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Bullman Pioneer steps

I received my Pioneer steps and these are my impression comparing them to my Treehopper steps.
Both Bullman and Treehopper are good companies from my experience with them, and I am not trying to throw anyone under the bus.
I tried the Bullman attachment method with the Pioneer steps and I did not like how the step felt. The top of the step pulled away from the tree.
So I tried the truckers hitch and buckle wrap. Still the step felt loose. So I really cranked down on the truckers hitch, see pic, the step rolled up when I got the daisy super tight. I am OK with the roll up but the step still pulled away from the tree and the side wobble was unacceptable to me.
(I moved my foot off to the side in the pic, so you can see the step pulling away.) The pioneer steps are a no go for me, they may work better with a buckle, but I do not have a buckle to try them.

I also tried my Treehopper steps with the Bullman attachment method, and no go, the step pulled away from the tree. Then I tried the truckers hitch tight and just looping a daisy loop over the buckle, not wrapping the Amsteel around the buckle. I had no feeling of the step pulling away and no noticeable side wobble. . Some people may be fine with a little step movement, but I am not comfortable with it. I want the step to feel rock solid.
 

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GeoFish said:
I received my Pioneer steps and these are my impression comparing them to my Treehopper steps.
Both Bullman and Treehopper are good companies from my experience with them, and I am not trying to throw anyone under the bus.
I tried the Bullman attachment method with the Pioneer steps and I did not like how the step felt. The top of the step pulled away from the tree.
So I tried the truckers hitch and buckle wrap. Still the step felt loose. So I really cranked down on the truckers hitch, see pic, the step rolled up when I got the daisy super tight. I am OK with the roll up but the step still pulled away from the tree and the side wobble was unacceptable to me.
(I moved my foot off to the side in the pic, so you can see the step pulling away.) The pioneer steps are a no go for me, they may work better with a buckle, but I do not have a buckle to try them.

I also tried my Treehopper steps with the Bullman attachment method, and no go, the step pulled away from the tree. Then I tried the truckers hitch tight and just looping a daisy loop over the buckle, not wrapping the Amsteel around the buckle. I had no feeling of the step pulling away and no noticeable side wobble. . Some people may be fine with a little step movement, but I am not comfortable with it. I want the step to feel rock solid.
Click to expand...
Have you used either of these for a ROS? If so what’s your opinion
 
Order 6 pioneer steps last night with buckle straps and a OCB strap from EWO. Going to try using them as steps to climb the tree, ROS and maybe taking a couple with me when I use sticks if I ever need extra height. Also as a platform hybrid setup with a couple steps around the tree. Cannot wait! Hoping I don’t regret not ordering squirrel steps instead.
 
As a ROS, the Pioneer steps should work as well as squirrel steps.
Let us know how they do for climbing with the buckle straps.
 
Got my Pioneer steps in a few days ago. As far as using them to climb? I got the same pulling away action as Geofish. Hard to describe but instead of sliding down the tree a little which is fine to me. They stop before they can fully set and the top rolls away from the tree. They arnt going to cutout I don’t think but I won’t be using them for climbing. Btw that’s me cranking on the strap as hard as I possibly could. You would also need a ton of these to get anywhere on a tree.
Also tried using them as a ROS and was surprised at how well they hold and they feel pretty good with a EWO OCB strap. Side note I have very little ROS experience but I’ll be trying them out as ROS this year.
Going to continue to try to figure out alternative climbing ways with them. Considering using them like people use a Cranford rope step with a CAYG aider. I thought I’d you put two on the same strap at the same level so you would have a place for both feet. Also tie your aider to yourself and stand on one foot to be able move your aider with you.
 
Sorry to hear the buckle did not work.
I just went out and hung 4 Treehopper steps.
I did not use the truckers hitch, just pulled the Amsteel daisy tight and hooked the closest loop over the buckle. Pulled the step down to get the Amsteel tight.
The steps sagged a little but pull out from the tree was minimal. Zero pullout on some and minimal on one other.
I have had to ditch the aiders because of the new area I am hunting, too many crooked trees.
Going to run 10 Treehopper steps and one stick.
Not using aiders, I can get to 6 feet with 4 steps.
 
I have 10 with the straps and they work well. I'm able to get them tight and they don't roll. I made a few of my own daisy's and although they were impossible to get tight to the tree they didn't seem to move much. I like the straps better.
 
Glad to hear they are working for you. May be some thing to do with the type of tree you are using them on. Soft or hard bark, or straight or with some twist.
 
GeoFish said:
I received my Pioneer steps and these are my impression comparing them to my Treehopper steps.
Both Bullman and Treehopper are good companies from my experience with them, and I am not trying to throw anyone under the bus.
I tried the Bullman attachment method with the Pioneer steps and I did not like how the step felt. The top of the step pulled away from the tree.
So I tried the truckers hitch and buckle wrap. Still the step felt loose. So I really cranked down on the truckers hitch, see pic, the step rolled up when I got the daisy super tight. I am OK with the roll up but the step still pulled away from the tree and the side wobble was unacceptable to me.
(I moved my foot off to the side in the pic, so you can see the step pulling away.) The pioneer steps are a no go for me, they may work better with a buckle, but I do not have a buckle to try them.

I also tried my Treehopper steps with the Bullman attachment method, and no go, the step pulled away from the tree. Then I tried the truckers hitch tight and just looping a daisy loop over the buckle, not wrapping the Amsteel around the buckle. I had no feeling of the step pulling away and no noticeable side wobble. . Some people may be fine with a little step movement, but I am not comfortable with it. I want the step to feel rock solid.
Click to expand...

thanks, very informative and you just saved me 100 bucks

i have a bunch of treehopper steps and was thinking of switching to pioneers next season to save 1.5 pounds but now won't

plus, with the potential sawing action on the amsteel, i feel that you'd have to really chamfer the pioneers, while the treehoppers do not cut into the amsteel at all due to being molded
 
GeoFish said:
How are you packing your steps?
The roll I am getting my be because I am 220lbs. And have a size 14 boot, putting more pressure at the end of the step???
Click to expand...

i have 12 steps, i set up 6 as lefties and 6 as righties

i have 2 sea to summit mesh bags. i put 6 in each and attach to the sides of my saddle
seatosummitusa.com

Mesh Stuff Sack | Sea to Summit

The Mesh Stuff Sack is ideal for a plethora of uses. From transporting wet gear without trapping odors and storing sleeping bags to air drying gear at camp, they're the perfect solution with great color coding in a ultra-lightweight and strong 75D multi-filament Nylon mesh and with a 30D...
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i can't say enough good things about sea to summit products, their mesh bags and compression sacks are extremely durable and well made

the 6.5 liter size fits 6 steps with amsteel easily with room to add more later, you could get away with the 4 liter size, but it would be a tight fit

my attachment to saddle is a loop of 5/8" webbing sewn to the mesh sack and a small plastic carabiner is ran through it and clips to the saddle
 
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