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Wild edge stepp lovers

Bump79 said:
The only sketchy situation I've been in the woods saddle hunting is due to my swaider. I minimized it by putting zip ties and glueing in the middle so it couldn't get as out of balance. This thread has me strongly changing my tune and I'll likely be looking for a different method.
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Just ditch the swaider and use just the knaider. You'd probably only end up carrying a couple more stepps anyway.
 
htr2133 said:
Has anyone found a good method to attach the swaider to the step so that it doesn't slide on the cross-bar? This is the only thing that bothers me about the swaider really once I got use to it. I definitely felt uneasy with the swaider at first though.
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I put 2 zip-ties on the crossbar about an inch and a half apart with the locking portion up, cut off the excess and then wrap it in vet tape. align the 2 zip -ties according to where you hook up the swaider. The vet itself will help stop the slipping, but the bumps from the zip-ties will keep things put.
 
Kurt said:
I put 2 zip-ties on the crossbar about an inch and a half apart with the locking portion up, cut off the excess and then wrap it in vet tape. align the 2 zip -ties according to where you hook up the swaider. The vet itself will help stop the slipping, but the bumps from the zip-ties will keep things put.
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I did this as well. Took the swaider from sketchy to acceptable. I might do what others say and just use a knaider. I use a perch platform at the moment so when I change I'll just keep the step.
 
Got to climb again yesterday. Still love the knaider, but don’t like the swaider. What I found that I liked most was a 3 step etrier. Also tried an 18” 3 step amsteel aider. This did not work like I hoped, I think an etrier works better in this application. Glad I’m giving the steps another chance though. I really like them and just purchased even more. I want to have 2 sets, that way if I like my spot I can just leave them in the tree.
 
tylerray378 said:
Got to climb again yesterday. Still love the knaider, but don’t like the swaider. What I found that I liked most was a 3 step etrier. Also tried an 18” 3 step amsteel aider. This did not work like I hoped, I think an etrier works better in this application. Glad I’m giving the steps another chance though. I really like them and just purchased even more. I want to have 2 sets, that way if I like my spot I can just leave them in the tree.
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It’s been 2 season for me with them and they are just too easy. I use a 6 step etrier which maybe isn’t for most I don’t know. I used a set of sticks this yr twice and though they have a purpose for me here and there I would not want to use them every hunt, too cumbersome for me
 
I’m a fan of both the knaider and swaider. The bag on the other hand… I’ve got a 10 step bag and sometimes getting my 5 stepps in there with the ropes is a PITA. Wish there was a way to permanently stretch it out because sometimes I think I’m going to bust the zipper


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I like the steps. I don't like packing them up as I seem to bend at least 1 of the steps out of alignment with each use and the stacking inside the bag suffers. The other issue I have is bending it back in place once out of the woods. Even after rebending, out of 12, I have maybe 4 that still fit the perch as intended. The other either have more wiggle and make noise, or are exceptionally difficult to snap onto the step. I've resorted to using only 11 and keep 1 as a template that I match up with after rebending.
 
I use 5 stepps and the Cane climbing method to get to 20'. Use the top stepp for a foot rest and align my ROS just above it. Perfect angled platform.
 
Yimmyb60 said:
I like the steps. I don't like packing them up as I seem to bend at least 1 of the steps out of alignment with each use and the stacking inside the bag suffers. The other issue I have is bending it back in place once out of the woods. Even after rebending, out of 12, I have maybe 4 that still fit the perch as intended. The other either have more wiggle and make noise, or are exceptionally difficult to snap onto the step. I've resorted to using only 11 and keep 1 as a template that I match up with after rebending.
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Most times, if they are bending, the rope isn’t on the correct side of the step/bar or it’s being set at an off angle. I made that mistake a few times as well but I haven’t had an issue in 2 yrs now with them bending with making sure the rope is correct and camming down equally
 
How many have tried the Griper from G3D? I don't hate the bag since I only use 3-4 Stepps most of the time anyways, but I do think I'd rather have the steps on my hip or on my lower back for the climb sometimes.
 
htr2133 said:
How many have tried the Griper from G3D? I don't hate the bag since I only use 3-4 Stepps most of the time anyways, but I do think I'd rather have the steps on my hip or on my lower back for the climb sometimes.
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I’m using the gripr on my 4 set of primals. Very simple. *I did have the bottom slot break off though, I’m guessing user error.* I only use 4 steps anyways so it’s not a big deal. It has worked great the 3 practice climbs I’ve done.
 
What are the over all thoughts on aiders? I have an amsteel aider I could permanently attach to a step and order another, but how do permanently attached aider do on the wild edge steps? How about a cayg aider like backwoods makes, would that be better? Or just rope with the knaider/swaider?

Thanks for the help.


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I personally prefer cayg. When I get to hunting height I also take the aider off and stow it away during the hunt because I worry about the wind blowing them around.
 
cockyrooster2013 said:
I’m a fan of both the knaider and swaider. The bag on the other hand… I’ve got a 10 step bag and sometimes getting my 5 stepps in there with the ropes is a PITA. Wish there was a way to permanently stretch it out because sometimes I think I’m going to bust the zipper


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Get rid of the bag and get a kydex holster. Easy to deploy and easy to reload when your coming down. I got mine from someone on Saddlehunter. Not sure who it was.
 
Crcusmonky said:
What are the over all thoughts on aiders? I have an amsteel aider I could permanently attach to a step and order another, but how do permanently attached aider do on the wild edge steps? How about a cayg aider like backwoods makes, would that be better? Or just rope with the knaider/swaider?

Thanks for the help.


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This is what I did with my primal steps. I've since zip tied the loop to the crossbar.20210717_161917 (1).jpg
 
Crcusmonky said:
Excellent. Does leaving it attached affect stackablity? Assuming you use more than one.


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I only have one setup with an aider. I was using it for one sticking so I don't know for sure how they would stack. There's some extra bulk so I'd guess they won't stack as well as without the aider. The one sticking didn't work that great, I ended up using the modified Cain method to get the most height out of the fewest steps when I was using them to climb.
 
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