guess it looks like a figure 8. I'll try and attach the photo.
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I think flinging arrows started a thread about the ultimate aid or that showed am still being used in that way I don't need more than a single loop
 
I carry three types of aiders. They weight nothing. Have little bulk. And also are there for self rescue if any equipment were to fail.

Option 3 alone. allows me to climb up to 40 feet with 6 wild edge steps (6 lbs of steps). Options 1 and 2 combined get me well over 32 feet with the same six. Option 1 or 2 alone gets me over 25 feet. Swamps and marshes, I'll drop a stepp (lb) and carry 5. If I have a branch rich tree, I may Cain through it as well but I prefer aiders over Cain for flexibility in stepp spacing

1 - Knaider
2 - Single continuous amsteel with castration bands
3 - Multistep amsteel

All other times, I use spurs or bolts unless I have a preset with hawk or lone wolf sticks.

Option 3 is trickier in the dark. Option 1 and 2 I could do blind folded. Coming down for all options is easier than going up.

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Ontariofarmer said:
We are all different in what we think is best.


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Very true. Even in climbing height. I've taken an older gentleman under my wing and he only likes to hunt 12-20 feet off the ground. He is only carrying three stepps this fall. They fit in his fanny pack. It's pretty cool.

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BassBoysLLP said:
Very true. Even in climbing height. I've taken an older gentleman under my wing and he only likes to hunt 12-20 feet off the ground. He is only carrying three stepps this fall. They fit in his fanny pack. It's pretty cool.

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Some of my best stands are 6 to 10' high
 
I use a Black Diamond light . It's the headband type . Has a white, red,blue or green lead. I always use green that way I don't lose my night vision. Best headlamp I ever had.
 
Probably good cover low and no shot if you are higher in a marsh
Or a brushy swamp here


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swampsnyper said:
This is what I have (not the picture shown below, but the 1st video in that thread), but I have been meaning to make a continuous loop of 1/4in amsteel with a castration band to make the cinch on top of my foot. I made it where the foot loop to the next step on my ladder is the same spacing as from step to step on my ladder.

http://saddlehunter.com/community/index.php?threads/foot-cinch-aider.5124/
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That's genius man!! Awesome idea and usage. That helps me alot as I didn't want 3-4 separate aiders for each stick this year.
 
I personally do not like it attached to my foot as sometimes I step up with right, sometimes left and as much as I sometimes stretch it is too hard to try to lift it up over the top of sticks.... much easier for me to grab my leg, lean back and guide it into a loop. Coming down I can see where it might work. But in either event a castration band on a loop will allow you to use it either way so yo convinced me to add one. Also, just FYSA - I am now using 7/64s Amsteel blue (orange color) and I just secure a small flexible wire or rope inside and stitch both sides of it to keep loop open. Packs down really nice and weighs nothing. more then enough strength for an aider.
 
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swampsnyper said:
Dave’s single loop aider is the only aider I use. Made it where it cinches around my foot and stays there all the way up. Lots of uses for it too, like a deer drag.
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I made my aider cinch around my foot too. I always use aider on my left foot, right foot on something solid so it works. The single aider system is great. I can use with the wild edge stepps, strap on steps or on top of sticks like Dave showed. I can girth hitch it around the tree or just hook it in to the system. Being short the adjustable aider works great for me.
 
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