ordering stuff for my first saddle setup, have a couple questions

[donnieballgame]

Sit Drag is the way to go for cheap, fleece saddles are even cheaper, I had a rock climbing harness. Climbing system and platform is where I spent all of my money.

I would take everything on here with a large grain of salt. A lot of advice here seems to be completely void of any budget logic, and usually the "best" option costs a lot of money and I would argue that does not make it the best. For example the kestrel for a beginner is an expensive way to start, especially since saddlehunting is so different than what most folks are use to, you might sit in it once and give up. Starting 300 in the hole without a platform and climbing system doesn't make sense to me.

Just my 2 cents.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[EricS]

The kestrel is expensive but so is a sit drag. 35 dollar sit drag
30 dollars worth of rope
30 -60 on a harness
20 + on carabiners
25 dollars for a cobra buckle

Then you have work to do to get it where you need it. It’s not 300 but you are half way there.
I will continue to use mine for hot weather presets but I still feel the kestrel is a good place for beginners to start.
I feel safe in the sit drag at hunting height but when I find myself in a precarious situation trying a new climbing method I find comfort in the extra 140 bucks I have in the kestrel. Well worth it to me.
I feel most people who start saddle hunting have already went ultralight with their stand hunting and have a climbing system they are comfortable with. I know not everyone does.

 

[g2outdoors]

Part of the fun for me is trying everything. I don't worry too much about money. The outdoors is my vice. For some it's sex, drugs, or gambling. I experiment with saddle gear.

Hunting is not an inexpensive hobby. It can be if you don't join forums, watch YouTube, use social media, or surf the net.

Why stress about it? If you don't have the budget for something, don't buy it. If you do, and you want to try something, why not? You can't take it with you. Be responsible and have fun. That's what it's all about.

Sent from my Galaxy S8.

 

[Mauidiver]

Great thread guys, y’all got me sold on the Kestrel and 12steps. Still couple days out for shipment of steps and hopefully 2 weeks on my saddle. I went with the package deal on saddle as I’ve never even thought of hunting like this before, and I’ll tweek it out when I start understanding this style. Perfect weather to practice. Thanks again for all the help twisting my arm hard enough to just go for it. Haha

 

[huck72412]

Part of the fun for me is trying everything. I don't worry too much about money. The outdoors is my vice. For some it's sex, drugs, or gambling. I experiment with saddle gear.

Hunting is not an inexpensive hobby. It can be if you don't join forums, watch YouTube, use social media, or surf the net.

Why stress about it? If you don't have the budget for something, don't buy it. If you do, and you want to try something, why not? You can't take it with you. Be responsible and have fun. That's what it's all about.

Sent from my Galaxy S8.

Solid perspective!

 

[eTXtreeclimber]

Someone is going to say it so I will be first to say you should use a climbing harness with the sit drag.
The elastic and padding are the least important mods to do to a sit drag.
Start with sewing a loops and adding a belt.
G2outdoors has good videos on the mods he did to his. T

Yes my plan is to mod it like his video and I have ordered a black diamond rock climbing harness as well

 

[Bigterp]

Part of the fun for me is trying everything. I don't worry too much about money. The outdoors is my vice. For some it's sex, drugs, or gambling. I experiment with saddle gear.

Hunting is not an inexpensive hobby. It can be if you don't join forums, watch YouTube, use social media, or surf the net.

Why stress about it? If you don't have the budget for something, don't buy it. If you do, and you want to try something, why not? You can't take it with you. Be responsible and have fun. That's what it's all about.

Sent from my Galaxy S8.

Man my sentiments exactly, I work my tail off so I can hunt when the opportunity is there. I don’t really spend money on much else, that’s not family related. Even before forums and other social media, I still made hunting purchases but probably didn’t research them as much. I really enjoy the constant work refining the process, it’s all part of perfecting your craft! Great point! Don’t spend what you don’t have, but if you squirreled away some extra coin , then get what you want or buy the materials & diy it if you have the tools & skill to do so.