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Archery Equipment Review:Ameristep Intimidator Ground Blind Page 2
Review: Ameristep Intimidator Ground Blind Continued...
This is page two of the Ameristep Intimidator Ground Blind Review.
Return to Page 1
Aesthetics:
There
is no doubt this is a sharp looking ground blind and the camouflage pattern
effectively blends into the environment.
The above pictures show the blind in position with green leaves still on
the trees. Currently however, the leaves
have all turned brown and the blind blends in perfectly with the
environment. In fact, I have a Wild
Game Innovations IR4Trail Camera set up about 5 yards
in front of this blind facing to the front and have multiple images and video
clips of deer walking through the area, seemingly unaffected by the presence of
the blind. Now, if only I can be INSIDE
the blind when that happens, things might be better.
Fit and Finish:
 The shoot through mesh screens are on the ground blind are held in place with zippers on the sides and
elastic bands across the top that attach to a series of well placed plastic
hooks to hold them tightly across the window openings. When the blind is fully erect, the screens
are all stretched tight and do not sag, making them easy to see through from
inside the blind. From the outside, the
camouflage pattern on the screen, combined with the darkness provided by the
NS3 material technology makes it virtually impossible to be seen while inside
the blind.
The light fleece material incorporating the NS3 technology
presents a great finish to the exterior of the blind, prevents any glare or
shine, and allows the blind to blend naturally into the environment. When fully attached to all windows, the
blackout curtains fit snugly and completely darken the inside of the tent. Again, when removed from a section of the
tent, as mentioned above, the somewhat weak magnet system makes it difficult to
keep the excess curtain material up and out of the way for the hunter. If bumped, the curtains can easily fall and
expose the hunter if not careful.
The zip in floor was a nice added feature and fits
perfectly. When the Ameristep blind is erect and
the floor is installed it is stretched tight and does not move. In wet weather conditions the floor is a nice
added feature, keeping your feet and more importantly your equipment out of the
mud, making for a more pleasant day of hunting.
Ease of Use:
The
carrying bag for the Ameristep Intimidator has backpack style straps to make transporting the blind to and
from the woods delightfully simple. The carrying
bag also has external elastic webbing for strapping down additional gear to the
outside of the bag to include a strap that can be used to attach your rifle to
the bag, simplifying the transportation process of the blind and weapon,
leaving both hand free. When packed with
the ground blind, the bag measures approximately 10”x10”x43” long, weighs a
light 22 pounds, and is compact and easy to carry. With regards to setup and tear down of the blind itself, it
is one of the easiest blinds I’ve used.
It can be removed from the carrying bag and set up in a matter of
seconds. It is an unbelievably simple design
and it was nice to not have to fight with the blind during set up and tear
down, like I’ve had to do with other top of the line blinds on the market.
Performance:
From reading my comments above, it is clear
that this product performs as advertised and is a delight to use. The ease of set up and tear down makes moving
from one location to another a simple task.
In my opinion, the Ameristep Intimidator Blind is an exceptional product
with little to know visible flaws. It
performed in the harshest of conditions, keeping both hunters and equipment dry
and concealed from game. Although the
exterior was enhanced with the Primos Water Repellent Earth Scented Spray, I am
confident that the waterproof capabilities of the material would have performed
as advertised without the spray.
Summary
 Design and Function: Excellent!
The hub style design, NS3 technology incorporated into the blind
material, mesh screen and curtain system, and zip out floor all works superbly. Slight improvements in the blackout curtain
system would render this product flawless.
Aesthetics: Great
looking blind! Blends into the
environment perfectly with tested camouflage pattern and no glare material.
Fit and Finish: Most components of the blind had exceptional
fit and finish. However, either the
curtains need to be reduced in length or the magnet system needs to be
improved.
Ease of Use: From
transportation in the carrying bag to set up and tear down, this blind is a
snap to use! The curtains are large and
difficult to manage due to the limited magnet system.
Performance: Top of the line product! The blind performed as advertised and the
ease of set up made use a pleasant experience!
Overall, the Ameristep Intimidator gets my full endorsement and
recommendation for use by anyone seeking to purchase a ground blind. At approximately $250, this blind is worth
every penny and is money well spent!
Dewclaw Archery Supplies carries many other hunting ground blinds and accessories to help make your hunt successful.
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