Anyone here actually climbing with strap on steps?

[TNSTAAFL]

I feel like climbing above 25 feet begs for 1-sticking. Probably with rappel, if you are willing to buy a longer rope.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[gcr0003]

I feel like climbing above 25 feet begs for 1-sticking. Probably with rappel, if you are willing to buy a longer rope.

Just my 2 cents.

Not to get 30ft, but just because.

I updated my post to be clear I am not trying to get 30ft, I just still have some interest in trying this climbing method. The other thread just made me think of trying the strap on steps since I was told thats what he uses.

 

[raisins]

Bump. The 30ft Mr. Eberhart thread got me wanting to try steps again. Not to get 30ft, but just because I have never used this climbing method. Does anyone climb with the new Treehopper Steps. I've always wanted to try them out, at least once.

Seems like there is a bunch of love for the cranfords too. Decisions...

Also to any of you that posted over the summer that you exclusively climb steps, has that remained the same or have you moved onto something new?

View attachment 42126

Yep. My preferred method. 6 in 2 different mesh pouches can get me 24 feet with 2 foot spacing and weighs with steps, amsteel, pouches, and pouch clips under 5 pounds. With trucker's hitch, tighter than most sticks, and everything disappears inside a 32 liter pack. 8 in each pouch and you could easily get to 30 feet with around 6 pounds of weight total for climbing system.

Here's my description. If I had to do it over again, the only thing I'd change is I would find a way to avoid the two permanent overhand knots in the daisy chain (keeps step from sliding), since overhand knots weaken amsteel.

As far as strength, I put on boots and put one of those steps on that same telephone pole. I stomped on it, bounced on it, kicked it, held on to the pole and pushed from the side as hard as I could....just tried to break it.....and nothing. Step laughed at my efforts as did the amsteel.

description/review of amsteel buckleless treehopper step climbing method after 20+ hunts

I described on someone else's thread a while back how I was going to try an amsteel daisy chain method with treehopper steps. I developed that and used it for the past 20 or so hunts and this will be my method until maybe I switch to Tethrd One sticks with aiders. Any critiques or suggestions...

saddlehunter.com

 

[okccj]

Yep. My preferred method. 6 in 2 different mesh pouches can get me 24 feet with 2 foot spacing and weighs with steps, amsteel, pouches, and pouch clips under 5 pounds. With trucker's hitch, tighter than most sticks, and everything disappears inside a 32 liter pack. 8 in each pouch and you could easily get to 30 feet with around 6 pounds of weight total for climbing system.

Here's my description. If I had to do it over again, the only thing I'd change is I would find a way to avoid the two permanent overhand knots in the daisy chain (keeps step from sliding), since overhand knots weaken amsteel.

As far as strength, I put on boots and put one of those steps on that same telephone pole. I stomped on it, bounced on it, kicked it, held on to the pole and pushed from the side as hard as I could....just tried to break it.....and nothing. Step laughed at my efforts as did the amsteel.

description/review of amsteel buckleless treehopper step climbing method after 20+ hunts

I described on someone else's thread a while back how I was going to try an amsteel daisy chain method with treehopper steps. I developed that and used it for the past 20 or so hunts and this will be my method until maybe I switch to Tethrd One sticks with aiders. Any critiques or suggestions...

saddlehunter.com

Instead of the overhand knots on either side of the step, what would you use?

 

[raisins]

Instead of the overhand knots on either side of the step, what would you use?

You could insert the step inside the second loop of the daisy chain and splice around it. You then have halved your strength there though. You could also pass the chain around the front and back through the loop again (girth hitching the chain onto the front of the step).

You could also do a little splicy bump in there or splice/tie around something not sharp (a bead that keeps the amsteel from cutting itself). Amsteel is so slick that under force the knot keeps tightening until it can cut itself in half (it's pull strength is much higher than its cut resistance).

Realistically, my body weight isn't stressing this overhand knot and I inspect regularly.

 

[Slowclimb53]

I’ve been using the Silent Approach steps all season and haven’t had any issue besides a slight learning curve. They pack great and can get up about any tree. I have always wanted to try the cranford rope steps though.

 

[okccj]

I’ve been using the Silent Approach steps all season and haven’t had any issue besides a slight learning curve. They pack great and can get up about any tree. I have always wanted to try the cranford rope steps though.

I would probably not endorse the Cranford rope steps. The whoopie sling setup is not ideal.

 

[LAKY]

I still use the cranfords. I keep 12 in 2 separate pouches on my chest. Walk up to the tree and start climbing. I timber hitch all of them. I think people have an issue with the fact they pull away from the tree a minimal amount. It's really a non issue that people get hung up on. It's a mind thing. The steps are made at such an angle that even pulling out from the tree, still doesn't leave an unsafe angle to it. The strapping to a tree part does take longer (you can get really fast at it with practice), but you don't have to unpack anything, and there's less bulk.

 

[gcr0003]

If you buy these treehopper steps do they each come with a strap or is it just buy 5 get 1 strap? Or strap sold separately? Anyone know?

 

[raisins]

If you buy these treehopper steps do they each come with a strap or is it just buy 5 get 1 strap? Or strap sold separately? Anyone know?

I'd call and ask Mark about packages. The default setting on the steps page is that they come just the steps and you can buy straps separately. That's fine with me because I wouldn't use the straps anyway.

 

[bowkill00]

I used bullman outdoors silent approach steps all season, love them. Them with DanO sling pouch / purse to store them in is cut the fiddle factor in half.

Drop them in the pouch, 5/6 at a time then stuff the strap tag ends in, repeat on the last 5/6 stuff them in pull the cord shut ur done

Same thing climbing pull the 5/6 straps out use them then pull the others out.

His bags are hard to use with a lineman’s belt since they are around ur waist, with dans bag I wear it like a purse so it’s off to the side and not a hinderance. Tryin to stuff the straps and **** with zippers is a turn off and time consuming with his stock bags.

5lbs 12 steps get me well over 20’. I’ve gotten pretty fast with them, just hard to beat.

100% agree. I use the exact same setup.

 

[Blacksmith]

So easy to carry and quieter than busting brush w/sticks.

 

[Robert loper]

I think that using all those straps would be a huge fiddle factor. No thanks just wouldn't work for me.
ill stick with my sticks

 

[Buckhunter]

Tried everything on the market, i hate climbing sticks, have settled on 10 bullman steps, works for me.

 

[enkriss]

I tried it. To many straps to deal with

 

[gcr0003]

I tried it. To many straps to deal with

Yea climbing steps to me is lovely but 10 straps is not...

 

[raisins]

My system uses 0 cam straps and 12 super light and compact amsteel daisy chains that are elastic paracorded to the step while in transit (no noise, no weight, no bulk). I have mod'd Hawk Heliums and never use them now and only use steps.

 

[gcr0003]

My system uses 0 cam straps and 12 super light and compact amsteel daisy chains that are elastic paracorded to the step while in transit (no noise, no weight, no bulk). I have mod'd Hawk Heliums and never use them now and only use steps.

Yea you’re doing timber hitches huh?

 

[raisins]

Yea you’re doing timber hitches huh?

Trucker's hitch. Makes the steps probably more secure than a stick (full contact of daisy chain with bark since no standoff, also can't kick out and you have 2 independent points of support because of 2 steps at a time, if something bad happens you have another step right below you to step down to vs sticks that are spaced wide due to using aiders/etc). Can get 24 feet with 4.7 pounds total for everything (steps, daisy chains, carry bags, clips to clip to saddle while climbing).

 

[ImThere]

i think Ted does also seems he put out a video