NO RAPPEL?! Descend with the Sladder!

Climbing and descending with the Sladder and no rappel line.

[@jimandjeansbackyardabundan807]

Hey Kenny, I just received my Sladder by good ole USPS. It's raining lightly, but I couldn't help myself. I added a couple of amsteel extentions because the trees in Missouri can be pretty fat, went out in my back woods, and climbed three moves. I was already using repel method with one-sticking, so I tried up and down with tether (watched the videos). It worked perfectly since I'd already become proficient with an aider on the one-stick. I'm going to love this thing. Well done!

[@grayskwerel]

That's great to hear Jim, Good luck with what's left of this season!

[@tonydawson8908]

No no no! You’ve got a nice system Vinny. Please use a full length tether so you can rappel all the way down on one move. Too much trouble doing it your way. Think about darkness, heavy clothing, large gloves. All things that will complicate descending a cloth ladder. Your safety is worth the extra few ounces of a full length tether. I’m packing 40 feet of 8mm Oplux with a F4 device. I restrict myself to only going up half that footage and if I need to, I re-hang my Sladder and pull my tether down and re-attach it to complete my decent. I’ve eliminated the platform so I don’t have to stop to disconnect it on my way down. I’m new at this whole saddle hunting adventure. You’ve got the best system on the market in my opinion. I’m using it to make this whole thing easy. That means a linemen’s rope, and a full length of rappelling rope and a good descending device. With the lineman’s loop and my feet in the stirrup I can hang a ring of steps to give myself even more confidence and versatility. Congratulations Vinny. This is State of Art stuff. You da man!! 😊

[@grayskwerel]

Hey Tony, not everyone has a rappel system or even want to rappel. Lots of people are asking how you can climb down without it. I've used a rappel system for awhile so I just continued with it. However, I have climbed down with this method many times while testing and practicing and it's really quite easy. Seems like a lot of steps but it's just like anything else. Once you are familiar with it, you don't think of the steps anymore... you just go through them naturally.

[@zanetracks6592]

I just switched from 8 ft aider w 3 Wild Edge steps to the Sladder. I love it. More stable to climb, as well as lighter and more compact. Combines great w my platform and 30 ft 8mm Oplux tether/rappel/haul line. Works exactly as demonstrated in the video.👍

[@theMobileHuntersEXPO]

Great video!

[@grayskwerel]

Thank you

[@YukinagaFinn]

Could you tell me where I can purchase a Sladder online?

[@grayskwerel]

www.grayskwereloutdoors.com/

[@andrewsanders5774]

This looks sketchy in the perfect conditions shown (daylight, no bulky clothes, etc...) since you almost fell back at least twice and caught yourself just in time. I couldn't imagine how dangerous this would be in non ideal conditions. Please for the love of God, spend the few extra dollars and carry the few extra ounces to use a rappel system!

[@mikedranginis8677]

I agree. Product ties in on both top and bottom going up which is nice to see whereas typically one end freely swings but it would be more advantageous to have access to the ground with a long enough tether to then repel from instead and detach the product on the way down. It would also be a bonus if we could tie in while climbing up and had enough clearance to advance the system without relying on a lineman's/flip-line.

[@mspahn1967]

👎 looks like an accident waiting to happen. I'd much rather pack in my sticks and leave them and not even have to use a flashlight to shimmy up my tree.

[@grayskwerel]

Thank you for watching

[@mkeller8114]

I agree. Been watching all these tree saddle videos and all I keep thinking is someone is going to get hurt and it looks like way to much effort vs tree steps or a ladder.

[@Shootemfulloholes]

Hello i purchased a sladder a few months ago but have decided not to use it until next year once i am very proficient with it, but regardless the sladder i can see is absolutely a light and fast method to get up and in an emergency or last recourse use it to come down. Rappel is the way to get down smooth and fast............just so you know you have the body of a spider monkey!!! Geez i'm not near that flexible and well balanced so hopefully next year after using it a while i get a spider monkey body!!!!

[@grayskwerel]

😂 Spider Monkey is a new one for me… wife looked up pics of spider monkeys and now she can’t stop laughing. A little practice is all you need… every climbing method has a learning curve… just give it a little time and practice and you be climbing with ease. You might want to try the push/ pull method to get your feet in the rungs!

[@jimandjeansbackyardabundan807]

I'm 65 and not so nimble. I was already using an aider with a one-stick, so the Sladder worked perfectly. Now, less weight to carry, and less noise in the woods. Once you get used to it you'll do just fine.