I've got a Cruzr XC Brett. I have lower back problems and with the way it's pleated, it gives a lot of support. That might be a consideration for you. Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
i used those my first season. They did alright, I found that stick length to be annoying to packing and out, however, I am shorter at 5’8”. I had to add aiders to the three sticks to get higher than 15 feet.
I hear you. I thought the steps looked wider for fat As like myself. If I dont like them for the saddle maybe I'll use them with my hang on I've had for 5 years but never used. Haha
I know this is gonna sound stupid, but I'm a little claustrophobic. Ha. Being pinned up in the tree facing the tree seems like it may feel cramped. Worrying me a bit for longer sits.
Not really cause you can lean away if you want or if you are using a platform you can stand on that facing away. I admit, I'm not completely sold on this yet. I really didn't give it a big chance last year but I intend to try to do it a little more in the upcoming season. If I don't get it right after that, I'm selling all of it. Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
I have a Tethrd mantis in my stash if you want to get a feel for it, I bought the phantom and it’s just sitting. More than welcome to to test it, I don’t have any ropes/etc. for it, swapped them to my new saddle. If I had spare ropes/carabiners I’d send those as well.
I really appreciate that offer. I may take you up on that buddy. I need something to keep my aging 230lb rear end comfortable.
Make sure you get that strap tight and push down on the top of the stick before standing on it. If it does not bite well, it will kick out to the side easily.
Agree with @cantexian , had my Hawk sticks kick out a few times on me.. I wish the sticks had just a little more wider bite to them, Also the Versa Strap is a waste, spend more time trying to figure out which loop hole to use, this past yr I just starting using my versa strap as a Amsteel rope. I loop it the same way you would loop if your using a rope, find it to be much tighter and quicker to get up the tree.
Hello Mike and everyone, I have been saddle hunting for a while now. Here are some things I have learned that might help some of you save some money. Saddle hunting is excellent for concealment since you can hide behind a tree when deer are moving in. I prioritize being very mobile and comfortable for long sits. I have been using the Tertherd Lockdown recently and have found it to be excellent at that. The key to staying light in the woods is not using any sticks. It is much quieter, lighter, and cheaper to use a good climbing rope. Some of you have seen this DRT method before, but here is a slightly different way of doing it that makes climbing easier. Here is a video explaining things better since I can't get everything described in words.
Hahah ill just pack my light sticks. I could see me having a meltdown trying this method. Pretty neat though.
Thanks for taking a look. Don't fix what isn't broken. If your sticks are working well, then keep it up.
Been reading for a while and thought I'd chime in. I'm into my second full time season in a saddle and have probably about 40 sits in one, plus a lot more practice climbs etc. I use the one stick climbing method and absolutely am happy I went that route right from the start. Its light, fast and safe. Here are some things I have learned along the way and something that might help someone either struggling or thinking about trying it. 1. Spend a ton of time in your saddle at home in the back yard to find that perfect spot in adjustments to get your comfortable. If you feel any pressure in a spot here or there, its going to get a lot worse when you're sitting in it for hours. Spend time on leaners to and away from you and learn how to set your tether height accordingly. Honestly, that was my biggest thing. I found like a tether height around chin/neck high. You might also find that a saddle just doing work for your body type and unfortunately, it might mean buying a different one to try. 2. Platforms are ok, but in my opinion, if you're just using the platform, you're not gaining a great deal of the advantage of hunting out of one. You see so many talk about putting a knee into the tree, rotating, etc to get around the tree to shoot weak side, etc. I'm sorry but that looks cool for the Tethrd ads, but in real life, I found it nerve racking and very difficult to do smoothly with little movements. I always felt like I was one slip away from making a noise. Never mind if you're on a tree thats leaning away and try that nonsense. You will get an education about gravity. Instead, pair your platform with a ring of steps, even just two that you can set at your 10 and 2 positioned around the back of the tree. It makes it way easier and more stealthy to make your moves. 3. Along the lines of the platforms, if you are following the "hip crowd" on social media and leaning 99% of the time while in a saddle, two things will happen. One, you're feet will get sore and tired. So will your legs. The other thing is you will get skylined and picked off by more deer. I have learned that I am primarily a sitter, so I adjust my setups to accomodate sitting. I'm closer to the tree and with the steps around the back side, I can easily slip to one side or the other to keep the tree as a buffer. 4. Learn your gear inside and out and inspect it constantly. Learn knots, learn the materials used, learn the devices such as ascenders and descenders so you know how they work. 5. Spend a lot of time climbing and hanging in it. The more you do it, the more confident you'll be and that leads to comfort and efficiency. Last year, I was half terrified for lots of sits. It just all feels different and the idea of dangling off the side of the tree by a rope is a little unnerving. But, my previous bullet item about learning and knowing your gear will help you understand that this gear is built for far more intense and demanding activities than we'll ever put it through. Climb up a little higher as you get comfortable. Practice moving around the tree and feeling how the saddle reacts and how to use gravity for you. Thats big. I fought gravity for a while and it caused issues... lol. 6. Building off of 4 and 5, find a routine and do not ever deviate from it. It took me about a month to find a routine that works for me when I get to the tree I want to climb into. Having this routine will help you ensure that you don't miss something really critical and you end up on the ground. Hope this helps someone. Let me know if you have questions. I feel like after almost two full seasons in one and countless climbs and experimentations, I have a pretty good handle on this game. Well... sorta... I always find something I want to try or need. lol.
