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Primal Treestands The Descender
Equipment
Contributors to this thread:
Rut-Nut 10-Oct-24
Rut-Nut 10-Oct-24
Insheart 10-Oct-24
Hot Hap 11-Oct-24
Scrappy 11-Oct-24
Rut-Nut 11-Oct-24
2Wild Bill 11-Oct-24
Ironbow 11-Oct-24
Jebediah 11-Oct-24
Dale06 11-Oct-24
air leak 11-Oct-24
Meat Grinder 11-Oct-24
scent 11-Oct-24
Rut-Nut 14-Oct-24
Fields 14-Oct-24
spike78 14-Oct-24
WV Mountaineer 14-Oct-24
BoilerRoom 14-Oct-24
Rut-Nut 13-Nov-24
Aspen Ghost 13-Nov-24
mountainman 13-Nov-24
Rut-Nut 13-Nov-24
From: Rut-Nut
10-Oct-24
Anybody have one of these and use it?

My harnesses have a suspension relief strap but I often wonder how hard it would be to deploy in a real life situation. And when I saw this Descender on Amazon I was intrigued! I love SIMPLE and this thing looks like the epitome of SIMPLE!

From: Rut-Nut
10-Oct-24

Rut-Nut's Link
Click link for video

From: Insheart
10-Oct-24
That looks interesting. Following to hear real life experiences.

From: Hot Hap
11-Oct-24
I bought two of them and gave them to my son and his buddy to use. I do not remember the exact figures, but they are only good for three years(I think) after they have been built. Make sure that they haven't been on the shelf for a couple of years. Hap

From: Scrappy
11-Oct-24
Similar devices have been around for years. There is just to much that can malfunction in those things for me to trust.

From: Rut-Nut
11-Oct-24
Yeah, I got one years ago and tried it but only used it a couple times. Was very cumbersome and awkward to use- I didn’t like how it attached to the tree strap and it was very heavy! Think it was like 6 lbs.

This one is only 2 lbs and I like how it hangs down from the tree strap.

From: 2Wild Bill
11-Oct-24
Thanks Rut-Nut for starting this thread.

It is mechanical and can fail, seemingly due to age? Three year lifetime? If the first time you need it is the first time it fails, well.... you see?

I would prefer something less automatic and more dependent on personally activating/controling the lowering action.

I use a two part climbing stand, and am looking into carrying a descent rope and device attached to the top portion of the stand. My tether is adjusted to stop me from falling to a point where my shoulders remain above the lower standing platform. My thought is to transfer my attachment point from the tree to the lowering rope, and thereby safely descend. I will also install a tether cord from my treestand top portion to my harness band encircling the tree, similiar to the cord between the top and bottom section of the stand.

Being prepared is prudent, but does not preclude all circumstances.

From: Ironbow
11-Oct-24
I adjust my strap where I will never fall below my waist. I have never understood why someone would have so much slack in the line that they can fall below the platform or can’t get back on the platform.

From: Jebediah
11-Oct-24
I don’t trust that thing. If I understand correctly, it is a single-use device, and therefore untestable. It is literally a black box.

From: Dale06
11-Oct-24
What Ironbow said.

From: air leak
11-Oct-24
I had one years ago. It has an expiration date of 3 years.

I bought a 'Treestand Wingman'. Check it out.

My son has now.

From: Meat Grinder
11-Oct-24
I also have a Treestand Wingman. Not only is it reusable, but the manufacturer recommends trying it out before you take it hunting. It's also adjustable between two weight ranges. It comes with 30 ft. of webbing to lower you with. It's kind of a pain to wind up all that webbing when you get down, but I'd rather spend time doing that, than laying at the base of the tree wondering if I'll ever be able to go hunting again. Be safe and Good Hunting!

From: scent
11-Oct-24
I also share Ironbows logic, I have enough strap to comfortably draw my bow and stand on platform... makes me feel very safe and secure.

scent

From: Rut-Nut
14-Oct-24
I agree- I always affix my safety line as high as it will go and still have enough slack to sit. But stuff happens. Would still like a way to get down if something crazy happens and I can’t get back to my platform.

I looked at the wingman and don’t like having all that loose strap to deal with. I know the Primal Descender is single use but how many times do you expect to use it? And at $50 if it is only good for 3 years you can get 9 years out of one for the price of the Wingman.

From: Fields
14-Oct-24
Rut Nut, I use the wingman.. That extra strap was my biggest pain.. I rolled up all that strap and rubber banded it together so it hangs below my stand but not all the way to the ground. If I do fall, Im hoping the rubber bands allow the strap to come out as I get lowered to the ground..

From: spike78
14-Oct-24
I have one and you could either not trust it OR not use it and be 100% guaranteed to be hanging there with your circulation cutting off. I would take my chances with the gadget.

14-Oct-24
This is precisely why the I’d use a saddle as a safety vest in any stand. Once in the stand, you can adjust it to use saddle style if shooting behind the tree as well.

I promise you there won’t be an animal that you can’t shoot if there’s a shooting lane. No matter how limiting a big platform can be, there won’t be one square inch of real estate you can’t shoot to out to your maximum range. All while still allowing you hunt the stand as designed. The treating it like a saddle platform is the bonus in it. That and its weight savings. Plus its ability to work vs. trusting a device you have no control over.

The cost to have the best option is more. But, what is your life worth? Plus you are adding the best lineman’s belt, you can ascend with it as well. And, adjusted properly, you get the benefits of a saddle if you slipped while climbing or in a stand. You’ll be facing the tree with control of your descent. As slow as you’d like. It’s going to work everytime. Your weight is required to make it work. So you can freely move it until you begin to load it with weight. The more weight, the stronger it gets.

Madrock safeguard and proper rope. Couple with a saddle. Forgetaboutit.

From: BoilerRoom
14-Oct-24
The halfline from NY Saddle Hunters is a lot safer and more reliable!!!

From: Rut-Nut
13-Nov-24

Rut-Nut's embedded Photo
Rut-Nut's embedded Photo
I used mine for several days last week and I am SOLD! Will be using it now every hunt from stands.

I like how it attaches to the tree strap and It’s self contained!(no exposed long straps hanging down)

From: Aspen Ghost
13-Nov-24
How do you move it up the tree while ascending (or down while descending)? It looks like it only protects you once you are fully up the tree and in the treestand. It doesn't seem to be protecting you while ascending, getting in the stand, getting out of the stand and descending. Isn't that when most falls occur?

From: mountainman
13-Nov-24
Aspen, when I used one I moved it up as I climbed. The same as I do when not using one.

I used it for a couple years and moved away from it because of the weight.

From: Rut-Nut
13-Nov-24
Yep- slide the tree strap up and down on the tree while climbing/descending. I keep it on my harness at all times. I honestly don’t feel any difference with it on. It only weighs 2 pounds……………….

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