Kestrel "break in" period

[Jefferson10940]

I am a 38/40 depending on the pants and I went with a size 2. No issues here.

 

[jpetri11]

I have 35 inch waist and size 2 fits good. Not sure how other guys with 36 waist fit in a 1.


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[Cladavidson]

I have 35 inch waist and size 2 fits good. Not sure how other guys with 36 waist fit in a 1.


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Let’s just say; “It’s a pinch”.


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[Dewey]

I have a 36 waist and my Size 1 fits fine with no pinch whatsoever. Can’t see how a Size 2 would be any better in my case.

I honestly think it has to do with your build. Everybody is a little different. Some might have a smaller waist but if you have a butt like a Kardashian a Size 1 will never fit right.


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[jpetri11]

I agree. I have a butt so a one would never get around me and my legs. The kestrel has really grown on me compared to aero hunter. So much lighter but just as comfy once set up correctly.


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[hickstick]

I have a 36 waist and my Size 1 fits fine with no pinch whatsoever. Can’t see how a Size 2 would be any better in my case.

I honestly think it has to do with your build. Everybody is a little different. Some might have a smaller waist but if you have a butt like a Kardashian a Size 1 will never fit right.


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damn...am I gonna have to have my butt implants removed? lol

 

[hickstick]

I guess I'll find out on monday or tuesday if I ordered the right size. I'm 5'7" and 210# with a 36" waist. sorta built like a running back. lol I hope I guessed correctly 2 months ago when I ordered.

 

[bongo]

I am hunting in Virginia till Thanksgiving have a size one camo that has preformed flawlessly. Bag has a couple small holes from ropeman rubbing on it. Will sell for two hundred dollars plus freight by Thanksgiving. I am going to order a size two. I think bigger will be better. Pm me if interested.


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[redsquirrel]

To follow up on my size 2 kestrel. I am a 36" waist, 180 pounds. I can honestly say that I can wear either kestrel comfortably, but if you think you are on the edge, I would go up in size. What I like better about the size 2 over the size 1 is that the bridge hookups are a little further forward and most importantly the lineman's belt hookups are further forward which makes attaching in easier.

Regardless of sizing I continue to find that the eye level hookup continues to be the key to long term comfort in this saddle. I hung in the size 2 for 1.5 hours wednesday, 9.5 hours thursday, 3.5 hours friday, 9 hours saturday and 5.5 hours on sunday.

 

[SeaHunter]

I am 38" waist, 260+ 6'3" and my size 1 is super comfy. I've sat so far up to 5 hours at a clip and love it. I do have a little butt, so that might have more to do with comfort than waist size.

 

[JSEXTON23]

I'm noticing that my saddle feels to be riding up in the back thigh area. I'm 6' 180lbs 34" waist and wear a size 1.I wear my waist belt loose but it still feels like it's riding up on my tighs. Anybody else? Any suggestions?

 

[JSEXTON23]

I did sit 10 hrs today and 8 hrs last weekend. I just have to stand up every now and then and pull the saddle down.

 

[GCTerpfan]

Try a slightly lower tether height. If I set my tether too high it wants to ride up a little bit.

 

[JSEXTON23]

Question, by tether height do you mean where I wrap around the tree or where I set my prusik knot?

 

[okie_edward]

tether height

lower on the tree - chin to eye level helps my comfort quite a bit

 

[GCTerpfan]

Question, by tether height do you mean where I wrap around the tree or where I set my prusik knot

Both. I was talking about where you wrap around tree but, play with the how far you slide your prusk up and down also. I'm new to this but after a few hunts it became apparent that minor adjustments in both of those things made a huge difference to how comfortable I was.

 

[ImThere]

Tether height is where you wrap the tree. Depending on bridge length and if you are a leaner or sitter will determine prussic knot height


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[bowhunter15]

I must have forced myself into saddle shape. With a roughly eye level tether (measured while standing on the platform) I can have my bridge as long as it can go (prusik pushed up to the tree) or very short, so there's not much of a bridge at all, and I'm comfortable, sitting or leaning.

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[Apex7]

I've been using my kestrel for 2 months now. When I first got it I found it extremely comfortable with an eye level tether, but when I tried to put the tether a little higher so I could walk around larger trees it wasn't as comfortable. This was the only thing I've been trying to figure out with it. I can't exactly explain it, I don't know if if the material has broken in a little bit, or my body has just gotten used to the dramatically smaller profile of this saddle, but I've been able to use a high tether again the past few weeks and I'm 100% completely comfortable. A higher tether can be extremely important when I'm hunting a large tree so that I can move around to shoot 360.

The point of this post is to encourage new kestrel users to keep at it. It doesn't always happen over night. We talk all the time about how saddle hunting can take some time to get used to. I've been saddle hunting for 10 years and it took me a little time to adjust to the new profile of this saddle, so you shouldn't necessarily expect it to happen immediately. Keep at it!

I never had a problem with the Kestrel . I can put my tether high or at eye level and no problem. I usually keep my knees at a 45 degree angle with knee pads on and I'm very comfortable. I've been saddle hunting for a long time and I guess over that time you get used to all the types of different saddles. But the Kestrel is getting to be my favorite saddle of all time. I also use a rope Man 1 on my bridge and my bridge is probably 18 in and I don't know if that makes a difference or not but it works for me.

 

[redsquirrel]

I never had a problem with the Kestrel . I can put my tether high or at eye level and no problem. I usually keep my knees at a 45 degree angle with knee pads on and I'm very comfortable. I've been saddle hunting for a long time and I guess over that time you get used to all the types of different saddles. But the Kestrel is getting to be my favorite saddle of all time. I also use a rope Man 1 on my bridge and my bridge is probably 18 in and I don't know if that makes a difference or not but it works for me.

I've been saddle hunting a long time also. I agree, the kestrel is my favorite saddle so far. I sit in my saddle with legs a little above 90 degrees to take most of the pressure off my feet, and so far the only trouble I've had at times is trying to use a higher tether. With it at eye level things are always great. If I try to push the tether a bit higher I think it just makes that angle a little too steep and puts more pressure on my butt.