Anyone using these still? seems like everyone uses sticks today, was curious if anyone still likes these better.

Just saw a u tub review on them from Don Kisky.................. he loves them

I still use a few different screw in's including the EZ folders.They're great in areas where you want something less visable than sticks or ladders.Of the three different screw in's I use.I like the Cranford EZ's best.The screw taper is such that they go in easier and have better boot grip than the other two.

I still use them, best steps out there IMO. Get the ones that only the screw folds.

Why anyone would carry a load of sticks on their back when you can carry 6 to 10 steps in your pack is beyond me.

I still use them, prefer the cranfords.

Agree...sticks are more cumbersome to carry but screw in steps are illegal on public land in Pa. With that being said I still use screw in steps on occasion when hunting private land. As I get older I prefer climbing sticks.

I still use em when I can, but bought some muddy sticks that I like as well. The ez climbs are as good as it gets for steps.

I had a folding step break once and I fell about 10 feet. Not much fun.

I used to use screw-in steps a lot. I liked the EZY steps also, still use them occasionally. I now prefer sticks for use with a hang on stand. I had one that I grabbed with my hand as I was climbing and it all but pulled out. Luckily I didn't have all my support on that one step. I also got my wedding band caught on one once and it almost pulled my ring finger in two before I got my weight off it. I feel like sticks are just safer. And the older I get, hanging on the side of a tree screwing in steps is a workout in and of itself. Sticks are a lot easier. Bulkier to carry, but more user-friendly once at the tree. Of course your mileage may vary, that is just me.

I use to use them years ago. I still have around seventy of them in a box in my basement. I went to Ameristep Rapid Rails fifteen years ago.

i hunt timber co land. lease violation, automatic lease of land use if caught.

I have a set of LW sticks, but I still prefer my strap-on nylon steps when I can use them.

I use to use folding steps years on private land. Now I use tree stick for the few private area's I have permission to hunt on.

I lost interest in screw-in steps when I read an article about a guy who slipped, slid down the tree and practically gutted himself on one, though the same could happen with climbing sticks that have a single, central support and steps poking out on either side. Which may actually be more dangerous than the steps, because you could put in steps out to the sides and slide down bare trunk in the middle, rather than banging your way down the sticks....

Maybe I should stick to Elk hunting!

your not sliding down any tree, if you are using your harness, correctly, but I understand your point,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I used to use them, had a bunch of them, but I too had one break, fortunately at just a few feet... I pitched the rest of them...

I've still have a bunch of the old Skyhooks. Extruded aluminum folding steps that hung on lag screws. They were great, and I used them for many years. Now I use Rivers Edge ladders. Easier, safer, and I'm no longer making holes in trees.

I had some folding steps (not sure of the brand) pull apart screwing them in a tough tree. Never gave them a chance after that. There in my barn now. I use the solid one piece screw in a lot. Had one pull out trying to climb an Aspen that I new I shouldn't have it was the bottom step so no harm. Had a muddy boot slip off a step but hooked a rib on the next one. Didn't hit the ground. Tommy,

Cowboy and Zbone, you both said you had steps break. What brand were they? I have a couple of old folders, I think they might be Ameristep, that are really loose and the pin appears to be hollow and very soft. I hardly ever use em, and then only as the first step.

Anybody ever have any of the Cranford Ezy steps break?

I had one drop out on me also, phased them out using them for bottoms.

It only takes one.

Someone needs too bring back the lag bolt slip on removable steps.

I’ve used them and still have a bunch of the folders as well as one piece, EZ is the best screw in in my opinion. I had a buddy break a different brand step and ripped his thigh open on the next step down. But like said above, they as well as lag bolts are illegal here on public land as well as on most leased land. The reason being people leave em in trees and if that tree makes it to a sawmill it can do a ton of damage . I moved to LW ladders years ago.

Because a fall with the steps can gut you. I know a guy that fell and that happened.,

They're also illegal on public land in Illinois. I used to use them. Now have three L.W. sticks stacked and attached to the back off my L.W. stand. The sticks are easier,and faster to put up and down.

Tree steps, or, RapidRails are a better alternative to protruding screw-in steps. I bought the original tree steps which involved a tie-on rope with a special knot to secure the steps. Also, the storage bag allowed you to carry the set up the tree as you climbed.

Once a safety line is installed, steps or sticks become considerably safer to use.

These days my preference is a climbing stand.

I have 20 or so of them that bought sometime back in the late 80s to around 1990 I think. I have used them every year since then. I really like to move around and carry 6 of them in my pocket and a lone wolf stand on my back. I have never had a step pull out but I don't put them in trees where that is likely to happen. I inspect them every season and some of the pins holding the lag are bent and have been bent for years. That is my biggest concern with them - the pin breaking under weight. I've never had that happen but I do believe it is possible.

They are too easy to carry and too easy to get in all forms of trees with and they fit my "bump and run" hunting style too much for me to give them up. But as I get older I do find myself worrying about that pin breaking someday. I always try to climb with that in mind - using a lineman's belt going up and down and distributing my weight to three points as much as possible.

There have been 2 different times over the years where I've been injured with climbing steps but they haven't been folding steps. They were the solid, single piece ones. Both times it occured with me climbing the tree in the dark and going too fast and slamming my forehead once and my cheeck once on a step while going up the tree with no light. I have to get stitches one time and just had a 3 inch nasty cut that was not deep from the other. Incidently, I continued to hunt in both cases those mornings and killed deer both times. The first time I was looking at a deer directly below my stand and blood was dripping off of my forehead, down my nose and landing on and around the deer. I didn't shoot that deer but I was having fun trying to drop blood on his back!

If anyone is looking for these,send me a pm,i have a box full the ones that the screw folds into the step.

Jerry g I have no room to talk about taking chances but those bent pins remind me of Jay Massey telling a group that a full drawn selfbows is 99% broke. That bent pins is like that lol.i take the z shape one piece and duck tape set's together.

Fans of the non-folding screw-ins(no hinges or pivot pins), I have some for trade on the swap thread. They are beasts compared to the folding variety. I went to a woodpecker drill with hardened bolts for easy removal and discouraging thieves.

Dale in Pa. - I think the ones I had were EZ steps, if I remember correctly...

I like the plastic steps with the strap but they are hard to find. They don't seem to be made anymore and the auction prices are outrageous! I use the 10 I have every year and try not to leave them in the woods too long because they're basically irreplaceable. There is a metal version with a rope too but they make more noise in your bag.

I have 10 of those black poly strap on's myself.They're great but easily spotted.I think Ameristep made them.

I stopped using screw-in steps several years ago. Just too dangerous for my liking.

I stopped using ez steps years ago... I was up about 20 feet stepping on last step before stepping onto stand when the pin broke in the ez step and down the tree I came an hit steps on way to the ground....Not a go time for me...

IMO I dont think they're any more dangerous than other steps IF you use a lifeline and a linemans belt.Also keep the distance between steps reasonable.Some try to use as few steps as possible.That's just looking for trouble.Compared to climbing sticks they're probably a little safer.If the strap fails there's quite a gap left between the others.Plus most I've seen can gouge you same as screw in's.

On private land, I use cranford folding screw-in steps. I use the detachable kind for the bottom 6 steps to discourage others from using/stealing my steps and stand. On public land, I use Cranford folding rope-on steps. Again, I remove the bottom 6 steps to discourage use or theft of my steps/stand. I prefer rope-on steps over climbing sticks because they’re less bulky to carry.

"IMO I dont think they're any more dangerous than other steps IF you use a lifeline and a linemans belt.Also keep the distance between steps reasonable.Some try to use as few steps as possible.That's just looking for trouble.Compared to climbing sticks they're probably a little safer.If the strap fails there's quite a gap left between the others.Plus most I've seen can gouge you same as screw in's."

The reason I mentioned safety is that I've known more than one person who's been gored with them after slipping. Basically, your tree now has spikes sticking out of it. If you slip and get slammed into the tree by your safety harness, climbing belt, or harness attached to a lifeline going up or down, those spikes can do a lot of damage. Climbing sticks aren't perfect, but a lot safer in this regard.

JRW. I had a friend rip his thigh open as well, and he had a belt, so the fall wasn’t far but far enough to rip him open

There's no question they can do some serious even fatal damage.That's why I keep them close enough together so I've got a reasonable chance of keeping injury to a minimum.That said the one in Wild Bill's pic got me curious and I found some like it from Wild Edge called the Stepp Ladder.Nothing to tear you up.They're pricey but I might give them a try.Here's a link to their site- http://www.wildedgeinc.com

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