• 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

Opinions on Silent Approach Steps

Don’t care for mine much. Bought the ring of steps and used about 3 times. Put them in the tote of bad ideas I’ve accumulated and bought a predator
 
They are the only light, plastic step on the market now, I believe.

I think they should have been designed like the recalled/discontinued Ameristeps, but were not. It might be a patent thing, but one claimed advantage is that you can wrap then either direction on the tree given the design. I'd be willing to give that up in order for the step to have a lower chance of turning if not tight or if bumped from the bottom.

I have a set and have only done practice climbs, and havent' hunted them yet. So, this is my perspective from climbing with nothing on my back and in good conditions, etc.

Because of their "ambidextrous design", if you smack the bottom of one while stepping up, then you can flip it. But on the way up if flipping them, you will have a foot planted below where you are stepping, so simply lower the foot you fumbled the step with, flip step, try again. On the way down, you'd have to try to flip them, so long as they are tight on the tree.

The best way for me is to use a lineman's belt and don't even touch steps with hands to pull up. Place steps on the tree side facing you and just barely offset. Get the steps tight. Push arch of foot into where step and tree meet and just use the steps like little bumps.

Imagine if you had a tree with 2 inch knots going up the front. You should be able to lever into them using a lineman's belt and go up the tree just using your legs and your arms only work the belt.

Treat these steps the same way.

I am going to experiment with covering friction-needing surface (boot and tree sides) with white grip tape. This will aid visibility and make them less slick. I wish they had cut checkering in a diagonal hash pattern, instead of the molded one direction ridges that don't accomplish much.

I have also ditched the bags that come with them in favor of wrapping the strap around each step and then putting the steps in a large ammo magazine dump pouch. The zipper on the bags are notoriously weak and you are supposed to lay the webbing all out and kind of fold and bunch it up. I don't like having stuff kind of hanging out and potentially tangling with other steps.

These were designed by an individual and haven't been out very long. So, they are serviceable but not perfect. I bought them for when I have to walk a distance because they are so much lighter than sticks (12 of them that will get you over 20' weigh less than 2 sticks). Other than that, my Hawk Helium sticks are much more secure on the tree and easier and quicker to set up. If I were more comfortable with aiders or if I owned super light weight sticks, then I would not have these.
 
Last edited:
raisins said:
They are the only light, plastic step on the market now, I believe.

I think they should have been designed like the recalled/discontinued Ameristeps, but were not. It might be a patent thing, but one claimed advantage is that you can wrap then either direction on the tree given the design. I'd be willing to give that up in order for the step to have a lower chance of turning if not tight or if bumped from the bottom.

I have a set and have only done practice climbs, and havent' hunted them yet. So, this is my perspective from climbing with nothing on my back and in good conditions, etc.

Because of their "ambidextrous design", if you smack the bottom of one while stepping up, then you can flip it. But on the way up if flipping them, you will have a foot planted below where you are stepping, so simply lower the foot you fumbled the step with, flip step, try again. On the way down, you'd have to try to flip them, so long as they are tight on the tree.

The best way for me is to use a lineman's belt and don't even touch steps with hands to pull up. Place steps on the tree side facing you and just barely offset. Get the steps tight. Push arch of foot into where step and tree meet and just use the steps like little bumps.

Imagine if you had a tree with 2 inch knots going up the front. You should be able to lever into them using a lineman's belt and go up the tree just using your legs and your arms only work the belt.

Treat these steps the same way.

I am going to experiment with covering friction-needing surface (boot and tree sides) with white grip tape. This will aid visibility and make them less slick. I wish they had cut checkering in a diagonal hash pattern, instead of the molded one direction ridges that don't accomplish much.

I have also ditched the bags that come with them in favor of wrapping the strap around each step and then putting the steps in a large ammo magazine dump pouch. The zipper on the bags are notoriously weak and you are supposed to lay the webbing all out and kind of fold and bunch it up. I don't like having stuff kind of hanging out and potentially tangling with other steps.

These were designed by an individual and haven't been out very long. So, they are serviceable but not perfect. I bought them for when I have to walk a distance because they are so much lighter than sticks (12 of them that will get you over 20' weigh less than 2 sticks). Other than that, my Hawk Helium sticks are much more secure on the tree and easier and quicker to set up. If I were more comfortable with aiders or if I owned super light weight sticks, then I would not have these.
Click to expand...

Than you for this review. My sister bought me the silent approach set for Xmas, and I was wondering all the details on these.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I use them to climb. 14 steps get me up about 24 feet. It takes longer than sticks but it’s a good trade off for the weight, 6-7 pounds. I used them all this season and didn’t miss sticks at all.

If used as directed by the manufacturer they work like they are supposed to. The downfall is speed of set up but for me that’s not a problem. Ease of use and not carrying aluminum sticks on my back make them worth it.

My platform is a ring of Ameristeps. I had a Predator for a minute and sold it. I’ll be getting another one or the new Assault before next season.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top