I took it another level, I bought a sherrill Notch arborist saddle, 600 ft of Notch Kraken 32 strand rope x4 , a notch roperunner pro, petzl zipline, and petzl grigri, Set 10 canopy anchors in my hunting area. Now I just zipline from tree to tree within a five acre area to what ever trail the deer are returning to bed down. I'm kinda like a flying killing machine. I saddle up from my back deck hop up on the railing and tie into my system. then zipline 100 yrds out to the first tree, and go from there. When I am done I have another line running back down to my deck, so i basically belay right down to my back door. I never touch the ground where I hunt anymore, unless it's to retrieve my deer.
Saddle hunting takes a lot of tweaking and practice for it to work and be comfortable. It's definitely not for lazy people that don't want to tune the setup for themselves. It sounds like you're hunting a lot of straight no limb trees. look for trees with lots of limbs and you will blend right in and it will hide a lot of your movement.
37 years of hunting man made, climbers, lone wolf, summit and strapons. Switched to a saddle last year and it's by far the best. Nothing complicated at all. It's beyond basic. And if you f*cked around with climbers long enough, the saddle is way safer and provides way better shooting angles. If you're a mobile hunter, get a saddle.
@@proudpennsylvanian330 started with trophyline covert and recently bought the cruzr xc. And use the trophyline mission platform. Xop 2 step sticks with aiders. Gets me about 20-25 feet. Weight is about 15 lbs
Trees around here are not configured for climbers. But safety should not be an issue. The reason a saddle is safe is because you are always tied in. That can easily be arranged with any kind of stand.
I have hunted from a tree stand from the late 70's, home made until lock on became in. Now I am getting into saddle hunting. How ever I still hunt from my stand but I ware my saddle. I feel safer now with the saddle compared to my Hunters safety harness. I am safer installing my stand with both hands instead of trying to hang with one arm and getting into my stand. I take the best of both worlds. I do not have to worry about some one stealing my stand any more. Public land....I can shoot 360 deg easier. I can get out of stand in the dark easier and safer. Oh by the way I am 65 years old and things are just a little harder when it comes to exiting a stand in the dark. I do not use climbing sticks...I use SRT to climb trees and I love it. I also use a rock climbing harness.
Wow, that’s awesome info! I’ve definitely considered wearing the saddle in a treestand for all the reasons you stated. Appreciate you watching and giving feedback!
Been saddle hunting on and off for the better part of 12+ years. There is a learning curve buts really simple: your saddle is the most important piece of gear. If your saddle doesnt fit right, isn’t comfortable, and/or causes hip pinch your not gonna be happy. When you find one that does fit properly and comfortably you will never look back.
The Drey from Dryad Saddles addresses alot of the stability and comfort issues with traditional saddles. It's the most comfortable way for all day sits and under a pound.
*The tethrd isn’t as comfortable as a tree stand, my XC Cruzr blows my summit out the water. But as far as what your saying about the way it’s advertised I agree it can be misleading, as in everything it’s up to the individual to find an option that works best for him/herself.
I agree! And I haven’t done a whole lot of exploring other brands. Found some more stuff this season that will make my hunts more enjoyable I believe. Thanks for following along! Good luck the rest of the season!
For me the platform is a necessity for comfort with a saddle. I find it easier to shoot than a treestand because I can put my knees into the tree and stabilize myself. I also find with a treestand my back hurts a lot more. I did modify my saddle by adding a turkey vest seat pad for comfort and it really increased the comfort level
Interesting that your back hurts more in a tree stand, guess that just emphasizes that there’s no one right system for everyone. My back hurt more when I started using the saddle and before I got the back strap. Also never heard of the turkey vest seat pad being added, that’s a good idea I’ll have to look into it! Thanks for watching and good luck this season!
I have an older friend who has a horrible back. I almost recommended a saddle because it's so much better for me lol! I always end up slouching in a treestand. My neck shoulders and back end up hurting. I feel like I can sit in a saddle all day long.
lotta folks hitting the dislike cause he brings up points they dont want to hear after spending quite a bit of cash on thirty dollars worth of webbing. saddle hunting definitely takes tinkering and is no way the "best way" to hunt it takes different tactics for different situations, just another tool the tool box for harvesting snacks.
I don’t like saddle hunting as well I prefer my climber, but I end up in the dang saddle because I can get in any tree I want in any spot I want so I suck it up. I agree my feet kill after a while. I just use it because of the versatility and that’s it!
I tried it. Too many pieces and moving parts. I wasn't comfortable either. I prefer my hand climber from LW. 2 pieces and my bow. Saddle just wasn't for me. I agree with a lot of what you said. I got picked off a lot too from deer from further out. Deer don't follow a script and they can come from anywhere. Good video.
My first point I’ve been using traditional tree stands and climbing pegs and sticks for 25 years I never never have gotten comfortable with standing on a traditional tree stand I move slowly the wind in the trees swaying always makes me feel uncomfortable and unstable. However putting up my tree stands and wearing my full linesman’s belt the security I feel being able to lean away from the tree never at any time do I feel my heart miss a beat. Now I’ve never Saddle Hunt and yet my gear will arrive next week I spent a tremendous amount of money on the best Gear I could research obviously being a newbie I wanna make this a great experience because if I’m correct and this works I’m going to be able to get rid of 25 fixed tree stands I have enough metal in the bush to build a tank. I’m tired of making special trips out to put up the stands I’m tired of moving them I’m tired of them growing into the tree I’m tired of How insecure I feel standing to shoot, I’m tired of my tree stand pegs growing into the trees because I have so many stands I can’t maintain them. The farmers crops and travel patterns seem to change year after year and I’m forever taking down and putting up stands. Even if I found them uncomfortable which I highly doubt I would still use my one stick system to put up a fixed tree stand and I will be using it to remove 25 stands. I’m also tired of having my tree stand stolen and trying to hide my hard earned scouting spots to other hunters and hiding them from the public so they don’t get stolen. Having the ability to run and gun hunt with a light pack is going to be a game changer for me so I’m crossing my fingers thank you for the video
I hunt Ozark oak timberland. Saddle seems ideal. Not too many trees to put bulky stands in that’ll do the job. Even after a controlled burn there’s a pretty thick understory and the mature trees in my area are very large. Some I have trouble getting sticks to tie around close to the ground. When I scout I place a long loop of paracord around a high branch or anchor I’ve placed. Then I can go out and take a 50ft section of arborist rope through and climb like an arborist. No sticks or anything else needed. I added some pegs on mymantis platform’s strap so if I swing to the low side on accident it’s possible to get back into position. Most of the time I squat and straddle the tree. Don’t feel like I leave a big silhouette. The only issue sometimes is pulling out of the squat without making too much noise by scraping the bark of the tree. The fix there is to be sure to mount in a place where the trunk is between shoulder width apart to about shoulder width -4”. Then you can spread your legs before you stand and stand very quietly.
You make some good points although I feel like many of your cons are due to your equipment. (Just my opinion). For what it’s worth I feel both the Tethrd mantis and phantom have a lot of hip pinch which makes it uncomfortable. I use an eberhart signature series 2 panel and it has made all the difference in comfort and zero hip pinch! (I’m 6’2” 210 for reference). Additionally, I have found having a ring of steps instead of a single platform helps in shooting around the tree. (Cranford makes a nice ring of steps). I’m not trying to sway your opinion, just thought I would give you some feedback which has worked well for me so far.
I agree, most of them are due to the mantis setup. But there’s definitely a few that are “over hyped” about saddle hunting. Definitely tossing around ideas of a different saddle setup, really appreciate the info. There’s been a lot of good recommendations in the comments. I’m about in your boat size wise. But I’ve for sure enjoyed saddle hunting thus far even with the cons I’ve listed. Good luck this season!
I bought one of the Helium saddle kits and I love it. It is super comfortable and after adding a 40' rope to replace my tether rope I can now repel down with just a figure 8 device. This is my first year with it so I am sure I will tweak it but damn it is so much easier than carrying in a climber. Even hunting on private I like to look for the deer sign and hunt there rather than relying on the pattern to stay the same through the whole season.
100% true. I got good success for using both saddle and climber. Saddle is a little bit physically demanding than a lightweight climber which can cause you to move a little bit more often than sitting on a climber. I'm athletic and i don't have problem setting up but i see a lot of people struggling with sticks and saddles. The only main advantages of climber is comfort and ease of use. You dont need to use and set up with a lot of straps and ropes as you climb up. But then majority of your locations are only destination locations with cleaned trees from post season. To go to next level of successful hunt is to go hung and hunt with saddle but again it will require a higher level of body conditioning and athleticism to use it than a climber.
I think much of the country’s woods support success for climbers, but my area is not one of them. You are extremely lucky in this area if you can find a tree that is climber stand compatible, much one that will get you above 12 or 15 feet. We have a lot of scrub oaks like post oak, blackjack oak etc.
I have a saddle. Going to sell it. They are a good tool but there is a lot of marketing hype. I moved too much in my cruzr. Alot of gear. I like the larger platform of the hang on
I just ordered the latitude method 2 double panel saddle. Did a lot a research and it seemed like the best option. Hopefully I won’t have the comfort issue that you had and can overcome the other obstacles you mentioned about saddle hunting. Good luck hunting this year and stay safe!
Heard a lot of good stuff about the Latitude saddles! Seems like some of my problems are tethrd specific! Thanks for watching good luck this year to you also!
Were you being sarcastic? Every con you listed is literally everything I love about mine. Are you maybe uneasy with heights? I am and it took me awhile to trust my equipment but once I got through that I’ll never go back to a traditional stand.
With the 360 i use a wild edge step on backside of tree from platform this makes a world of difference with moving in to be behind the tree and weak side shot. Profile depends on tether height. And get in a leaning tree with a stand good luck. They both have there place but i will say i sold my climber and will not go back. My whole backpack with saddle and climbing method is 10lbs lighter and 10x smaller then with my climber. State land hunter
I would say that saddle hunters seem fitter than most tree stand hunters. It seems to tend towards younger people. I do agree that lighter weight gear can be a super multiplier. But when I was young, I don't remember being all that fussy about the weight of my gear for a short walk in the woods. We aren't climbing Everest here, or even hiking back 25 miles. Most of the hunters I see are on ATVs! I was watching a Barry Wensel video the other day, and he has suffered a few knocks over the years. He is now where he has been told he can't use anything he can't climb into with one hand. Ladder stands to the rescue.
Finding the right saddle for you is paramount. I like your pros and cons, but I would say some of your cons (like comfort) can be alleviated with a different setup. Also, the silhouette and maybe the movement can be fixed by simply sitting instead of leaning. The way I look at it though, and I am like you I hunted fixed stands exclusively until I saddle hunted, the saddle can do everything a hang on can do, but adds things a fixed stand can't do easily like mobility and tree versatility. The other thing is I have to have just 1 saddle where on my land (before) I had to have multiple lock-on stands and steps. Yes, I could get an ultra-light weight lock-on and be mobile, but it is not as easy to pack or set up. Also, I find rifle hunting (when I want to do that) easier from a saddle because I can use the bridge or tree to support the rifle. Just this season I crawled up into a sycamore, right up into the thickest part of the branches and simply cut a few limbs to give me some shots. I couldn't imagine doing that in anything other than a saddle.
Agreed that you definitely move less and have less of a silhouette when sitting and that the comfort could potentially be due to the saddle. Have heard mixed reviews on comfort with guys my size and build. I’ve never tried rifle hunting out of mine but can see how it’d be nice! Thanks for following along, good luck the rest of the season!
Idc what saddle you have. Anything over 4 hours of standing is uncomfortable. And when you are just hanging there you tend to do extra movement you wouldn’t be doing if you was sitting down in a tree stand.
@@Bofum69cruzr xc saddle, it's a nice pleated single panel imo. I don't really stand for 4 hours. I usually pin one knee against the tree or even sit for some of that time.
This has not been noted but when Mother Nature calls, it takes a bit more time to get out of the tree when i have my ESS (Eberhart Signature Saddle) setup on.
I tried a climber hated it had a bad/dangerous experience in the rain and wasn’t ready to give up so I got a E.S.S. 2 panel saddle which I love I can adjust the hell out of it seat goes from 5-6” to up past my lower back if I want support which I found through practicing and watching UA-cam kinda ruins my mobility so I like the small seat I feel safer I can hang extremely fast over freshly found sign like you said the weight is negligible. I got 4 15” novix 1.5lb sticks that I’m adding wire aiders too and a predator platform, as you said silhouette is a factor. So getting high if you can’t find a tree with lots of cover and a position where it’s less likely for game to get behind you. I find sitting all day extremely comfortable just gotta change pressure points.
That’s really good info! I starting looking into getting higher into trees with aides, I agree that this would help a lot when there’s less cover and lots of trails. I’m still tuning my saddle for comfort in all day sits, i think I found some stuff this year that will help. Thanks for watching and good luck the rest of the year!
i hunt climbers all the time in snow, rain and shine , no problems yet, unless you were in an old Baker climber.... I feel very secure love the bar in front of me.. Climbers are great..Im going to try saddle hunting to get into areas i cant find a climber tree...
I use the saddle in my tree stands as a safety device. I hate the safety harnesses and the saddle is way better and more comfortable. I also use it with my lone wolf sit and climb climbing stand whenever im going somewhere else to hunt besides my own property.
@@TheSeasonsMedia This way you kind of get the best of both worlds. You can sit on the seat of the stand or turn around and lean into the butt hammock.
This is the funny thing about saddle hunting - its become a pretty expensive gear heavy ordeal. I think it originally was meant to be CHEAP. For me it is. I don't have money for a decent stand but was able to make my own saddle, attach to a rock climbing harness and use either climbing sticks or single rope ascent with an ascender - the whole setup is like $150 dollars, Its pretty light and packable, and I am really quiete getting to the tree. But If I had $400 bucks to spend it would not be on a saddle setup, it would be an aluminum climber.
Sounds like your running a pretty cool setup for the money! I agree that saddle hunting can get very expensive quick. There’s definitely a lot of give and take between saddles and treestands. Thanks for following along! Good luck this season.
I will be saddle hunting for the first time this fall, so just about everything will be new to me when the season begins. As a matter of fact I went into the local mountains this morning scouting for suitable trees to hunt from and found several that look promising. I'll get out my rope and do some climbing soon to check them out. Climbing with rope is also new to me, so this will be a year for learning new things.
That’s awesome! Saddle hunting has been a great experience. Some stuff that helped me just starting out is spending some time in the saddle about 2 feet off the ground falling off, getting comfortable, shooting your bow, learning the saddle and trusting it. Stay attached to the tree, and don’t try to introduce too many variables at once! Good Luck, and thanks for following along. We will be curious to hear more about your experiences!
@@TheSeasonsMedia I turned 70 not long ago and so I am approaching everything with caution, but my experience climbing the rope so far has been pretty easy and without complications. I haven't had this much fun in a long time.
Wow, that’s really cool! It’s fairly easy to pick up, trusting the ropes was my biggest issue. But once I did that it really fed my tinkering side to keep trying new things and different sequences getting setup in a tree.
Just like tree stands there's different levels of quality when comes to tree saddles. I owned the tethered phantom saddle it was good especially if you use the back band. Tethered never made the best tree saddles. They are best at marketing tree saddles and know other tree saddle company comes close. The cruzer xc is considered the most comfortable sandle at this point in time. The two most important key points in saddle hunting is putting in the time to practice. When I put first started saddle hunting 2 years ago I put in over 20 hours practicing different climbing methods the 1 stick climbing method the Wilde edges steps knaider and swader. Climbing different diameters trees small and large slanted trees. Sitting and leaning in a tree saddle. I love tree saddles hunting I hunt 100% public land it's diffently a huge game changer when comes to moble hunting and it's only going become more popular with time. My tree saddle is way more comfortable than any tree stand that I sat in . But I used climbing tree stands in the past. I don't private land and sit in a mini tree house. One final note if your not willing put 10 hours of practicing shooting from a tree saddle, learning different climbing methods, climbing slanted trees small trees, sitting and leaning in tree saddle. If your not willing to put in the time practicing don't waste your time and money for saddle hunting it's not instant gratification and it's not for you.
I agree that they’re probably the best at marketing saddles. You don’t really see any other company marketing them very well at all. I have heard a lot of good things about the Cruzer xc also, definitely want to give one a try in the near future! I also agree that putting more time in the saddle makes the whole experience even better! Really appreciate the info, thanks for watching and good luck this season!
@@TheSeasonsMedia just curious how time did you actually put practicing your climbing methods and shooting from tree saddle. Unlike a tree stand you should put in time on researching different climbing methods and reviews on tree saddles reviews platforms reviews. It will save you time and money and make experience more enjoyable. And UA-cam and saddlehunter.com is great resource. I also strongly encourage you to watch UA-cam videos on the stick climbing it's great climbing method on UA-cam.
I spent quite a bit of time researching and shooting. I would say that it’s not just a saddle hunting thing, you should always spend time researching and practicing anything that has you hanging off of a tree, your life literally depends on it. All the other climbing methods look great, but I’ve never been one to sacrifice my confidence in climbing a tree to save weight. I’ve never had an issue getting up and down the tree with steps, so I don’t see any reason to switch from them. But also, I do not think that there is a minimum amount of time you need to spend in the saddle to enjoy it. I’ve enjoyed it from the day I purchased the saddle, and it was very easy to learn.
What a crock. Tethrd led the way in lightweight minimal sadfles; the rest are knock offs from the mantis. Just look at them, they ALL resemble the mantis/phantom and they add a back panel and call the two panels..... Fricken laughable.
@@davetoms63 the Mantis had problems with hip pintch not very good saddle. The phantom was a good above average not great I owned one . Before tethered existed was Aero Hunter their tree saddles were far superior compared to Mantis. The Mantis doesn't even have a adjustable bridge for god sake. In fact Areo hunter still makes better saddles than tethered to this day. The one thing tethered does better than all the tree saddles companies combind is marketing. Teherd does make alot of good products tree saddle hunting. In the big picture tethered made tree saddle hunting very popular More than anyone else. The also make alot of good accessories for tree saddle hunting. But let's not be delusional and act like they make the best tree saddled because they don't.
1) The thing I wondered about, based on hanging out rock climbing, is that it isn't comfortable. We have had belay seats for probably 60 + years, and they aren't saddles (the horse kind) they compress your body, they don't support it. I read somewhere that the average person spends 45 minute to 90 minutes on stand. I can't see it being all that long in saddles, given the comfort level. Interesting you are spending all day. 2) Looks like a haphazard way of hunting. I get a lot of people can't hunt from a stand on public property, and this is an option. But the idea people are finding ideal situations just walking around in public woods and hanging out seems a bit random. Think of the 360 thing. How come people don't even know what trail they are hunting or where the deer is coming from? Take the you are behind the tree thing. How come you don't have good cover? It would not be as popular is it seems to be if nobody was getting any action... Still. 3) I guess people could be disciplined about it, and some people won't care, but the cost of the gear is outrageous. They keep inventing new crap to buy, and new crap to carry that crap in. And there are endless bits and pieces, and all new saddles every year. Not to mention the lightness factor is not holding up if you do invest in all that stuff. Having been in the outdoor business, that is actually a benefit. People like buying new stuff, and playing with the new ideas that come out every year. Some stuff like rifles, evolves at a slow pace, and to some extent you could get most of it done with gear from 100 years ago. And some stuff like compound bows actually improves every year, and people love buying it.
One more thing. I always thought those really small bows were silly. Lots of top hunters shoot trad bows that are 50-70 inches long, while compound bows created a lot of excitement, every year they would get shorter, even though the baseline is already half the length of real bows. Trad guys like saddles also, but this is a case where a short bow is optimal.
Definitely considered a ring of steps, but don’t think they eliminate the weak side. There will always be a spot. I’ve alleviated this by using the platform and the top step of my stick, turns out to be similar to a ring of steps but not quite there. I’ll have to give the ring of steps a try this off season and see if it minimizes it more than what I already use. Thanks for the feedback, and appreciate you following along!
Dude ... you need to try a different saddle brand/model and possibly some other tweaks to your setup. I am no pro saddle hunter by any means. I hunted a ton out of one last year for the first time and can honestly say that the entire experience was 1000% better than my 30+ years of hunting out of fixed position tree stands in 95% of my situations. Seriously, saddle hunting has been an amazing experience for me.
All you had to say was “Mantis” and I knew the root of this video. That is not a comfortable saddle whatsoever. It’s just a minimalist saddle that gets the job done. The Covert Lite, Cruzr, Tx5 or any other saddle recommended on here will do you much better. The Covert Lite got me through long all day sits. I’ve got lower back issues and will take the saddle over a tree stand 10 times out of 10
I just ordered a saddle to try out, def over priced and i have a lot of the same concerns. I’m thinking i may endup back in a climber with my rock climbing harness and a saddle tether system so i have the comfort of the stand plus the ability to shoot more angles like a saddle.
I switched from my lonewolf climber to a saddle & will never go back. Sitting is way more uncomfortable than the saddle, vision & maneuvering is utterly unmatched.
@@chrismcneil5543 vision is lost in a saddle... you have a tree right in front of you. You are forced to move around the tree to scan the full area in front of you and that movement can give you away... you can see just as much from a climber with less need for movement. I can get into a tree faster, safer and quieter with a climber than any stick or step system.
@@TheOffCycle yes but you slightly sway & have that range. An 8 inch tree? Dude you have to stand up in a stand to see anything behind you. The vision in a saddle is 100-1. You could not have hunted a saddle to say that unless you cinched your tether too tight.
@@TheOffCycle i do agree though, I am faster & quieter with my hand climber, but weight & tree selection can be a massive challenge where I hunt. Rarely can I get the vantage point I’m looking for.
@@chrismcneil5543 i dont hunt in 8” trees. To look behind you in a stand you have the tree itself for concealment. Having a saddle tether in a climber gives the benefits of the saddle plus the stability and comfort of a stand. Saddles are comfortable at first but u only have 3 options... legs locked out, legs under constant tension or sitting slammed against the tree. Not ideal. Stand allows you to sit and stand as we do naturally.
I feel the saddle is fad just based on the fact it takes triple the amount of time to set compared to my summit viper sd. You can’t get nearly as high in the tree. I don’t want to sit facing towards a tree all day. And it’s not comfortable. Also it forces you to move a lot more. Guys have been shooting giants out of climbers for decades. I’d argue I can shoot at more angles than anyone can in a saddle. I mean really it’s common sense.
Heard lots of stuff about other saddles, the review wasn’t solely about things that a different saddle would change though. Definitely have to look into and H2 and some other brands.
Same as with the treestand, the saddle is only as quiet as the user makes it. I wouldn’t say that it’s significantly quieter than a hang on in any way. Thank you for following along!
Saddle hunting just doesn't interest me at all. I want to be able to sit and stand like normal. As far as tree selection, you are limited with saddle hunting. If I need to setup in some pine trees or a tree with a ton of branches, a saddle will be damn near impossible to use in this situation. A lock on you can find and opening and set up in it.
@@darrenhealey3081 a saddle has more limitations then a lock on though. you do not need to hide behind the tree which can cause problems for the saddle in a lot of trees I've hunted.
I agree with this guy yes I agree that saddle hunting is very lightweight and good for putting them up anywhere but they are over rated by the way some guys advertise it they try to say they can get up there faster I bet you anything I'll take a big shot equalizer and be up the tree before anybody and I don't care what there using the big shot equalizer to me is the best thing invented for deer hunting since tinks 69!Everybody has there own opinions but saddle hunting is over rated
Two more cons- 1. No lap- either you hold something or you drop it 2. No reach- it’s very hard to work below your waist or load a crossbow because bending to touch your toes is not easy
You do not need to carry sticks, it's called a climber and has been around for decades , they don't get the marketing that saddles and lock ons do because they aren't pushing them because they don't have the enormous profit margin of the saddles and hang on stands .
Climbers are interesting, I’ve never used one. But doesn’t seem like they are very feasible in trees that have branches below hunting height. Not being able to hunt any tree significantly reduces the number of trees that you’re able to sit in.
this dude is a cupcake but he brings up some really valid points. I love my saddle but my muddy lock on is the method i use the most. even though its a pain in the ass to transport through the woods.
Hi Tyler, I liked your video! Awesome thoughts. It took me a while to love saddle hunting. I also run the Tethrd Mantis. I am no expert, but I have a couple of tips you might consider if you haven't already tried. As far as comfort, your new backstop will probably help (could also help with your stability issue). Also, if you haven't invested in some decent knee pads, that could help. I have also found that a quality device for your tether line can be KEY for getting in the right position. My favorite is the MadRock Lifeguard; expensive but worth it. I also like the Wild County Ropeman 1 as an attachment point for my lineman's belt. Difficulty with the 360 degree access? If you use a platform, try putting skateboard tape on the top and side surfaces ($8.50 on amazon). Ive also heard of folks using truck bed spray. Another option, though I haven't tried this, is a ring of steps (some companies still make something like this). Seeing behind you- personally, I keep an ear out, wait for the deer to come into view or change position if the opportunity arises (like you described. I have no idea if this would work in a hunting scenario, though a situational awareness technique that I picked up is resting your sunglasses on a table such that you can see behind you. If you hang a bag in the tree, you might be able to set something like this up. (again, this works great in an urban setting but I have not tried this in the woods). Sticks are awesome. I like the predator platform, as well as the Hawk helium platform that adheres to the top of one of their sticks. However, if you haven't tried single rope ascension, is is even more compact. Climbing rope (which ends up being your tether rope), a throw bag and line, an ascender (with a little excess climbing rope to use as a stirrup), the saddle, and the platform (or rind of steps or what ever you want to rest your feet on). Again, no idea if you have tried any of these, but just hoping something might be helpful. Happy hunting, and I hope you get a monster this season! -JM
Thanks for the feedback! That’s all good info. The best thing about saddle hunting/hang and hunting in general is the fact that there are so many minor things that make a big difference, and generally each person has a different way of achieving the same thing. So I definitely love hearing the different ideas on these points. There are a few things that I found that’ll be featured in a video next month. One of them being the rope man which was very much a game changer! I also haven’t been able to get myself to try any climbing method other than sticks, just the matter of getting up and down the tree in the dark that makes me a little cautious. I’m sure eventually I’ll try it! Really appreciate your feedback, and you checking out our video! Good Luck this season!
If you hunt public land, saddle hunting is the way to go. If you’re hunting private, either do a preset with screw in steps or use a tree stand.
I took it another level, I bought a sherrill Notch arborist saddle, 600 ft of Notch Kraken 32 strand rope x4 , a notch roperunner pro, petzl zipline, and petzl grigri, Set 10 canopy anchors in my hunting area. Now I just zipline from tree to tree within a five acre area to what ever trail the deer are returning to bed down. I'm kinda like a flying killing machine. I saddle up from my back deck hop up on the railing and tie into my system. then zipline 100 yrds out to the first tree, and go from there. When I am done I have another line running back down to my deck, so i basically belay right down to my back door. I never touch the ground where I hunt anymore, unless it's to retrieve my deer.
A flying killing machine 🤣
That sounds amazing. I wish I had my own land for such a setup.
Need a video
Video or it never happened
How do you start at your deck and return to your deck? For this to work you need to be constantly declining in elevation.
this is gold, thankyou for your honest approach
We like to keep it honest and keep our mind open! Thank you for following along, good luck this season!
I had the mantis I switched to the cruzr xc night and day difference 👍👍
Saddle hunting takes a lot of tweaking and practice for it to work and be comfortable. It's definitely not for lazy people that don't want to tune the setup for themselves. It sounds like you're hunting a lot of straight no limb trees. look for trees with lots of limbs and you will blend right in and it will hide a lot of your movement.
37 years of hunting man made, climbers, lone wolf, summit and strapons. Switched to a saddle last year and it's by far the best. Nothing complicated at all. It's beyond basic. And if you f*cked around with climbers long enough, the saddle is way safer and provides way better shooting angles. If you're a mobile hunter, get a saddle.
Which set up do you recommend?
@@proudpennsylvanian330 started with trophyline covert and recently bought the cruzr xc. And use the trophyline mission platform. Xop 2 step sticks with aiders. Gets me about 20-25 feet. Weight is about 15 lbs
@@_SLAVEONE_ thank you
Trees around here are not configured for climbers. But safety should not be an issue. The reason a saddle is safe is because you are always tied in. That can easily be arranged with any kind of stand.
I have hunted from a tree stand from the late 70's, home made until lock on became in. Now I am getting into saddle hunting. How ever I still hunt from my stand but I ware my saddle. I feel safer now with the saddle compared to my Hunters safety harness. I am safer installing my stand with both hands instead of trying to hang with one arm and getting into my stand. I take the best of both worlds. I do not have to worry about some one stealing my stand any more. Public land....I can shoot 360 deg easier. I can get out of stand in the dark easier and safer. Oh by the way I am 65 years old and things are just a little harder when it comes to exiting a stand in the dark. I do not use climbing sticks...I use SRT to climb trees and I love it. I also use a rock climbing harness.
Wow, that’s awesome info! I’ve definitely considered wearing the saddle in a treestand for all the reasons you stated. Appreciate you watching and giving feedback!
Been saddle hunting on and off for the better part of 12+ years. There is a learning curve buts really simple: your saddle is the most important piece of gear. If your saddle doesnt fit right, isn’t comfortable, and/or causes hip pinch your not gonna be happy. When you find one that does fit properly and comfortably you will never look back.
The Drey from Dryad Saddles addresses alot of the stability and comfort issues with traditional saddles. It's the most comfortable way for all day sits and under a pound.
*The tethrd isn’t as comfortable as a tree stand, my XC Cruzr blows my summit out the water. But as far as what your saying about the way it’s advertised I agree it can be misleading, as in everything it’s up to the individual to find an option that works best for him/herself.
I agree! And I haven’t done a whole lot of exploring other brands. Found some more stuff this season that will make my hunts more enjoyable I believe. Thanks for following along! Good luck the rest of the season!
That’s just the mantis. I would go with the cruzr xc or the lattitude method saddle
For me the platform is a necessity for comfort with a saddle. I find it easier to shoot than a treestand because I can put my knees into the tree and stabilize myself. I also find with a treestand my back hurts a lot more. I did modify my saddle by adding a turkey vest seat pad for comfort and it really increased the comfort level
Interesting that your back hurts more in a tree stand, guess that just emphasizes that there’s no one right system for everyone. My back hurt more when I started using the saddle and before I got the back strap. Also never heard of the turkey vest seat pad being added, that’s a good idea I’ll have to look into it! Thanks for watching and good luck this season!
I have an older friend who has a horrible back. I almost recommended a saddle because it's so much better for me lol! I always end up slouching in a treestand. My neck shoulders and back end up hurting. I feel like I can sit in a saddle all day long.
My back hurts so bad after 3-4 hours in my LW assault. I ordered a Tethrd Phantom in hopes of fixing this issue but we will see.
lotta folks hitting the dislike cause he brings up points they dont want to hear after spending quite a bit of cash on thirty dollars worth of webbing. saddle hunting definitely takes tinkering and is no way the "best way" to hunt it takes different tactics for different situations, just another tool the tool box for harvesting snacks.
I don’t like saddle hunting as well I prefer my climber, but I end up in the dang saddle because I can get in any tree I want in any spot I want so I suck it up. I agree my feet kill after a while. I just use it because of the versatility and that’s it!
I tried it. Too many pieces and moving parts. I wasn't comfortable either. I prefer my hand climber from LW. 2 pieces and my bow. Saddle just wasn't for me. I agree with a lot of what you said. I got picked off a lot too from deer from further out. Deer don't follow a script and they can come from anywhere. Good video.
JX3 is the answer for comfort hands down ...
We’ve heard good things about it! Thanks for the feedback, we appreciate you following along. Good luck this season!
My first point I’ve been using traditional tree stands and climbing pegs and sticks for 25 years I never never have gotten comfortable with standing on a traditional tree stand I move slowly the wind in the trees swaying always makes me feel uncomfortable and unstable. However putting up my tree stands and wearing my full linesman’s belt the security I feel being able to lean away from the tree never at any time do I feel my heart miss a beat. Now I’ve never Saddle Hunt and yet my gear will arrive next week
I spent a tremendous amount of money on the best Gear I could research obviously being a newbie I wanna make this a great experience because if I’m correct and this works I’m going to be able to get rid of 25 fixed tree stands I have enough metal in the bush to build a tank. I’m tired of making special trips out to put up the stands I’m tired of moving them I’m tired of them growing into the tree I’m tired of How insecure I feel standing to shoot, I’m tired of my tree stand pegs growing into the trees because I have so many stands I can’t maintain them. The farmers crops and travel patterns seem to change year after year and I’m forever taking down and putting up stands. Even if I found them uncomfortable which I highly doubt I would still use my one stick system to put up a fixed tree stand and I will be using it to remove 25 stands. I’m also tired of having my tree stand stolen and trying to hide my hard earned scouting spots to other hunters and hiding them from the public so they don’t get stolen. Having the ability to run and gun hunt with a light pack is going to be a game changer for me so I’m crossing my fingers thank you for the video
Thank you for watching, hopefully you found it helpful! We hope you enjoy your saddle, and have good luck this season out of it!
I hunt Ozark oak timberland. Saddle seems ideal. Not too many trees to put bulky stands in that’ll do the job.
Even after a controlled burn there’s a pretty thick understory and the mature trees in my area are very large. Some I have trouble getting sticks to tie around close to the ground.
When I scout I place a long loop of paracord around a high branch or anchor I’ve placed.
Then I can go out and take a 50ft section of arborist rope through and climb like an arborist. No sticks or anything else needed.
I added some pegs on mymantis platform’s strap so if I swing to the low side on accident it’s possible to get back into position.
Most of the time I squat and straddle the tree. Don’t feel like I leave a big silhouette. The only issue sometimes is pulling out of the squat without making too much noise by scraping the bark of the tree. The fix there is to be sure to mount in a place where the trunk is between shoulder width apart to about shoulder width -4”. Then you can spread your legs before you stand and stand very quietly.
Interesting info, going to have to give some of this a try! Thanks for watching, good luck this season.
You make some good points although I feel like many of your cons are due to your equipment. (Just my opinion). For what it’s worth I feel both the Tethrd mantis and phantom have a lot of hip pinch which makes it uncomfortable. I use an eberhart signature series 2 panel and it has made all the difference in comfort and zero hip pinch! (I’m 6’2” 210 for reference). Additionally, I have found having a ring of steps instead of a single platform helps in shooting around the tree. (Cranford makes a nice ring of steps). I’m not trying to sway your opinion, just thought I would give you some feedback which has worked well for me so far.
I agree, most of them are due to the mantis setup. But there’s definitely a few that are “over hyped” about saddle hunting. Definitely tossing around ideas of a different saddle setup, really appreciate the info. There’s been a lot of good recommendations in the comments. I’m about in your boat size wise. But I’ve for sure enjoyed saddle hunting thus far even with the cons I’ve listed. Good luck this season!
I bought one of the Helium saddle kits and I love it. It is super comfortable and after adding a 40' rope to replace my tether rope I can now repel down with just a figure 8 device. This is my first year with it so I am sure I will tweak it but damn it is so much easier than carrying in a climber. Even hunting on private I like to look for the deer sign and hunt there rather than relying on the pattern to stay the same through the whole season.
100% true. I got good success for using both saddle and climber. Saddle is a little bit physically demanding than a lightweight climber which can cause you to move a little bit more often than sitting on a climber. I'm athletic and i don't have problem setting up but i see a lot of people struggling with sticks and saddles. The only main advantages of climber is comfort and ease of use. You dont need to use and set up with a lot of straps and ropes as you climb up. But then majority of your locations are only destination locations with cleaned trees from post season. To go to next level of successful hunt is to go hung and hunt with saddle but again it will require a higher level of body conditioning and athleticism to use it than a climber.
I think much of the country’s woods support success for climbers, but my area is not one of them. You are extremely lucky in this area if you can find a tree that is climber stand compatible, much one that will get you above 12 or 15 feet. We have a lot of scrub oaks like post oak, blackjack oak etc.
I have a saddle. Going to sell it. They are a good tool but there is a lot of marketing hype. I moved too much in my cruzr. Alot of gear. I like the larger platform of the hang on
I agree that there is a lot of hype and I have trouble sitting still in mine also sometimes.
I just ordered the latitude method 2 double panel saddle. Did a lot a research and it seemed like the best option. Hopefully I won’t have the comfort issue that you had and can overcome the other obstacles you mentioned about saddle hunting. Good luck hunting this year and stay safe!
Heard a lot of good stuff about the Latitude saddles! Seems like some of my problems are tethrd specific! Thanks for watching good luck this year to you also!
Were you being sarcastic? Every con you listed is literally everything I love about mine. Are you maybe uneasy with heights? I am and it took me awhile to trust my equipment but once I got through that I’ll never go back to a traditional stand.
Try a Cruzr XC.
With the 360 i use a wild edge step on backside of tree from platform this makes a world of difference with moving in to be behind the tree and weak side shot. Profile depends on tether height. And get in a leaning tree with a stand good luck. They both have there place but i will say i sold my climber and will not go back. My whole backpack with saddle and climbing method is 10lbs lighter and 10x smaller then with my climber. State land hunter
I would say that saddle hunters seem fitter than most tree stand hunters. It seems to tend towards younger people. I do agree that lighter weight gear can be a super multiplier. But when I was young, I don't remember being all that fussy about the weight of my gear for a short walk in the woods. We aren't climbing Everest here, or even hiking back 25 miles. Most of the hunters I see are on ATVs!
I was watching a Barry Wensel video the other day, and he has suffered a few knocks over the years. He is now where he has been told he can't use anything he can't climb into with one hand. Ladder stands to the rescue.
Finding the right saddle for you is paramount. I like your pros and cons, but I would say some of your cons (like comfort) can be alleviated with a different setup. Also, the silhouette and maybe the movement can be fixed by simply sitting instead of leaning. The way I look at it though, and I am like you I hunted fixed stands exclusively until I saddle hunted, the saddle can do everything a hang on can do, but adds things a fixed stand can't do easily like mobility and tree versatility. The other thing is I have to have just 1 saddle where on my land (before) I had to have multiple lock-on stands and steps. Yes, I could get an ultra-light weight lock-on and be mobile, but it is not as easy to pack or set up. Also, I find rifle hunting (when I want to do that) easier from a saddle because I can use the bridge or tree to support the rifle. Just this season I crawled up into a sycamore, right up into the thickest part of the branches and simply cut a few limbs to give me some shots. I couldn't imagine doing that in anything other than a saddle.
Agreed that you definitely move less and have less of a silhouette when sitting and that the comfort could potentially be due to the saddle. Have heard mixed reviews on comfort with guys my size and build. I’ve never tried rifle hunting out of mine but can see how it’d be nice! Thanks for following along, good luck the rest of the season!
Idc what saddle you have. Anything over 4 hours of standing is uncomfortable. And when you are just hanging there you tend to do extra movement you wouldn’t be doing if you was sitting down in a tree stand.
@@Bofum69cruzr xc saddle, it's a nice pleated single panel imo. I don't really stand for 4 hours. I usually pin one knee against the tree or even sit for some of that time.
This has not been noted but when Mother Nature calls, it takes a bit more time to get out of the tree when i have my ESS (Eberhart Signature Saddle) setup on.
I tried a climber hated it had a bad/dangerous experience in the rain and wasn’t ready to give up so I got a E.S.S. 2 panel saddle which I love I can adjust the hell out of it seat goes from 5-6” to up past my lower back if I want support which I found through practicing and watching UA-cam kinda ruins my mobility so I like the small seat I feel safer I can hang extremely fast over freshly found sign like you said the weight is negligible. I got 4 15” novix 1.5lb sticks that I’m adding wire aiders too and a predator platform, as you said silhouette is a factor. So getting high if you can’t find a tree with lots of cover and a position where it’s less likely for game to get behind you. I find sitting all day extremely comfortable just gotta change pressure points.
That’s really good info! I starting looking into getting higher into trees with aides, I agree that this would help a lot when there’s less cover and lots of trails. I’m still tuning my saddle for comfort in all day sits, i think I found some stuff this year that will help. Thanks for watching and good luck the rest of the year!
i hunt climbers all the time in snow, rain and shine , no problems yet, unless you were in an old Baker climber.... I feel very secure love the bar in front of me.. Climbers are great..Im going to try saddle hunting to get into areas i cant find a climber tree...
Try an arborist rock climbing harness with linemen set up and small bridge. $60! Great back support and leg loops are wide offer great support
Going to have to check it out! Thanks for the info!
Great!
Also it's bad ass!!
Nebraska!!! I was looking to get into saddle hunting this year, thanks for the info
No problem! Thanks for watching. Good luck this season!
The truth they don't want to hear I almost never would consider it again
I use the saddle in my tree stands as a safety device. I hate the safety harnesses and the saddle is way better and more comfortable. I also use it with my lone wolf sit and climb climbing stand whenever im going somewhere else to hunt besides my own property.
That’s interesting! It sounds like a pretty good idea! Appreciate you following along!
@@TheSeasonsMedia This way you kind of get the best of both worlds. You can sit on the seat of the stand or turn around and lean into the butt hammock.
Try a 2 panel. You will like.
Agreed.
I own the eberhart signature series saddle and would never give it up for any type of stand, everything you're saying is because your doing it wrong
I can’t stand facing the tree all day
This is the funny thing about saddle hunting - its become a pretty expensive gear heavy ordeal. I think it originally was meant to be CHEAP. For me it is. I don't have money for a decent stand but was able to make my own saddle, attach to a rock climbing harness and use either climbing sticks or single rope ascent with an ascender - the whole setup is like $150 dollars, Its pretty light and packable, and I am really quiete getting to the tree. But If I had $400 bucks to spend it would not be on a saddle setup, it would be an aluminum climber.
Sounds like your running a pretty cool setup for the money! I agree that saddle hunting can get very expensive quick. There’s definitely a lot of give and take between saddles and treestands.
Thanks for following along! Good luck this season.
@@TheSeasonsMedia not to say the company made saddles aren’t great if you have the dough and like trying new things.
I will be saddle hunting for the first time this fall, so just about everything will be new to me when the season begins. As a matter of fact I went into the local mountains this morning scouting for suitable trees to hunt from and found several that look promising. I'll get out my rope and do some climbing soon to check them out. Climbing with rope is also new to me, so this will be a year for learning new things.
That’s awesome! Saddle hunting has been a great experience. Some stuff that helped me just starting out is spending some time in the saddle about 2 feet off the ground falling off, getting comfortable, shooting your bow, learning the saddle and trusting it. Stay attached to the tree, and don’t try to introduce too many variables at once! Good Luck, and thanks for following along. We will be curious to hear more about your experiences!
@@TheSeasonsMedia I turned 70 not long ago and so I am approaching everything with caution, but my experience climbing the rope so far has been pretty easy and without complications. I haven't had this much fun in a long time.
Wow, that’s really cool! It’s fairly easy to pick up, trusting the ropes was my biggest issue. But once I did that it really fed my tinkering side to keep trying new things and different sequences getting setup in a tree.
Just like tree stands there's different levels of quality when comes to tree saddles. I owned the tethered phantom saddle it was good especially if you use the back band. Tethered never made the best tree saddles. They are best at marketing tree saddles and know other tree saddle company comes close.
The cruzer xc is considered the most comfortable sandle at this point in time.
The two most important key points in saddle hunting is putting in the time to practice.
When I put first started saddle hunting 2 years ago I put in over 20 hours practicing different climbing methods the 1 stick climbing method the Wilde edges steps knaider and swader. Climbing different diameters trees small and large slanted trees. Sitting and leaning in a tree saddle. I love tree saddles hunting I hunt 100% public land it's diffently a huge game changer when comes to moble hunting and it's only going become more popular with time. My tree saddle is way more comfortable than any tree stand that I sat in . But I used climbing tree stands in the past. I don't private land and sit in a mini tree house.
One final note if your not willing put 10 hours of practicing shooting from a tree saddle, learning different climbing methods, climbing slanted trees small trees, sitting and leaning in tree saddle.
If your not willing to put in the time practicing don't waste your time and money for saddle hunting it's not instant gratification and it's not for you.
I agree that they’re probably the best at marketing saddles. You don’t really see any other company marketing them very well at all. I have heard a lot of good things about the Cruzer xc also, definitely want to give one a try in the near future! I also agree that putting more time in the saddle makes the whole experience even better! Really appreciate the info, thanks for watching and good luck this season!
@@TheSeasonsMedia just curious how time did you actually put practicing your climbing methods and shooting from tree saddle. Unlike a tree stand you should put in time on researching different climbing methods and reviews on tree saddles reviews platforms reviews. It will save you time and money and make experience more enjoyable. And UA-cam and saddlehunter.com is great resource.
I also strongly encourage you to watch UA-cam videos on the stick climbing it's great climbing method on UA-cam.
I spent quite a bit of time researching and shooting. I would say that it’s not just a saddle hunting thing, you should always spend time researching and practicing anything that has you hanging off of a tree, your life literally depends on it. All the other climbing methods look great, but I’ve never been one to sacrifice my confidence in climbing a tree to save weight. I’ve never had an issue getting up and down the tree with steps, so I don’t see any reason to switch from them. But also, I do not think that there is a minimum amount of time you need to spend in the saddle to enjoy it. I’ve enjoyed it from the day I purchased the saddle, and it was very easy to learn.
What a crock. Tethrd led the way in lightweight minimal sadfles; the rest are knock offs from the mantis. Just look at them, they ALL resemble the mantis/phantom and they add a back panel and call the two panels..... Fricken laughable.
@@davetoms63 the Mantis had problems with hip pintch not very good saddle. The phantom was a good above average not great I owned one . Before tethered existed was Aero Hunter their tree saddles were far superior compared to Mantis. The Mantis doesn't even have a adjustable bridge for god sake.
In fact Areo hunter still makes better saddles than tethered to this day. The one thing tethered does better than all the tree saddles companies combind is marketing. Teherd does make alot of good products tree saddle hunting.
In the big picture tethered made tree saddle hunting very popular More than anyone else. The also make alot of good accessories for tree saddle hunting. But let's not be delusional and act like they make the best tree saddled because they don't.
1) The thing I wondered about, based on hanging out rock climbing, is that it isn't comfortable. We have had belay seats for probably 60 + years, and they aren't saddles (the horse kind) they compress your body, they don't support it. I read somewhere that the average person spends 45 minute to 90 minutes on stand. I can't see it being all that long in saddles, given the comfort level. Interesting you are spending all day.
2) Looks like a haphazard way of hunting. I get a lot of people can't hunt from a stand on public property, and this is an option. But the idea people are finding ideal situations just walking around in public woods and hanging out seems a bit random.
Think of the 360 thing. How come people don't even know what trail they are hunting or where the deer is coming from?
Take the you are behind the tree thing. How come you don't have good cover?
It would not be as popular is it seems to be if nobody was getting any action... Still.
3) I guess people could be disciplined about it, and some people won't care, but the cost of the gear is outrageous. They keep inventing new crap to buy, and new crap to carry that crap in. And there are endless bits and pieces, and all new saddles every year. Not to mention the lightness factor is not holding up if you do invest in all that stuff.
Having been in the outdoor business, that is actually a benefit. People like buying new stuff, and playing with the new ideas that come out every year. Some stuff like rifles, evolves at a slow pace, and to some extent you could get most of it done with gear from 100 years ago. And some stuff like compound bows actually improves every year, and people love buying it.
One more thing. I always thought those really small bows were silly. Lots of top hunters shoot trad bows that are 50-70 inches long, while compound bows created a lot of excitement, every year they would get shorter, even though the baseline is already half the length of real bows. Trad guys like saddles also, but this is a case where a short bow is optimal.
And if you use a tree hopper ring of steps, there is no weak side
Definitely considered a ring of steps, but don’t think they eliminate the weak side. There will always be a spot. I’ve alleviated this by using the platform and the top step of my stick, turns out to be similar to a ring of steps but not quite there. I’ll have to give the ring of steps a try this off season and see if it minimizes it more than what I already use. Thanks for the feedback, and appreciate you following along!
Thought this was misrepresented from the title, but I thought you made some interesting points...
Dude ... you need to try a different saddle brand/model and possibly some other tweaks to your setup. I am no pro saddle hunter by any means. I hunted a ton out of one last year for the first time and can honestly say that the entire experience was 1000% better than my 30+ years of hunting out of fixed position tree stands in 95% of my situations. Seriously, saddle hunting has been an amazing experience for me.
All you had to say was “Mantis” and I knew the root of this video. That is not a comfortable saddle whatsoever. It’s just a minimalist saddle that gets the job done. The Covert Lite, Cruzr, Tx5 or any other saddle recommended on here will do you much better. The Covert Lite got me through long all day sits. I’ve got lower back issues and will take the saddle over a tree stand 10 times out of 10
That’s great info! Thank you, going to have to check these out. Really appreciate the recommendations. Good luck this season!
I just ordered a saddle to try out, def over priced and i have a lot of the same concerns. I’m thinking i may endup back in a climber with my rock climbing harness and a saddle tether system so i have the comfort of the stand plus the ability to shoot more angles like a saddle.
I switched from my lonewolf climber to a saddle & will never go back. Sitting is way more uncomfortable than the saddle, vision & maneuvering is utterly unmatched.
@@chrismcneil5543 vision is lost in a saddle... you have a tree right in front of you. You are forced to move around the tree to scan the full area in front of you and that movement can give you away... you can see just as much from a climber with less need for movement. I can get into a tree faster, safer and quieter with a climber than any stick or step system.
@@TheOffCycle yes but you slightly sway & have that range. An 8 inch tree? Dude you have to stand up in a stand to see anything behind you. The vision in a saddle is 100-1. You could not have hunted a saddle to say that unless you cinched your tether too tight.
@@TheOffCycle i do agree though, I am faster & quieter with my hand climber, but weight & tree selection can be a massive challenge where I hunt. Rarely can I get the vantage point I’m looking for.
@@chrismcneil5543 i dont hunt in 8” trees. To look behind you in a stand you have the tree itself for concealment. Having a saddle tether in a climber gives the benefits of the saddle plus the stability and comfort of a stand. Saddles are comfortable at first but u only have 3 options... legs locked out, legs under constant tension or sitting slammed against the tree. Not ideal. Stand allows you to sit and stand as we do naturally.
I feel the saddle is fad just based on the fact it takes triple the amount of time to set compared to my summit viper sd. You can’t get nearly as high in the tree. I don’t want to sit facing towards a tree all day. And it’s not comfortable. Also it forces you to move a lot more. Guys have been shooting giants out of climbers for decades. I’d argue I can shoot at more angles than anyone can in a saddle. I mean really it’s common sense.
Great Video!
Thank you for following along!
Shoulda bought a cruzr
Thank you for your honesty
I’m sorry but it’s called a ring of steps I’m always 100% hiding from the deer
If your making your review based on any saddle tetherd makes is your first mistake. Try an H2.
Heard lots of stuff about other saddles, the review wasn’t solely about things that a different saddle would change though. Definitely have to look into and H2 and some other brands.
you did not cover being quiet
Same as with the treestand, the saddle is only as quiet as the user makes it. I wouldn’t say that it’s significantly quieter than a hang on in any way.
Thank you for following along!
Saddle hunting just doesn't interest me at all. I want to be able to sit and stand like normal. As far as tree selection, you are limited with saddle hunting. If I need to setup in some pine trees or a tree with a ton of branches, a saddle will be damn near impossible to use in this situation. A lock on you can find and opening and set up in it.
All you do in tree with branches with a saddle is make shooting Lanes. I hunt out of alot of ceader 🌲
@@darrenhealey3081 a saddle has more limitations then a lock on though. you do not need to hide behind the tree which can cause problems for the saddle in a lot of trees I've hunted.
This guy gets it. saddles blow
I agree with this guy yes I agree that saddle hunting is very lightweight and good for putting them up anywhere but they are over rated by the way some guys advertise it they try to say they can get up there faster I bet you anything I'll take a big shot equalizer and be up the tree before anybody and I don't care what there using the big shot equalizer to me is the best thing invented for deer hunting since tinks 69!Everybody has there own opinions but saddle hunting is over rated
In all fairness, the criticism you have about the trees in Nebraska. Wouldn't that same criticism hold true for a treestand?
Yes it definitely would! Thanks for watching.
The Mantis was a terrible design. I have the ESS. Much more comfortable. Good luck.
Two panels are where it's at.
I want to try saddle hunting and I'm liking what I see from the ESS.
Two more cons-
1. No lap- either you hold something or you drop it
2. No reach- it’s very hard to work below your waist or load a crossbow because bending to touch your toes is not easy
I'm holding out for a full Predator suit. Then, and only then will I abandon my climber.
*New for 2028 full predator suit MSRP $1200
Just get a good climber.
You do not need to carry sticks, it's called a climber and has been around for decades , they don't get the marketing that saddles and lock ons do because they aren't pushing them because they don't have the enormous profit margin of the saddles and hang on stands .
Climbers are interesting, I’ve never used one. But doesn’t seem like they are very feasible in trees that have branches below hunting height. Not being able to hunt any tree significantly reduces the number of trees that you’re able to sit in.
@@TheSeasonsMedia yep but you don't need to sit in every tree ever grown , I can't climb one tree the next one on either side or behind has been fine.
Get a lone wolf 2.0. Saddles won't beat it
The only way to go is a TWO PANEL SADDLE all the others have hip pinch
Make up your mind bud?!
this dude is a cupcake but he brings up some really valid points. I love my saddle but my muddy lock on is the method i use the most. even though its a pain in the ass to transport through the woods.
🧁
Saddle hunters are the crossfitting vegans of bowhunting. Losers who take pride in saving 3lb weight.
Appreciate you taking the time out of your day for the constructive contribution you made to the comment section. Thanks for watching!
@@TheSeasonsMedia I didn't watch
Saddle hunters have been around for 40 years get over yourself
Hi Tyler,
I liked your video! Awesome thoughts. It took me a while to love saddle hunting. I also run the Tethrd Mantis. I am no expert, but I have a couple of tips you might consider if you haven't already tried.
As far as comfort, your new backstop will probably help (could also help with your stability issue). Also, if you haven't invested in some decent knee pads, that could help. I have also found that a quality device for your tether line can be KEY for getting in the right position. My favorite is the MadRock Lifeguard; expensive but worth it. I also like the Wild County Ropeman 1 as an attachment point for my lineman's belt.
Difficulty with the 360 degree access? If you use a platform, try putting skateboard tape on the top and side surfaces ($8.50 on amazon). Ive also heard of folks using truck bed spray. Another option, though I haven't tried this, is a ring of steps (some companies still make something like this).
Seeing behind you- personally, I keep an ear out, wait for the deer to come into view or change position if the opportunity arises (like you described. I have no idea if this would work in a hunting scenario, though a situational awareness technique that I picked up is resting your sunglasses on a table such that you can see behind you. If you hang a bag in the tree, you might be able to set something like this up. (again, this works great in an urban setting but I have not tried this in the woods).
Sticks are awesome. I like the predator platform, as well as the Hawk helium platform that adheres to the top of one of their sticks. However, if you haven't tried single rope ascension, is is even more compact. Climbing rope (which ends up being your tether rope), a throw bag and line, an ascender (with a little excess climbing rope to use as a stirrup), the saddle, and the platform (or rind of steps or what ever you want to rest your feet on).
Again, no idea if you have tried any of these, but just hoping something might be helpful. Happy hunting, and I hope you get a monster this season!
-JM
Thanks for the feedback! That’s all good info. The best thing about saddle hunting/hang and hunting in general is the fact that there are so many minor things that make a big difference, and generally each person has a different way of achieving the same thing. So I definitely love hearing the different ideas on these points. There are a few things that I found that’ll be featured in a video next month. One of them being the rope man which was very much a game changer! I also haven’t been able to get myself to try any climbing method other than sticks, just the matter of getting up and down the tree in the dark that makes me a little cautious. I’m sure eventually I’ll try it!
Really appreciate your feedback, and you checking out our video! Good Luck this season!