So I have used a DIY .5 hybrid for the first day of opening archery season. If you want the short read, I did not like it at all and do not see myself using it again. Just not for me. Keep reading if you want a detailed post. Spencer on Youtube has a video with some good points too if you want another opinion.
Myself: 175lbs @ 68 inches tall
My setup:
DIY Sand Cast LWCG creation. Weight bare was 6.4 lbs. Cut down original Lone Wolf Sand Cast Platform with LWCG .5 seat and 18 inch post.
3 cut down 15in Hawk sticks with 3 steps Amsteel aider on each. I'm able to get to 20 ft with the 3 sticks.
Total weight of setup with cheap backpack straps was 13.4 lbs.
Pro:
You really don't feel carrying the sticks with the frame on your back.
You can sit.
You can use the seat folded up as a knee cushion if you are the right height.
No kick out, especially if you use the 2nd strap on the bottom which I highly recommend.
Using leaning tree is better than saddle.
That's basically it.
Con:
The cable get in your way, when you kneel against the tree, it restrict and pinch your feet.
The seat cushion can only be use as a knee pad if you have the right leg length. Being stubby legged, I had to extend the velcro of the cushion so it hang low enough or else my knee is resting at the versa button.
The .5 is not that comfortable, the seat is really small and sitting against a tree forces your back to be really straight and uncomfortable.
The movement of switching from saddle mode to seat mode is a lot of movements. l had to adjust my saddle bridge every time.
Your tool and gears are never in the same place that you need it. I had to move my bow from one side of the tree to the other side. Only way to mitigate this is by using a chest rig with essential tools.
You don't really need all that platform space. I'm a fan of getting the biggest platform as you can, but the shape of a hang-on platform is not efficient. You want more room closer to the tree, not reverse. And with the cables, you can't actually maximizes all the restate. The Ambush has more usable square footage.
I'm not going to comment on sound because with any system, its up to the individual to do their part to silence it.
In creating the setup, I was under the same mindset as everyone else. Ideally its perfect! You can have your cake and eat it too! Sit in your saddle when you want, or sit on the seat, you can stand, you can lean on the tree, and there is no weak side anymore. With the .5, you have a frame pack and it basically only add 3-4 lbs if you are already using a large platform.
But in actually using it. I realized that it forces me to a middle ground when I already went to the side of saddle. I was out all day and I probably sit on the seat for a total of 10 minutes. I spend most of the time in the saddle, maybe leaning against the tree for a few moment to stretch my muscle out. This is because the seat in the .5 is really small and not as comfortable as other hang-on like the Helo or even my Sand Cast seat. And because it is so close to the tree, my back was so straight that it was uncomfortable. I find this is interesting because I have test sitting on the .5 at home for maybe an hour and found it tolerable? Maybe it was because my mind was telling me to accept it because I did not have a saddle on to fall back to. Also I used a leaning tree at home and it was great because I can lean back more then the 90 degrees that a straight tree provided. So I say the .5 is great for short sit and shooting sitting down is great. I might take it when I'm going traditional bow hunting.
Beside being uncomfortable. The main issue was movement and organization of gears. I'm used to hanging my gears on the tree but I could not do that if I wanted to be able to sit. Cant have a under seat pouch or hang things on the side of the seat because I need to be able to flip cushion to use as knee pad. So my only option for quick access is a chest rig, which I liked but still preferred my body to be as unencumbered as possible while in the tree.
So just my opinion, a hybrid system add more issues than it solves. A fully hang-on setup or a fully saddle setup work so much better than something in between. The right leaning tree make a hang-on a better choice depending on situations. But I think I'll still go with a purely saddle system if given the choice. Large platform is the way to go, because if you like to sit on something solid, a JX3 might be more for you.
Myself: 175lbs @ 68 inches tall
My setup:
DIY Sand Cast LWCG creation. Weight bare was 6.4 lbs. Cut down original Lone Wolf Sand Cast Platform with LWCG .5 seat and 18 inch post.
3 cut down 15in Hawk sticks with 3 steps Amsteel aider on each. I'm able to get to 20 ft with the 3 sticks.
Total weight of setup with cheap backpack straps was 13.4 lbs.
Pro:
You really don't feel carrying the sticks with the frame on your back.
You can sit.
You can use the seat folded up as a knee cushion if you are the right height.
No kick out, especially if you use the 2nd strap on the bottom which I highly recommend.
Using leaning tree is better than saddle.
That's basically it.
Con:
The cable get in your way, when you kneel against the tree, it restrict and pinch your feet.
The seat cushion can only be use as a knee pad if you have the right leg length. Being stubby legged, I had to extend the velcro of the cushion so it hang low enough or else my knee is resting at the versa button.
The .5 is not that comfortable, the seat is really small and sitting against a tree forces your back to be really straight and uncomfortable.
The movement of switching from saddle mode to seat mode is a lot of movements. l had to adjust my saddle bridge every time.
Your tool and gears are never in the same place that you need it. I had to move my bow from one side of the tree to the other side. Only way to mitigate this is by using a chest rig with essential tools.
You don't really need all that platform space. I'm a fan of getting the biggest platform as you can, but the shape of a hang-on platform is not efficient. You want more room closer to the tree, not reverse. And with the cables, you can't actually maximizes all the restate. The Ambush has more usable square footage.
I'm not going to comment on sound because with any system, its up to the individual to do their part to silence it.
In creating the setup, I was under the same mindset as everyone else. Ideally its perfect! You can have your cake and eat it too! Sit in your saddle when you want, or sit on the seat, you can stand, you can lean on the tree, and there is no weak side anymore. With the .5, you have a frame pack and it basically only add 3-4 lbs if you are already using a large platform.
But in actually using it. I realized that it forces me to a middle ground when I already went to the side of saddle. I was out all day and I probably sit on the seat for a total of 10 minutes. I spend most of the time in the saddle, maybe leaning against the tree for a few moment to stretch my muscle out. This is because the seat in the .5 is really small and not as comfortable as other hang-on like the Helo or even my Sand Cast seat. And because it is so close to the tree, my back was so straight that it was uncomfortable. I find this is interesting because I have test sitting on the .5 at home for maybe an hour and found it tolerable? Maybe it was because my mind was telling me to accept it because I did not have a saddle on to fall back to. Also I used a leaning tree at home and it was great because I can lean back more then the 90 degrees that a straight tree provided. So I say the .5 is great for short sit and shooting sitting down is great. I might take it when I'm going traditional bow hunting.
Beside being uncomfortable. The main issue was movement and organization of gears. I'm used to hanging my gears on the tree but I could not do that if I wanted to be able to sit. Cant have a under seat pouch or hang things on the side of the seat because I need to be able to flip cushion to use as knee pad. So my only option for quick access is a chest rig, which I liked but still preferred my body to be as unencumbered as possible while in the tree.
So just my opinion, a hybrid system add more issues than it solves. A fully hang-on setup or a fully saddle setup work so much better than something in between. The right leaning tree make a hang-on a better choice depending on situations. But I think I'll still go with a purely saddle system if given the choice. Large platform is the way to go, because if you like to sit on something solid, a JX3 might be more for you.
