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LW stick mods: Eastern Woods Outdoors review

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3.6K views 8 replies 7 participants last post by  _Splinter_  
#1 ·
Not long ago I read an AT thread on stick and stand modifications that introduced me to Eastern Woods Outdoors. Being unfamiliar with the brand, I googled the name and found out they were from my home state of Michigan, but on the eastern side of the mitten. My primary interest was their nylon webbing "daisy chains" for replacing the stock LW or Hawk Helium straps with noisy buckles and extra weight. A friend had made a set of Amsteel daisy chains, but the effort and cost of the material was not appealing. However the EWO strap version are more substantial looking and weigh virtually nothing.

So I ordered a set of three for my LW original sticks to see how they would work out. In just a few days, they were in the mailbox and I was eager to see what they looked like. They are well built, light and easy to use.....as I confirmed with a test run on a nearby tree. Having looked around the EWO website a bit, I was also toying with the idea of trying a set of their anodized "double step" conversion for the top of my sticks. To keep weight down, LW uses their famous rotating single step, but the design makes it challenging to get the next stick in place or stand up. This looked to be a cost effective way to address that issue and appeared to be pretty simple.

This is how they looked fresh from the package. Very clean design....lightweight

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This is pretty much what it took to assemble them. Then I figured out the support bolt had to be removed and dug out an allen wrench.
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Removal and assembly was a snap....it probably took me as long to go to the garage and find the correct tools as it did to sit down to complete the job.
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Completed assembly with EWO daisy chain straps and stock LW straps removed. I haven't used them in the woods yet, but the double step packs just as easy and adds no discernable weight. I'm very impressed with the quality, personal service from EWO by owner Dan O and CS getting them to my door promptly. When I get a little time in the woods next week, I will report back.
 
#6 ·
Planning on taking my "bow and go" setup.....Millennium M7 modded stand and LW sticks with the EWO upgrades out this afternoon for the maiden voyage. Hopefully things go smoothly with the gear end and I get on some deer for the effort.
 
#7 ·
Well I finally had the opportunity to take my much researched and refined "bow and go" setup to the woods earlier this week. After still-hunting this area a few times, I had a pretty solid idea where to set up for an afternoon hunt and went in about 45 min earlier than normal to give me plenty of time. My practice sessions this summer went pretty smoothly, but I didn't have extra clothing or my bow along to complicate things a bit more.

The EWO upgrades really helped getting the LW sticks set up efficiently. Totally silent with the daisy chain straps, as well as less weight. They go on easy and the sticks are just as solid as with the stock LW adjustable straps. The EWO double steps also were a significant improvement setting up the next stick and when climbing down in low light. That way I can set my rotating pegs in the same order and have sure footing while descending. Win-win there.

In regards to the hunt.....not so much. As it was getting towards prime time, a fellow "hunter".....a guy in camo with no bow in hand....appeared into the middle of my setup. He must have come in after I did from the other end of the section and wandered into the spot I was located. Not sure what he was doing without his bow.....looking for a place to "drop trow"??? When he saw me, he did hand motions and thankfully left. Then about 10 minutes later it began to rain.....no deer seen. Taking down and packing up went fine as well....EWO products are the real deal.
 
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