I have done 5 hunts with the sladder. Here is what I experienced. On my first hunt I struggled with getting my foot into the rungs as I ascended and it was a little dicey because I lost my toe connection to the tree as I tried to twist it in to the rung then I swung out of control. I eventually got up the tree and completed the first hunt. I went back and watched the videos and applied the technique's described. It made a huge difference. You have to use your boot toe to move the ladder away from the tree because your weight in the rung pulls the ladder into the tree and you have to counter act that force as you climb to create the clearance for the advancing foot because the higher you climb the narrower the space becomes between the tree and the ladder. I should mention I use Rubber Muck Boots, which are bulkier then what he used in the video. I cross a lot of water. The second hunt went much smoother. I got up the tree in full control. I also figured out that I could also use my advancing knee against the tree while leaning back into the lineman's rope to keep my body in alignment with and connected to the tree to shift the pressure against the tree from my lower foot to my advancing knee. Once your lower foot is free to move and the advancing knee is keeping you stable instead of your toe, just use the lower foot to pull the ladder away from the tree. This motion creates distance between the tree and next rung allowing the next foot in without the toe pivot technique which is harder with bulky rubber boots. I have also just used my hands to pull the ladder back to get the advancing foot in. I have also carefully twisted it in. No matter what, there is some effort and technique to be mastered to create space for your foot. Don't just give up. Once you learn it, its not a big deal. It is better then carrying sticks if you like to move around a lot or go miles deep. Other Comments: It is easy to get into the stirrup loops and pull up the ladder. It is easy to connect the thing to the tree. It is easy to get it unhooked below while above. I have used both the top and bottom loops to fashion the ring of steps to hunt from, but prefer my ring of steps. The loops are harder to shift around the tree in and in a long sit they fatigued the arches of my feet. It rolls up small and into a pouch. It is super light weight. I repel down the tree. I have used it as a bow hanger. So aside from the learning curve technique to get your feet in, I love this thing. The design is a great compromise between getting something that is light weight, small, easy to carry, easy to connect, and the effort and technique to use correctly. I have been able to blindly select any tree in the dark, in a new area, with no preset for my rope, hang the ladder as far as I can reach and hook it in the loop and get up the tree in three moves of the ladder. I like that is fits in my back pack and I can be super mobile. If I want to hunt from a tree, I can take it out with my saddle and rope. If I want to hunt from the ground, I do not mind the extra weight in my pack. No stupid sticks to catch on brush. I can stealthily sneak around through heavy brush as I scout for sign and a good ambush spot. I would recommend it. It is well made. Great product idea. Spend the money and support it. Hunt or die.
Best idea I have seen yet. Just ordered it. I will report back once I try it. 4 years ago I tried Lone Wolf sticks and their mobile stand. Way too much weight and screwing around! Not really a mobile solution. It now just hangs on my garage wall. 2 years ago I taught myself SRT rope climbing with hand ascender and Madrock rope brake using preset lines on my target trees and switched to Saddle and Ring of steps. Love it but still not quite flexible enough. Often I want to move as conditions change or signs dictate. If I am scouting and find a good spot, I do not want to dick around with getting a rope set. Tossing a throw ball is hit or miss and too noisy if your in the middle of hunting. My style is aggressive if it needs to be so I am hoping this is the ticket to ascending any tree I see with minimal effort and a small package. I like that it packs up small. I like that it takes 7 to 8 foot segments between attaching which should speed things up. I like the idea of reusing the length as you ascend so you only need one length keeping weight down. I like the ladder concept which simply relies on foot placement and leg strength. Attachment looks super simple requiring no fancy knots. I am a little concerned about unhooking the lower attachment in the dark from above and pulling it up but we will see how it does for me. I am a mechanical engineer by trade and I see a lot of good thinking here so I am going for it. I am excited to try it! Hope I get it soon. Dave
I received my new Sladder today. I am not disappointed. It was nicely packaged. Nice hand written thank you card in the box. The material and workmanship looks first class. All the webbing and stitching looks great. It looks safety rated. Great communication regarding delivery and tracking. After seeing it, I think it is reasonably priced given that my life is supported by it. Made in the US and not China means something to me. Nice piece of work. I hope to test it out this up and coming weekend. I appreciate what your doing Vince. Thanks for getting me this. Dave
I have used it about a dozen times this season and I feel very confident climbing any tree with it day or night. I can get up the tree in 3 moves and repel down in seconds. It is much better then sticks. I give it a thumbs up.
Last year I bought an AnyTree Outdoors system. I like it, but it has its flaws. This system is very similar, but appears to address the issues I have with the AnyTree system. Very cool!
I’ve wondered what issues would come up with that system. Seemed pretty cool except for the weight and limited height but then they went out of business.
@@grayskwerel it is heavy for what it is. The biggest issue for me though is the ladder. I often have to reach down to open the toe loops for my foot to go in because of the way it is designed, which can be sketchy. And it is clearly designed for someone taller than me. When I set my next strap for the ladder, I have to either go down a step or skip a step on the ladder when I start the next section of my climb (also sketchy sometimes) because the ladder doesn’t line up with the previous strap the way it’s supposed to (probably hard to visualize, but I don’t know how else to explain it). I just feel like the ladder design could’ve been improved. I am currently waiting on a rock climbing aider (similar to the ladder in your system) that I will replace the AnyTree ladder with. I do agree it is limited on height without adding extra straps or moving a strap up the tree with you (which I haven’t tried). And personally, I can’t comfortably shoot behind me using the straps as a platform as easily as they made it seem, but I feel like that could be a lack of practice. Just by watching a few videos, I feel like all the problems I’m having would be fixed with your system. If this rock climbing aider doesn’t fix the majority of my issues, it’s likely I’ll be making an order from you next year.
I usually climb with a lineman's belt although I "feel safer" when using a tether. I think it's a matter of comfort for the individual. There is an inherent risk when climbing no matter what method you use. I feel the Sladder is the safest and I don't have to worry about gashing myself on the stick should I slip. I've had my foot slip off the tree in the Sladder but the Sladder stays on your foot and you don't go anywhere (it does make you pucker though). If your stick kicks out... there is nothing to hold your foot to the stick and a fall is likely.
Man I’d love to try it out or at least see it first prior to dropping $200. Getting the slander to unhook when moving looks like a pain especially after being weighted by someone who is 230. Really wish I could try it first
@@grayskwerel I believe it will release. Just worried about about much effort you have to use while being in bulky clothing bending down and pulling up. Looks likes it is possibly a great system. Just hard to spend that type of money on something that hasn’t been around and to buy one to try it out not knowing much about it is my concern. Do you offer any type of money back and/or return window like most of the saddle companies do?
We take returns on defective products and unused products. If the Sladder is attached to the tree and weight placed on it, it will stretch and can no longer be considered new or unused.
This is currently in preorder. We expect to begin shipping by the end of September or early October at the latest. The preorder sale will end when we have product in stock.
