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I have a bone to pick with some of you...

I was a ROS fan from the beginning. I tried platforms but would go back to ROS. That’s until last year with the scout. I don’t think I’ll go back. Any tree I can’t get a 6-7 foot strap around for a ROS, I’ll never know because the straps for my sticks to get that high will never get on the tree. Plus, that’s a lot of movement to walk around a big tree and if it’s that big, you will need to add slack in your tether to make it around. I’ll just stay away from those trees unless I already know it’s there and change my equipment to handle it and there would have to be no other trees smaller I could use. It would have to be that good of a spot. It’s not one I’d be prepared for at all times carrying extra long straps.
Anyway back to 99% of the trees I hunt. I don’t find myself restricted at all using a scout to shoot the same angles I shot with my ROS. I still swing around the tree on my scout. I might have one foot pushing off the edge and the other against the tree for support but I can shoot the same angles as I could with a 5 step ROS on a basketball or slightly bigger size tree. I think if you practice hanging off that scout as much as you practice footwork with a ROS, you would be surprised at how well it works. Don’t think of yourself stuck on a 3in platform. Think of it as big step that you don’t stand on, you lean and push off of. I don’t think of my scout as a platform. I don’t like platforms. And it’s a lot easier to set up.
I keep thinking of selling my 2 ROS sets of squirrel steps and my set of ameristeps but then someone comes up with something cool and I’m glad I have them to try but I’m stuck on the scout for now.
 
I can’t imagine an improvement on squirrel steps. There’s already a bigger step available from a couple competitors. there’s already folding steps from a competitor

the advantage gained by folding steps in packing doesn’t seem to hold up against the drawbacks of potential noise at the joint, keeping a joint lubed or making it out of expensive components, increase in cost of manufacture, etc.

the steps weigh 3 ounces. They clip on a lineman’s loop or molle loop or, ugh - in a pouch, and make no noise and are compact. Ten seconds to set the OCB, plus however long it takes your pea brain to do geometry and figure out where you want the steps.

I’ve tried the other options. If what you seek is compact lightweight low fiddle factor ROS, squirrel steps on an OCB is the answer. If you seek more comfort, you have two options. Use something with way more surface area (ring of stepps, or a platform), or get weight off your feet.

I hunted for a season on stepps and squirrel steps as platform with the kestrel. Both were serviceable. I can sit half day or all day with that combo. Then I got a hybrid. I now enjoy sitting as long as the sitting makes sense.

I keep a platform and kestrel for when I need to be standing and facing a specific direction to shoot. The platform will likely get replaced by a beast stand. This is a specific application though, and has nothing to do with comfort.

but if I’m saddle hunting in the traditional sense, squirrel steps and hybrid all day no question. And if you took the hybrid from me, I still ride with the squirrel steps.
 
@Vtbow nailed it. The only reason everybody isn't drilling and using a ring of bolts is because if legality issues. It'd make more sense to combine our efforts and push for legalization than it would to keep trying to innovate around a dumb regulation, but hey...carbon fiber sticks and aiders baby!
 
I wouldn’t mind having a 1 to 1-1/4” squirrel step. Atleast 2 for the ones I stand on for most of the time.
 
kyler1945 said:
I can’t imagine an improvement on squirrel steps. There’s already a bigger step available from a couple competitors. there’s already folding steps from a competitor

the advantage gained by folding steps in packing doesn’t seem to hold up against the drawbacks of potential noise at the joint, keeping a joint lubed or making it out of expensive components, increase in cost of manufacture, etc.

the steps weigh 3 ounces. They clip on a lineman’s loop or molle loop or, ugh - in a pouch, and make no noise and are compact. Ten seconds to set the OCB, plus however long it takes your pea brain to do geometry and figure out where you want the steps.

I’ve tried the other options. If what you seek is compact lightweight low fiddle factor ROS, squirrel steps on an OCB is the answer. If you seek more comfort, you have two options. Use something with way more surface area (ring of stepps, or a platform), or get weight off your feet.

I hunted for a season on stepps and squirrel steps as platform with the kestrel. Both were serviceable. I can sit half day or all day with that combo. Then I got a hybrid. I now enjoy sitting as long as the sitting makes sense.

I keep a platform and kestrel for when I need to be standing and facing a specific direction to shoot. The platform will likely get replaced by a beast stand. This is a specific application though, and has nothing to do with comfort.

but if I’m saddle hunting in the traditional sense, squirrel steps and hybrid all day no question. And if you took the hybrid from me, I still ride with the squirrel steps.
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Squirrel steps are nice but way too small for some people with larger feet. Also there isn’t a wing on them either for side pressure stability which is affected on trees with thick deep bark. The OCB buckle isn’t as strong as it should be for this application and already broke on me once at hunting height. The steps from the website I suggested are bigger and take side pressure a lot better and the folding will make packing them a lot nicer. I have the original steps that this manufacturer modeled his new design from and never had them make a noise because they folded. The Cranford folding “Saddle Scaffold” steps are horrible to stand on and I broke the wing off of the thin side of the Treehopper steps with side pressure and scraped the hell out of my shin. The best I’ve used so far are the old plastic Ameristeps but since they are not in production anyone I’m just looking for another option.
 
Bwhana said:
You have discovered the main problem with EVERY platform on the market. They all are too narrow and too far away from the tree FOR ME and no mfg has yet to come out with one that is wide enough and will wrap around the sides of the tree more in a V to allow a feel like the ROS. Take the Perch as an example - it is way too narrow at the base of the tree and widest way out away, which still keeps your feet and knees too close together. You do not stand still on the ground with your legs close together, but naturally have them at least shoulder width apart for balance and comfort. I thought Matt at OOAL may be the one to tackle it, but have not heard or seen zip since providing this feedback long ago. No true innovation in the platform space, just me too variations, and even the Predator was just the first commercial version of DIY versions from LW parts guys were already doing. This is low hanging fruit for some maker, but they won't bite and keep selling the same old crap.
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The platforms, in my opinion need an offset from the standoff so that the platform itself is 2-3 inches or so from the tree. So then you don't need as large of an overall platform like the Ambush or the Mission but a Scout size or Monarch size that kicks off the tree a few inches. You can still turn around for weak side shots and actually your onside angle you would be out a little further extended your shooting angle for shots around the tree. In other words, if you could stand off from the tree further you don't even need to go around it as much as your angle is widened as you progress from the tree itself making it easier to see and shoot around the blocking tree but still having the blocking tree there for you (for your 10 to 2 o'clock shot opportunities).
 
Bolts offer it all. Climbability, safety, light weight, low cost, flexibility...all of it. Now Mark makes the bolt pedals so you can have a 4" something to stand on too. So the comfort thing is covered.

As far as @gcr0003's original point, you can lead the horse to water, but you can't make him drink. ;) I'm the same way though. Gotta pee on the electric fence for myself and find out
 
Nutterbuster said:
Bolts offer it all. Climbability, safety, light weight, low cost, flexibility...all of it. Now Mark makes the bolt pedals so you can have a 4" something to stand on too. So the comfort thing is covered.

As far as @gcr0003's original point, you can lead the horse to water, but you can't make him drink. ;) I'm the same way though. Gotta pee on the electric fence for myself and find out
Click to expand...

Maybe if the holes are already in the tree. Screw drilling holes. That’s exhausting.
 
Before platforms I used my set of Ameristeps and still use them from time to time.
 
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Tr33_n1nj@ said:
I guess I lost interest after a brief go with a ring of bolts, but this seems like it may solve the issues I had there.

On another note. I’m also liking the 2x4 triangles on a strap idea, but was the “Which steps are best?” argument (squirrel steps vs treehopper?) ever definitively settled?
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I think it was 2x6 in case your buying some lumber?
Country said:
My feet get sore in a platform, hard to imagine how sore they'd be standing on a ROS.
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I have been at this long enough to understand everything about saddle hunting is a personal preference, trail and error, experience thing. No one size/approach fits all. In the interest of full disclosure. I am 67 yrs old, 5' 11", 185#. I have had plantar facia twice, my feet have been great for years now, thanks to EasyFeet inserts and good shoes. I tried ROS, hurt my feet bad, best I can tell, too small a surface area for hours at a time, and number two no tilt on the steps. My predator p works great for me, I run it tilted all the time. I think ROS would work great for me as an addition to a platform but not in lieu of...for me. I have not done that as the weight, bulk, fiddle factor is too high for me.
 
The purpose of this thread was to give recognition to the ROS as a viable option such that new guys would not overlook it.

Y’all are muddying the water with your platform vs. ROS vs. type of steps used debates...
 
gcr0003 said:
The purpose of this thread was to give recognition to the ROS as a viable option such that new guys would not overlook it.

Y’all are muddying the water with your platform vs. ROS vs. type of steps used debates...
Click to expand...
Steps definitely don't get no love. The small companies that make them don't have the marketing budget the platform makers seem to have.
 
The JX3 solves the sore knees, sore back, hip pinch, sore buttocks, and now the sore feet problem...........
Come to the light, the JX3 tree saddle light..............
Don't be afraid, you will sit from dark to dark very comfortably, be able to snooze when you want, no dreaded hip pinch, no back aches, you can shoot 360° around the tree.
No platform required, only a ROS, no sore feet, no knee pads required, no sore knees, built in pack frame for carrying all your needs. Buy once, cry once.
Come to the light, the JX3 light...........
 
gcr0003 said:
The purpose of this thread was to give recognition to the ROS as a viable option such that new guys would not overlook it.

Y’all are muddying the water with your platform vs. ROS vs. type of steps used debates...
Click to expand...

There is no debating steps are superior to platforms!
Lol that’ll help


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Who makes the widest step? I was looking at the bullmans, but they do look kinda narrow. I like the idea of the 2x's for pre sets. But if I like it for mobility, wood may not be the best answer. I'll have to go see my dad at the wood shop. Maybe some different woods and such I can make some light weight steps to play around with.
 
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