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The Best Public-Legal Climbing Method

My assessment of the Cranfords and SS is much the same of @EricS. The SS cost more but man are they solid and easy to hang. I’ll be using 8-10 of those or carbon bolts this year depending on the situation. I like the bolts and SS much better than sticks and aiders. More packable by far and IMO safer than aiders. Just my 2 cents though. Everybody is different. I’m not a fan of aiders.
 
Randy Marsh said:
That's good to know about the SA steps. I'd heard of people having issues but had hoped the ocb would solve the problem and I could save a couple hundred bucks going with them over the squirrel steps. But I really want these to be as quiet as my lone wolf sticks so I want to make sure that's even possible before buying any kind of step. You've had good luck with the cranfords and timber hitch? They don't sag down the tree at all when stepping on them? I had also thought about trying the ocb's with the cranford scaffold steps but it sounded like they might be kind of heavy in the end. How much do ameristeps usually go for?
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My SA steps are SOLID with a strap and OCB from DanO. I'm 250lbs and they don't budge since I went to the OCB. My SA steps on my ROS are also solid with the OCB and handle side pressure way better than they did with the stock buckle and strap.
 
I might still give the SA steps a try Thomas. If anything I'll still have the ocb buckles to use on some other steps if I didn't like the SA's. The majority of the public land around me is marsh and I get real close to bedding most of the time. I can usually set my sticks pretty good by hand before I step on them so they normally don't move much. So scraping/sliding down the tree while stepping on them was a pretty big noise concern for me. That makes sense about having the proper spacing and with that said it sounds like noise shouldn't be too much of an issue. I'm going to watch the classifieds for a week or two and if I don't see any I want to buy I'll be ordering some SA or SS steps.
 
Weldabeast said:
I've been using a 3step diy aider for 3seasons now and also cutting some limbs, hanging bat boxes and various other tasks and as long as i keep that 3 point contact i haven't had a slip out. The times i broke the rule is when it'll kick out. If your in shape with good core strength and you keep three contract points (dig your toe in deep) take your time stay attached with your linesmans belt and practice you can use the aiders as safely as any other climbing method. Not sure what that guy in the video was doing but whatever it was he did it wrong
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He was hugging the tree and took the pressure off his toe. He needs to be leaning back into his linesman, and keeping his toe kicked into the tree.
 
parkersdad said:
I bought the five step aider because I could not find a three step at the time I was buying. I use the aider at ground level for my first move and after that I just one stick climb the rest of the way.
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arrow30 said:
I ordered a set of 8 and was charged 37.00 a step, and they are backordered. so we will see...…...
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Did you ever get a refund? I ordered a few days ago and still do not have the money refunded. I didn’t know if it takes a bit or I need to email him
 
Ameristrep with DanO 7ft Camo ROS strap and OCB. Added a shock cord keeper and silenced the OCB with electrical tape. About 6 lb for 10 and packs away in a backpack. I've setup 5 for the left foot and 5 for the right foot. Plan is to run one pouch of 5 on my left and one pouch of 5 on my right side. I've found that pushing the OCB is easier to set. So I push with my left hand on the left foot steps and push with my right hand on the right foot steps. The Ameristep with OCB is the most solid step I've tested on thick bark trees. The wings and the material under the step make all the difference. I'm just a fan of polycarbonate. It's strong, quiet (no need to wrap it), and won't damage the webbing (has no sharp edges). I'm going to be testing this season.

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Ordered 10 SS yesterday with OCB straps. I'm looking forward to using them. Thanks for all of y'alls work and information.
 
Well just put my order in for 10. Hopefully this will be a climbing setup I like and will stick with.
 
It’s a great solid climbing method. Just under 6 pounds for 9 with straps.

@DanO was real prompt with his discount refund. Great company setup and products.
 
Anyone have a problem with a OCB bending? Im guessing i got the strap to tight before camming it over?
 

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That is the first report of bending like that. I compared that OCB to the previous one - upon first glance they are exactly the same. However, on those OCBs with the black bar, the spot that bent is not as beefed up as the brass bar version. These will need to be replaced. Contact me if you have the black bar version.
 
I received 10 SS late last week and the OCBs have the black bar. Are you suggesting I need to replace them?
 
Earlybird31 said:
I received 10 SS late last week and the OCBs have the black bar. Are you suggesting I need to replace them?
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Yes, PM me your order # or name. Thanks. Only a few orders went out with the black bar and I'm trying to contact them.
 
skyjacker said:
Ameristrep with DanO 7ft Camo ROS strap and OCB. Added a shock cord keeper and silenced the OCB with electrical tape. About 6 lb for 10 and packs away in a backpack. I've setup 5 for the left foot and 5 for the right foot. Plan is to run one pouch of 5 on my left and one pouch of 5 on my right side. I've found that pushing the OCB is easier to set. So I push with my left hand on the left foot steps and push with my right hand on the right foot steps. The Ameristep with OCB is the most solid step I've tested on thick bark trees. The wings and the material under the step make all the difference. I'm just a fan of polycarbonate. It's strong, quiet (no need to wrap it), and won't damage the webbing (has no sharp edges). I'm going to be testing this season.

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It looks like the edges of the SS are rounded so I don't know if it would cause much damage to the webbing. But you think the ameristep wings make a big difference in stability even with how tight you can get the ocb buckle? Anyone else try get to try this method out?
 
Older thread, but here's another vote for Cranford rope steps for a good, versatile, budget friendly, public legal step. A lot of people say you can't get them tight enough. Tight enough for what? I think people say that just because of the way they're designed with a built in fulcrum. Put that on any step and you're going to get some pull away. It doesn't make them unsafe. The foot peg is at such an angle, that even with the bottom flush to the tree after stepping on it, it's still not sloping down to where your foot will slide off. And, it certainly doesn't move as much as an aider. People just don't like looking down and seeing that gap between the tree and step. It doesn't mean it's unsafe.
 
Anyone using squirrel steps with 7ft OCB for climbing what are you doing with the tag end of 7 ft straps in the wind sent nutterbuster a PM but haven't heard back??? Thanks
 
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