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Ring of steps

BigAl

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2018
Messages
579
Location
Midway Tennessee
Platforms are the rage.....I have one....not the top of the line though. Eberhart is ring steps only person.....I think someone that's less 200lbs have it easier on their feet....he's a smaller guy. Do you guys just sit in the saddle with little weight on your feet or how do you larger guys handle a ring of steps....JX3 is the exception..LOL. I love the thought of sticks and a ROS together...Bang quick easy and quiet but I've wondered how you ROS guys handle all day sits. Thanks for the responses!
 
Well, I'm about the same weight as John Eberhart at 150 pounds but I use a ring of steps exclusively and a 2 panel Recon sling. I have done all day sits in it. The steps are used mostly for leverage when you want to move around the tree and as a place to stand sometimes (mostly before a shot). I sit in my Recon about 90%, I would say. Of that 90%, I bet a full 80% of my body weight is on my butt, 20% on my feet like sitting in a chair. I followed John Eberhart's advice. Sit in the saddle like it is a chair. It's about like sitting in one of those ballpark chairs. Last season I ran a ring of steps on 4 lone wolf full length sticks with an aider. It worked pretty well. I plan to run the ring of steps with 2TC this fall and have the sticks as backup.
 

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Use the saddle to sit in like it’s intended and use the ros to position yourself for shots…
That is the plan......but.....always a but..LOL.....don't you guys get tired of sitting and need to stand up for a while? Ya'll use steel shank boots for long sits or does your back not get stiff? LOL
 
That is the plan......but.....always a but..LOL.....don't you guys get tired of sitting and need to stand up for a while? Ya'll use steel shank boots for long sits or does your back not get stiff? LOL
After a while, you get where you want to move a little bit. That's natural. Just scan around really well and make sure nothing has moved in on you and slowly stand up and stretch a bit.
 
That is the plan......but.....always a but..LOL.....don't you guys get tired of sitting and need to stand up for a while? Ya'll use steel shank boots for long sits or does your back not get stiff? LOL
Yes, switched to a platform.
 

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Find a good pair of steel shank loggers boots or lineman’s boots. They aren’t as comfy hiking in as hunting boots, but you can lean on the edge of a platform or a ring of steps all day with little to no foot fatigue. Another thing that helps is to have a really good sitter saddle.
 
That is the plan......but.....always a but..LOL.....don't you guys get tired of sitting and need to stand up for a while? Ya'll use steel shank boots for long sits or does your back not get stiff? LOL
I mostly use Lacross rubber boots. I have used tennis shoes in hot weather early season, lol.
 
I rarely get more than 6 days to hunt and try at least 2 or 3 all day sits during the rut. An ROS makes moving around easier before daylight into a new spot......my opinion of course.
 
As another alternative- Bullman still has its Pioneer ROS , nearly half off with or without a dump bag. They come with a ratchet strap.
I have a pioneer ROS on its way to compare to my Treehopper set which I like very much.
I wanted to compare based on the weight savings and to see how well I can climb with them.
(Disclosure- . flat rate shipping is almost $10)
 
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As another alternative- Bullman still has its Pioneer ROS half off with or without a dump bag. They come with a ratchet strap.
I have a pioneer ROS on its way to compare to my Treehopper set which I like very much.
I wanted to compare based on the weight savings and to see how well I can climb with them.
(Disclosure- I believe Pioneers are made overseas and flat rate shipping is almost $10)
I called and I was told the steps are made in the USA. I have 6 and they are nice steps, but i got them to climb.
 
Platforms are the rage.....I have one....not the top of the line though. Eberhart is ring steps only person.....I think someone that's less 200lbs have it easier on their feet....he's a smaller guy. Do you guys just sit in the saddle with little weight on your feet or how do you larger guys handle a ring of steps....JX3 is the exception..LOL. I love the thought of sticks and a ROS together...Bang quick easy and quiet but I've wondered how you ROS guys handle all day sits. Thanks for the responses!
You should use both in my opinion. I like Eberhart but not every tree is straight and without any limbs like he chooses for his videos. My biggest buck last year I could not have shot using a ros because my only option to shoot on my weak side was to turn around on my platform due to branches blocking me from moving around the tree.
 
You should use both in my opinion. I like Eberhart but not every tree is straight and without any limbs like he chooses for his videos. My biggest buck last year I could not have shot using a ros because my only option to shoot on my weak side was to turn around on my platform due to branches blocking me from moving around the tree.
Yes....I've thought of that possibility.....I do have a platform but don't like to set before daylight....new platform ??? More money down the rabbit hole?....LOL
 
My precious ring of steps is 1 1/2pounds.and fits in a pocket.its all I need to get it done.but I'm a minimalist.some people need their steps tight to the tree,some need more strps,and some want a platform the size of a treestand. I'm fine with 4 steps camed tight enough they still wabble but don't slip.if you position yourself so you sit with your knees against the tree and your thie at a 45 degrea angle up to your hip you will disperce the weight of your body evenly between your feet ,knees and butt.it is also a verry small movement to stand and lean.but my own personal prefference always leans to the leaner system if it produces the same results.
 
I’ve got 3 steps on my platform strap and it really helps getting around the tree as well as allowing different foot positions. My first sits with just a platform, I was primarily sitting with my knees against the tree. I somehow naturally started leaning mostly, over sitting. I seldom even use the back strap anymore and am very comfy in my Hawk saddle. If I sit, I’ll probably rest my head on my forearm, on my bridge and take a nap! What a cool place to wake up from a good 20 minutes snooze!
 
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