New Gear for 2023, Go!

[Plebe]

View attachment 92388

My platform broke last year while camming into position. I may have applied a little more force that my average. However, I was using it as prescribed. Fortunately it was replaced by the manufacturer immediately so I didn’t miss much time in the stand during peak rut activity.

Most fortunately you were not injured. Why safe practices matter.

Did anything more come of it from the manufacturer than just replacing the platform?

 

[Jammintree]

Most fortunately you were not injured. Why safe practices matter.

Did anything more come of it from the manufacturer than just replacing the platform?

I sent them an email telling them what happened and that I was concerned about missing the prime week of the rut. They sent a replacement via express shipping, no questions asked. They just asked that I return the broken one for inspection. There was no follow up.

And yes, I fully agree about safe practices. I was double tied in at that point and had one foot on a limb so I didn’t even get butterflies. After the platform broke I stuck it in my pack and I opted to stand on some branches for the remainder of the hunt. The next morning I returned to the same tree (which I almost never do.) and killed a spikehorn.

 

[Plebe]

I sent them an email telling them what happened and that I was concerned about missing the prime week of the rut. They sent a replacement via express shipping, no questions asked. They just asked that I return the broken one for inspection. There was no follow up.

And yes, I fully agree about safe practices. I was double tied in at that point and had one foot on a limb so I didn’t even get butterflies. After the platform broke I stuck it in my pack and I opted to stand on some branches for the remainder of the hunt. The next morning I returned to the same tree (which I almost never do.) and killed a spikehorn.

It really bothers me that a company has a "tree stand assembly" snap to pieces and consumers of the product don't hear a peep about it from them. Like, just publish a caution to tie in beforehand because...at a minimum.

I wonder what their inspection encompassed and what their conclusions were, other than the customer seems satisfied with a replacement.

It's not just "them", but they've a track record. I find it all disgusting (from all guilty manufacturers).

 

[Horn]

It really bothers me that a company has a "tree stand assembly" snap to pieces and consumers of the product don't hear a peep about it from them. Like, just publish a caution to tie in beforehand because...at a minimum.

I wonder what their inspection encompassed and what their conclusions were, other than the customer seems satisfied with a replacement.

It's not just "them", but they've a track record. I find it all disgusting (from all guilty manufacturers).

Do we know the manufacturing process for cast platforms? I am making assumptions, that looked like a predator and I think that's cast. I'm thinking sand cast, which has a drawback or two. That's a tad outside of my wheelhouse. If it is sand cast, that leaves plenty of room for improvement, albeit at a very big cost increase I'm sure

 

[enkriss]

Do we know the manufacturing process for cast platforms? I am making assumptions, that looked like a predator and I think that's cast. I'm thinking sand cast, which has a drawback or two. That's a tad outside of my wheelhouse. If it is sand cast, that leaves plenty of room for improvement, albeit at a very big cost increase I'm sure

The new predators are die cast. I haven’t seen a broken predator that wasn’t a gen 1

 

[enkriss]

There are lots of companies who do nothing more than replace broken stuff and change it in the shadows without making it public knowledge unless they are forced to via recall. I have experienced this from Beast gear, Out on a limb, Tethrd and XOP.

 

[Plebe]

The new predators are die cast. I haven’t seen a broken predator that wasn’t a gen 1

@Jammintree 's post, that's not Gen 1.

 

[enkriss]

@Jammintree 's post, that's not Gen 1.

Touché… first one I have seen.

Atleast they didn’t blame the customer like XOP….lol

 

[Plebe]

Touché… first one I have seen.

Atleast they didn’t blame the customer like XOP….lol

It's hard to keep track of, what are they on, Gen 3?

I agree with your previous comment, #2846.

Not to be petulant, because I was dismayed by your OOAL Bob experience with wallowed holes, but they seem to be a "more" upstanding company, imo. Yet, I think I saw a broken weld on a RRXL too. Could be wrong though.

I cross these companies out as it goes, probably I'll end up hunting fro the ground like @kyler1945 suggests or a bucket like @Nutterbuster, lol, and still experiencing some unexpected injury.

But I've never seen so much buried as from Tethrd.

 

[kyler1945]

3:1 safety factor. Million duty cycles.

FEA, and then real world tests to failure.

It cost me 15k to do the FEA for a product similar in size and complexity to a saddle platform. Real world testing probably 3-10x that. Makes no sense when you make 50 platforms and can’t afford appropriate liability insurance. Makes complete sense when you make several thousand and can essentially clear your competition out in one swoop, and reduce your liability insurance significantly.


Setting 900lbs on a platform once and calling it a 300lb weight limit is literally no different than a bubba bouncing on it calling it good.

The cutting edge of a niche is fun!

 

[enkriss]

It's hard to keep track of, what are they on, Gen 3?

I agree with your previous comment, #2846.

Not to be petulant, because I was dismayed by your OOAL Bob experience with wallowed holes, but they seem to be a "more" upstanding company, imo. Yet, I think I saw a broken weld on a RRXL too. Could be wrong though.

I cross these companies out as it goes, probably I'll end up hunting fro the ground like @kyler1945 suggests or a bucket like @Nutterbuster, lol, and still experiencing some unexpected injury.

But I've never seen so much buried as from Tethrd.

I have had a different experience with OOAL. I feel about how you feel towards tethrd towards them. I don’t want to pick on OOAL but they have had several issues they swept under the rug. One was the hush stand bending posts, blamed it on the customer, then advised not to toe cam the stand, then put a stiffener in the post. They did that with the Bob I had also. After mine was a disaster he put an insert into the end to prevent the issue I had. I also had a ridge runner welded incorrectly, it broke at the center weld first time setting it. They also had a problem with cam straps they sent out that were sewn with no thread in the lower bobbin and the loops would come apart once weighted. Then the cleat breaking on the Sh1kar and bending of the post they then changed the monarch mounting location lower. I am sure there is more…

 

[Plebe]

I have had a different experience with OOAL. I feel about how you feel towards tethrd towards them. I don’t want to pick on OOAL but they have had several issues they swept under the rug. One was the hush stand bending posts, blamed it on the customer, then advised not to toe cam the stand, then put a stiffener in the post. They did that with the Bob I had also. After mine was a disaster he put an insert into the end to prevent the issue I had. I also had a ridge runner welded incorrectly, it broke at the center weld first time setting it. They also had a problem with cam straps they sent out that were sewn with no thread in the lower bobbin and the loops would come apart once weighted. Then the cleat breaking on the Sh1kar and bending of the post they then changed the monarch mounting location lower. I am sure there is more…

I remember the cam strap issue, there was a pinned to the top of the forum notice about that issue.

Tethrd, well, they've basically turtled. Not like they're foreigners to this forum, lol.

Toe to toe, hmmm. I think the reporting tells a tale, but I've not purchased from either in quite some time.

 

[skyjacker]

I have had a different experience with OOAL. I feel about how you feel towards tethrd towards them. I don’t want to pick on OOAL but they have had several issues they swept under the rug. One was the hush stand bending posts, blamed it on the customer, then advised not to toe cam the stand, then put a stiffener in the post. They did that with the Bob I had also. After mine was a disaster he put an insert into the end to prevent the issue I had. I also had a ridge runner welded incorrectly, it broke at the center weld first time setting it. They also had a problem with cam straps they sent out that were sewn with no thread in the lower bobbin and the loops would come apart once weighted. Then the cleat breaking on the Sh1kar and bending of the post they then changed the monarch mounting location lower. I am sure there is more…

Not sure if you follow the OOAL FB page, but Matt used to do lives on there all the time and talk about most of the issues publicly. I wouldn't say that's sweeping it under the rug. Matt's in the same state as me. I've been to his shop several times. It's a small operation. Literally, the shop is small. I wouldn't put his business in the same category with Tethrd and XOP. Just as @kyler1945 was alluding to, I think people forget how small these businesses are.

 

[Horn]

Not sure if you follow the OOAL FB page, but Matt used to do lives on there all the time and talk about most of the issues publicly. I wouldn't say that's sweeping it under the rug. Matt's in the same state as me. I've been to his shop several times. It's a small operation. Literally, the shop is small. I wouldn't put his business in the same category with Tethrd and XOP. Just as @kyler1945 was alluding to, I think people forget how small these businesses are.

What in the world does the physical size of a shop mean? In is in, out is out. Quality is quality. Doesn't matter if you do the work in a shoebox or 600k Sq foot palace.

 

[kyler1945]

What in the world does the physical size of a shop mean? In is in, out is out. Quality is quality. Doesn't matter if you do the work in a shoebox or 600k Sq foot palace.

Define quality?

What’s an acceptable failure rate?

Safety factor?

Useful lifespan of equipment?

How are these calculated?

How is it measured?

Who measures it?

Who’s responsible for compliance?

Who is responsible for knowing if any of the above is accurate or applies when making a purchase or deciding to use gear or consider risk of using gear?



I’m not being facetious. And I’m not asking you directly. I’m asking everyone. To my eye, the current gatekeepers on saddle hunting gear are the users.

 

[enkriss]

Quality is one thing…but…. Gone are the days of field testing products. Most of these companies throw 600lbs of weight plates on a platform and claim it’s rated for 300lbs. A 600lb static load is less than the dynamic loads these platforms will see if a 300lb dude is saddle hunting out of it.

 

[GeoFish]

Finally.

Treestand Waist Support

To be used in conjunction with the LWCG Treestand Backpack Carrying Straps. The 2023 Waist Support Belt has been upgraded to offer superior cushion and support with a better fit to accommodate additional weight when hauling gear with the LWCG patent-pending frame lock feature. Efficiency...

www.lonewolfcustomgear.com

 

[enkriss]

Finally.

Treestand Waist Support

To be used in conjunction with the LWCG Treestand Backpack Carrying Straps. The 2023 Waist Support Belt has been upgraded to offer superior cushion and support with a better fit to accommodate additional weight when hauling gear with the LWCG patent-pending frame lock feature. Efficiency...

www.lonewolfcustomgear.com

Doesn’t look any different than the old one?

 

[Dcomer55]

Finally.

Treestand Waist Support

To be used in conjunction with the LWCG Treestand Backpack Carrying Straps. The 2023 Waist Support Belt has been upgraded to offer superior cushion and support with a better fit to accommodate additional weight when hauling gear with the LWCG patent-pending frame lock feature. Efficiency...

www.lonewolfcustomgear.com

$60 for the shoulder straps, $50 for the waist belt.

Why get these when the TX5 harness is only $40 more?

 

[Cajunyankee]

I would like to make a motion to close this thread. @boyne bowhunter @redsquirrel