Good video. As a two tether climber, one thing I’d add is avoid sticking fingers between tree and rope when moving tether up. In case of a foot kickout, those fingers will get crushed on your own body weight. Typed this with my sore thumb.

Thank you, can't get any of the fancy Saddle Hunting stuff here in Australia, been using my SRT equipment with a Dryad Drey (Cheapest Saddle Option I could find), now I have a option for those trees with no limbs to throw a line over. All I need is a set of Hammock Straps.

This is a very smart idea, no metal stick to 'clank', looking forward to trying it myself! Thank you sir!

Best technique I've seen so far.Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the video and it really simplifies the saddle hunting. I'm finally in.

Very cool idea im 1-sticking now. Thanks for sharing

Gr8 climbing method! I'm going to give it a try this season. Thank you

i like the concept. It's like two tether climbing but using am aider. Very cool idea. Dont know why I havent thought of this.

Pretty clever setup. Like a combination of a Two Tether system and One Stick with Aider.

I just found your channel. This was a great video short and concise. You showed how to use it very well. Before you started up the tree, I thought about if you run into a branch you could have a second set up. But you only need the 1 aider. I am looking at getting into saddle hunting this year without spending to much money just incase I don't like using it. With practice this way of ascending the tree looks to be the best way to get into saddle hunting without breaking the bank.

Holy cow, you hit the jackpot. I am going to use your system with four more aiders, an XOP tether/saddle and use the tether as a backup, as well as a linemens belt when climbing, a 30' rope with the madrock safeguard, and a light hangon (XOP retrograde at 6 lbs). That increases the total weight by less than 9 lbs. but i can hunt ANYWHERE, go around multiple limbs, and always have 3 points of attachment to the tree. This is the PERFECT setup! Thanks man!!!!!

Couple thoughts; you typically used about three steps and then had a hard time getting your foot in the next step. A mini stick like the shikar single step and a ladder style aider that attaches to each side of the step keeps that open and away from the tree allowing you to efficiently move up a full stick every move at a low weight and packability penalty and be very stable standing on the stick. My one stick doesn't fold so has a higher packing penalty, but I just strap it on the back or side of my pack. Using a linesmans in coordination with your tether climbing a stick with an aider adds safety even over this method, there's alot of slack going on here. I really like one sticking more when I have a linesmans out. AnyTree outdoors is selling a heavy duty webbing foot loop platform and aider system that does this same thing but I think better. I have parts of their system and have tried this method with it, but have found one sticking to be better because of the distance the standoffs buy you from the tree. Their webbing is also about 3x heavier than your etrier. I have a similar one and while I found this doable I think that the safety issue with slack is more than I want to deal with where with my one stick I can use my linesmans to really feel secure climbing. With the webbing the kickout and rolling were issues. I also do rappell. A 8 or 9mm 40' line is not that much bulkier than an 11mm tether. Still fits in a SYS Hauler. I also use it as a pull up rope. I think this might be a good system for mountain hunters that are really ounce conscious, like a guy hunting elk wallows. I just don't see enough weight savings over a mini stick to want to deal with this method on a regular basis.

Those 'daisy chain' straps are usually sold with/for hammocks. Great video. Thanks

Awesome video and a great idea!!!!

Thanks for making a video sharing how you climb. 👍

Nice. Ive got all that stuff at the house already. I use the aider for trees that are too fat for my climbing stick to go around. But I'm ready to ditch the climibg sticks I have regardless of the way I go next, I'm definitely giving this a try.

Often the simplest solution is the best. I have all that equipment at home. Thank you. I had this system in mind but did not put it into action. Busy one sticking.

I have nearly 1000 climbs one sticking the last three years, and still don’t feel I’m an expert. But there will always be slack introduced (with the possibility of kickout while adjusting tether up or down) in either system used. It can be minimized easily by just taking your time in either system you choose. Your video shows an excellent option but I wont ever climb again without the ability to repel down, and most importantly, quickly. (Hornets, storms, nature calling….etc) Not to mention you only fuss with multiple branch climbs going up.

Nice, can’t wait to try it out. I got a f4 setup with 55 feet of oplux and Kong dna carabiner and a short tether with a quick link and a ropeman and 6 step aider and that would solve any limb issues

That's cool I wish I had seen this two months ago would have saved some money thanks for sharing the video

Interesante, pero para bajar sin luz, sugiero cuerda, mosquetón y un 8. La cuerda, 10 mtrs, es imperativa, tiene muchos usos de gran ayuda...

Looks simple and lightweight thanks for the great idea I just found you and I'm subscribing

Very cool climbing method and you make it look easy. Thanks for sharing. I one stick and because my one stick is also my platform which weights less than my platform so really wouldn't save me any weight but another tool in the tool box. Especially gives me the ability to leave my one stick in one spot and have a back up platform to hunt a second area. Thanks again

Nice! This looks extremely efficient if I can get comfortable enough to sit 4-5 hours

That’s a good way to climb for sure, I would do that before I would 1 stick. I do prefer my mini sticks because I generally hunt a tree twice either morning then eve or eve and next morning.

Tried it yesterday and never got off the ground and got two bruised hips😀. Re-watched your video and see the reason why. Natural tendency is the grab the tether rope and pull on it and I noticed you never touch it and it’s all about using the tree. You only touch the tether at the loop when you’re moving it. I think that’s the most important thing is not to grab the tether rope when stressed. I may have to go to a laddered aider since I wear a size 12 bootand getting it in that hole Of the aider is never going to be easy. Thanks again be back to you when I’m successful and congratulations on 29,000 views!

They're called aiders because they are used for aid climbing(vs free climbing). Etrier is the technical term in rock climbing and aider is just the generic slang. I have also used a section of climbing rope along with a lock on platform. I use my jumars to ascend and a grigri to rapell. Good stuff.

Nice! I did something similar years ago but never made a video. As some have mentioned it can be tricky that the steps are right against the tree. Right now I'm working on a method that uses my ring of steps as the "aither" and secures with a common sailboat dock cinch. The steps closest to me are custom and hold the ladder away from the tree, while the cinch locks it in the final position. But it might be possible to just use a trucker's hitch to lock it once up to avoid more metal being needed. Thanks for sharing this.

thank you!

I've wondered if that'll work. I'm trying that next hometime compared to a single rope with 2 prisic knots each having a step loop. This looks a lot more efficient.

Love it!!

man, you could use four aithers and they would weigh next to nothing and never have to move anything . you would still be way lighter than sticks !! good idea.

Great video! I see all of the concerns of some folks on here. I understand both angles here, if it works for you great, I actually just bought some hammock straps and had an aider already and am going to give this a try in the off season with a lineman’s belt I think to see how I like it. I am stoked that this works for you and that you are comfortable with it. I think that even if someone can gain something from it to help with their own system, then it’s a win. I am curious though, since you have posted this have you changed anything or updated anything with this method since?

I like this a lot. I've been looking for a way to completely get rid of sticks and I really like this! Can't wait to practice.

this is two tether climbing without the safety/redundancy of being clipped into both tethers. What happens when you drop that strap while in the middle of the move? Without a repel rope youre stuck in the tree. This can work, but use two tethers so you always have a secure connection to the tree and cant drop either of them. Even better, use a tether and a repel rope so you have a safe path to the ground at all times.

I will try that.

Cool. Cheap n light. But, I would recommend keeping a rope up ahead of you without any slack in it.

I have been researching lightweight and budget friendly methods. This looks great.Have you tested this method in the dark? Guessing a headlamp would be helpful, but I guess that would be the case for most climbing methods that move with you.

Pretty slick. I think I like this better than the traditional 2 Tether Climbing method most are using. What’s the strap you’re using for the bottom tether? Is it a hammock strap or some sort of rock climbing sling?

It looks to be a simple and safe way to climb

Good method

U need a mic... Interesting stuff. I'm curious about the platform and all that too... Great video. Thanks for sharing!

I dont know if this is right for me, but its genius level stuff bro. Btw, that's a hammock strap you're using.

I one stick and rappel but I don’t like the bulk and extra weight of the rappel rope. I’ve tried two tether climbing with skinny amsteal rope and found it to be a pain in the butt as it gets caught up on the tree bark so easily making it hard to advance.

Looks “doable” !! Thx

Good method. How do you deal with mosquitos and tree ants ??

Going around a limb. Understand second hammock wrap but how do you get your tether rope above the limb???

Tim I have been climbing like this since I saw your video 6 months ago. Watched it many times. What brand of backpack is that? I like it. Txs for educational video. Glenn

I really like the idea behind this but am concerned about slack in tether while advancing it. What do you think about using 2 tethers attached to bridge so there is redundancy while advancing them? I also have some reservation about the hammock strap strength as far as working load rating. Why not use a climbing rated daisy chain? What do you guys think?

Tim. Do you think horizontal step aider would be easier on lockouts? Ad any value??

How would you connect your aider and carabiner to a second rope vs. strap? Prussic knot on rope?

Doesn’t help me if I can’t find your dirt cheap tree wrap! Nearest Dirt Cheap is one hour away with no guarantee they have it. Anyone else know what and where to get it?? Thanks. I found the aider on Amazon. Also I would redo your entire video with a microphone. Couldn’t understand! Make it realistic and bring up a pack and set platform. Coming down we can figure out. Txs.

What size shoe are you? I’m worried my 13 boot won’t fit in the loops.. and be hard in the dark. But I’m very curious on trying this route!

Is there a link to buy the two straps?

How long does it take you to climb up to 20+ feet?

How long did it take you to perfect this method of climbing

That's a hammock strap for attaching hammocks for trees.

Hi : -) where do I get a seat like that ?

I made a video for you (ONE STICKING). It would work well with your technique.

What's the chance of your foot teather sliding down the tree and potentially having a nightmare, if you seen new york saddle hunters new mobile safety system would be your answer for the most safety 😉

Only problem is that when you stand up on the aither, to advance your top tether, you are not tied to the tree anymore, there is an opportunity to fall at that point, and when going around a limb, you are temporarily not tied in then either, stay safe friend, very similar to 2TC, which I do use, but not with a running eye on my tethers, have switched to the JRB saddle hunters hitch and a redundant bridge on the bottom tether , so I’m tied in at all times, before when I first made a 2TC system, I had my foot swing out on me and it was really scary and I’ve had the top tether slip when I took weight off it, so those are some failure points to watch out for.

If you had a longer rope it would be a lot easier (and safer!) to descend.

Bro those are daisy chain tree straps for a hammock 😂 they are not “climbing rated” but they can be, depending on the brand, weight rated to about 350lbs per strap. I’m sure they’re safe enough for climbing but at least know what equipment you’re using… 😂

Rappelling down would be a lot easier.

etrier-- (A-tree-A)

Why not just use the bottom part of a small climbing stand? Then you wouldn’t need your platform.

That $10 Walmart hammock strap is rated to support 441 pounds. Need to make that clear in next video redo. No reason to poor mouth it. Made to go on a tree.

Great idea not anywhere near as easy as rappelling

Dont drop it

Two tethers would be easier

It's be better if you rappel down

Not Aither, but aideur… aider is a verb from the French language. Aider or « to help », so, aider à grimper, aider à monter. To help climb. An « aideur » is not a real word, but could be a device that help to climb… like the word niTche. There is NO t in niche. And « une niche » is a French word, like Connoisseur, another invention from the Anglo snobs using French words but badly. Connoisseur is in reality « connAisseur », and connaisseur again is s deformed word from connaissant, meaning « the he/she knows », to know about what you’re saying, to be an « expert » in something. And so on.

Is it me, or isn’t a sit a climb like the old lone wolf way faster and easier than this?????

1st problem. The climber does not know what strap he is using, so had no way of knowing if it really is climbing rated. 2nd problem. Climber repeatedly allows slack in his tether. 3rd problem. Putting hands between rope and tree. 4th problem. "Aither" can be dropped when passing branches. 5th problem. Climbing down the tree is less safe than rappelling. 6th problem is a combination of 4 and 5. If you are climbing and your "aither" climbing method gets dropped you have no way down from the tree. It is best to always have enough rope to reach the ground. Light and inexpensive is less important than safe.

this is very similar to what is called 2 tether climbing, but with an aider instead of a foot loop if folks want to see tips and tricks from other folks doing something similar, then they can search on google there's been a small group developing that method for a few years now, they often rappel down because they consider it easier and safer, but that requires extra expense (longer rope and a rappel device)

I have nearly 1000 climbs one sticking the last three years, and still don’t feel I’m an expert. But there will always be slack introduced (with the possibility of kickout while adjusting tether up or down) in either system used. It can be minimized easily by just taking your time in either system you choose. Your video shows an excellent option but I wont ever climb again without the ability to repel down, and most importantly, quickly. (Hornets, storms, nature calling….etc) Not to mention you only fuss with multiple branch climbs going up.