Wiser BT-20 Ridge Warden

[flyfisher117]

Dang I wish this had been released before I got my front country ball head. Ha.

 

[ChrisAU]

Got mine today and popped it on my Aziak Backcountry. Man, the thing is tiny. Tested it out some around the house and I think it’s a winner. On its own it doesn’t feel as smooth as some others I’ve had, but put some weight it on it, either binos, spotter, or rifle and it turns to butter.

 

[sndmn11]

I got the go-ahead to review one for Rokslide. I'm trying to think up how to test durability/longevity in a functional use sense. Right now, I've got ice, dust, and mud in my head.

 

[patagonialuke]

I got the go-ahead to review one for Rokslide. I'm trying to think up how to test durability/longevity in a functional use sense. Right now, I've got ice, dust, and mud in my head.

Would also be curious how it handles repeated recoil at the range. It's obviously not meant for that, but occasional shooting practice was the main thing I had in mind when I opted for the heavier Aziak Frontcountry head.

 

[6.5x284]

I got the go-ahead to review one for Rokslide. I'm trying to think up how to test durability/longevity in a functional use sense. Right now, I've got ice, dust, and mud in my head.

I would like to see it tested dry (think graphite lube) vs wet (oil or grease) in those conditions. I run almost all my ball heads with graphite and generally prefer them that way. I also got the little head last week so I’ll be stripping the grease and trying some graphite.


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[6.5x284]

Got mine today and popped it on my Aziak Backcountry. Man, the thing is tiny. Tested it out some around the house and I think it’s a winner. On its own it doesn’t feel as smooth as some others I’ve had, but put some weight it on it, either binos, spotter, or rifle and it turns to butter.

Good to hear. I took it out of the box and gave her a tilt in my hand and got nervous! Makes sense the weight and actually being installed would make a difference. I’ll throw some optics on it tonight.


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[mighteywhitehunter]

Couple of more photos for people to see the adjustment. I think I will get rid of the Thumb Screw and just use the supplied grub screw as a set it and forget it "tension supplement" for panning. So far the Aziak Backcountry Lite and the Wiser head have been a good combo. I will update as I have more time in the field with it, at 1lb 8oz it is a lot lighter than any of my previous setups.

 

[ChrisAU]

Couple of more photos for people to see the adjustment. I think I will get rid of the Thumb Screw and just use the supplied grub screw as a set it and forget it "tension supplement" for panning. So far the Aziak Backcountry Lite and the Wiser head have been a good combo. I will update as I have more time in the field with it, at 1lb 8oz it is a lot lighter than any of my previous setups.
View attachment 901337

Where did you get that adjustment knob? I haven’t even touched that screw yet. I do find it a bit annoying that the adjustment of the main tension screw interferes with the ARCA adapter. So far it would seem that I can’t achieve full tightness unless I lean the adapter back, which obviously isn’t what you’d want to do. But, so far I’ve gotten it tight enough to hold stuff except an unbalanced rifle.

 

[6.5x284]

Where did you get that adjustment knob? I haven’t even touched that screw yet. I do find it a bit annoying that the adjustment of the main tension screw interferes with the ARCA adapter. So far it would seem that I can’t achieve full tightness unless I lean the adapter back, which obviously isn’t what you’d want to do. But, so far I’ve gotten it tight enough to hold stuff except an unbalanced rifle.

Ya this! What is that knob. Mine wasn’t supplied with anything.


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[mighteywhitehunter]

Where did you get that adjustment knob? I haven’t even touched that screw yet. I do find it a bit annoying that the adjustment of the main tension screw interferes with the ARCA adapter. So far it would seem that I can’t achieve full tightness unless I lean the adapter back, which obviously isn’t what you’d want to do. But, so far I’ve gotten it tight enough to hold stuff except an unbalanced rifle.

You can play with the location of the lever lockout by unscrewing it completely and rotating the SS bolt a little bit, it isnt a lot of adjustment but it may be enough to clear the ARCA adapter a little more.

 

[mighteywhitehunter]

Ya this! What is that knob. Mine wasn’t supplied with anything.


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The little knob was with the head when I got it at the Show. They may have stopped including it because it doesn't do a lot. I am going to switch it out for the ss grub screw to try for a bit.

 

[Derrickson]

For those that have one, how do they handle with larger spotters, say like 85mm objectives?

 

[Oregonhuntrboi]

Does anybody have a comparison between the this and the tricer LP as far smoothness when glassing ?

 

[sndmn11]

Does anybody have a comparison between the this and the tricer LP as far smoothness when glassing ?

I will when it arrives, we have two LPs.