Here ya go... Truly is the "best screw in the hunting industry"...

http://www.cranfordmfg.com/treesteps.shtml

I've got about 200 of these puppies, ranging from the EZY climb deluxe to the folding tree step (most compact) to the detachable steps (thank God I was using these the day I had my only stand stolen so far).

Seriously, I just laugh at people who write about having to carry "step starters" into the woods, either made by a step manufacturer who's step is junk (cough * cough* Ameristep * cough . At least the old ones... I have been shown a pic of their newer ones which look more like copies of the Cranfords.) or electric drills or whatever. Cranfords offer TRUE one-handed easy starting, and I can seriously get up almost as high as I can with my four lone wolfs in maybe an extra minute more than it would take me with those. I use my climbing sticks in conjunction with my Alpha Hang-On a lot, but when I want TOTAL quiet and the lightest, most-packable, quietest setup I can get in... I take my Cranfords in with me.

They're only sold in pro shops as far as I know, and they're probably a bit more expensive than the "average" step... but -- trust me -- this is no average step.

If I had to pack in a mile then I would definately consider them,if they are as easy as you say.Look like they screw in about the same as the EZ hanger by Realtree.


It looks like Redhead sells them but they just show them as the EZY steps.

That's exactly where I choose them over my sticks... long, long hikes in and moving in to bedding areas with the need to be absolutely the quietest I can be.

Last thing I'll say about them is just beware buying anything that says "easy" or "easy start"... Cranford's known among hard-core bowhunters as being the absolute-best there is... the very ultimate ofsteps. Many other step makers havetried to skirt the "EZY"trademark and dupe buyers. I'd want to ascertain that they were indeed Cranfords before purchasing.

Do these look like the Cranfords? They are the EZY folding tree steps sold at Redhead.

The pic you've got does indeed look like them... but I'd have to see the screw to actually be sure. Cranford's key to their success is an extremely gradually tapered screw from the needle-sharp point all the way back the length of the threads... That's why Ameristep's screws (at least they're more widely popular ones I used to see) require a drill or something else to get them to work (meaning they DON'T work, if you want my opinion). Ameristep's point "rounds out" and "thickens" to the width of the screw almost immediately. To be fair to Ameristep, someone posted a pic on here of one of their newer designs which looked a lot better -- but it was clearly an attempt to copy Cranford, for good reason.

Sorry, Hiawatha... but hopefully all this info will help you determine not only the number of steps you need but which ones. There'sa tremendous difference.

They show the point in the 2006 master hunting catalog.

$25.00 for 4,I would hope they are among the best in the industry.

That would be about $75.00 to reach 20'.

Cheaper than the Lone Wolf sticks though.

That pic indeed is a folding Cranford step and I highly concur with Greg/Mo. There are absolutely none better! Easier to start and remove, very strong and reliable. Personally I prefer the Cranford rod steps. Rod steps are more bulky to carry though. I get lucky, my local shop carries them for $3 a piece.

I approach the use of steps pretty much the same way David Miller does.At 6' 2" inches in height it would take me 12 to 13 steps to set up at 20 feet.I space the steps as I am ascending the tree by standing on one step and placing the next step at slightly above knee level on the opposite side of the tree.
I also like when I am able to use Hemlocks as stand tree's.Plenty of cover and typically not necessary to use nearly as many steps.

This information would have been useful last weekend when i bought 10 ameristep's. grrrr. Wasn't planning on buying them otherwise i would have checked this out b4 hand but i seen them laying there at cabelas and figured i would snap up a few. Dam impulse buying, gets me every time.[&:]