1.) Swamp Fox - 12/05/2013

I don't have a lot of experience with them, but guests like them and are less intimidated than by screw-in steps and climbing sticks.

What have you liked or hated about those you've tried? I need to get up a minimum of 20 feet, and 25 is better.

BTW, I like Big Game Stagger Steps and have a bunch of them, but since I used to be able to get three for $49 and they are now three for $64 (less than 3 seasons later) I'm not pulling the trigger on any more of them unless I'm forced to.

2.) Ohbuckhunter - 12/05/2013

I have 9 20' sets of the ameristep. I wait till after deer season and get them for 39.99 all over the place. My favorites are the muddy steps. But I'm poor and can't afford more than 1 set.

3.) Swamp Fox - 12/05/2013

On a scale of one to ten, how safe and stable (including noise) are they? Can you send a knucklehead up them without worrying? (Serious question.)

Any issues leaving them out for more than one season?

4.) Ventilator - 12/05/2013

ive witnessed first hand , that Dan-o has ladder sticks that have been out for a couple decades. still going strong evidently, my fat butt didnt break them. Maybe they dont makem like they used to. :huh:

5.) XJCraver - 12/07/2013

The OLD 16' Summit sticks were the best - I have two sets left that I'm still using that are over a decade old and have no issues.

When I buy sticks now, I buy the 20 footers from Sportsman's Guide. I think I've got 9 sets. $34.99 with the "Buyers Club" discount, and I haven't had any trouble out of them. The straps they come with suck, but I use ratchet straps from the hardware store on everything anyway.

If you meant ladder stands, those come from SG too. The 21 foot double-rail is my favorite - platform goes all the way to the tree, and even though it is, it doesn't have that "made in China cheap" feeling to it. Swap out the seat with a Slumper or a Summit suspended seat, and you've got a fall-asleep-and-miss-all-the-action stand.

6.) Ohbuckhunter - 12/07/2013

[QUOTE=Swamp Fox;13255]On a scale of one to ten, how safe and stable (including noise) are they? Can you send a knucklehead up them without worrying? (Serious question.)

Any issues leaving them out for more than one season?[/QUOTE]

Is say there a 10. I send my pregnant wife up any of the ones we have up. I have some that's been out for 4 years and never had a problem. I actually like them better than my millennium sticks. Mainly cause of price point and they do the exact same thing. Get my fat ass up the tree.

7.) Swamp Fox - 12/10/2013

Wait...She's pregnant again? You'd better have a talk with her doctor...Seems like she comes back from his office pregnant a lot...:wave:


Thanks for the feedback, boys. I am talking ladders rather than ladder stands. I've been up a few that I wasn't all that impressed with, and others that felt rock solid. Loggers ran over the last set I owned, but maybe they've gotten better in the last 20 years, LOL. The ladders, I mean. :-)

Ideally I hope to find some that you can keep adding sections to the top.

8.) Ohbuckhunter - 12/10/2013

That's why I like the ameristep. I have one that I have 30' of sections. 2 I have 25'. There all the same. Cheap and does what I need to. There solid enough. Straps anit the best to reuse over n over but changing them a few locations are totally fine. Straps are cheap and can pick up them anywhere. I know where not talking bout stands but I just wanna point out that I hate small framed stands. Not that it has to do with anything for this thread. I just hate them. I will be going through and every small framed stand I have is getting gave away.

9.) Ohbuckhunter - 12/10/2013

Yes. Due date is April 18th. Shhhhh. Don't tell know one else.

10.) Swamp Fox - 12/10/2013

Don't worry...There's no one here but us chickens...:wink

I agree about small stands, at least for bowhunting. I'd much rather have (even need) a big platform to shoot a bow from. I bought a lot of stands over the years for their low weight and packability, so I've wound up with a lot of tiny stands that aren't seeing a lot of use these days.

11.) Swamp Fox - 03/25/2014

I haven't been able to find Ameristep ladders anywhere and their website isn't working for me...can't scroll properly to look at what I want to...

Does anyone know if the SG ladder XJCraver recommended can be added to? I need 25-30 feet of ladder. If I can add ladder sections, the price is right.

Millennium makes a ladder you can extend and the weight is 6 pounds less than the SG's, but the MSRP price is $30 more for a 20 foot set.

Does anyone have anything negative to say about the Gorilla ladder sections (the 18 or $19 version)?

12.) Swamp Fox - 03/26/2014

Bump