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The Best Public-Legal Climbing Method

I only hunt public land, and I dig your resolve when it comes to your strap-in steps @Nutterbuster. I, myself, can’t stand them but have used them time to time for an extra boost in hunting height. I personally prefer the original LW sticks in stock format, because I am short enough to have to carry “too many” strap steps whereas I only need 3-4 LW sticks (sometimes 2 if I’m swamp-stompin’) to get “plenty high-nuff”. Also, this is just stubbornness, but I’m in a system with those cam buckles to where I can get up a normal tree quietly in like 4 minutes. That’s great considering if it takes me longer than 10 to get a tree huntable, I’ll generally think “*** am I doing this?” and hunt from the ground far away from where I just fouled up. I can still get into gnarly trees with minimal effort, as long as I don’t hit my head and unleash my verbal fury.
That’s just me.
 
@DelaWhere_Arrow, I get where you're coming from. Sticks are convenient for the climb. But no matter what I'm climbing with, I always spend way more time walking/paddling in than I spend climbing. I will get more frustrated hanging sticks up on brush for an hour in the dark than I will putting straps around a tree for 10 minutes tops. Those steps carry mighty conveniently, and let me navigate without having to stop and readjust or disentangle my gear.
 
kyler1945 said:
The setup weighs exactly as much as the Cranford's. They compare favorably for me in the ease of setup, and how tight they get to the tree.

Like Nutter said - I was quite skeptical. I didn't see the value proposition over cranfords if the weight is the same, and it becomes a three part system(buckle, strap, and step versus just a step and rope). Speed of deployment and packing in and out of whatever containment (pouch or bag) was my biggest concern.

I've come to realize that when you factor in ALL aspects of the use of a climbing method, regardless of which one, they all end up requiring about the same amount of TOTAL time and effort to pack up, pack out, unpack, climb up, climb down, pack up, and pack in. This is especially true when you have to cross a branch or two on your way up. Two methods currently stand out to me for a few reasons - bolts and one stick/rappel. The only method I can't speak to is spurs.

After seeing it action in person, I am convinced that 10 squirrel steps system is on par with bolts, and one stick/rappel. Timewise - it looks to be around 6 minutes each way(no branches) to get to 20'. But what you have to keep in mind is this is from the moment you decide to climb, to the moment you walk away from the tree - it includes all packing and unpacking.

You may say to yourself I can be at 20' with four sticks and aiders in about 3 minutes. First of all, I doubt you. But even if you can, add the time of pulling pack off, pulling sticks out, putting pack on, hanging the sticks wherever you hang em, and then climbing. And tack on the time it takes at ground level to gather it all up, stack it up, wrap it up, take off pack, put in/on pack, strap it down, and put pack on.

Is it expensive - yeh it's damn expensive.

I offer three comparisons from my perspective:

DIY Sticks/Beast sticks/LWCG - You're using aiders to match weight/cost, or buying and packing a pile of sticks, considerably bulkier, considerably less safe(if using multi step aiders), much slower start to finish. Squirrel steps win easily here for me.

Helium Sticks/Lone wolf sticks/other cost effective sticks - same issues above minus the cost. If you're ok with the bulk/weight, and the extra time to use, then not a bad option. Introducing multi step aiders adds considerable risk. Still a win for me with the squirrel steps, although the cost difference could be used for other advantages in your hunting budget that may swing it differently in your view.

cranford rope steps - advantage squirrel steps on how tight they get to the tree/ease of deployment. Cranfords have a little fiddle factor, and will not always be tight, especially the bigger the tree. Slight safety nod for Squirrel steps for me. Cost difference is close to double - again, slight win here for the squirrel steps for the reasons mentioned, but if that extra 150 bucks gets you gas for an out of state trip, or another accessory needed, you can get by.

Bottom line for me - I've settled on bolts, one stick/rappel, and 10 squirrel steps/ocb's. Each of these methods is 5.5lbs or less. Each packs really well. I feel safe using each method with my current equipment choices, with a slight nod to bolts and SS's for risk factor. Everything else is getting sold or traded.
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Very thoughtful comparison. Thanks for doing that. I am intrigued by the SS approach, but then again I seem to get intrigued by and end up purchasing and trying just about everything!


I have yet to try rapelling down however. Partly because I find 1-sticking down even easier than going up. Seems like unnecessary extra gear and weight. I get that it adds a safety factor for emergency descent. Just willing to go without it in my personal risk assessment/management.

To add a little to the "best public land legal climbing method" I tried 1-sticking today with a Stacked Outdoors polymer stick. It went pretty well. Not having the cam cleat of the Muddy Pro made it a little more changing but not excessively so. The SO stick is a tad lighter. The plastic is quieter and less invasive sounding when it does make noise. Steps don't fold so it is a little bulkier but about the same length as the Muddy. Another place it shined was at height as a top step platform. The steps on it are flat across the top and they are deeper than any stick I've used. Lots of boot room for sitting or leaning. They have an aggressive tread which is good for pushing off of to move around the tree. Paired with an ROS of even just three steps and you are pretty good to go. It felt like a cross between using a pivot platform and am ROS alone. Pretty minimalist system since the stick is 2.3 lbs and a 3-step ROS is sub 1.

Figured I'd share. I really just have too many options/systems now and they all work well, and all have flaws. Hard to practice them all and even harder to decide which I prefer. 1st world problems I guess.
 
Nutterbuster said:
I would disagree on the cam buckle being quieter, but I've had a lot of experience camming one over. DanO sells both buckles for the same price on his site. The cam buckle has a 1500lb break strength, OCB is 1200.

I think the cambuckle could be a valid solution for some folks. I'll never use one between the OCB, "buckleless method," and daisychains.
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Quieter because it doesn’t have that latch flopping around.
 
pesqimon said:
Quieter because it doesn’t have that latch flopping around.
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Gotcha. So the IMMI buckle I started out with has a plastic overlay that negates that. On Dano's, just wrap the bar with electrical tape.

Although I havent noticed it making much noise. Kyle and denots both said that they couldn't hear it standing 10ft or so from the tree.
 
Nutterbuster said:
Gotcha. So the IMMI buckle I started out with has a plastic overlay that negates that. On Dano's, just wrap the bar with electrical tape.

Although I havent noticed it making much noise. Kyle and denots both said that they couldn't hear it standing 10ft or so from the tree.
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My ocb;s have the rubbery/plastic overlay onthem as well and are pretty darn quiet. I have been using the old style cam buckle with the hook like an ameristep on my aluminum steps and like it. I"ll weight a couple of mine when I get home tonight and see where they fall into the scheme. I think I like the cam/hook better than the ocb because of ease of release in nasty cold weather, with gloves/ice. I unfortunately always have to take that into consideration...
 
Vtbow said:
I think I like the cam/hook better than the ocb because of ease of release in nasty cold weather, with gloves/ice.
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I havent had an issue with an OCB in cold weather. All you have to do is pull up on the tag end of the strap and it pops loose. Either option could be done with one, gloved hand I should think.

DanO sells ratchets, OCBs, and cambuckles for a reason. Do ya thang how ya like it. :)
 
Nutterbuster said:
@DelaWhere_Arrow, I get where you're coming from. Sticks are convenient for the climb. But no matter what I'm climbing with, I always spend way more time walking/paddling in than I spend climbing. I will get more frustrated hanging sticks up on brush for an hour in the dark than I will putting straps around a tree for 10 minutes tops. Those steps carry mighty conveniently, and let me navigate without having to stop and readjust or disentangle my gear.
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Exactly why I appreciate your POV. I’m too stubborn to switch at present, although I do keep a couple strap steps handy.
 
Nutterbuster said:
If I were you, I would hang onto one set of ameristeps. I did.
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Ditto this...you'll be sorry..I"ve sold all mine in the past and then wish I'd kept a set for a preset on a friends property I didnt want to drill on to be nice....
 
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