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Best Climbing Method for Big Feet?

GingerbeardMan

GingerbeardMan

New Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2019
Messages
3
Howdy Saddle Hunters, This will be my first year in a saddle and I’ve spent a lot of time at local parks, WMAs, etc. practicing and trying to develop my system. I went with the wild edge steps as a climbing method due to how sturdy they seemed. I’m a big guy, 6’3 270ish, former college athlete, and have a size 15 shoe. I’ve been working out the WE learning curve and getting better day by day, but I’ve noticed I can get into some potentially dangerous situations by just placing one of my stupid sized feet on the step and not having any other place to put the other, or not a great way to re-position. Luckily at my size I’m still decently athletic, but it got me thinking others might have encountered similar problems. I was wondering what some of you other big footed saddle hunters used as a climbing method and if you’ve had similar thoughts while climbing trees. I’ve also got a Wes Spir order in for about 80’ of climbing line for some DRT climbing but I like having options.
 
Welcome aboard.
You already have the climbing method I was going to recommend. Other folks know more than I know, but I have LW Climbing sticks, Cranford Rope On steps, Deer-Me rope on steps and some WE steps. I have size 13 boots and they all seem to work, but the WE steps have the largest surface area for me therefore they seem the sturdiest. You have me by about 50 lbs so that may play into it as well.

Whatever choice you make to climb, if you are using a single-step device it helps to keep the inside (foot arch side) of your boot pushed up along the trunk of the tree when you climb. Obviously this enables more surface area for your boot, but it also keeps all of the pressure as close to the tree as possible to avoid pulling away from the tree.
 
Welcome aboard.

I have a 14.

I have found that the WE’s are great. Hard for guys with a size 13 and up to get 2 feet on the same step. I always keep an extra step or two with me. I find if I need it is great to have, also, I will use it as a handhold for transitioning over to my platform. Using the WE’s and the Beast Sticks.

I also really like the Beast Sticks. These are rock solid. They really dig in.


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Scott F said:
Whatever choice you make to climb, if you are using a single-step device it helps to keep the inside (foot arch side) of your boot pushed up along the trunk of the tree when you climb. Obviously this enables more surface area for your boot, but it also keeps all of the pressure as close to the tree as possible to avoid pulling away from the tree.
Click to expand...

That is a seriously good piece of advice. First week with my steps I was most climbing toe heavy, and it was almost a deal breaker. Especially when I was trying to scoot up a crooked tree. It makes a night and day difference.
 
Did you ever figure out a good solution for a climbing method? I am in the same situation as you with the WE stepps. Feet are too big!
 
Once I found SRT / RADS, I never looked back. No muddy, slippery rubber boots on steps for me. I never had a bad slip but I could feel the potential for a bad slip.
 
mn_booner said:
SRT/RADS?
Click to expand...
Oops. My bad. Single Rope Technique (SRT) / Rapid Ascent Descent System (RADS).
It is really not so rapid an ascent but nothing has to be changed from the time you leave the ground until you descend to the ground later. I don't like to make things too complicated. You climb the rope and not the tree. Getting the rope up the tree is the hard part.
There are many threads on this on this site.

Easiest climbing methods for old guys

If any of the over 40 crowd that does one stick would be willing to share a video of it, i'd appreciate it. i've seen boyne's vid. (great job). but i'd like to see other people's take on it. Just for the record, I fall in the "experienced" category at 57. :)
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Bolts work well, if you're OK with the foot pressure from the small support area. They're as strong as anything...but you spend a bit of time standing on a narrow bolt.
 
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