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What ring of steps?

Jeff F.

Jeff F.

Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2018
Messages
77
What is the communities current preferred ring of steps to use at hunting height?
 
Squirrel steps cannot be best for ease of use, silence, and packability. Ameristeps function as well once on the tree, but come at slight noise and packing penalties. Do you want to spend 125.00, or 75.00? That’s the main question.
 
Squirrel steps are what is considered the gold standard now. A bit pricey if you ask me. I found some guys getting rid of some DC’d API strap on steps on classified and they are about as close to squirrel steps as you can get.
 
I’m using sky hooks. The squirrel steps are the best but I’m holding out for the folding model that is probably never happening. I’ve got a set of ameristeps also. I haven’t used the ameristeps since getting the sky hooks but would probably pull them out if I knew I was going to be on a really rough tree.
 
swamp_possum said:
Squirrel steps are what is considered the gold standard now. A bit pricey if you ask me. I found some guys getting rid of some DC’d API strap on steps on classified and they are about as close to squirrel steps as you can get.
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It looks like the squirrel steps you buy the parts and configure it how you want? Their website was a little odd on mobile.
 
MFD205 said:
What's the consensus on Cranford scaffold ROS? Has the authority on ROS tried these?
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I haven't tried them. They look like a reasonable option at half the cost and double the weight of squirrels.
 
MFD205 said:
What's the consensus on Cranford scaffold ROS? Has the authority on ROS tried these?
Click to expand...
I'd like to try those because I like the regular Cranford rope steps. The wings on those look like they'll take side pressure well.
 
Took me a few tries (including Bullmans and scaffolds) to get to the functionality/packability offered by the Squirrel Steps. I cried more than I needed to. In the end, Squirrel Steps on an OCB proved to be all that and a bag of chips.
 
MFD205 said:
What's the consensus on Cranford scaffold ROS? Has the authority on ROS tried these?
Click to expand...

I like my Cranfords, and they have worked well for me this year. I am looking to ditch the weight of the ratchet strap and go to an OCB Buckle. They are pretty compact once they fold up. The biggest problem I have with them is the noise. After I've been standing on them for a period of time and go to move, my boot grabs the step just a little bit causing the arm to raise an inch or two before dropping back down. That metal on metal sound might as well be a cannon if there's a mature buck close by. Not sure what I'm going to do about that, but am really thinking about upgrading to squirrel steps. Also, I do not consider myself an authority on anything saddle related.
 
I’ve yet to reach into the wallet for squirrel steps, but I’ve been pretty happy with the bullman ros. Used with a ratchet strap last year but switched to an ocb this year and am now a huge fan. I tried the cranford scaffold too. Handled side pressure better than the bullmans but found that upward bend on the end to be pretty annoying after a while. Bullmans tend to slide along the strap with side pressure, but there are several solutions to help with that.
 
I have squirrels and Ameristeps with OCBs, but my preference for ROS is still bolts. They arr quiet, light, packable and will take as much side pressure as you can give them. I usually climb with bolts, so I have the mini folding drill with me anyway. Adding 4 more bolts for ROS is a no brainer.
Of course, if you can’t drill your trees, ignore everything I said
 
mtsrunner said:
I have squirrels and Ameristeps with OCBs, but my preference for ROS is still bolts. They arr quiet, light, packable and will take as much side pressure as you can give them. I usually climb with bolts, so I have the mini folding drill with me anyway. Adding 4 more bolts for ROS is a no brainer.
Of course, if you can’t drill your trees, ignore everything I said
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Bolts are great. Especiially on presets. They truly are wondeefully rock solid. Hunting on the fly sometimes they can be a tad tedious, but especially awesome as a hybrid with existing limbs etc. And funky shaped trees.
 
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