-
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
Lone wolf Hand Climber
- Thread starter bigjoe
- Start date
- Joined
- May 16, 2018
- Messages
- 1,837
Nice! I know I've been all about my new WE steps and Primal platform, but I still think the HC might be the best thing out there.
4.5 lbs for climbing and platform is amazing. Plus virtually unlimited height, and you could ditch the LB. Plus the safety factor of always being tethered into your saddle.
Yes you have to worry about branches, but branchless trees can be easier to use for lots of reasons, and some seem to figure out how to go around them even with them.
It's going to be a tough call for me between the two systems. Can't really try the HC until my Kite comes... so the WE method might win out due to practice time with a safety harness.
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
4.5 lbs for climbing and platform is amazing. Plus virtually unlimited height, and you could ditch the LB. Plus the safety factor of always being tethered into your saddle.
Yes you have to worry about branches, but branchless trees can be easier to use for lots of reasons, and some seem to figure out how to go around them even with them.
It's going to be a tough call for me between the two systems. Can't really try the HC until my Kite comes... so the WE method might win out due to practice time with a safety harness.
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
I was also thinking big straight pine territory but with maybe a single stick with aider to get a 7ft start. It would be for less readjusting on these big wide trees. Some I already need a stick just to reach my summit viper climber cuz I have it hanging above my head to start.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
lsr1456
New Member
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2018
- Messages
- 39
I’m going to figure it out on Sunday. I’ve got lone wolf stands and sticks, screw in pegs, ladders, we steps,the new platform that just came out, and I’m going to fly by the seat of my pants going up a tree. I’ve climbed so much for work, heights don’t bother me.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Going up was easier than I thought. I did not have strap on my feet and it flus iff a few times coming down. LOL. Definetly harder than using a climbing stand but I believe well ROTH it. Had my 11 year old in the yard as I was testing it. He was laughing at me coming down. I got up to ~20’ literally in about 2 minutes. I thought it would be the same coming down.
What are you guys using to attach to feet? I was in no danger as I had platform attached to tether caribener b
What are you guys using to attach to feet? I was in no danger as I had platform attached to tether caribener b
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2017
- Messages
- 768
donnieballgame
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 31, 2017
- Messages
- 1,872
I'm a huge fan, no other climbing system that is also a platform.
I tied a single piece of climbing webbing on mine, I have another chunk of webbing looped on to attach to my tether biner, which also helps to pull up.
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
I tied a single piece of climbing webbing on mine, I have another chunk of webbing looped on to attach to my tether biner, which also helps to pull up.
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
matt6506
Active Member
I use mine as a platform in conjunction with my helium sticks. I like the option to go higher that the hand climber gives me.
I have thought about that as well. I definitely need practice with it. I would be embarrassed hanging in a tree waiting on my buddy to come around to rehook my feet in lol. Again I had a strap from bridge/tether caribener to the seat
matt6506
Active Member
I run a piece of paracord from my tether to my foot loops. It serves two purposes: to prevent the possibility of dropping the platform and to be able to pull it up and open up the loops to get my boots in.
pesqimon
Well-Known Member
What I am using right now. I like it, but I may do something similar to @Cajunyankee
I also have the paracord from the bungee to the tether to prevent dropping. I might play with having the para cord loop around from the sides of the platform, because sometimes it annoys me how the paracord gets caught between the teeth as I climb.
I also have the paracord from the bungee to the tether to prevent dropping. I might play with having the para cord loop around from the sides of the platform, because sometimes it annoys me how the paracord gets caught between the teeth as I climb.
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2017
- Messages
- 768
I had the same issue so I am connecting my paracord safety line to the back of my saddle, and then I am using a cam jam for quick adjustments and for keeping the excess slack in the line pulled up.What I am using right now. I like it, but I may do something similar to @Cajunyankee
I also have the paracord from the bungee to the tether to prevent dropping. I might play with having the para cord loop around from the sides of the platform, because sometimes it annoys me how the paracord gets caught between the teeth as I climb.
pesqimon
Well-Known Member
Nice! I shall try this first!
So the camjam is hooked to your saddle and then the paracord to the camjam?
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2017
- Messages
- 768
Y
Yes but I take the tail of the paracord and tie it to the saddle. Nothing fancy but I like to have a knot in it for backup.
- Joined
- May 16, 2018
- Messages
- 1,837
I spent all archery season using WEs to climb. Now that gun season is hear I did my last two hunts in the LW hand climber. I really liked it. Light to carry, simple to use, comfy to hunt from.
I used gear ties (18") as stirrips just like these and a bungee behind ankles. These held it perfectly secure to my feet while climbing.
As everyone notes, it did require 2-3 belt adjustments while climbing. This didn't seem to be that big a deal to me. I just set my Ropeman low on my tether, squatted down into my saddle, flexed my ankles enough to take tension off the belt and reached down to make adjustments. Im not a super flexible person and I found this pretty simple to do.
My keys to climbing were reducing my adjustable bridge way down, lengthening my tether (Ropeman1 is key), reach way above my head to set tether as high as I can reach, then use hands and knees (Arcteryx) into tree while lifting legs a little at a time. I could usually do three leg lifts before I needed to raise my tether again. Wasn't fast, but wasn't too tiring either. Going down was same process but seemed faster and easier.
Loved going as high as I wanted to. Also found it super comfortable at hunting height. Lots of room for feet. I mostly leaned with a chin high tether, short bridge, and a back band. Ridiculously comfortable. I brought straps to lock it to tree but have yet to use. Had no issues with stability, leaning, etc. Conscious of not putting weight to close to tree (sitting brings this more into play) but so comfortable leaning this was not a big deal.
Only climbed branchless trees so far. But would like to try navigating a branch or two to see how rough that is. Seems doable.
Slings over the shoulder nice for the hike in/out. All in all it is a really effective method. For public land hunters it's hard to imagine a lighter climbing method with a built in platform. Pricey item to try out though. I already owned the full climber so it was easy for me to experiment.
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk