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LWCG .5 with 3 and 4 Sticks + Aiders

This has me thinking now. I might try 4 sticks with no aiders or maybe just 1 on the bottom. I don't personally need to be 21' high. I also am not a huge fan of the extra fiddle factor and the increased packing and unpacking time that comes with 4 aiders. I'll probably try that out later this week and update with results.

Versa Aider.
 
Versa Aider.
I have been using a carry as you go aider for the last couple of seasons. I have no more interest in using any aider like that any more. I really just like to hang my sticks and climb and I like to get down quick at the end of the hunt with no fiddling around with aiders and straps etc. I appreciate all of the different options guys have, I'm just done with it.
 
I tried the saddle thing last year. I was so into it but age and bad knees killed it for me. I went with the 1.0 and the minis with aiders. I’m 5’8” on a good day with poor mobility. I can get to 18’ no problem. It’s a system that works very well For me. Regarding the second strap. The LWCG stands have some flex in the vertical riser. I find the second strap helps stabilize that well for me. YMMV but this is a system that works.
 
I tried the saddle thing last year. I was so into it but age and bad knees killed it for me. I went with the 1.0 and the minis with aiders. I’m 5’8” on a good day with poor mobility. I can get to 18’ no problem. It’s a system that works very well For me. Regarding the second strap. The LWCG stands have some flex in the vertical riser. I find the second strap helps stabilize that well for me. YMMV but this is a system that works.
Nice...yeah it's fun to try new things, but when it doesn't work out, you have to adapt. Good you found a setup that works for you.
 
How much does the .5 weigh with 3 or for 4 mini's? Been thinking about getting this setup.
So, my .5 has the included backpack straps, seat cushion, and some silent touch tape. All of my sticks currently have LWCG aiders with original buckle straps which have stealth taped buckles. I also have two j-hook bolts to help secure the sticks to the stand.
Stand+4 sticks 16lbs 11 ounces.
Stand+3sticks 14lbs 5 ounces.
I'm really going to try shaving some of that weight down by removing some or all of the aiders depending on how high I can get. That being said, the compactness of the stand really makes the weight feel much lighter, especially since it carries so close to your body. Hanging the stand is almost as simple as the predator platform. So light.
 
So, my .5 has the included backpack straps, seat cushion, and some silent touch tape. All of my sticks currently have LWCG aiders with original buckle straps which have stealth taped buckles. I also have two j-hook bolts to help secure the sticks to the stand.
Stand+4 sticks 16lbs 11 ounces.
Stand+3sticks 14lbs 5 ounces.
I'm really going to try shaving some of that weight down by removing some or all of the aiders depending on how high I can get. That being said, the compactness of the stand really makes the weight feel much lighter, especially since it carries so close to your body. Hanging the stand is almost as simple as the predator platform. So light.
I have the same setup, the only thing different is I added the waist belt, I stare at that stand everyday hanging on my wall counting down the days until deer season I can’t wait for September.
 
I have the same setup, the only thing different is I added the waist belt, I stare at that stand everyday hanging on my wall counting down the days until deer season I can’t wait for September.
Haha nice....yeah, sure is a nice stand to look at.
 
I have the same setup, the only thing different is I added the waist belt, I stare at that stand everyday hanging on my wall counting down the days until deer season I can’t wait for September.

Yeah, admirable kit overall. How do you have your waistbelt set up?

I struggled with that due to the connector design. The straps don't seem placed well on the back of the belt for me to get it adjusted so that the belt transfers weight to my hips really effectively. When I do get weight transfer, the shoulder straps fit a smidge less naturally on me, probably a function of the shortish .5 and my long torso. Right now, it seems more comfortable to let most of the weight ride on my shoulders with the belt mostly benefiting me by padding my lower back and preventing lateral sway (which do make for a better carry).

I wish they used a pull forward tightening like many backpacking companies have gone to. As is, it seems a bit laborious to adjust the belt and I feel like it slips a tad sometimes (though I don't have a bunch of time with it to say for certain).

I'm loving the .5 setup overall, but would like to figure out this belt or make an improvement there.
 
Yeah, admirable kit overall. How do you have your waistbelt set up?

I struggled with that due to the connector design. The straps don't seem placed well on the back of the belt for me to get it adjusted so that the belt transfers weight to my hips really effectively. When I do get weight transfer, the shoulder straps fit a smidge less naturally on me, probably a function of the shortish .5 and my long torso. Right now, it seems more comfortable to let most of the weight ride on my shoulders with the belt mostly benefiting me by padding my lower back and preventing lateral sway (which do make for a better carry).

I wish they used a pull forward tightening like many backpacking companies have gone to. As is, it seems a bit laborious to adjust the belt and I feel like it slips a tad sometimes (though I don't have a bunch of time with it to say for certain).

I'm loving the .5 setup overall, but would like to figure out this belt or make an improvement there.

With a few hardware items you can make a pull-forward-tensioning belt. No sewing required.
 
Yeah, admirable kit overall. How do you have your waistbelt set up?

I struggled with that due to the connector design. The straps don't seem placed well on the back of the belt for me to get it adjusted so that the belt transfers weight to my hips really effectively. When I do get weight transfer, the shoulder straps fit a smidge less naturally on me, probably a function of the shortish .5 and my long torso. Right now, it seems more comfortable to let most of the weight ride on my shoulders with the belt mostly benefiting me by padding my lower back and preventing lateral sway (which do make for a better carry).

I wish they used a pull forward tightening like many backpacking companies have gone to. As is, it seems a bit laborious to adjust the belt and I feel like it slips a tad sometimes (though I don't have a bunch of time with it to say for certain).

I'm loving the .5 setup overall, but would like to figure out this belt or make an improvement there.
48FE3FF6-ED95-498B-A4AE-77B3E2696163.jpeg477C06D9-4D02-43FC-91E8-956398305AEA.jpeg Let me know if you need more pictures, it was supposed to rain here so I canceled my job for today..... well it’s not raining lol. I have a long torso also, I think I have my belt flipped upside down from the photos I could find on the lwcg site, it was the only way I could get it to feel super comfortable and attach in a way that felt secure, I’m pretty easy to please with packs and comfort though so it mite not work for everybody, last year I ran a popup 28 with mission platform and 4 novix minis, the .5 with sticks feels better and more compact on my back, time will tell!
 
View attachment 46770View attachment 46771 Let me know if you need more pictures, it was supposed to rain here so I canceled my job for today..... well it’s not raining lol. I have a long torso also, I think I have my belt flipped upside down from the photos I could find on the lwcg site, it was the only way I could get it to feel super comfortable and attach in a way that felt secure, I’m pretty easy to please with packs and comfort though so it mite not work for everybody, last year I ran a popup 28 with mission platform and 4 novix minis, the .5 with sticks feels better and more compact on my back, time will tell!

Thanks for sharing. I saw some reviewers were running the belt flipped on the LWCG website too. Maybe its a thing. I'll give it a try.

As is, my belt is looped through the exact same spots as yours but flipped. I've got my shoulder straps one crossmember higher (which is a bit of a squeeze), though I had them where you do before the belt came. I found them comfortable either way.

Do you just bag your straps? I might start dump pouching mine.
 
Thanks for sharing. I saw some reviewers were running the belt flipped on the LWCG website too. Maybe its a thing. I'll give it a try.

As is, my belt is looped through the exact same spots as yours but flipped. I've got my shoulder straps one crossmember higher (which is a bit of a squeeze), though I had them where you do before the belt came. I found them comfortable either way.

Do you just bag your straps? I might start dump pouching mine.
I have a satchel/pouch thing from Dano at EWO that has a shoulder strap on it, all my climbing essentials go in that satchel and then that goes in my pack that I hang off the stand, when I get to the base of the tree I throw that satchel over my shoulder and start climbing, I pack everything in the satchel in order as to what I need first as I am ascending so there is no fumbling around looking for stuff, I don’t like anything hanging off my saddle so no pouches for me. That satchel has a long enough strap so I can rotate it off to one side and it doesn’t interfere with the stand on my back as I am climbing and hanging sticks. Short hunts I just leave my main pack on the ground, longer hunts I pull the main pack and bow/rifle up together.
 
I have a satchel/pouch thing from Dano at EWO that has a shoulder strap on it, all my climbing essentials go in that satchel and then that goes in my pack that I hang off the stand, when I get to the base of the tree I throw that satchel over my shoulder and start climbing, I pack everything in the satchel in order as to what I need first as I am ascending so there is no fumbling around looking for stuff, I don’t like anything hanging off my saddle so no pouches for me. That satchel has a long enough strap so I can rotate it off to one side and it doesn’t interfere with the stand on my back as I am climbing and hanging sticks. Short hunts I just leave my main pack on the ground, longer hunts I pull the main pack and bow/rifle up together.

Sounds efficient. I hadn't seen those. Do you carry your saddle (to your spot) in it too?

I also don't like stuff pulling on my saddle, but have MOLLE all over my packs for dump pouches, and I usually climb with my pack on. One is sling style, so it's easy to get to if I want.

For my other pack, maybe a dump pouch with a single long string loop or strap loop that just stows in a sewn on pocket would be the ticket. Sort of a smallish satchel that I could employ at the tree.

Then again, I usually use the hang sticks from steps as I climb method so I'm not probably going to need access to straps during the climb other than for the stand.

I do pack in my saddle, so I like the idea of consolidating it with all climbing essentials. Thanks for sharing, gets me thinking about how to dial in my .5 setup.
 
Sounds efficient. I hadn't seen those. Do you carry your saddle (to your spot) in it too?

I also don't like stuff pulling on my saddle, but have MOLLE all over my packs for dump pouches, and I usually climb with my pack on. One is sling style, so it's easy to get to if I want.

For my other pack, maybe a dump pouch with a single long string loop or strap loop that just stows in a sewn on pocket would be the ticket. Sort of a smallish satchel that I could employ at the tree.

Then again, I usually use the hang sticks from steps as I climb method so I'm not probably going to need access to straps during the climb other than for the stand.

I do pack in my saddle, so I like the idea of consolidating it with all climbing essentials. Thanks for sharing, gets me thinking about how to dial in my .5 setup.
I carry my saddle in my main pack, then a small sling satchel pack for everything else climb and hunt related. When I get to my tree I put my saddle on and throw that satchel over my shoulder and start climbing, I have kydex hooks on my saddle EWO sells and a small piece of paracord on each stick, I usually hang the first 2 sticks before I strap everything else on and start my final climb. I keep my kill kit, GoPro kit, and first aid stuff in small separate fleece pouches EWO sells inside my main pack, this way when I switch packs the next day or throughout the week I don’t have to rummage through tons of stuff hoping I didn’t forget anything, just grab the small 3 fleece pouches that are different colors and transfer them to the next pack, usually a lumbar pack for still hunting, my tree stand pack this year is a sitka fanatic pack. I have to be super organized throughout deer season or else I go nuts, I can't explain it just makes my season go smoother LOL. I pretty much have 2 strategies when I leave my truck in the morning, still hunt in hang a stand and hunt if I find the sign I’m looking for, or pack super light and still hunt all day which is probably how I hunt 90% of the time during rifle season.
 
View attachment 46770View attachment 46771 Let me know if you need more pictures, it was supposed to rain here so I canceled my job for today..... well it’s not raining lol. I have a long torso also, I think I have my belt flipped upside down from the photos I could find on the lwcg site, it was the only way I could get it to feel super comfortable and attach in a way that felt secure, I’m pretty easy to please with packs and comfort though so it mite not work for everybody, last year I ran a popup 28 with mission platform and 4 novix minis, the .5 with sticks feels better and more compact on my back, time will tell!

I finally got around to trying the belt flipped, and man, what a difference. It carries the weight now, so I ended up having to lower my shoulder straps like you have them as well. Thanks for sending the pics, its really night and day from how the belt was, and I'm elated with the improvement.

I definitely suggest anyone unhappy with the belt try it flipped, with thanks to Topdog for the tip.
 
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I finally got around to trying the belt flipped, and man, what a difference. It carries the weight now, so I ended up having to lower my shoulder straps like you have them as well. Thanks for sending the pics, its really night and day from how the belt was, and I'm elated with the improvement.

I definitely suggest anyone unhappy with the belt try it flipped, with thanks to Topdog for the tip.
Deer season is getting closer one day at a time, I can hardly wait! Anytime Plebe, glad I could help!
 
I'm curious about some of the weights that are given. the .5 and 4 sticks should be around 12-13. is that extra few lbs the straps and belt?
 
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