Lone Wolf Custom Gear Stand and sticks

Overspined · October 04, 2019, 09:29:23 AM

I am a hard core LW stand user when I use a tree stand. Used them for so long I can't remember what year I bought them, early in the 2000's I know that..I've been using the assault and climber, deciding based on situations..my best days, best bucks, and best set-ups period have always been from a stand I set that morning or evening. It's extra effort, but the deer really don't have any idea someone just hooked in above them, there's no history of anyone sitting where I sit.

I got the LWCG stand and sticks, thought I'd post what I'm thinking so far...

The design of the actual stand, seat, and all is awesome, even in packability. All the modifications and "complaints" I used to have, they've seemed to have fixed them...very cool...I sewed "saddle bags" for my assault for transport, no longer necessary, had to bind it to be quiet, now its quiet by design. I had fashioned a belt and strap carry system, and now it's designed for them and you can get them with it. Allows for carrying pack and clothing without shoulder strain.

It's really light, thin, and quiet, and the color is less noticeable. Seat adjustment is better, easier as well, as is the platform adjustment. Most screws can't generally back out because the nuts are locked in place by design..

I always only used one strap for attachment, LWCG comes with 2, and you can use with one or two.

Sticks are well made, really nice to use, and fold flat..

Here's my issue at this point, the grommets do hold the sticks, but not all that well, I still need to bungee everything down so I don't lose anything during transport. Also, I'm finding that I have to remove the straps from the lower stand strapping point, as well as all of the sticks in order to keep everything quiet, and allow it all to nest together properly. In the videos it all looks great, but in reality, if you keep the straps and buckles on the sticks, it just won't work. This means I have to figure out where to keep those straps to pull out and use as I'm climbing..so maybe a cargo pocket or something I haven't decided, although this will likely be the case.

They got rid of the versa button, so the straps go on and off easy enough, but it's just another step.

Also, I've played with the "one trip up" theory. I think I have it figured out. The first two sticks are removed and basically the first is placed on the tree from the ground, the second is carried up to place next, easy enough. I then leave one stick stuck in the grommet on the left and one on the right of the stand. I reach back pull the third stick, attach the belt to it, and up it goes. Same for the next one. Just have to be careful not to nock one off during this process or off it will go to the ground..

Once up, stand comes off, hang the top strap as always, and add second strap if the tree requires it or you feel better about it. Good to go...so one trip up does work, IDK if the sticks are lighter than the original ones, but I do like the design better.

Roger Norris · October 04, 2019, 11:25:59 AM

Can you post pics of your system? I started on the LW "sneak in hang/hunt" concept last year, it really works. I am still tweaking my method.

Very cool post.

Guss · October 04, 2019, 12:48:11 PM

Great info....Thanks...!

MGH · October 04, 2019, 04:03:16 PM

Which lender did you use to finance that system? Might also be helpful for some...

Wudstix · October 04, 2019, 04:15:35 PM

Always liked the concept, but hunt government land in Texas and we can't damage any tree we climb, bark included. We can use Cedar trees, but they are not conducive to tree stands.

RAU · October 04, 2019, 06:03:57 PM

I love that rig and If I could afford I'd buy but $895 for stand and sticks ain't gonna happen anytime soon. I have a lone wolf alpha and 3 sticks and also a lone wolf hand climber that i really like for now

Gdpolk · October 04, 2019, 09:32:18 PM

Quote from: RAU on October 04, 2019, 06:03:57 PM
I love that rig and If I could afford I'd buy but $895 for stand and sticks ain't gonna happen anytime soon. I have a lone wolf alpha and 3 sticks and also a lone wolf hand climber that i really like for now

I'm in the same boat. I'd love to upgrade but just cannot responsibly drop $900 on a single stand/sticks to replace my existing Lone Wolf setup. I've thought about trying to do a knife trade on a setup but in all honesty I doubt I will. Until I am in a position where I am 100% debt free, 100% funded for retirement, AND can still drop $900 cash on it without it dipping into monthly bills/funds I just don't see that kind of coin on a stand at my income level.

All that said, the new LWCG setup looks to truly be a superb design and looks to be made to the highest quality standards of ANY stand on the market in the world. I have no doubts that it is indeed an amazing setup for mobile tree stand hunters. It's just out of my price league.

carbonflyr · October 04, 2019, 10:27:12 PM

thanks very much for this timely info, i'm expecting delivery of my stand and 2 stick set-up early next week

with a strap aider i should be able to get 12' off the ground

Sawpilot 75 · October 05, 2019, 05:34:49 AM

Thanks for taking the time to give us your input on that new system. I looked at it and spoke with Andre at a show last spring. It seems they really tried to improve upon the old design. I still use the original sticks with the assault and my old loc-on's. I can't justify the $ myself but for those who can I think it's a great upgrade. Just remember, the bucks do not get bigger by spending more hard earned $$$. [emoji23][emoji23]

Overspined · October 05, 2019, 07:11:32 AM

Quote from: MGH on October 04, 2019, 04:03:16 PM
Which lender did you use to finance that system? Might also be helpful for some...

A simple home equity loan of course!

Yeah it's not cheap, I'm going to sell my other stands off. I also have a saddle I'll use with sticks. If I feel safer and lighter and better about what I'm doing, I'll pay for it. Going up and down a tree multiple times is an inherent hazard, and I'm a big fan of the original sticks but they are not as well designed as the new ones for feet sliding off and these set a little farther from the tree in a good way. I think saying this stand will get me bigger bucks is actually the wrong idea entirely. I don't trophy hunt.

Safety, quietness, weight, and usefulness of design are things I'm more worried about than deer or deer size. Like I said before, I'll pay for that. In fact I'd pay more for that (safety) than my bow happily. Even a crooked bow will fling a well tuned arrow.

Look I'm not arguing everyone pay up and get the stand, just like I don't shoot a silvertip bow for $4k. We all make our decisions where to sink some $ and I loved the new design so I jumped at it!

Sawpilot 75 · October 05, 2019, 09:27:05 AM

Quote from: Overspined on October 05, 2019, 07:11:32 AM
Quote from: MGH on October 04, 2019, 04:03:16 PM
Which lender did you use to finance that system? Might also be helpful for some...

A simple home equity loan of course!

Yeah it's not cheap, I'm going to sell my other stands off. I also have a saddle I'll use with sticks. If I feel safer and lighter and better about what I'm doing, I'll pay for it. Going up and down a tree multiple times is an inherent hazard, and I'm a big fan of the original sticks but they are not as well designed as the new ones for feet sliding off and these set a little farther from the tree in a good way. I think saying this stand will get me bigger bucks is actually the wrong idea entirely. I don't trophy hunt.

Safety, quietness, weight, and usefulness of design are things I'm more worried about than deer or deer size. Like I said before, I'll pay for that. In fact I'd pay more for that (safety) than my bow happily. Even a crooked bow will fling a well tuned arrow.

Look I'm not arguing everyone pay up and get the stand, just like I don't shoot a silvertip bow for $4k. We all make our decisions where to sink some $ and I loved the new design so I jumped at it!

Very good point!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Gdpolk · October 05, 2019, 09:49:06 AM

Quote from: Overspined on October 05, 2019, 07:11:32 AM
Quote from: MGH on October 04, 2019, 04:03:16 PM
Which lender did you use to finance that system? Might also be helpful for some...

A simple home equity loan of course!

Yeah it's not cheap, I'm going to sell my other stands off. I also have a saddle I'll use with sticks. If I feel safer and lighter and better about what I'm doing, I'll pay for it. Going up and down a tree multiple times is an inherent hazard, and I'm a big fan of the original sticks but they are not as well designed as the new ones for feet sliding off and these set a little farther from the tree in a good way. I think saying this stand will get me bigger bucks is actually the wrong idea entirely. I don't trophy hunt.

Safety, quietness, weight, and usefulness of design are things I'm more worried about than deer or deer size. Like I said before, I'll pay for that. In fact I'd pay more for that (safety) than my bow happily. Even a crooked bow will fling a well tuned arrow.

Look I'm not arguing everyone pay up and get the stand, just like I don't shoot a silvertip bow for $4k. We all make our decisions where to sink some $ and I loved the new design so I jumped at it!

I can agree with that. No judgement here. It's just out of my budget to replace an original Lone Wolf that does most of what the new one will already. The new one does though look like the absolute best stand ever made for a mobile bowhunter, bar none. And I imagine a lot of that cost is machining costs. When I have a knife water jet cut I typically pay $7-10 for quality waterjet costs on a small fixed blade. You pay for TIME when cutting which comes down to materials cut rate x thickness x linear inches of cutting. I have no doubts that cutting this stand out of a solid sheet costs a bunch of money for that one step in the process alone. Quality costs. Innovation costs. Testing/certifying for small companies costs. I can easily see why it runs what it does from a small scale manufacturing standpoint. It's an awesome design and isn't really made to be cheap. It's made to be amazing in use with costs not really being a driving decision making thing in regards to design.

Overspined · October 05, 2019, 05:27:44 PM

Well Said GDPolk. Yep I have a buddy that told me the same thing about the costs of machining that. I just couldn't repeat it 😝

Doug_K · October 05, 2019, 06:05:45 PM

Quote from: GDPolk on October 05, 2019, 09:49:06 AM

And I imagine a lot of that cost is machining costs. When I have a knife water jet cut I typically pay $7-10 for quality waterjet costs on a small fixed blade. You pay for TIME when cutting which comes down to materials cut rate x thickness x linear inches of cutting. I have no doubts that cutting this stand out of a solid sheet costs a bunch of money for that one step in the process alone. Quality costs. Innovation costs. Testing/certifying for small companies costs. I can easily see why it runs what it does from a small scale manufacturing standpoint.

Not to mention royalties for patent infringement on multiple fronts if the stories are true. I appreciate Andraes innovation on the original LW stands, but his business ethics these days would make it hard for me to justify the products at a quarter of the cost. Besides which, after playing around with a saddle all year, hang ons are pretty much obsolete to me.

Overspined · October 05, 2019, 07:06:44 PM

I probably should've made this a "no whining" thread about here say and money, when under someone's name is a list of 5 custom bows..this was meant to be informative.

Doug_K · October 05, 2019, 07:24:44 PM

Quote from: Overspined on October 05, 2019, 07:06:44 PM
I probably should've made this a "no whining" thread about here say and money, when under someone's name is a list of 5 custom bows..this was meant to be informative.

Who's whining? Informing is what my response was all about. Believe it or not there seems to be alot of folks who think "Lone Wolf Custom Gear" is affiliated with the "Lone Wolf" products they enjoy. Shocking, I know.

Also, for the record, my saddle setup cost me more than LWCG's package would, and the W&W "custom" that's my go-to is a production model...

Really not seeking to add to the drama, only encouraging those who are interested in the products to dig a little deeper into the subject before meeting with their banker.

Overspined · October 05, 2019, 07:30:31 PM

Quote from: Doug_K on October 05, 2019, 07:24:44 PM
Quote from: Overspined on October 05, 2019, 07:06:44 PM
I probably should've made this a "no whining" thread about here say and money, when under someone's name is a list of 5 custom bows..this was meant to be informative.
Who's whining? Informing is what my response was all about. Believe it or not there seems to be alot of folks who think "Lone Wolf Custom Gear" is affiliated with the "Lone Wolf" products they enjoy. Shocking, I know.

Also, for the record, my saddle setup cost me more than LWCG's package would, and the W&W "custom" that's my go-to is a production model...

Really not seeking to add to the drama, only encouraging those who are interested in the products to dig a little deeper into the subject before meeting with their banker.

Just giving ya crap, Doug. There's definitely more than one way to skin a cat. I've played with a couple saddles over the years. I have some trouble with bows out of them, but they're super comfy. Funny you say that, though. I called lone wolf thinking same company..it's not, as you said.

Doug_K · October 05, 2019, 07:39:18 PM

It's understandable. Like most others I imagine, I thought the same when I first read that "lone wolf custom gear" was coming out with new products..

Overspined · October 05, 2019, 07:43:29 PM

Quote from: Doug_K on October 05, 2019, 07:39:18 PM
It's understandable. Like most others I imagine, I thought the same when I first read that "lone wolf custom gear" was coming out with new products..

I thought so too, but I am pretty happy with the product, I didn't know they weren't one in the same until I bought it. But I don't care that much it's the same creators and what happens in the corporate world behind treestand manufacturers isn't really of interest to me. I've had crap stands fail and hurt friends. Im not going to invest in crap.

Overspined · October 11, 2019, 10:54:16 AM

Quote from: Roger Norris on October 04, 2019, 11:25:59 AM
Can you post pics of your system? I started on the LW "sneak in hang/hunt" concept last year, it really works. I am still tweaking my method.

Very cool post.

I have since figured out how to wrap the straps on the sticks and now I have the system figured out. It's awesome, the sticks are a giant improvement over the old ones. Better to climb, safer, they attach to the tree nicer and more sturdy. Also farther out from the tree, you'd have to do it to see what I mean but they are a great improvement. I'd trade out my sticks even without the stand if I didn't go all in.

I can't seem to post photos on this site. It won't accept them probably because of the size with the iPhone. Idk it's been a real PIA.

I can post the process if I can figure out the pic thing