-
The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
-
We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules
Figuring out the best way to climb
- Thread starter briand60
- Start date
I don't think it's dumb at all. People argue endlessly here over saving 2 ounces on their climbing method.
The ancient block and tackle system is called...SRT.
The reason I compare other saddles to the JX3 is because I consider it the ultimate in saddle comfort. If you think otherwise, please explain why.
I have never sat in a JX3 so I am only going by other's opinions. I might be wrong.
Last edited:
Cut down on your sticks to. Say 3 sticks instead of 4. Or 2 but have room to hide away in the tree. I found from dropping down to 3 sticks help me out. But these are chopped lone wolf sticks to 20 inches.
Sat in a tree for 2 hours till dark. No hip pinch at all.Yes.
Just my two cents, I’m 30 and a hair under 200 lbs, not in the best shape in the world but not overweight. I’ve used WEI stepps and didn’t like them, I used LW full length sticks and didn’t like the single steps, etc. This year I’m running (3) LWCG double step sticks and an ambush. I can get to about 12’ with 3 sticks even though they’re short and really love it. I use amsteel daisy chains on my sticks so they go on and off the tree in basically 3 seconds. I’m getting ready to experiment with some double swaiders, a lot easier than a knaider, and if hooked to the top and bottom alternating I should be able to get about 7’ per stick with comfortable step spacing and nothing but a loop to throw over the stick, so shouldn’t be any harder than climbing an actual stick step.
I’m running a LWCG ambush that I’m also attaching with an amsteel daisy; and a 1/4” amsteel daisy tether than is about 1/10 the size of most tethers. Packability of the sticks on the ambush is awesome, and I made someDIY imitations of the jhooks LWCG offers and its all solid with no clanking.
I’m running a LWCG ambush that I’m also attaching with an amsteel daisy; and a 1/4” amsteel daisy tether than is about 1/10 the size of most tethers. Packability of the sticks on the ambush is awesome, and I made someDIY imitations of the jhooks LWCG offers and its all solid with no clanking.
I personally feel that the knaider is a great tool. If you added just a knaider to your WE stepp system you could cut your number of steps needed in half. This would reduce your weight and fiddle factor by half. A knaider in combination with your sticks may allow you to carry one less stick. It does not require any extra effort. Might be worth a try. Just my two cents. Best of luck!
I will say that with all these new shiny sticks showing up, it is getting harder to resist. Luckily they have an insane price tag compared with other ways to successfully climb a tree.
With that being said, has anyone ever ordered the scratch and dent beast sticks. The new ones are now $90/stick. Scratch and dents $73/stick.
With that being said, has anyone ever ordered the scratch and dent beast sticks. The new ones are now $90/stick. Scratch and dents $73/stick.
Thanks for all the input Folks. Just when I was really getting my head around using bolts NJ State Park service just outlawed anything that pierces the bark of a tree. Rats.
Just like you I'm obsessed with finding the best way to get to hunting height. I've tried most ways but not all. Spent countless hours on YouTube watching every way possible to get up a tree. As you have probably found out, there is no one system beats all. Each system has it's drawbacks, throwball, weight, and fiddle factor just to name a few. I have a jx3 and like @bj139 said, its comfort is second to none even for a 5'11 300 pound fat guy like me. Out of everything I've tried so far I like drt with a ascender and foot loop. I find it easier then SRT because drt with a foot loop allows you to use both hands and a leg to pull yourself up. With SRT you can only use one hand and one leg to pull yourself up, the other hand has to pull the rope through your belay device. My biggest issue was the belay device I was using. I couldn't get it to rappell. I would like to try SRT again with a gri gri. I also want to try drt with a hitch climber.
I’m not sure if there is a single “best way”. I think for each tree there might be one way that is better/more efficient.
For the trees in my area, one-sticking type climbing is my preference. There are few hardwoods and many many very tall pines. For some of those hardwoods, branches are reachable with a throw bag, some would cause me fits trying to get a line over a branch.
I just picked up a LW hand climber seat that I’m going to sit and climb with in my saddle - same concept as one-sticking, without the stick. It should work well for a majority of trees in the area I hunt, but not all of them.
SRT is a great way to climb, but requires more equipment and metal parts and pieces than some people want to carry. DRT is simple but requires some physical coordination that some people struggle with.
What might be a good reference to have on this forum is a “sticky” that details the various methods and the required equipment, along with their preferred application.
Semper Fi,
Mike
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
For the trees in my area, one-sticking type climbing is my preference. There are few hardwoods and many many very tall pines. For some of those hardwoods, branches are reachable with a throw bag, some would cause me fits trying to get a line over a branch.
I just picked up a LW hand climber seat that I’m going to sit and climb with in my saddle - same concept as one-sticking, without the stick. It should work well for a majority of trees in the area I hunt, but not all of them.
SRT is a great way to climb, but requires more equipment and metal parts and pieces than some people want to carry. DRT is simple but requires some physical coordination that some people struggle with.
What might be a good reference to have on this forum is a “sticky” that details the various methods and the required equipment, along with their preferred application.
Semper Fi,
Mike
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I have 3 different climbing methods: climbing sticks, one sticking with a muddy pro and ameristeps with OCBs. When I am going in and don't have a specific tree picked out I carry the ameristeps. I find they are the most versatile with the trees in the areas I hunt.
An example is my hunt last night. The tree I found I needed to be in was a multi trunk elm. I would not have been able to climb with sticks. In order to get up the tree I had to put two America reps around the large base, then one on a secondary trunk, another on a different trunk and the 3 more on the trunk I ended up set up in.
Amristeps aren't my favorite way up a tree but I know I can get into any tree with them.
An example is my hunt last night. The tree I found I needed to be in was a multi trunk elm. I would not have been able to climb with sticks. In order to get up the tree I had to put two America reps around the large base, then one on a secondary trunk, another on a different trunk and the 3 more on the trunk I ended up set up in.
Amristeps aren't my favorite way up a tree but I know I can get into any tree with them.
Aren't you attaching a carabiner to your ascender as shown here? If you do you can pull down with both hands and push up with one or two legs. By using a carabiner attached to your ascender you set up a 3:1 mechanical advantage making it easier to climb. Without that SRT may be harder as you say. 3:1 makes it so much easier. Any carabiner will work. You don't need the rollclip.
Here is a short video as well showing the 3:1.
I'm using strap on steps in a sewn bag. Maybe not as fast up the tree as sticks but easy to carry in and out. I didnt like the W.E. twice! Sticks seem so heavy and brush catching to me. Thought about trying Hawk minis but I'd have to carry 5. Too old for aiders.