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Anyone try one of these?

It was Wednesday only, I saw it Thursday morning and emailed them and they gave me a different code, it was 15% off
 
Same. I need a tree seat. Sittin on ground aint cuttin it


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The weather was a little better yesterday so I had some more time to play with this thing.I did put some traction strips on it to lessen any squeaking that's common with wet rubber boots and hollow aluminum.I also put some vet tape around certain areas to dampen any sound.I have to say,after welding the top sections together,this thing is a breeze to set up and adjust.Again,I'm simply putting my feet under the crossbar to climb.I'm not using the straps.I adjust the tether as high as I can get it,lean back,put my hands against the tree and lift the platform.Climbing is effortless and it's very quiet if you lift the platform slow.It also really bites hard into the tree.It's not a huge platform but you can stand on it,turn around and shoot to your weak side.My only two suggestions would be to lose the top pins and maybe make it about 2' LONGER.I probably won't use this every hunt just because you are limited to what trees you can climb.It will get a lot of use though.
 
dougell's review is spot on. I got mine in last week and had a chance to go test it yesterday, climbed a couple trees with ease, my only issue is the same as dougs - tree selection. If you hunted a place with pines or a lot of limbless trees this would be a great piece. If anybody is thinking a getting one pm me and I'll make you a deal as this is probably a catch and release for me. If I do keep it I will strongly consider welding the top post to get rid of those two pins, that would make this super easy & quite to use.
 
I got one for Christmas, played with it in the yard for a while and tried it out hunting yesterday. It worked fine once I got the hang of the one foot strap and stand method, but you are really limited to small trees. Like smaller than a basketball in size. Also I wouldn’t recommend applying side pressure so that it doesn’t end up bending one of the tubular hangers. I took a couple of squirrel steps and hung them between where the platforms teeth bit the tree and where the wire rope went around it. On trees that small two squirrel steps get you all the way around the tree for back side and weak side shots.
Also for giggles, I weighed it and it came in one ounce over it’s published weight on my scale so it is basically as advertised.
 
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Once I welded the top section closed,there was zero fiddle factor.Any tubular aluminum stand will make noise if you're not careful but some vet tape takes care of that easy enough.
 
dougell said:
Once I welded the top section closed,there was zero fiddle factor.Any tubular aluminum stand will make noise if you're not careful but some vet tape takes care of that easy enough.
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Pics?


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I'm so intrigued by this! I've saddle hunted on and off for 15 yrs and one thing holds true ... I always matriculate to straight trees with no limbs, because they're simply easiest to make work! Hunted plenty of gnarly ones when I had to, but those are ALWAYS a pita.

Anybody find the fixed set of adjustment holes limiting?

I REALLY like the idea of this for rifle hunting when getting in a specific tree isn't as crucial.
 
swampbuck said:
I'm so intrigued by this! I've saddle hunted on and off for 15 yrs and one thing holds true ... I always matriculate to straight trees with no limbs, because they're simply easiest to make work! Hunted plenty of gnarly ones when I had to, but those are ALWAYS a pita.

Anybody find the fixed set of adjustment holes limiting?

I REALLY like the idea of this for rifle hunting when getting in a specific tree isn't as crucial.
Click to expand...
I tried one of these, they climb great but finding straight limbless trees where I'm hunting is hard to do so I got rid of it. As said above if I would have kept it I definitely would have welded the top of the braces to get rid of 2 of the pins. Good luck if you try it.
 
Yeah, it didn't take me long to order one. Wanna try it out now so I'm not doing so in 90 degree weather.

Will report back!
 
Finally gave mine a go on a few different trees today and certainly have a few thoughts...

My foremost concern was trying to compensate for the slightest amount of taper as you ascend. Seemed like no matter how tight I started off, I would end up with the platform tilted away from the tree in less than 12' up the tree. I want to try starting the climb with 2 cranford rope on steps and then set the platform to hopefully make up for the taper. With most climbing stands, you can get around that by using the top portion to hoist yourself up to the platform that is set at about 4' to start. You just don't have that option here because I can't think of a way to do that with just a tether.

Along the same lines, I think I'll be ordering the shorter 3' cable. Maybe I can't judge tree diameter very well, but I found a 7-8" tree is tough to make work. Plus, I think most trees I eyeball for climbing, the 3' cable will suffice.

Another thing that surprised me was side pressure. I don't want to go against mfg's recommendations, but I had no problems leaning off the side of this thing once the leg strap was tightened around the tree. I only did so at ground level to eliminate the pucker factor, so take for what it's worth.

With regards to the pins ... some have mentioned not liking the pins for the top bar, but I've got no issues with it and I prefer for it to lay flat. I'm going to try putting heat shrink around the wires of the pins and probably stealth strip the side and angle bars to prevent potential noise. Along the same lines, I kinda like the old school nature of the pins and tubing. Reminds me of my first API climber, circa 1998 (yes, I still shoot feathers)

Overall build quality is excellent and I'm happy with the purchase (other than the seemingly early-adopter idiot tax I paid).

I'm committed to tinkering and practicing with this thing because I do believe it'll cut way back on the number of times I have to shlep through the woods with climbing sticks.
 
swampbuck said:
Finally gave mine a go on a few different trees today and certainly have a few thoughts...

My foremost concern was trying to compensate for the slightest amount of taper as you ascend. Seemed like no matter how tight I started off, I would end up with the platform tilted away from the tree in less than 12' up the tree. I want to try starting the climb with 2 cranford rope on steps and then set the platform to hopefully make up for the taper. With most climbing stands, you can get around that by using the top portion to hoist yourself up to the platform that is set at about 4' to start. You just don't have that option here because I can't think of a way to do that with just a tether.

Along the same lines, I think I'll be ordering the shorter 3' cable. Maybe I can't judge tree diameter very well, but I found a 7-8" tree is tough to make work. Plus, I think most trees I eyeball for climbing, the 3' cable will suffice.

Another thing that surprised me was side pressure. I don't want to go against mfg's recommendations, but I had no problems leaning off the side of this thing once the leg strap was tightened around the tree. I only did so at ground level to eliminate the pucker factor, so take for what it's worth.

With regards to the pins ... some have mentioned not liking the pins for the top bar, but I've got no issues with it and I prefer for it to lay flat. I'm going to try putting heat shrink around the wires of the pins and probably stealth strip the side and angle bars to prevent potential noise. Along the same lines, I kinda like the old school nature of the pins and tubing. Reminds me of my first API climber, circa 1998 (yes, I still shoot feathers)

Overall build quality is excellent and I'm happy with the purchase (other than the seemingly early-adopter idiot tax I paid).

I'm committed to tinkering and practicing with this thing because I do believe it'll cut way back on the number of times I have to shlep through the woods with climbing sticks.
Click to expand...
Yes, this platform did very well with side pressure for my practice climbs in the yard. I was pleasantly surprised. I am getting used to the pins and although I'm fine with them; I do think they need some type of noise dampening methods. I ordered the longer cable to utilize on larger trees and will probably order the 3' shorter one also - just to give me more options on tree selection. I will just use the 4' cable and carry the 3' and 5' cables in my pack in case I need to climb either a smaller tree or larger one. Thanks for your review!
 
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