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Wild edge users

A lot of people are using aiders and swaiders and knaiders, etc. I don't. So, I can't tell you if my idea will work with those methods but if you use steps alone as I do, this might interest you. I got sick of the bag hanging on my neck or shoulder so here's what I came up with. With a scrap piece of some kind of plastic I had laying around, I took a piece about 3" x 7", and using a heat gun bent it into a "hook", and with a dremel cut slots for the strap to thread through. Also adjusted strap as short as possible. When I get to the tree, the steps come out of my backpack and I attach the first three. I hang the bag by my new hook on the rope of top step. As I climb, I move it up to each new step I attach. Always within reach and out of the way and not weighing me down. Just thought I'd share my idea in case anyone else wants an alternative to having them hanging on you the entire climb.
 
WannaBMonkey said:
A lot of people are using aiders and swaiders and knaiders, etc. I don't. So, I can't tell you if my idea will work with those methods but if you use steps alone as I do, this might interest you. I got sick of the bag hanging on my neck or shoulder so here's what I came up with. With a scrap piece of some kind of plastic I had laying around, I took a piece about 3" x 7", and using a heat gun bent it into a "hook", and with a dremel cut slots for the strap to thread through. Also adjusted strap as short as possible. When I get to the tree, the steps come out of my backpack and I attach the first three. I hang the bag by my new hook on the rope of top step. As I climb, I move it up to each new step I attach. Always within reach and out of the way and not weighing me down. Just thought I'd share my idea in case anyone else wants an alternative to having them hanging on you the entire climb.
Click to expand...

Would love to see photos of this. Thought I was the only one in the world that used WE steps without any kind of aider.


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Westdesign03 said:
Would love to see photos of this. Thought I was the only one in the world that used WE steps without any kind of aider.


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Click to expand...
Oh I think there are a few of us. This is only my second season with them so I haven't added any extra stuff to the system. I probably never will. I use 8 steps which get my feet at 12-15'. High enough for me. And most trees where I hunt aren't condusive to going higher. I plan to hunt in the morning. If I remember, I will try to get some pics as I am leaving. I will try to post some if I can remember how! I tried it in a tree in the yard after I made it and I think it's gonna work well.
 
WannaBMonkey said:
Oh I think there are a few of us. This is only my second season with them so I haven't added any extra stuff to the system. I probably never will. I use 8 steps which get my feet at 12-15'. High enough for me. And most trees where I hunt aren't condusive to going higher. I plan to hunt in the morning. If I remember, I will try to get some pics as I am leaving. I will try to post some if I can remember how! I tried it in a tree in the yard after I made it and I think it's gonna work well.
Click to expand...

Awesome. Sounds exactly like me and how I like to use them too. All 8 steps and get 12-15’ which is plenty for my comfort and usually don’t feel the need to go any higher anyway from a strategic standpoint. Definitely get some photos if you remember or feel like it. To post them, while you’re writing your post, just hit the photo button and select the one(s) you want.
3ebdd98f7843337a430f15404143a4f4.jpg



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Westdesign03 said:
Awesome. Sounds exactly like me and how I like to use them too. All 8 steps and get 12-15’ which is plenty for my comfort and usually don’t feel the need to go any higher anyway from a strategic standpoint. Definitely get some photos if you remember or feel like it. To post them, while you’re writing your post, just hit the photo button and select the one(s) you want.
3ebdd98f7843337a430f15404143a4f4.jpg



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I will do my best. I should be able to get it done. Time for zzzzzzzz. Happy hunting!
 
Diehard WE user. I carry 8 straight up (no K/S). I like flexibility in tree selection and height, and I often augment my Predator with an extra lateral step.
 
Westdesign03 said:
Awesome. Sounds exactly like me and how I like to use them too. All 8 steps and get 12-15’ which is plenty for my comfort and usually don’t feel the need to go any higher anyway from a strategic standpoint. Definitely get some photos if you remember or feel like it. To post them, while you’re writing your post, just hit the photo button and select the one(s) you want.
3ebdd98f7843337a430f15404143a4f4.jpg



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Click to expand...
Well here are the pics I promised. Some close-ups of the hook itself, a couple showing how I hang it from the WE rope while climbing, and one showing it hanging right on the step. On the step is convenient for putting the steps back in the bag once on the ground. When coming down, I just drop the steps to the ground and put them away once down, anyway. It can also be hung from a strap or the belt on your saddle if desired.
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You'll notice the extra shoulder strap bunched up there. I didn't want to cut it off until I decided I was going to keep using this. It's getting cut, today. I liked this method much better than hanging on shoulder or neck.

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WannaBMonkey said:
Well here are the pics I promised. Some close-ups of the hook itself, a couple showing how I hang it from the WE rope while climbing, and one showing it hanging right on the step. On the step is convenient for putting the steps back in the bag once on the ground. When coming down, I just drop the steps to the ground and put them away once down, anyway. It can also be hung from a strap or the belt on your saddle if desired.
c00a0ca5f16349afe31b968d0600b1f7.jpg
22168a679ae3c059e3bde5cc690dd77e.jpg
ccc6bf3b1849427e9e0d2e0392caa131.jpg
ab4f7fd0a350649c82657f9b10646bbb.jpg
85ff312314b4df7b7b54c687ff2a2765.jpg
b794da26cbc19c2133ba1797b0509a8a.jpg


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Awesome. Thanks for taking photos! Looks really handy. I might have to think about something like that. Did you see anything on your sit?


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Westdesign03 said:
Awesome. Thanks for taking photos! Looks really handy. I might have to think about something like that. Did you see anything on your sit?


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No, unfortunately. But if I wasn't out there for the pure enjoyment of being there, I may as well sleep in! I get skunked more often than not, but that's what makes it special when things do come together. I had a thought occur to me while I was out there (I do lots of thinking in the tree). It could also be made out of some aluminum sheet metal then covered in hockey tape or something like that. Depends on what a person prefers to work with. I wasn't even sure about bending plastic the way I did it (softening with heat gun and cooling with water when at desired shape), but it worked like a champ! Either way it's cheap and relatively easy to try it. Just don't cut off excess shoulder strap until you decide you like it. You're not out anything but a few minutes in the shop!
 
WannaBMonkey said:
No, unfortunately. But if I wasn't out there for the pure enjoyment of being there, I may as well sleep in! I get skunked more often than not, but that's what makes it special when things do come together. I had a thought occur to me while I was out there (I do lots of thinking in the tree). It could also be made out of some aluminum sheet metal then covered in hockey tape or something like that. Depends on what a person prefers to work with. I wasn't even sure about bending plastic the way I did it (softening with heat gun and cooling with water when at desired shape), but it worked like a champ! Either way it's cheap and relatively easy to try it. Just don't cut off excess shoulder strap until you decide you like it. You're not out anything but a few minutes in the shop!
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Oh yeah. Sounds pretty normal not to see anything. At least on the very first sit of the year. Wouldn’t want it to be over that quick anyway right? Yeah that could be done with the metal sounds like too. And I definitely go out for the enjoyment of it. Killing something is just a bonus most of the time.


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My first year with them. I have a hard time getting them tight enough. When I put the swaider on the step rocks to one side, that's a little scary.

And the second day I was using them the strap on the carry bag slipped out of the buckle. I was scared for half a second as something was making a "zipping" sound and sliding around my neck before it crashed to the ground.

I'm interested in a kydex holster.

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POC said:
My first year with them. I have a hard time getting them tight enough. When I put the swaider on the step rocks to one side, that's a little scary.

And the second day I was using them the strap on the carry bag slipped out of the buckle. I was scared for half a second as something was making a "zipping" sound and sliding around my neck before it crashed to the ground.

I'm interested in a kydex holster.

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Click to expand...

If you haven’t already, you need to stretch the ropes for at least 24 by camming the steps to as big of a tree as you can find and get them as tight as you can. After I did that, it was pretty difficult to have the steps slip or tilt in most situations. I usually try to make sure my weight is centered on the steps as much as possible and on the bar as best I can instead of on top of the standoffs.


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Westdesign03 said:
If you haven’t already, you need to stretch the ropes for at least 24 by camming the steps to as big of a tree as you can find and get them as tight as you can. After I did that, it was pretty difficult to have the steps slip or tilt in most situations. I usually try to make sure my weight is centered on the steps as much as possible and on the bar as best I can instead of on top of the standoffs.


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I bought these used, but I'll try the stretching. Thanks.

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POC said:
I bought these used, but I'll try the stretching. Thanks.

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Click to expand...

Welcome. Mine acted completely different once I did that. Was an inch away from selling them before I learned about that.


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