Whats up with the 'Sladder Climbing system"?

[Plebe]

I agree, this should be much easier to manage with the jx3. Sticks are particularly a pia with a jx3 because of how far away they move the center of gravity away from your back, so they feel heavier than they are. Ideally ill be able to walk up to the tree, remove sladder from a pouch and start climbing.

Ive played with it once in the yard, so far so good.

A Sladder is certainly less bulk and weight and things to snag. No argument there. But having a JX3, I will say packing sticks on the top (where the fork sticks up) greatly reduces the torque that causes them to feel heavier than they are.

 

[jjdrake06]

One question that just occurred to me - can anyone speak to what it like to use the sladder in the rain or snow? Just curious if that makes it any more difficult or less viable. Thanks!

Rain, no difference whatsoever. Snow, haven't had the opportunity. Of course, I climbed an oak. If you're climbing maple or similar with ****ty footwear, that could likely make a difference

 

[bowhunthard88]

One question that just occurred to me - can anyone speak to what it like to use the sladder in the rain or snow? Just curious if that makes it any more difficult or less viable. Thanks!

Absolutely no difference in functionality! However, rain that soaks in and then freezes may be a different story, but I haven't been there yet.

 

[drew13]

I have used ladder-style webbing aiders for years and, based on my personal experience, have a hard time believing that the Sladder is not a bit trickier to use on a wet, snowy or icy tree. It is just plain harder to keep your toe from slipping to the side when there is less friction due to a slippery tree trunk.

 

[Plebe]

 

[Benzy2]

Bought mine today. On paper it’s everything I have been looking for. I don’t mind hiking with weight but I hate hiking with bulk. Last year I didn’t get the saddle out and just hunt from ground blinds because of how compact and simple I could go in with preset blinds on family private land. This year I want to get elevated again.

Time will tell if it’s a hit or miss. But if I can manage to climb with it anywhere between the worst and best examples on YouTube I feel like it will be a winner for me. My favorite hunts last year were due to having minimal “stuff” to use. This seems like it can get me on that track. And I’ve got plenty of time to practice.

 

[arrowchukker]

Bought mine today. On paper it’s everything I have been looking for. I don’t mind hiking with weight but I hate hiking with bulk. Last year I didn’t get the saddle out and just hunt from ground blinds because of how compact and simple I could go in with preset blinds on family private land. This year I want to get elevated again.

Time will tell if it’s a hit or miss. But if I can manage to climb with it anywhere between the worst and best examples on YouTube I feel like it will be a winner for me. My favorite hunts last year were due to having minimal “stuff” to use. This seems like it can get me on that track. And I’ve got plenty of time to practice.

It seems like if you are a bigger guy, the Sladder gets harder to use.
I wanted to love it.
I had a hard time getting enough space off the second to the top step to feel like my foot was “right”. I watched all the vids, there is a technique to it, but size 13 boots never seem to set right. Guys with smaller feet, seemed to be ok.
I tried a bunch of tricks to get the top of it away from the tree for more foot space, but nothing really helped.
The two straps for you feet also seemed small. I always felt like I was wiggling my foot in loops.
Now, if you watch the owner’s video’s he pretty good at climbing with it. But I think he probably like 5’8” with size 10 boots.

 

[Weldabeast]

I got to give it an honest attempt and the hook wiggle movements to free it from the loop in the daisy chain is a definite turn off.....it's close to awesome but with that hook attachment and ladder style rungs it goes from hero to zero real.quick in my opinion.....im nimble/athletic and my main climbing method uses multistep aiders already so I'm used to climbing like that and I didn't care for the sladder. I wanted to like it very much but it just didn't work out that way.

 

[woodsdog2]

I’ve been somewhat developing a niche use for it especially during firearms season where I’m hunting for 2-4 hours in the evening just taking it in my saddle dump pouch and climbing up 6-8 feet like two half iterations up maybe 12 feet max depending on the tree and lean using the stirrups as my platform and just climbing up and down with it and my saddle. Quick way to get up in thicker spots to overlook brushier areas to gain a slight height advantage for visibility with a firearm. I’m just climbing back down using it and my LB. No rappel. It’s not pretty but it’s quick and light.

 

[Benzy2]

I’ve been somewhat developing a niche use for it especially during firearms season where I’m hunting for 2-4 hours in the evening just taking it in my saddle dump pouch and climbing up 6-8 feet like two half iterations up maybe 12 feet max depending on the tree and lean using the stirrups as my platform and just climbing up and down with it and my saddle. Quick way to get up in thicker spots to overlook brushier areas to gain a slight height advantage for visibility with a firearm. I’m just climbing back down using it and my LB. No rappel. It’s not pretty but it’s quick and light.

This is the type of use I’m hoping to get. Something quick, compact, and fairly low fuss to use for a few hours at a time. I’m using the Drey hammock as well so more sitting and resting my feet than standing on the stirrups. If it gets me 12 ft up without undoing anything it should be enough for the places I hunt most. I’ll probably still hunt ground blinds in the worst weather, but early season when I can’t get too high because of foliage this seems like a great use.

 

[Highwaynorth]

I made the switch from one sticks and a 3 step movable aider to the sladder mid season last year. I also started rappelling out of the tree.
I am very happy with my new system. The weight of the two methods is about equal, but i eliminated all of the metal and bark scraping
from setting the sticks. Coming down at night after the hunt is also much quicker and safer. I am using this system with the
JX3 hybrid and a ring of Orbit steps.

 

[kyler1945]

Although I didn’t hunt much this past season, I used the sladder exclusively to hang a. Few cameras and hunt. I didn’t miss sticks or bolts at all.

I use the sladder set once, then the bottom pulled up and set, somewhere between 10-16’. Then I use the Jx3 top stick as my platform. Going on 2 seasons without needing to go higher.

Then just climb down when I’m done and shove sladder in Jx3 and go.


Fastest quietest way for me to hunt.


I still think it’s silly to use to go higher and carry rappel gear.

But I’ll give credit where it’s due - if you need a way to get 6-15’ up a tree fast and quiet, it’s a great option. I’ve gotten as high as 21-22’ feet with Jx3 top stick and single step aider a time or two.

 

[PoorMansWrangler]

As someone whose watched the videos from the owner, is it really as easy as he makes it seem?

 

[sokraski]

As someone whose watched the videos from the owner, is it really as easy as he makes it seem?

Yes, at least it is for me. Only thing I use anymore.

 

[woodsdog2]

In my experience, with any aider type system that hangs, tree lean is going to play a large part in the climb up and down. If you try to purposely use trees that lean a little toward you, the aider will naturally hang out further facilitating easier foot placement. Obviously, that isn’t always practical or possible. In those instances It is important to continuously use the mid foot grab technique @grayskwerel uses to properly position the aider for your foot and the next foot.

In instances where; for some reason, it is difficult to do that, side footing into the rungs with your toe between the tree and the corner of each rung works decently well. And remember, proper LB management is key. If you’re trying to advance up while leaning back, it’s a cluster and forces your foot weight toward the tree mashing your feet into the tree. Pull your LB up tight so you’re vertical and as parallel to the trunk of the tree as possible. This keeps the adequate spacing of the aider from the tree required to allow easier foot placement into the “rungs.”

 

[woodsdog2]

My quick hunt sequence is one, two, three, four rungs up. Right foot into right stirrup, left foot into left stirrup, pull LB up to get me closer to the trunk, “jingle” to release the bottom (if fastened), pull up and set as high as possible, loosen LB, start one, two, three maybe four rungs again. Transition over to stirrups., set tether and then loosen then release LB. Daisy chain LB, Set up tree strap, hanger etc., haul ip firearm and settle in.

 

[PoorMansWrangler]

Are you guys climbing down or rappelling?

 

[woodsdog2]

Are you guys climbing down or rappelling?

Just climbing down.

 

[JCMCUBIC]

As someone whose watched the videos from the owner, is it really as easy as he makes it seem?

It takes some practice to get the technique, mainly the foot pull and LB setting/use, but after that it is easy for me.

Are you guys climbing down or rappelling?

I rappel.

Although I didn’t hunt much this past season, I used the sladder exclusively to hang a. Few cameras and hunt. I didn’t miss sticks or bolts at all.

I use the sladder set once, then the bottom pulled up and set, somewhere between 10-16’. Then I use the Jx3 top stick as my platform. Going on 2 seasons without needing to go higher.

Then just climb down when I’m done and shove sladder in Jx3 and go.


Fastest quietest way for me to hunt.


I still think it’s silly to use to go higher and carry rappel gear.

But I’ll give credit where it’s due - if you need a way to get 6-15’ up a tree fast and quiet, it’s a great option. I’ve gotten as high as 21-22’ feet with Jx3 top stick and single step aider a time or two.

Hunting high or hunting low, repelling or climbing down, it works as the user prefers.

 

[kyler1945]

It takes some practice to get the technique, mainly the foot pull and LB setting/use, but after that it is easy for me.



I rappel.



Hunting high or hunting low, repelling or climbing down, it works as the user prefers.

Yeh, it works either way.

But one way requires nothing but what you already carry to climb a tree (ability to use a lineman’s belt).

One requires 3-4lbs of rappel gear, and a ton of time and focus using packing unpacking and generally dealing with.

It’s no different than any other climbing method when you add rappelling.

Where it stands out as a unique system, in regards to cost, time, focus, effort, noise, is using it to get 15-18’ by only setting twice.