QuoteOriginally posted by Bruce Martin:
It is hard to see exactly what the guy is doing to climb with the strap(s). Is he using 2 straps and alternating or one strap and using the GW harness to hold himself static while re-setting the strap higher? I guess with this system you could still climb a multiple branched tree with no problems.

Yes, that's what he's doing. One strap is the runner strap, for his foot. The other is the main tether of the GW.

I am a first year GW user and enjoyed hunting with it a lot.  I tried a treesaddle first but could not stay still in that system because of discomfort. You do feel totally safe with the GW and it is very comfortable.  It does take practice going up and down the tree and shooting.  

I  would like to see the strap set up of the guy using the strap to go up the tree without steps.  Is it simply a strap with loops on each end?  And then when you get to where you are going to sit, can you use two foot straps and no steps?  No steps cuts out all the weight you are carrying.

I am looking forward to waiting4fall's film.

Chris Ward from. south ga sometimes gets on here and he is a wealth of knowledge on climbing with alternate systems and anything about bowhunting..I believe he has used this style for a while.

Interesting,Originally  Butch developed this Guido Web to use pole climbing hooks. I use to hunt out of my Green Tree Saddle with Buckinghams tree spikes. Well till I got fat! my buddy Monty Is still climbing trees at 60!!.

waiting4fall...be interested to see how you fare with the straps. But heck your built like Conan , you could fireman's ladder 5 miles into the woods no trouble...I wouldn't use those skimpy straps

I have been looking into using this system for a while now.
It can be a little hard to see detail on the video, especially if you are not familiar with climbing gear. It may help to visualize the system using the two runners on the tree to think of them like prussik loops, and they are gripping a tree instead of a rope. You alternate between standing in the lower runner or hanging from the upper runner with your harness/GW/Tree Saddle. You reposition the unloaded runner to go up or down the tree, just like you would do with prussiks (or ascenders) to go up or down a rope.

You do need some different length runners for different size trees, and you need to climb with an extra runner and locking carabiner in order to pass a limb safely. Extra runners are lightweight and pack small.
I would trust runners around a tree way more than climbing spikes stuck into the tree, especially one with thick bark. Runners are rated very high for tensile strength, and if there is any slip, they are still around the tree to catch you as they tighten up. With this system you can be tied to the tree at least once at all times, and with some thought you can rig it so both loops are always able to catch you. Once you get to your hunting height you can put the extra runner that you carry for limbs on the tree and have 3 anchors working redundantly.

Hope everyone's weekend went well. I've been conversing back & forth with the gentleman in the climbing vid. I believe he's in Australia.

Anyhow, he sent me a few pics of the setup. I thought this as the best one to share, as it clearly shows the runner "FOOT" strap used for climbing the tree.

Again, it may not look like much but it's rated to break @ 5,000 lbs. Hope this gives a better illustration of how the climbing is done using runner strap.

So as stated above, you're connected by the main tether, & can also use the lineman's belt. That's 3 seperate secure attatchments to the tree, rated at 5,000 - 7,000lbs.

I just want to add that IF you were to slip out of the foot strap, then you simply find your self sitting safely in the GW.

 

Thess are quite informative links for anyone, like myself, considering runner straps to climb a tree.

http://www.eneq.info/fr/?p=117

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdOGvkd1VMg&feature=player_embedded

I have been working on a system incorporating drt tree climbing(double rope technique) and using my Treesuit. I have been hunting out of a Treesuit since they have come out. I will post up sopme videos when I get them done.

QuoteOriginally posted by cedar swampman:
I have been working on a system incorporating drt tree climbing(double rope technique) and using my Treesuit. I have been hunting out of a Treesuit since they have come out. I will post up sopme videos when I get them done.

I can't wait to see them. I wish there was a thread subscription feature here on tradgang. Will you please PM/email me when you post the vids, I don't want to miss them. Thanks for your contribution to this thread.

QuoteOriginally posted by waiting4fall:
I wish there was a thread subscription feature here on tradgang.

Dave,

When you reply to a thread, below the reply box on the left are a few boxes you can check...one is for e-mail notification of a reple to the thread.

Wow, I've never noticed that before. Thanks VERY much for pointing that out to me. Now if we can just get them to let us embed videos. Of course that would probably require a bunch of server upgrades & stuff. Thanks again!          

Dave,

Guys inbed video all the time using Photobucket.  Go to the shooters forum and you will see lots of form videos inbedded.

QuoteOriginally posted by Steve O:
Dave,

Guys inbed video all the time using Photobucket.  Go to the shooters forum and you will see lots of form videos inbedded.

Hey, this is great! I just got an email nitification of your reply!  

Very interesting thread. Now I got to sell all my treestands but still a very interesting thread.  

Do these GW's come with a set up to pack gear at easy reach while on stand?

I think I will be hunting in one next year for sure!

QuoteOriginally posted by Stiks-n-Strings:
Very interesting thread. Now I got to sell all my treestands but still a very interesting thread.  

Do these GW's come with a set up to pack gear at easy reach while on stand?

I think I will be hunting in one next year for sure!

Click this link.
  http://www.guidosoutdoors.com/  

Click on "How Does It Work?"

It will show you pics of the web. You can definitely put stuff inside the web, to carry to your tree. You could pack short climbing stick, probably up to 6 of them if you wanted to. It has a small compartment on the back.

Also, an Idea I'm going to implement when hunting from the GW. The link below is what I'll be using to carry my additional items.Everything will be accessible from the front. Things like gutting gloves, license, bow rope, knife, some food.

This vest will eliminate the need for a backpack, or fanny pack. Everything is streamlined, minimized, & affords the lightest carry in within reason. It's definitely a completely different concept/approach to organizing gear, but it makes sense to me. Check it out.
  http://www.amazon.com/Simms-Freestone-Fly-Fishing-Vest/dp/B0026PMJSS

Just watched the GW videos and I am sold. I'll be ordering one after the first of the year. A little late to tell Santa cause him and the wife already got something in the works LOL

This is the best system I have used for elevated hunting.  I have used the Tree Saddle and stands both hang on and climbing.  Guido's is very comfortable and safe to use.  The deer don't pick you out of a tree much when your feet touch the trunk.  I can nap in this way.  The only drawbacks are the price and rain.  The thing is dammed pricey and you still need a climbing method.  When it rains, the water runs down the straps and onto your back and sides.  I lessen this by running a choker on a Tree Saddle strap and forgo the Guido's tree attachment.

QuoteOriginally posted by Three Arrows:
This is the best system I have used for elevated hunting.  I have used the Tree Saddle and stands both hang on and climbing.  Guido's is very comfortable and safe to use.  The deer don't pick you out of a tree much when your feet touch the trunk.  I can nap in this way.  The only drawbacks are the price and rain.  The thing is dammed pricey and you still need a climbing method.  When it rains, the water runs down the straps and onto your back and sides.  I lessen this by running a choker on a Tree Saddle strap and forgo the Guido's tree attachment.

I have thought about dealing with the rain. Could you put a tree umbrella above the main tether?
http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4110087&010=7585757&cid=CSE:&cid=CSE:GooglePlusbox&003=3933188

Here is a brand new video, from a bowhunter, using the GW setup.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=L4govCoa0KQ

I have used an umbrella with a tree saddle and it works.

Has anyone on here tried the GW and hated it? It looks interesting I'm just wondering what the people who didn't like it thought were the cons of the system.