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Calling All Ameristep Users!

Cajunshooter said:
I only use the ring and I only hunt on private land. I don’t want to give up the versatility or packability for a platform even though it may be more comfortable.

I would love it if someone could come up with something like this, especially if they are folding.

My concerns are, there is no way a design like these on a strap is going to be stable, so they will have to be a very different design where they attach to a strap. Second concern is how to make these quiet when you pull these out for a pack, strung on a strap. They are going to cling like crazy.

So for me, if the folding (improving packability), noise (aluminum is the problem), and stability on a strap can be solved, I will absolutely buy a set and abandon my Ameristeps.


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I like where your head is at.

Here are my thoughts. Anything that consists of several pieces is going to have noise potential. Managing that potential is key. I believe that keeping the sides of the step flat and eliminating the ameristep "wings" would drastically reduce noise, as would a folding design.

Flat sides could be nestled snug against each other and stealth stripped. @DaveT1963 has a video where he talks about putting adhesive Velcro on the sides and wrapping a sock around the step part of the ameristeps. I can attest from first hand experience that the ends of the step clanking together and the noise they make sliding together are the main culprits.

While I'm not opposed to a polymer/carbon-fiber/micarta/teakwood/elephant ivory step, aluminum is relatively cheap and easy to work with, and has a good strength to weight ratio. I honestly think we have the best shot getting aluminum steps made available. Totally open to suggestions though.

Any ring of steps on a strap will have the potential to make noise if mishandled. That's just the way it be. But I think we can make something significantly quieter than our current options. Plenty of folks have killed plenty of deer with the ameristeps as-is, and they can be stealth-stripped, vet-tapped, dipped, etc.

Definitely everybody keep the feedback coming. I want to see this done and done right.
 
Loving the feedback everybody! What if we came up with a way to hang a strap first, independent of the steps, with an over the center buckle (OCB)? Then slide the folded steps out of a roll and hang them on the strap. That would eliminate almost all the noise potential or at least greatly reduce it.
 
Nutterbuster said:
I like where your head is at.

Here are my thoughts. Anything that consists of several pieces is going to have noise potential. Managing that potential is key. I believe that keeping the sides of the step flat and eliminating the ameristep "wings" would drastically reduce noise, as would a folding design.

Flat sides could be nestled snug against each other and stealth stripped. @DaveT1963 has a video where he talks about putting adhesive Velcro on the sides and wrapping a sock around the step part of the ameristeps. I can attest from first hand experience that the ends of the step clanking together and the noise they make sliding together are the main culprits.

While I'm not opposed to a polymer/carbon-fiber/micarta/teakwood/elephant ivory step, aluminum is relatively cheap and easy to work with, and has a good strength to weight ratio. I honestly think we have the best shot getting aluminum steps made available. Totally open to suggestions though.

Any ring of steps on a strap will have the potential to make noise if mishandled. That's just the way it be. But I think we can make something significantly quieter than our current options. Plenty of folks have killed plenty of deer with the ameristeps as-is, and they can be stealth-stripped, vet-tapped, dipped, etc.

Definitely everybody keep the feedback coming. I want to see this done and done right.
Click to expand...

I don’t really have a problem with the noise of the Ameristeps. I don’t wrap them or anything. They don’t go ting. They almost sound like the plastic rattle sticks. That sound doesn’t ring like aluminum.

How about it the aluminum folding steps were dipped just up to the hinge to the tips. I think that would dampen the noise tremendously.


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You need to do it in a manner that allows the steps to be moved around and adjusted still. May be tough to get it tight enough to stay loose enough to allow adjustment.
 
Damn

I just received my first set of Ameristeps and haven’t used them yet but I like the folding aspect & decreased bulk of this idea

I’m definitely interested




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DanO said:
Loving the feedback everybody! What if we came up with a way to hang a strap first, independent of the steps, with an over the center buckle (OCB)? Then slide the folded steps out of a roll and hang them on the strap. That would eliminate almost all the noise potential or at least greatly reduce it.
Click to expand...

Please do this I’d buy today..
 
If this was too happen a compact folding design not on a ratchet style strap but an overcenter buckle would definitely be a game changer as far as ROS are concerned. I would definitely be interested as a package like that would make for an even lighter run and gun setup. If the were too sell a standard 4 steps with options to buy additional steps would also be cool. Some silencing outline like stealth strips or plasti dip coating would also be a bonus but compact and weight would be my main concerns.

Keep me posted as these are a watched item for me!!!
 
Let me also add that the bottom of these would also need a little length to eliminate roll due to side pressure. I researched doing my own ameristeps but material costs were to steep at the time. The design of ameristeps i believe the patent has since expired but im not 100% on that. If the design was kept the same but was folding i’d Simply ask you “where do i swipe”!!
 
DanO said:
Loving the feedback everybody! What if we came up with a way to hang a strap first, independent of the steps, with an over the center buckle (OCB)? Then slide the folded steps out of a roll and hang them on the strap. That would eliminate almost all the noise potential or at least greatly reduce it.
Click to expand...

Yup, been wanting this for years. This is what I was trying to explain in nutter’s micarta thread. My requirements in bullet form:
- folding is a must for packability. If not folding then stacking at the very least
- plastic preferred but can deal with aluminum or even steel although it is heavy (cranford rope steps for instance)
- slide onto strap after the strap is installed
- surface area comparable to ameristep
 
ImThere said:
I want mine to stay on the strap. I don’t want to worry with 5 different pieces. I don’t want to drop any either.


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I'm kind of with you on this one personally. I'm having a hard time fathoming how you're going to put a strap on a tree and slide the step on and have it cinched down tight enough not to be a complete PITA.

All I'm imagining is a series of MOLLEesque loops on the strap, and sliding the steps on. I thing this would leave you with problems side-loading them, not to mention the trouble of sourcing the strap.

Maybe I'm failing to see greatness though. Anybody have any pics or a good explanation of how this is supposed to work?
 
I made some nice folding steps about 3 or 4 years ago. Then I found some ameristeps. I looked for pics last night and didn’t come up with them. I took them apart and used the parts elsewhere along the way.
I’m still trying to find the. Heck I might make another step to bring to show and tell


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I'm extremely interested in a new step option, largely dependent on price though. I'm a big fan of rigging up the strap alone and then inserting the steps. This was my hacked together idea to do that: https://saddlehunter.com/community/...7f3232-7fd1-4606-b7b0-a59533572764-jpeg.6416/

Looking at the bear claws, if seems that if the piece against the tree were maybe an inch longer with the keyhole a little higher, you could easily replicate the approach I used.

When using these with a ratchet strap, I thread the strap through the ratchet, but instead of cinch it at all, I just tie an overhand knot to hold it in place. Then I put a couple of the steps under the strap. After inserting a couple, it's usually necessary to adjust the overhand knot to get a little more slack. Then I add the remaining steps, position as needed, and finally cinch it down. It's easy, quiet, and relatively quick, but there's a very real chance of dropping a step.

I also tried converting an old quiver as a holder for these (grabbing onto the bolts). That worked ok but was a bit bulky, so I ultimately just used some elastic cord with plastic cord locks to keep them together in storage.
 
I would have to say if you had to attach steps to a strap separately all that will really do is cause an increase in setup time along with a potential to drop one while trying to attach another!! Just my opinion
 
I'll go out to my car at lunch and take photos of the PERFECT strap on steps.

I want to go on the record to state my (strong) opinions.
1. I do not want folding steps. Folding steps add the potential for noise. The 1 folding step design I made out of the hawk helium cut offs would stick to my muddy boot and then drop down and make a ding. When you see the size of my ring of strap on steps you will understand why I feel this way.
2. I do not want a slot to slide the steps on. Again, to me this adds unnecessary room for error. It is much easier to semi tighten a strap and move the steps on the strap to where you want them than it is to set a strap and place steps on to it. It opens up the possibility of dropping steps and losing them. I have used steps with the slot before and if you want to keep them on the strap they will occasionally come off it in the packing process.
 
redsquirrel said:
I'll go out to my car at lunch and take photos of the PERFECT strap on steps.

I want to go on the record to state my (strong) opinions.
1. I do not want folding steps. Folding steps add the potential for noise. The 1 folding step design I made out of the hawk helium cut offs would stick to my muddy boot and then drop down and make a ding. When you see the size of my ring of strap on steps you will understand why I feel this way.
2. I do not want a slot to slide the steps on. Again, to me this adds unnecessary room for error. It is much easier to semi tighten a strap and move the steps on the strap to where you want them than it is to set a strap and place steps on to it. It opens up the possibility of dropping steps and losing them. I have used steps with the slot before and if you want to keep them on the strap they will occasionally come off it in the packing process.
Click to expand...
Youre just going to go out to your car and take a picture of a ring of ameristeps on an OCB boat buckle strap arent you !
 
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