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New kestrel (kite Mesh) listed on their web site
- Thread starter RonB
- Start date
Thanks Dave. Answers some questions. Glad I have a kestrel and will soon have a mantis
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You probably won’t there would be a lot of broken hearts in manufactured saddle land!
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As a deep south swamp monkey who is perpetually covered in bug bites from spending way too much time hog hunting, I 100% agree about mesh not possibly being any cooler. I think the big benefits is the lighter weight and packability. I enjoyed the review.
I don't have my kite yet but I am confident the leg buckles won't ebe a problem. I have a tree harness with those same leg buckles that I modified to a rock climbing harness and I hunted with that for years and have never had any troubles. I paired it with my modified tree suit for an added layer of safety. I ordered a kite recently as I am confident those leg buckles won't be a problem. Hopefully I am right.
I think it’s all about experience with them, and maintaining tension on the buckle to reduce the possibility of metal contact. The learning curve on babying them (for guys unfamiliar with the buckle style) is the biggest downside. It would be very easy to make metal-on-metal noise when putting it on, and that is an absolute NO when hunting close in to bedding.
I wish they hadn’t changed the buckles on the Kestrel as well, now I will have to look for an original one once I finally get the spending money.
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Glad I got my Kestrel last year. I didn't notice that they changed the leg buckles. Good catch.
Yeah, I’ll buy a lightly used Kestrel if anyone has one they want to sell. Those leg buckles were what was keeping me from getting the Kite.
I’m not sure I really have an issue with the leg buckles. I think once adjusted, not sure how much I’d ever move them. I plan to step through though. That being said I’m not sure about this waist buckle....... gotta get some time with it & let you guys know. Btw @DaveT1963 good review!
Me too. Waist buckle is my biggest concern. Why have leg straps that open and a waist belt you still have to step through, because I don’t see anyone wanting to thread that waist buckle every time?
You definitely don't have to thread the waist buckle every time. I have a size 1 with a 32-33" waist - very easy for me to open up big enough to step through quickly and then cinch tight. Only thing I'm going to do is sew up some rubber buckle covers and re-do the bridge and I like how it looks.
Granted this is in summer clothes, but I still have a bunch of adjustment out to make it even easier on the left side of the belt:
Granted this is in summer clothes, but I still have a bunch of adjustment out to make it even easier on the left side of the belt:
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In order to use the release function of leg buckled (not step through) you will have to have slack, thread the buckle back together and then tighten. Either way potential for noise is there.
The waist buckle can be loosen and stepped through.... but I don't think it's a better design then original. Neither is a game stopper, but neither are better then kestrel except for small weight savings.
Agreed, about leg buckles. I was thinking about taking it apart & stealth stripping the larger piece. If I go that far not sure that it’s not a better idea to just use a different quick connection from strapworks. I have an extra cobra buckle, I just might swap the waist buckle. Need to play with it stock & see. Right now I’m just nitpicking, overall I like it. Outside of the molle loops, don’t know that it’s a huge upgrade (other than being hot off the shelf).
Just more packable being made of mesh. It still has the heavy duty straps like the evo did generations ago. Big straps use big buckles. If a rock climbing harness can be built like a string bikini and catch you from a free fall, then a hunting saddle that you keep tension on surely can use smaller straps. Aerohunter has always made a high quality product. No question there. I just think it’s over kill for my purposes.