Looks essentially the same as the summit supplied strap that comes with the stand. Why do I need to pay $15 for one?
Good Question! Just because its green and has a buckle on it doesn't make it the same at all. Here is a close up video showing what it really is and how it works totally different.Climbing Stand Stabilizer Straps
They are very similar to lone wolfs. Ours use metal alligator buckles that adjust quicker and are much stronger. Ours are made in America.
These are excellent products from thirdhandman! I own 2 sets, one for each of my summit vipers, as well as 2 bowholders he sells. the straps make the climber rock solid, better than a hang on. I will never use my viper without them again!! and the bowholder eliminates the need for a 30 foot tangled mess of a bow rope. you can climb with the bow in the bowholder!! come on guys, don't be so quick to judge!!
I have a Lone Wolf and the buckles they provide work, but are made of plastic which has always had me thinking. While I like the idea of a metal buckle like yours, I'd prefer if they were at least rubber coated to minimize the chance for noise. Also, I can't see how having to thread a strap through a buckle is quicker than snapping two buckles together and cinching down. I saw your product before and its a sound idea, especially for those that don't have stablizer straps on their stands. Rubber coat them and make them quiet and I'll replace my LW buckles in a heart beat.
If they are used as advertized they do not make any more noise than the plastic buckle. Infact if used properly shouldn't make any noise. Threading them together is about the same as snapping the two together without the noise. Adjusting the metal buckles is much easier than adjusting the plastic ones. Ask anyone who has tried both. Not trying to be argumentative but I have both. I use the exact same strap and buckle on our accessory belt. I would never put 100 pounds of gear on our accessory belt but am confident in 200 lbs on each metal buckle.
The Thirdhand stabilizer straps are probably the best upgrade I made to my Summit Titan. They are so much better for connecting the top to the platform compared to using the backpacking straps with the plastic buckle. They also work great to help pack the stand together. The Thirdhand bow holder works great on my climber as well.
The straps are easy, quick, and quiet. And they make your stand rock solid. The bow holder is a definite in my book as well. Money well spent for the bowhunters package Sent from my SCH-I535
I totally agree that they're much stronger than the cheap plastic on the Lone Wolf for example. But hear me out... and this is not argumentative either, just constructive criticism. On the LW climbers, the straps double as packing straps. Now, sometimes, you inadvertently drop or clank a buckle on the metal frame while you're packing the stand up, especially when its dark. My suggestion to you is to rubber coat those metal buckles so that on those stands in particular, the risk of getting that metal to metal clank is reduced. Of course when they're connected and your ascending or descending they won't make any noise. Its that transition when you're hooking to the tree and packing and unpacking the stand that I worry about with metal buckles. I've seen your straps before and that was the only reason I didn't buy them. Otherwise, they'd be on my LW climber.
Muzzyman: I agree that if they were rubber dipped they would make less noise. The problem is when dipping the rubber would cover the teeth. If left untrimmed the teeth couldn't and wouldn't work and neither would the spring clip. I just can't see a cost justified way of covering the metal to make it quieter without it having an effect on the working load.
