Wiser BT-20 Ridge Warden

[FLHunter87]

Unknown says they have 1 in stock.

BT-20 Ridge Warden Ball Tilt Head - Unknown Munitions

The BT-20 Ridge Warden “Ball Tilt” head is the brain child of a “what if” question. What if there was a head that worked great for glassing and shooting? We answered that question with the Ridge Warden. The Ridge Warden is essentially a ball head but with a novel mechanism to lock the ball into…

www.unknownmunitions.com

I will replace at least one Tricer with an additional Ridge Warden. I can't find a flaw in it yet. I think of someone were trying to strictly use it for glassing with a 90mm+ optic, there's likely a better choice, but as a do-all that's light, it may be in a class of one.

Guess I was too late. Sows back order now.

 

[sndmn11]

Guess I was too late. Sows back order now.

Call them, their Instagram account has a picture of one on display today.

 

[RimRunner]

I wish it had some flats on the base for a wrench to tighten it down, to keep it from coming undone I have to grab it with vice grips before every trip otherwise it’s pretty nice I have it on a tricer ad

 

[bielenbm]

I wish it had some flats on the base for a wrench to tighten it down, to keep it from coming undone I have to grab it with vice grips before every trip otherwise it’s pretty nice I have it on a tricer ad

I used some lock tight on the threads before the install and havent had issues.

 

[sndmn11]

I wish it had some flats on the base for a wrench to tighten it down, to keep it from coming undone I have to grab it with vice grips before every trip otherwise it’s pretty nice I have it on a tricer ad

When I do these reviews I like to progresively interview the people that matter at the company to gain a betteer understanding of deisgn intention/purpose, materials, etc. It also opens the door of communication. I shared this with Shane a bit ago, and here is his response.





The paper trick does work, but it is still on my wish list.

 

[svivian]

another option, that tricer did, was drill a hole in the center that allows an allen wrench or screwdriver to be passed through and used to tighten.

Less likely to mess up the finish if that is a concern.

 

[Alpinedrifter]

I have only ever shot off of Bogpod Deathgrip, which I found to be buttery smooth and zero hiccups, especially on a moving target. How does the smoothness of the BT -20 compare to that of the Deathgrip? I'm looking for a glassing and shooting head for my Tricer BC.

My LP for glassing is good, but I do find that it hiccups here and there. Does the BT-20 do that?

 

[RimRunner]

When I do these reviews I like to progresively interview the people that matter at the company to gain a betteer understanding of deisgn intention/purpose, materials, etc. It also opens the door of communication. I shared this with Shane a bit ago, and here is his response.

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The paper trick does work, but it is still on my wish list.

Thanks for the info that’s the same fix I have been doing hopefully a 2.0 version has that but like I said Iam willing to deal with it good stuff again

 

[dirtytough]

I used one with 10x42’s, 12x42’s, ATX 95, and BTX 95 scouting and hunting the high country for a couple weeks.

It worked. But the 95’s were too big for it. Especially when trying to digiscope. The 10x42’s had a barrel clamp. And the stem was canted just from the binos being offset and not centered.

I will continue to use it for backpack hunts. I won’t use it day hunting though. For the weight of the head I’m not disappointed. It’s about what I expected when trying to use heavy optics on something so small.

 

[awcopeland]

I used the Ridgewarden on top of the Aziak Backcountry Light on an archery elk hunt this past week. For those asking how it will compare to heavier set ups, broad brush stoke here: there are compromises for small and compact. But the set up I described was sweet to have with just a pair of 8x42s on my chest.

I did throw my 85mm spotter on it for like 10 minutes. It wasn’t bad, but the VA-5 is a little easier to use IMO.

Being more of an opportunity hunter I will be packing this on almost all hunts going forward until something better comes to market at a reasonable price. I will also likely look to sell my big spotter and carry one of the tiny compacts in the near future.

 

[FLHunter87]

I used the Ridgewarden on top of the Aziak Backcountry Light on an archery elk hunt this past week. For those asking how it will compare to heavier set ups, broad brush stoke here: there are compromises for small and compact. But the set up I described was sweet to have with just a pair of 8x42s on my chest.

I did throw my 85mm spotter on it for like 10 minutes. It wasn’t bad, but the VA-5 is a little easier to use IMO.

Being more of an opportunity hunter I will be packing this on almost all hunts going forward until something better comes to market at a reasonable price. I will also likely look to sell my big spotter and carry one of the tiny compacts in the near future.

I decided to go Tricer BP. Happy with my choice.

 

[awcopeland]

I decided to go Tricer BP. Happy with my choice.

Not completely apples to apples since the BP is a fluid head, correct? I think that would be more comparable to the Wiser Nighthawk.

Not saying your choice is bad or wrong, just that it doesn’t provide the ball aspect.

If I do drop down in size with my spotter, I’ll eventually look to drop weight on the VA-5 with either the BP or Nighthawk. I have heard good things about both of them.

 

[FLHunter87]

Not completely apples to apples since the BP is a fluid head, correct? I think that would be more comparable to the Wiser Nighthawk.

Not saying your choice is bad or wrong, just that it doesn’t provide the ball aspect.

If I do drop down in size with my spotter, I’ll eventually look to drop weight on the VA-5 with either the BP or Nighthawk. I have heard good things about both of them.

Right. No ball aspect. But we'll see how it works out. So far I like it though. Holds rifle well and spotter. Very smooth.

 

[Justin Crossley]

Check out the review that @sndmn11 wrote on the Wiser Ridge Warden and get entered to win one!

Wiser Precision Ridge Warden Tripod Head Review

@robby denning @Ryan Avery

 

[Wprinkle]

Great review, adding it to my list.

 

[HuntFishCamp]

Is there a way to lock down the panning tension when setting up for a shot?

- would love if there was a finger knob like the Aziak Backcountry ball head

 

[sndmn11]

Is there a way to lock down the panning tension when setting up for a shot?

- would love if there was a finger knob like the Aziak Backcountry ball head

Not really on the fly as-is. The little hex head screw on one side controls the panning tension, but I interpreted it as a set-and-forget sort of thing. I would imagine that it wouldn't be hard to pop into Ace and find a finger turn bolt that would fit since they are made in the USA and presumably have standard threading.