Well after a few trial runs with some ash and hackberry I went hackberry hands down.
My steaming jig is pretty crude, ok ok its horribly disgusting hehe.
2 pots and 1 kettle on the stove, some tin foil and end supports to hold the pieces off the hot pots.
First time go in all areas, she bent like she was born to do so! I'll get pics of my steaming "jig" up here in a few, gotta edit pics ;)
I highly recommend yall check this wood out. It bends super easy, looks extremly similiar to ash and is just about as durable!
I will admit I didnt fudge enough for strips moving while bending and have to redo my outer stems. Found out 3feet was plenty on the inner 3, but hardly enough by the time the 4th (or first) outer stem was reached. OOPS ;). Had a great piece of wood too and had planned on doing snowshoes after I am finished stripping to keep from burning out all in one nite.