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My Hand Climber Blew Up on Me

bongo

bongo

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2015
Messages
1,102
Location
N Ft Myers, Florida
Well in Virginia second day deer moving set a decoy for the first time. Climbed up the only tree that would work for my setup and it was a little big for the climber but I've gotten on bigger ones with the same platform. Climbed to hunting height and was pruning a couple branches that were in my way. No warning and the platform just blew up. I wasn't sure what happened at first but gathered my thoughts once hanging for a minute and looked at the climber and the casting had just come apart. I might mention I have climbed over a hundred trees with this climber. So on my climber I have a 1" tubuler aider that I use for the first step up on the platform so I untied it and tied a bowline in one end and girth hitched the tree then tied another bowline to make a loop for my foot. I then untied the platform from my carbiner and threw it to the ground just so it didn't get in the way and climbed down.
Next day called Lone Wolf which turns out is Oakley Outdoors now and told them what happened. They were great but told me that the platform was not designed to climb with a saddle and the side pressure caused it to fail. I know their right and their website says not to use saddle hunting.
They couldn't get another platform in the mail fast enough for me and want mine in return to check it out.
I also had the bolt mod on mine to elevate the arms for a better climbing angle.
I was lost with out my climber in Virginia. I had bolts and sticks but just not the same a lot more trouble and more dangerous IMHO.
So just giving everybody a heads up. I'm 210 in my underware if that matters.
This is the setup I use 99% of the time and don't plan on changing anything. But if you plan on using one have a self rescue line, rope, aider something you can girth hitch the tree with and self rescue if needed.
Just my thoughts nothing more.

Bongo
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Wow! That sure is blown up! The LWHC is favorite way to climb. I climb with my rappel rope now just in case something like this happens I can just rappel down.
 
You hand climber guys would be better off using the bottom piece of the climber instead of the hand climber.You could cut it off shorter if you like but it is not heavy and there won’t be stories like this to tell Glad your alright
 
bongo said:
Well in Virginia second day deer moving set a decoy for the first time. Climbed up the only tree that would work for my setup and it was a little big for the climber but I've gotten on bigger ones with the same platform. Climbed to hunting height and was pruning a couple branches that were in my way. No warning and the platform just blew up. I wasn't sure what happened at first but gathered my thoughts once hanging for a minute and looked at the climber and the casting had just come apart. I might mention I have climbed over a hundred trees with this climber. So on my climber I have a 1" tubuler aider that I use for the first step up on the platform so I untied it and tied a bowline in one end and girth hitched the tree then tied another bowline to make a loop for my foot. I then untied the platform from my carbiner and threw it to the ground just so it didn't get in the way and climbed down.
Next day called Lone Wolf which turns out is Oakley Outdoors now and told them what happened. They were great but told me that the platform was not designed to climb with a saddle and the side pressure caused it to fail. I know their right and their website says not to use saddle hunting.
They couldn't get another platform in the mail fast enough for me and want mine in return to check it out.
I also had the bolt mod on mine to elevate the arms for a better climbing angle.
I was lost with out my climber in Virginia. I had bolts and sticks but just not the same a lot more trouble and more dangerous IMHO.
So just giving everybody a heads up. I'm 210 in my underware if that matters.
This is the setup I use 99% of the time and don't plan on changing anything. But if you plan on using one have a self rescue line, rope, aider something you can girth hitch the tree with and self rescue if needed.
Just my thoughts nothing more.

Bongo
92d86487ebeec5251ee52e38a5b699b0.jpg
5e5b3297ca76cd4970d912b6c1f2df71.jpg
f9aec2e437733d18c6e3a296c98d4cd7.jpg
01d092620d8c762c58142424664d9bed.jpg
4158a801dafa0aef73a6b137822b448b.jpg


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I have an XOP hand climber at home that I used before switching to the saddle. Thought many times about using to climb but not after seeing all these failures. I know there are some that have used them for years without any issues but not worth me taking a chance
 
Hall17 said:
I have an XOP hand climber at home that I used before switching to the saddle. Thought many times about using to climb but not after seeing all these failures. I know there are some that have used them for years without any issues but not worth me taking a chance
Click to expand...

Right, I have two LoneWolf climbers and if you put the seat on a skinny tree and put any weight at all on it it is plain as day it can/wil break.

And they're expensive!
 
I read these posts and think back on 30 years of climbers without even using a harness.
What I most get out of these failure posts is how much safer we are saddle hunting and being 100% attatched to the tree.
I know there is a world full of hunters using the old methods without using safety harnesses and will tell you so in private.
I was one.
Thank God I was not incapacitated when I fell.
It hurt like hell, fractured 3 ribs, bit my tongue in two spots.
Free climbed a dry pine tree with a hang on. It was getting dark and I leisurely got up and onto the nearest branches.
By the time I remembered this was a critical climb I was on my back surrounded by every dry branch on the way down.
I seriously think we are safer than our counter parts.
I know of a few departed and several badly hurt.
 
Hall17 said:
I have an XOP hand climber at home that I used before switching to the saddle. Thought many times about using to climb but not after seeing all these failures. I know there are some that have used them for years without any issues but not worth me taking a chance
Click to expand...
An XOP is what I started with and still have. The reason I started using a saddle was I fell out of a summit open shot. My fault I wasn't tied in. If you were any good with your climber I would recommend trying it I've been using one for 7 years and think it's the best climbing method available. If you have the right trees for it.
Its a personal thing.
I've not been keeping up with the site so don't know of the failures your talking about.
I can only speak of what happened to me but was not happy when I had to switch to bolts and sticks.
I have a new one and can't wait to use it. I was trying to point out that things happen an prepare for them if they do and use some common sense and you'll be fine.
Worry more about getting killed in your truck on the way to go to the woods.

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Yikes. I’m not giving up on my LWHC, but I always have a 2TC on my person as backup. There is a new option available someone just posted.



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Glad your ok buddy. Is this the same one you been using for ever? I know you had one at saddle plooza like 5 or so years ago.


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