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Etrier help

Foosty

Foosty

Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2018
Messages
96
Location
East central, IN
Interested in using a 5 step etrier with my WE stepps. Not sure where to start with what carabiner and other attaching equipment, the climbing technique,etc. Wonder if there are any links, or advice you all can recommend?
 
Its a personal preference, but I would recommend using a knaider/swaider. With that being said, have you climbed with a 5 step etrier before? I tried it briefly and decided it was not for me. Some guys do it no problem.

As far as attachment I would recommend a double wire gate caribiner or autolock to make moving it easier. Additional risk would be a single wire gate but most would advise against that i believe. Tether the etrier and biner to your person to prevent from dropping it. Even with that I would carry a backup. Maybe a lightweight aider or rappel rope.

Like everything else...practice.
 
I was under the impression most use non locking carabiners for aiders due to constantly clicking in and out for each step. For lineman/tether/bridge I certainly recommend locking carabiners, but wondering what the consensus is on aiders. Anyone else want to chime in?

Also, there have been more and more reports about kick-outs with aiders on WE stepps, especially multi-step aiders. Like @iamcorey mentions - practice, practice, practice.

Full disclosure - I sell knaiders/swaiders on consignment for @JCLINE84
 
I recommended the knaider/swaider cause I used that last season and could get close to 20’ with 4 steps. Pretty easy if you go slow and practice.




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For gear setup I’d recommend you wrap the steps in vet tape and put two zip ties in the middle. This keeps the carabiner from slipping and causing you to kick out. I use a wire gate carabiner, the double was too much to mess with. Some use a fifi hook, but to me that’s just too darn dangerous. Wrap some reflective tape on the step for coming down in the dark. The 5 steps of my etrier have a reflective material strip glued (with polypropylene safe glue) and zip tied on... also for coming down in the dark.

As for the use. Always keep your linesman above your hips. I lean back (with about a foot to a foot and a half between me and the tree) and grab both sides of my linesman rope. Keep your toe on the tree with lots or pressure. For me, if I try to climb too straight up without leaning back on my lineman I kick out. Leaning trees are tough. I have found as long as they’re not too bad I can climb the underside easier.

It’s definitely not the safest way to climb. You need to practice a lot and don’t be in a hurry. And most importantly, know your limits. Just because some guy on the internet does it that way doesn’t mean you can or should. If it feels uncomfortable, there a plenty of other routes to go.
 
Art_Vandelay said:
For gear setup I’d recommend you wrap the steps in vet tape and put two zip ties in the middle. This keeps the carabiner from slipping and causing you to kick out. I use a wire gate carabiner, the double was too much to mess with. Some use a fifi hook, but to me that’s just too darn dangerous. Wrap some reflective tape on the step for coming down in the dark. The 5 steps of my etrier have a reflective material strip glued (with polypropylene safe glue) and zip tied on... also for coming down in the dark.

As for the use. Always keep your linesman above your hips. I lean back (with about a foot to a foot and a half between me and the tree) and grab both sides of my linesman rope. Keep your toe on the tree with lots or pressure. For me, if I try to climb too straight up without leaning back on my lineman I kick out. Leaning trees are tough. I have found as long as they’re not too bad I can climb the underside easier.

It’s definitely not the safest way to climb. You need to practice a lot and don’t be in a hurry. And most importantly, know your limits. Just because some guy on the internet does it that way doesn’t mean you can or should. If it feels uncomfortable, there a plenty of other routes to go.
Click to expand...

Great info! Thanks!
 
Art_Vandelay said:
For gear setup I’d recommend you wrap the steps in vet tape and put two zip ties in the middle. This keeps the carabiner from slipping and causing you to kick out. I use a wire gate carabiner, the double was too much to mess with. Some use a fifi hook, but to me that’s just too darn dangerous. Wrap some reflective tape on the step for coming down in the dark. The 5 steps of my etrier have a reflective material strip glued (with polypropylene safe glue) and zip tied on... also for coming down in the dark.

As for the use. Always keep your linesman above your hips. I lean back (with about a foot to a foot and a half between me and the tree) and grab both sides of my linesman rope. Keep your toe on the tree with lots or pressure. For me, if I try to climb too straight up without leaning back on my lineman I kick out. Leaning trees are tough. I have found as long as they’re not too bad I can climb the underside easier.

It’s definitely not the safest way to climb. You need to practice a lot and don’t be in a hurry. And most importantly, know your limits. Just because some guy on the internet does it that way doesn’t mean you can or should. If it feels uncomfortable, there a plenty of other routes to go.
Click to expand...

Also, what brand wire gate do you use?
 
DanO said:
I was under the impression most use non locking carabiners for aiders due to constantly clicking in and out for each step. For lineman/tether/bridge I certainly recommend locking carabiners, but wondering what the consensus is on aiders. Anyone else want to chime in?

Also, there have been more and more reports about kick-outs with aiders on WE stepps, especially multi-step aiders. Like @iamcorey mentions - practice, practice, practice.

Full disclosure - I sell knaiders/swaiders on consignment for @JCLINE84
Click to expand...
I use a non locking carabiner on my aiders.
 
I squat down for mine.

You could use a knaider if squating is uncomfortable. Hook your knaider onto the step - take your other foot out of your etrier - clip your etrier to your saddle - then step onto the step. I clip mine on my petzl caritool (size small). It rides there, next to my perch, while I set the next step.

I am 6’ and I set my next step between 6.5’ & 7’ high. I carry 5 steps (one for my perch), but usually only end up climbing with 3. Gets me around 19-21’ up. I have another with me in case i find my self on a hillside and need to get a little higher.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I’m using a 4 step CMI aider with the WE stepps, connected to the WE bag with paracord so I can lift it after stepping up and to retrieve it if I drop it. I use a single wire gate that I zip tie open to keep it from slipping off the aider. I put zip ties on the cross bar and cover them with electrical tape to keep them in place. The key to avoiding kick outs is to first step down on the aider step to take all the slack out of it, then put your toe against the tree. If you don't take out the slack your toe is more likely to slip to the side as it’s slides down the tree. The picture is before I started using the electrical tape. And yes keep a backup aider in your pack or somewhere you can reach while climbing.
31A4A312-530E-4D0B-980B-10A36FCC656D.jpeg31A4A312-530E-4D0B-980B-10A36FCC656D.jpeg
 
ericabbott said:
I’m using a 4 step CMI aider with the WE stepps, connected to the WE bag with paracord so I can lift it after stepping up and to retrieve it if I drop it. I use a single wire gate that I zip tie open to keep it from slipping off the aider. I put zip ties on the cross bar and cover them with electrical tape to keep them in place. The key to avoiding kick outs is to first step down on the aider step to take all the slack out of it, then put your toe against the tree. If you don't take out the slack your toe is more likely to slip to the side as it’s slides down the tree. The picture is before I started using the electrical tape. And yes keep a backup aider in your pack or somewhere you can reach while climbing.
View attachment 17677View attachment 17677
Click to expand...
That's great detailed info! Thank you! Thanks for the pics!
 
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