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Best saddle for relieving ankle pressure

2 ankle surgeries here, multiple screws, rods, plates, and one piece of wire, I also had some of that garbage removed and it was defintiely worth it. My advice, and this is after 8 years of dealing with this crap, get good boots and deal with the weight, I run Lowa Tibets and can honestly tell you with out something tough like Tibets I wouldn’t be able to hunt the same, any amount of long distance walking at all the Tibets are mandatory for me now, rubber boots and light hikers are for getting the mail at the end of the driveway for me.
 
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Topdog said:
2 ankle surgeries here, multiple screws, rods, plates, and one piece of wire, I also had some of that garbage removed and it was defintiely worth it. My advice, and this is after 8 years of dealing with this crap, get good boots and deal with the weight, I run Lowa Tibets and can honestly tell you with out something tough like Tibets I wouldn’t be able to hunt the same, any amount of long distance walking at all the Tibets are mandatory for me now, rubber boots and light hikers are for getting the mail at the end of the driveway for me.
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this has been the general consensus from allot of people. My dad picked up my hikers and told me those were not going to work. My lowa renegades were too short
 
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Lowg08 said:
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this has been the general consensus from allot of people. My dad picked up my hikers and told me those were not going to work. My lowa renegades were too short
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Correct, you want something tall and stiff like Tibets, I crank on those laces and can go all day like before my accident, I never had any luck with other braces or stuff, I spent more money on boots after my accident than I care to admit, the only time I have problems anymore is extreme side hilling or super heavy packs, and usually by morning I’m good again, rubber boots or light hikers and I would be in a chair for a week.
 
I will put my two cents out here. Before you go to a two panel. Tie your tether off on a limb directly above you and see if that helps with weight. It will give you an option to lean some what if needed, but will really hold your weight up and off while keeping the pressure off. Movement will be limited some what. But seems like a good trade off. It's kinda like DRT climbing. Your menace may work. But maybe you want to go to a big saddle if you kinda like it. Cruzer, CGM cobra, drey, or classic. Think hammock swing. But some longer rope and different tree may be a good option.
 
MattMan81 said:
I will put my two cents out here. Before you go to a two panel. Tie your tether off on a limb directly above you and see if that helps with weight. It will give you an option to lean some what if needed, but will really hold your weight up and off while keeping the pressure off. Movement will be limited some what. But seems like a good trade off. It's kinda like DRT climbing. Your menace may work. But maybe you want to go to a big saddle if you kinda like it. Cruzer, CGM cobra, drey, or classic. Think hammock swing. But some longer rope and different tree may be a good option.
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I’ve got a mvp from tethrd and I’ve considered buying another and just slipped one under my thighs if need a break. I literally have my set up set.
 
Definitely try some two panel saddles! Not for your ankles but for your butt! :smile:

For your ankle, get you some steps! I absolutely recommend having atleast a couple steps added to your setup.
I have bad ankles and knees and I seem to spend as much or more time on my steps than my platform.
Even at home when I'm practicing something or trying something new I add steps...
 
Screenshot_20220712-225552_Gallery.jpg Screenshot_20220712-225615_Gallery.jpg
Crummy pictures but you get the drift. I got more plates and screws in my body than I can count but the most messed up spot is my left ankle and I'm telling you that steps help me A LOT...
 
phatkaw said:
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Crummy pictures but you get the drift. I got more plates and screws in my body than I can count but the most messed up spot is my left ankle and I'm telling you that steps help me A LOT...
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Dang dude. That’s horrible. I’ve never had really major issues minus a tore meniscus. This is the first time I’ve ever been down or had surgery. I had never been put under til now. I’ll look into a two panel.
 
I agree the jx3 probably the best bet...not sure how changing the saddle gonna effect ur ankle...u can probably achieve comfort with extra steps and a back band under ur thighs and pool noodles but now u carrying too much crap. The pursuit platform gives u 2 foot/ankle, lean/standing options. I lean mostly and also lean much further than what most peeps do from what I see in pics on this forum ....I was getting foot and ankle discomfort on long sits and started building my platforms standing surface to the angle my body leans when I'm at my most comfortable position. Night and day difference... Still had some foot discomfort because I usually wearing nice and broke in (worn out thin sole) Crocs and just the hard metal get to me over time....so I made the soft bag platform. Knock on wood no ankle injuries for me but back surgery done got me and my case, and gear I made for my case, is not gonna be the norm... That or I'm just a posy spelled with a u and an extra s
 
Weldabeast said:
I agree the jx3 probably the best bet...not sure how changing the saddle gonna effect ur ankle...u can probably achieve comfort with extra steps and a back band under ur thighs and pool noodles but now u carrying too much crap. The pursuit platform gives u 2 foot/ankle, lean/standing options. I lean mostly and also lean much further than what most peeps do from what I see in pics on this forum ....I was getting foot and ankle discomfort on long sits and started building my platforms standing surface to the angle my body leans when I'm at my most comfortable position. Night and day difference... Still had some foot discomfort because I usually wearing nice and broke in (worn out thin sole) Crocs and just the hard metal get to me over time....so I made the soft bag platform. Knock on wood no ankle injuries for me but back surgery done got me and my case, and gear I made for my case, is not gonna be the norm... That or I'm just a posy spelled with a u and an extra s
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Im Definitely going to start some tinkering to see how much angle I can put on my predator. It got that adjustable platform option. I honestly would rather just add a back band. Im already minimizing because well ounce counting flips my switch. I love it. I’m shooting for 3 night trip full set up at 20lbs. We shall see. I’ve cut allot of weight already going to one stick and hammock camping. I’m definitely going to add a top pad to my platform. That starts tomorrow lol
 
Maybe a rr2.0? That's a decent size and it shape platform, i think, and it's got the double step like a stick on top. If i recall correctly it's about 1.25 pounds heavier than a predator though.

I guess on that thought you maybe you could just add a double step from EWO or something
 
In my opinion the saddle you use won’t help with your ankle for leaning. Your leg is your anchor point and the only way to reduce the force on your anchor point, would be to remove weight on it. Single panel, pleat, two panel none of that matters. What matters is your platform. You need one that can angle away (and I don’t mean that little 2.75” angle on something like a seeker). You would need your entire platform leaned downward to better align your legs and ankle, while also offering your entire foot for weight distribution while in your lean position. Your other option would be to sit the entire time which would remove nearly all the weight from your ankle. That is when your saddle matters. JX3 is great for all day sits. The drey would be another excellent sitting option. Or pleated saddles, such as the aerohunter shrike, Cruzr XC or CGM cobra are all amazing pleated saddles.
In my opinion those are your only options to reduce stress and ankle fatigue
 
I have an ankle issue. I also lean 75% of the day. I use supportive high boots tied tight and I have a seeker platform and xc saddle. The angled front helps significantly and experiment with different tether heights. Mine has been ending up around my forehead or a bit higher and this supports more and takes pressure off my feet.
 
Tknapp said:
I have an ankle issue. I also lean 75% of the day. I use supportive high boots tied tight and I have a seeker platform and xc saddle. The angled front helps significantly and experiment with different tether heights. Mine has been ending up around my forehead or a bit higher and this supports more and takes pressure off my feet.
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What type of supportive high boots are we talking? Like just hikers or high top like linesman boots or loggers?
 
Tknapp said:
I have a pair of 8" Rockys I use now. Not sure what they are but have saved my ankle several times.
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Most of the Rocky hikers and loggers have a steel or reinforced shank on the bottom. That helps out too because it makes the weight on the “lip” of that little angled platform edge spread out across the entire bottom of the boot. It’s why I love wearing my lineman’s boots when I hunt using my ROS. It keeps me from getting any foot fatigue
 
Fl Canopy Stalker said:
Most of the Rocky hikers and loggers have a steel or reinforced shank on the bottom. That helps out too because it makes the weight on the “lip” of that little angled platform edge spread out across the entire bottom of the boot. It’s why I love wearing my lineman’s boots when I hunt using my ROS. It keeps me from getting any foot fatigue
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I’m a major reconductor foreman. I wear meindl lineman boots. Just so dang heavy for hiking mountains
 
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