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Kestrel is here! My thoughts.....

I'm 6"5 210ish 36 waist. The size 1 Kestrel fits me great with some room to spare for layers. I purposely did not disclose my @zz size cause that's none of your business.....


So....after posting this, a couple months later I sold the size 1 kestrel and ordered a size 2. I had so really good hip pinch with the size 1. Size 2 has been really good and no discomfort. I promise my @zz size in not that big lol.
 
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EricS said:
Yes I personally suffer from a genetic disease called noassatall. At least four generations that I know of. Seat size much smaller than waist.
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Man I have been wondering what to call that problem and now I know. Got the same problem.

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Awesome Review Man, I'm so stoked to get mine in the mail! (hopefully this week)


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Thoughts from Canada Order 308

For Canadians - The extra costs
I bought the Kestrel without the linemans rope and tether but with the back belt. $418 .71 Can. dollars... includes shipping...Plus $52 duty ... for a grand total of about $470 cdn. If I got all the ropes it would be pushing $600 cdn.

I am happy with my saddle... it took 8 days to get here...

I will sell a size 2 aero hunter with all the ropes for $ 350 cdn and I will pay the freight... to a Canadian location.
We need more Canadian saddle hunters.
 
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What.....I'm not enough for you?!?! Sniff....


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Well, welcome Mr. Karrow.


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Seals72 said:
I hear a lot of guys talk about weight being an issue. Speaking on my own behalf I have carried a 30+ pound climbing stand on my back for the past 20+ years. I will be thrilled to only carry 5 pounds that was one of the many reasons I have decided to go to the saddle. With that said I love this group so much information and really super members keep the reviews coming! Can't wait to receive mine


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Seals72 I agree with you 100% when I went to the Evolution from my climbers and hang on stands I thought I was walking on air! Now with the Kestrel, I'm like, It doesn't get any better than this! I have my old Summit Climber right next to the Kestrel and Evolution and when I have to move it to get to them it reminds me just how good we have it now! After showing hunting buddies the Kestrel I can't even get anyone to borrow my climber!:smile:

Roger,
 
Something to keep in mind....

If you are not diligent, it is hard to keep your total rig lower than 20#.

Climbing sticks and platforms add up fast. My rig is 8.5# with Aider climbing and Ameristep platform. If I Rappel down it adds another 1.5#
 
justsomedude said:
Something to keep in mind....

If you are not diligent, it is hard to keep your total rig lower than 20#.

Climbing sticks and platforms add up fast. My rig is 8.5# with Aider climbing and Ameristep platform. If I Rappel down it adds another 1.5#
Click to expand...
Plus your weapon?
 
justsomedude said:
Something to keep in mind....

If you are not diligent, it is hard to keep your total rig lower than 20#.

Climbing sticks and platforms add up fast. My rig is 8.5# with Aider climbing and Ameristep platform. If I Rappel down it adds another 1.5#
Click to expand...
Yep, I am at 13# with kestrel, rapeling rope, spurs, platform and kill kit. I could lose some if I went with srt and ameristeps, but I'm not upset with this weight. Way better than any metal stand I used to carry.
16afad29e66ef6be7bda0e5c74a99088.jpg


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Estimated weight to the field
Pack 2.5 pounds
Ameristeps 2 pounds
bow 5.5 pounds... Excalibur micro
Water 1 pound
2 muddy sticks with black diamond aiders 7 pounds
Calls rangefinder compass gps phone another pound or so
Kestrel with rope and biners ropeman... 5 pounds or less
Jacket for cold weather and bibs 1 or 2 pounds
Realistically 24 pounds.... or with a platform 26 pounds...
Plus me 200 pounds - the most efficient way to drop what I carry to the field would be to lose 20 pounds. But I love ice cream/ This is the cheapest way to drop weight to the field.

So what do I ditch when I cannot use spurs... I could go to climbing with an aider only or stirups. . Then I could drop a pound on my pack and just use a smaller fanny pack or just my pockets and be totally disorganized.. stirups might drop me close to 20 pounds.

When I carry it all on my back it does not feel too heavy...

I could just say ameristeps plus black diamond aider plus kestrel... hey I am only at 8 or nine pounds... That sounds way cooler. Maybe the easiest way to go. But is it noisy hard and sweaty. Do I want to do a hard walk in or a harder noisier climb????

Saddle hunting is way lighter than anything else anyway.
The Kestrel is light comfortable and compact. It is nicer to carry than the aero and so far I think a least as comfortable at half the weight and bulk
 
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I've never really weighed my equipment since I started using the Evolution most of my hunting locations are preset so all I do is walk in with my saddle and climb the tree. Compared to my climbers and hang on stands hunting from the Evolution and now the Kestrel is true ultralight hunting for me! I also don't have to worry about brush or branches clanging against my platform when sneaking into a hunting location. Another plus is that I can fit all of my stuff into a canvas coal bag and still have plenty of room for other equipment and it still takes up less space than a climber or hang on stand.

Roger,
 

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Got to use the kestrel for a couple hunts this weekend. I will say that I am enjoying the kestrel. In comparison to the sit drag it is definitely safer. I've been using my wild edge stepps for a platform instead of my xop hand climber. When using the hand climber and leaning pretty much all the time I can't say the kestrel is that much more comfortable. Where it shines with the stepps is I find myself sitting a lot especially on smaller diameter trees. I'm having some hip discomfort this morning but it's the same side that I fell into a stump hole up to my rear last. Probably nothing to do with the kestrel. I haven't done any mods to the kestrel. I was going to silence the buckles but the only time they make noise is putting it on and I've been wearing it in. The loops on the front pretty much block my bow and other stuff from hitting it.
 
I have been out for a family emergency so I just opened my box late last night. I will more then likely cut the leg straps off (too heavy and to much noise potential for my personal taste). Perhaps new tribe in the future can offer an option that sews the leg straps on directly. I for one do not mind stepping into a saddle and much prefer that over added weight and a potential source of noise.

As far as construction - its New tribe - everything they developed is made very well.
 
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