That's the reason this site took the direction of a "gear site". In the old days we didn't have much gear available and we had to figure out how to make something work for us. There are definitely some stone cold killers on here though.
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I have a bone to pick with some of you...
- Thread starter gcr0003
- Start date
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I did the chasing of platforms, climbing sticks and saddles last year.
I figured out some things...
I don’t like pleated saddle.
Any climbing stick I buy must give me 4”+ from the tree and stack inline.
Platforms suck! Ring of steps for life...
I figured out some things...
I don’t like pleated saddle.
Any climbing stick I buy must give me 4”+ from the tree and stack inline.
Platforms suck! Ring of steps for life...
U got me all wrong....no negativity..just tongue in cheek jest.
Ring of steps suck by the way..... hahahahaha
I played around with vet tape but, it ended up being more of a pain than it was worth. Just be methodical when you put them on and take them off and you can be quiet with them. As far as extra grip, I think as you use them more you will realize that it is unnecessary. I have never had a tree that I couldn't get them rock solid with an OCB and little effort.
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Fair enough, just the way it has come across to me sometimes. Cheek and tongue and flap them gums that I don’t mind haha.
Also, ROS don’t suck until I determine they suck.
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I was kind of rushed last night trying them out and the tree I have in the back yard is 1/8 dead at the bottom and it is also more pear shaped than round so the steps that were between or in the divot or dips of the pear had hardly any pressure on them and would slide with some on and off side pressure. The ones that were on the tangent of the tree did seem rock solid.
what’s your climbing method with ROS? Im debating on making a mini stick no platform for one sticking vs having to reset the ROS 4-5 times while using a 3 step aider.
Yeah, I have had to change the spacing on my steps on occasion to miss an irregular spot in the tree but, when that happens I can usually find a spot that each step is solid. I climb with three 24" helium sticks and a knaider. I've tried many methods but keep coming back to the simplicity of three sticks.
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I hear ya. The only real issue I ever had with my three LW sticks and removable aider was snagging on the walk in. When i cut them down I didn't like hanging/carrying 4/5 sticks. Since I have gotten proficient with the one stick it is hard for me to carry more than one stick with me into the woods. I would climb with just an aider if there was a way to keep it way from the tree... I still need to try that 2TC method.
While I really like the "Subaru Nation" effect comment, we all know the real truth . . . it's the stringent substance abuse tests that go along with working for @DanO.
@Weldabeast is not to be trusted....
I made some wood block steps originally, then some out of pvc pipe, and then aluminum. IMO if u stand more vertical then ROS is a good option....although the spacing and attachment strap gave me a hard time pretty often...if u a more heavy leaner like me I didn't care for ROS mainly because even with a hd ratchet strap they still felt spongy and moved because of the extra side pressure I apply leaning out from the tree as far as I do. It's no fault to the piece of equipment... Without more surface area contacting the trunk (wider) steps they aren't going to handle side pressure good. On a giant diameter tree I can see a benefit but I don't get in big 1s. On the 10-20 diameter trees I look for and choose a small platform and heavy lean will actually allow u to rotate with less movement than a ROS.
Everybody's different... Maybe it'll work maybe it'll blow...
Just remember... Don't trust @Weldabeast
I made some wood block steps originally, then some out of pvc pipe, and then aluminum. IMO if u stand more vertical then ROS is a good option....although the spacing and attachment strap gave me a hard time pretty often...if u a more heavy leaner like me I didn't care for ROS mainly because even with a hd ratchet strap they still felt spongy and moved because of the extra side pressure I apply leaning out from the tree as far as I do. It's no fault to the piece of equipment... Without more surface area contacting the trunk (wider) steps they aren't going to handle side pressure good. On a giant diameter tree I can see a benefit but I don't get in big 1s. On the 10-20 diameter trees I look for and choose a small platform and heavy lean will actually allow u to rotate with less movement than a ROS.
Everybody's different... Maybe it'll work maybe it'll blow...
Just remember... Don't trust @Weldabeast
Nah. Wouldn't be your thing. It's bare bones climbing. Not much actual gear to play with there.
We all know you'd be selling your thigh loop after a week anyway.
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1. All I do is bare bones mannnnnNah. Wouldn't be your thing. It's bare bones climbing. Not much actual gear to play with there.
We all know you'd be selling your thigh loop after a week anyway.
2. For the record the only thing I have really bought and sold like a mad man is saddles.
3. I'll try this method just as soon as I sew myself one of those cute little thigh straps. I'll have to figure out the tether situation too since I don't fool with amsteel. Since I am now a self proclaimed DIYer before even operating a sewing machine I will be confined to things I make. I will also not be able to sell my stuff per the rules! I am doomed haha
For real though, when are you going to make a video climbing more than two moves with this method. Both the videos I saw of you and @always89y y'all only progressed like 10 foot. My imagination can't fill in the other 10ft. I am also curious about the number of moves and time to hunting height. Since I am requesting videos now could you also wear a chest mounted gopro so I can really get the full effect of climbing with this method?
Send me a gopro and I'll her er done!
The title of this thread keeps getting more and more apropos by the way
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I sure don't want to derail this thread its quite fun to read. ROS rules, platforms are like training wheels, I graduated to using a ROS and will never go back. Now, pleated saddles, come on those are the bombdiggity. Good ones anyway. The pleat has to stay closed when you want it to.
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I've placed a phone in my frocket before with mixed results. Just go that route! Matter of fact, don't you wear a whole chest rig? surely you can place your phone in a pocket on the chest rig with the camera sticking out and be good to go haha
You don't nee amsteel to climb with two tethers. You can use your regular tether plus a second rope tether.
A couple years ago I was messing around with climbing with two tethers. I used my normal rope tether attached to my saddle and a second rope tether attached to a set of stirrups that kept both of my feet at like a 45 to the tree. I didn't need one of those cute garter belt thingy's like @Red Beard and @always89y .
I also used a ropeman on each tether to take up slack which reduced the number of times you have to slide the tether up. It was pretty quick going up but, was kind of a pain going down so I quit doing it. I also had what I thought was a pretty slick way of going around limbs that didn't require a LB. I've been thinking about playing around with it again and combining it with rappelling this summer. It would be nice to only carry a rappel rope, tether and ROS in each hunt.
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Maybe you should make me a good one?...lol
- Joined
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You don't nee amsteel to climb with two tethers. You can use your regular tether plus a second rope tether.
A couple years ago I was messing around with climbing with two tethers. I used my normal rope tether attached to my saddle and a second rope tether attached to a set of stirrups that kept both of my feet at like a 45 to the tree. I didn't need one of those cute garter belt thingy's like @Red Beard and @always89y .
Thats kind of what I was thinking as well. Something that you can put both feet in connected to the tether. I got the idea of a stirrup tether from this video. I keep selling all my saddles so I don't have a way to try these climbing methods. Gotta get to building quick. I have a laundry list worth of things to make and try this off season.
Yep, something like this but, I had the ropeman connected to the stirrups where they come together and then the tag end of the rope connected to my belt. I just pulled on the tag end and raised my feet.
Simple Stirrups Climb Video
This setup weighs 3 pounds Still getting the technique down...but I'm going to work on it for a while. Stiff thicker rope with a Screw Link Girth Hitch moves easier. I'm using Bluewater 11mm Assault Simple Prusiks on both tethers (Klemheist at the moment). End of tethers backup clipped to...
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