New Re-designed Windwalker Treestand

[raisins]

I'm pushing the limit on weight on these things especially with gear. I have an old one in the garage I've never even hunted out of but may use at my pre-set bolt locations with the saddle for the longer sits.
Anyone at, close or over the weight limit and have no issues? I'm assuming the weight limit is one of those where actual failure occurs at a much greater weight but just wanted to run it by you guys that have used them in the past.
If the creaking and popping comes with the heavier guys that would be a no go for me too.

this is before treestand manu. assoc. standards and reliance on 3rd party testing wasn't as big, so i doubt anyone knows the true ratings on one of the originals by today's standards and how that transfers to actual break strength

now mark's will probably be tested

 

[Jtaylor]

this is before treestand manu. assoc. standards and reliance on 3rd party testing wasn't as big, so i doubt anyone knows the true ratings on one of the originals by today's standards and how that transfers to actual break strength

now mark's will probably be tested

Right. Our plywood stands definitely weren't . I'm more concerned on the noise at my weight but looks like the noise may have been the limits with the welded bars? I'll be tied in one way or another so maybe I'll just have to give it a shot.

 

[Vtbow]

Yep. I believe the platform is slightly smaller? Can’t remember but can measure mine when I get back into town.

nope, same size platform, the aluminum channel used for the structure was a different profile.

 

[MNMosquitoAssassin]

I believe the wind walker had the aluminum grating across the platform. The limit had the bars going across...? Maybe someone else can correct me on this...?

 

[Vtbow]

I’m super curious to see some more pictures of the pack.. I always thought the whole package was what made that stand neat, and obviously the weight.

As far as I know the pack is a duplicate of the original. There are tons of pics on this site. I sent Mark an extra pack I had a year or so ago for R&D.

The best thing about the pack(and I think other manufacturers not making platform packs this wayt are crazy) is that the stand slides in and out from the BOTTOM. this means you could hang you pack where you were planning to for the hunt, unzip thie bottom, allow gravity to help you get the stand out and hang your stand. reverse at the end of the hunt. None of this hang pack, try to seperate handles at top, or fight the pack sticking to the stand as you try to pull it up and out, pack starts to fall off hook crap...so much smoother and easier and less steps. I miss mine for sure and plan to make a "copy" of one for my assasin platform. I am currently using the leach pack which requires pretty much the same steps as a bag which the platform goes in and out from the top.

 

[Vtbow]

I believe the wind walker had the aluminum grating across the platform. The limit had the bars going across...? Maybe someone else can correct me on this...?

Original limit had bars, they updated it to the expanded mesh as well after the first year or two of production. Platform was also larger.

the bars used to pop a lot in the cold as the were generally only tack welded in 3 spots.

 

[MNMosquitoAssassin]

I believe the wind walker had the aluminum grating across the platform. The limit had the bars going across...? Maybe someone else can correct me on this...?

Correction... The limit is just slightly bigger but they are designed similarly. Like a little brother and a slightly littleer brother...

 

[Topdog]

As far as I know the pack is a duplicate of the original. There are tons of pics on this site. I sent Mark an extra pack I had a year or so ago for R&D.

The best thing about the pack(and I think other manufacturers not making platform packs this wayt are crazy) is that the stand slides in and out from the BOTTOM. this means you could hang you pack where you were planning to for the hunt, unzip thie bottom, allow gravity to help you get the stand out and hang your stand. reverse at the end of the hunt. None of this hang pack, try to seperate handles at top, or fight the pack sticking to the stand as you try to pull it up and out, pack starts to fall off hook crap...so much smoother and easier and less steps. I miss mine for sure and plan to make a "copy" of one for my assasin platform. I am currently using the leach pack which requires pretty much the same steps as a bag which the platform goes in and out from the top.

I had an original pack, you actually offered me some serious money for it!

 

[Vtbow]

I had an original pack, you actually offered me some serious money for it!

yeah the pack kicked arse, I ended up scoring a couple more....but they've all been passed on now. It was REALLY well designed!!!!!

 

[Oldforester]

I’ve got a windwalker I’ve had for at least 30 years. Hung it as a preset most of the time but did do the screw in step sweat-fest hang &hunt some back in the day. I’ve changed the bolts and put a couple new seats over the years. I also switched out the whoopie sling it came with for a chain years ago. WAY hard to be quiet with that chain to say the least. It’s hanging on a tree at my hunting club right now. I did a couple sits in it this year. Great little stand but I gotta agree with the terrible seat. It sucks IMHO. A few hours is all I can do in it. I can’t believe I used to do all day sits it that thing in my 20’s. (I’m 54 now). Ive never figured out a way to adjust for crooked trees. That little sucker is hell on you in a leaner!
I saw @Nutterbuster posted a video a few years back where he placed two versa buttons on his to facilitate the use of a strap. I’ve also thought about going back to the whoopie sling but use Amsteel instead of that cheap nylon stuff that the original whoopie sling was made out of. That was a dead quiet little stand when it had that whoopie sling.
Anyway I’d be interested to see if treehopper changes the design in any way for the better.

Edit: I believe I actually have the limit with the expansion metal platform that some of you have referenced since my original post. My stand has folding metal brackets holding the platform on as opposed to the cables that the widwalker has. But I still think it’s a great little stand! Cheers!

 

[Topdog]

This is how I remember it, and I very well could be wrong, or have them out of order, but as for the Windwalker stand history, the **** Idol version was the lightest and one of the first versions, then the Ultralight version, then a newer heavier version, then production stopped. Then release number 2 happened and the Windwalker was again a little bit heavier and available with 2 different seat heights, I owned them both. I never owned the **** Idol version or the original Ultralight model, I believe they were both well under 6lbs and as each new version was released the weight climbed just over 6lbs eventually towards the end. I owned 3 of them none were ever under 6 lbs and one had an original fleece pack, I sold that package off to a friend for what I paid for it, I think everybody always assumes when they see a grey tennis racket Windwalker stand it must weigh 5 lbs because the early versions were super light, in my experience the ones I owned were all just over 6.

 

[raisins]

This is how I remember it, and I very well could be wrong, or have them out of order, but as for the Windwalker stand history, the **** Idol version was the lightest and one of the first versions, then the Ultralight version, then a newer heavier version, then production stopped. Then release number 2 happened and the Windwalker was again a little bit heavier and available with 2 different seat heights, I owned them both. I never owned the **** Idol version or the original Ultralight model, I believe they were both well under 6lbs and as each new version was released the weight climbed just over 6lbs eventually towards the end. I owned 3 of them none were ever under 6 lbs and one had an original fleece pack, I sold that package off to a friend for what I paid for it, I think everybody always assumes when they see a grey tennis racket Windwalker stand it must weigh 5 lbs because the early versions were super light, in my experience the ones I owned were all just over 6.

good info, i'm looking forward to reviews of the new windwalker here with some weights

 

[Topdog]

good info, i'm looking forward to reviews of the new windwalker here with some weights

I could be wrong on some of that, but that’s how I remember it, as every new version was released the weight climbed to just over 6 lbs, and having ultralight written on the seat didn’t necessarily mean is was one of the early ultralight models, the true ultralight ones did exist I just never owned one, they were under 6 lbs.

 

[Vtbow]

I could be wrong on some of that, but that’s how I remember it, as every new version was released the weight climbed to just over 6 lbs, and having ultralight written on the seat didn’t necessarily mean is was one of the early ultralight models, the true ultralight ones did exist I just never owned one, they were under 6 lbs.

Another thing that aided in the confusion is the strap. THey had several different strap interations. The black webbing strap was significantly heavier than the trebark one.

From what I have understood(and owned) I believe the **** idol and original "Ultralight" were the same stand. The strap could throw the 5.75lb stand to right around 6lbs, and the ameristep strap update(which I still find the best setup, thanks mr Womack) put it just over 6lbs.

 

[raisins]

Another thing that aided in the confusion is the strap. THey had several different strap interations. The black webbing strap was significantly heavier than the trebark one.

From what I have understood(and owned) I believe the **** idol and original "Ultralight" were the same stand. The strap could throw the 5.75lb stand to right around 6lbs, and the ameristep strap update(which I still find the best setup, thanks mr Womack) put it just over 6lbs.

can you type out in code what is being censored? not trying to subvert anything, but this forum turns a well known box store in ****'s Sporting Goods all the time, removing Richard's nickname.

 

[Topdog]

can you type out in code what is being censored? not trying to subvert anything, but this forum turns a well known box store in ****'s Sporting Goods all the time, removing Richard's nickname.

D I C K Idol

 

[raisins]

D I C K Idol

thanks....what a weird marketing decision

 

[elk yinzer]

Cool to see it making a return for nostalgia if nothing else. Definitely more and better mobile options on the market than there have ever been. I used to have a WW, it was a nice little stand, but at the end of the day, a stand not having leveling capability is a dealbreaker for me.

 

[rhagenw]

I may have missed it but will there be option between seat heights?

 

[trailblazer75]

I've rebuilt 2 spirits lately. What I do is remove that stupid chain and just girth hitch one side of a cam buckle strap to the closed hook and hook into the loop of the strap on the other side. Works GREAT!