Grapple Your Gear with Gear Grappler

7 04 2014

gear grappler logoDo you get frustrated when you drop items out of your tree stand? I know I do. I admit to being clumsy.

Gear Grappler by Simpson Outdoors

If you tend to drop items from your stand then this item is for you. The Gear Grappler by Simpson Outdoors is a multi-function hunting and tree stand accessory.

You will not believe what they have managed to fit into this small compact unit, that weighs only 7 ounces. Let’s start with the 30 foot 550 paracord rope. Paracord is used for many things out in the woods including; pull up rope for your gun/bow/pack, clothesline, tie stuff to your pack, tie up a tarp for emergency shelter, use to make a splint or a sling, use as a tourniquet or a multitude of other things.

Couple it with the 4 1/2″ long, 1 1/2″ wide, nylon Gear Grappler and you can pull up dropped items with ease. The Grappler has 3 stainless steel grappling hooks that rotate individually into multiple positions, including folding flat for easy storage. There are also three rare earth magnets embedded into the sides of the unit, rated to lift 3.3 pounds, and a larger rare earth magnet on the bottom of the unit that can lift 5.5 pounds. No more having to climb down to retrieve your dropped arrows, knives, saws and calls. Use the grappling hooks to snare your dropped gloves, hats, quivers or even just leave your backpack on the ground for retrieval later. Do you have one limb that is in your way, and you just can’t reach it? Throw the Grappler over it to pull it out of the line of view. Tie the paracord around your tree to have an instant access hanger for your bow or pack.

There is still more! Inside the Gear Grappler is waterproof storage that contains strike anywhere matches and cotton balls. Use this to start a fire or toss a small bit of the cotton to determine wind direction. You could also remove the matches that are included and use as a dry storage for something of your own choosing.

My backpack was easy to latch onto to, and lifted just as easily! Photo: Diane Hassinger

When I crawled up into my tree stand, I attached my gun to the rope and pulled it up after I was settled. I had deliberately left my backpack on the ground to see how hard it would be to snag and lift it. It took me only a moment to catch the strap and have my pack lifting off the ground. Of course I dropped my glove a couple of times, and a knife, on purpose just to play. It almost felt like a fishing game. Okay, time to get serious. I tied the cord around the tree and opened up one of the hooks to hang my back pack. I need to get back to hunting, that is the only way I can try using it as a deer drag too.

You can get more information and purchase your own Gear Grappler at http://www.geargrappler.com/purchase-the-gear-grappler.html. With a MSRP of $29.99 this multi-tool can be in everyone’s hunting pack and with some thought, you could find even more uses. Did I tell you, this product is “Proudly Made in the USA.”

Gear Grappler logo is the sole property of it’s rightful owner and used within this writing solely for the promotion of products herein as requested by the product’s manufacturer.

Endorsement Disclosure: Per the guidelines of the Federal Trade Commission, the products reviewed in these product reviews is an endorsement and the writer may have been compensated by “in-kind” payment to review the product.

This review originally published on Ladies in Camo at http://ladiesincamo.com/licpr/2014/02/13/grapple-your-gear-with-gear-grapplerdiane-hassinger/





HME Better Crossbow Hanger and Maxx Hoisting Rope

7 04 2014

hme logo goodI typically hunt archery with my crossbow, due to surgeries. The bulkiness of the crossbows cause me to end up holding it the entire time I am in a tree stand. HME Products has designed a Better Crossbow Hanger that can hold my crossbow and so much more, allowing me more freedom in my stand!

The Better Crossbow Hanger by HME

The Better Crossbow Hanger comes complete with 3 mounting screws, so you can install the screws in 3 various stand locations, and simply move the hanger with you. No more wasting precious time fighting to get the screws installed into the tree the morning of your hunt! The design of the screws, provides an easy handle to screw them into the tree, and easy out also. Due to the higher weights of crossbows, they have flared out the mounting bracket to make it more stable, and beefed up the bolt in the folding arm to 3/8″. The universal hanger is powder coated, and the crossbow hanging fork at the end of the hanger, rotates a full 360 degrees to keep your crossbow at the perfect angle for ease of handling. The whole unit extends to 22 inches, and rated to hold 10 pounds. They have added a backpack accessory hanger, with a carabiner, that located closest to the tree for stability, and 2 small hooks perfect for binoculars, range finders or cameras.

Another great HME product designed to do double duty and make your life easier, is the Maxx Hoisting Rope. OK, so how can a rope make your life easier? This 25′ long pull up rope has a 360 degree reflective sleeve, which can truly be seen from every direction. Using this rope eliminates the need for bright eyes on you tree, but still makes it easy to see your way to the stand on those dark early morning hunts. The Maxx Hoisting Rope comes complete with a coated carabiner for easy and safe hook up of all of your hunting equipment.

Stock Photo: HME Photo: Diane Hassinger

I tied the rope off about 2 foot off of the ground, so that I could see the highly reflective sleeve from my trail. Going in on my last morning of deer hunting, I was able to locate the stand from a far distance, and adjust my path accordingly. I tied off my crossbow using the carabiner and quickly got my equipment set up on the Crossbow Hanger.

With everything I do, I like to nest. Even hunting, I like to be surrounded by my stuff, but where I can access it easily. I like my

Everything has a place on the HME Better Crossbow Hanger. Photo: Diane Hassinger

backpack to be set up the same every time, and I like to have my electronics, calls and rattles all within easy reach. Using this crossbow hanger, I now have a place for everything and everything is in its place! Ok, so maybe I am a bit OCD about this. But it is much easier for me to locate all my equipment if I know right where to look for it. I was able to position the hanger so that there is minimal movement involved picking my equipment up, this minimizes what the deer or bear see when I am hunting.

Packing up proved to be simple too. I didn’t have to fight my equipment while I tried to shove everything back into my pack. It truly was like having an extra set of hands. Once I lowered my crossbow, using the Maxx Hoisting Rope,  I undid the thumbscrew that holds the hanger to the tree and stowed it in my bag also, with the way the hanger folds up, everything fit into the pack with no problems. I opted to leave the mounting screw in the tree for my next visit, and I could also leave the Crossbow Hanger, if I was planning on hunting the same stand soon. I love products that simplify my life rather than complicate it!

To see these and more great items that HME has to offer, go to http://www.hmeproducts.com/home. The MSRP of this Crossbow Hanger unit is $27.99, while the Maxx Hoisting rope is $3.99. Both are available for purchase at many of the sporting goods shops; for a complete listing visit http://www.hmeproducts.com/home. At these prices, I may put one of each in each of my tree stands!

HME Products logo is the sole property of it’s rightful owner and used within this writing solely for the promotion of products herein as requested by the product’s manufacturer.

Endorsement Disclosure: Per the guidelines of the Federal Trade Commission, the products reviewed in these product reviews is an endorsement and the writer may have been compensated by “in-kind” payment to review the product.

This product review originally published for Ladies in Camo at http://ladiesincamo.com/licpr/2014/04/01/hme-better-crossbow-hanger-and-maxx-hoisting-rope-diane-hassinger/