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Lone Wolf Hand Climber with saddle

I have been using one since the end of last season. It sucks at first but like anything practice makes perfect. I have a 2 step rope aider which makes all the difference when limbs come into play also you start higher and have to make less adjustments. Unless there are several limbs I see no reason to rappel anymore. I don’t strap mine down. The biggest problem is how I like to hunt huge trees and that’s just not going to happen with the lwhc. It’s still probably going to be my only system this season.

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I think I'll try an aider with mine too. getting up away from the bottom taper is going to be a big plus and it might be more secure to have one foot on the aider with the other knee on the platform to attach a strap on the back.
 
I have been using one since the end of last season...Unless there are several limbs I see no reason to rappel anymore.
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Have you tried rappelling with it? I haven't, but am thinking about it. Seems like it cuts out half the movement hassle. Not worth it in your opinion though?
 
I almost gave up on saddle hunting altogether last year after a stick kicked out on me, probably my own fault I'm sure, but even then the weight savings weren't all that great for the hassle of sticks, I love my lwhc put a pair of backpack straps on it my two pouches clip on it for the walk in and on my saddle when I climb and then rappel down.
 
LWHC was my primary method last season. I’m probably going to do more 2TC and SRT this year, but I still like the LWHC.

Most of my tips have already been covered above, but I will repeat what has worked/not worked for me:

I use the [mention]Bwhana [/mention] rope mod to change the arm angle. It helps a lot.

I rappel down. It’s worth the extra rope

I don’t strap it down at hunting height because:
I like being able to quickly reposition it for deer approaching, for slight changes in comfort and for wind shifts.

I tried Aider and a couple of strap on steps to start off higher and it’s more trouble and extra weight than it’s worth. It’s easy to just straddle the tree, reach down, take in the belt a couple of notches and start climbing again. I usually make two adjustments per climb.

Gloves are helpful for morning hunts pushing off the wet tree

Loops of some type are good to help advance the tether up the tree. I have used cable ties, tether handles and plastic S-biners. They all work. Tether handles (arboreal gear) are the nicest I’ve tried so far. I have ordered some tether assist hooks from Genesis 3D printing. I’m sure they will be great, too.

I’ve tried other ways to help advance the platform up the tree (loops on my tether, etc) and nothing is as effective or simple as just locking your arms straight and putting your palms flat on the tree while lifting your feet.

I keep the platform attached to my saddle with a lightweight cord that runs from my footstrap (Amsteel) to a molle loop on the back of my saddle. I run the cord between my legs and to the back of the saddle so that it never gets in the way of anything once I’m at hunting height. I slip my feet out of the strap while I’m hinting, but can use the cord to lift the strap and slide my feet back in if I need to reposition the platform. I got that tip from [mention]MaxJac [/mention]

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Have you tried rappelling with it? I haven't, but am thinking about it. Seems like it cuts out half the movement hassle. Not worth it in your opinion though?

I haven’t other than screwing around. I rapelled nearly every hang last season when I was platform climbing. The more limbs to cross the more reason to rappel. In fact one limb might make it reasonable. Coming down without limbs is very quick and easy.
 
I haven’t other than screwing around. I rapelled nearly every hang last season when I was platform climbing. The more limbs to cross the more reason to rappel. In fact one limb might make it reasonable. Coming down without limbs is very quick and easy.

The rappel also provides a safe way to descend if you have a platform failure.
 
I find I use mine mostly up north where there are plenty of limbless trees. In the area I live, it's too much hassle due to the number of limbs I have to cross while climbing.
 
I think I'll try an aider with mine too. getting up away from the bottom taper is going to be a big plus and it might be more secure to have one foot on the aider with the other knee on the platform to attach a strap on the back.
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I set mine up with aiders to be used like a single stick. Haven't hunted off of it but I did practice with it a few times and it worked wellScreenshot_20210725-211625_Gallery.jpg
 
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