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New Trophyline tree saddle...... opinions from new owners

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Buckhorn70

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Nov 28, 2014
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Wanted to start a thread for feedback on the NEW Trophyline Treesaddle. Post up feedback/opinions from you new owners out there......
 
I’d like to know how it compares in comfort to the older saddles: ambush, stealth and leather


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fawnzy said:
I’d like to know how it compares in comfort to the older saddles: ambush, stealth and leather


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My 2006 Ambush is more comfortable to me. George and I sat in a new one last night. We both don't care for it. Kinda disappointed, only because its trophy line. The bridge areas that connect into the saddle sides were digging into our sides etc. Even though he and I have different body types, as usual we had the same issues with it. But that's us, everybody's different.
 
There's just something nice about putting on an old pair of shoes....Overall, it reminds me of the original saddle, just updated

I think TL ambush lite is great. The molle webbing is nice and wide so you can hook stuff in easily, and the bags that come with it keep things organized and easily accessible. I can keep my tree tether in one bag, and the Cranford scaffold folds up easily in the other. So I don't have to hook everything to the back of my saddle or backpack, and I can just reach in to get everything I need off my waist dump pouches. The wide molle webbing makes it easy to hook sticks on the saddle so I can haul everything up in one trip easier. I like the webbing bridge that is adjustable, too.

like all saddles, I'll wind up customizing it at some point...probably cut off the leg loops. Replace the stock ropes with OpLux.
 
The angels on the leg straps look odd in the pictures. Are they adjustable? I'd like to see more pictures.
 
Thoughts from a fat guy intended to help out other fat guys:

Sadly I will be returning the ambush lite. I recieved the L/XL saddle this week and took some time today to try it out. I tip the scales at about 350 lbs. I'm about 6'1" and I buy 48" x 32" pants. I knew the old trophyline saddles were larger than their modern counterparts, so I was hoping this might be a nice alternative for a fat guy. Unfortunately, the waist belt does not reach around my waist. Its 3 to 4 inches short of useable. The leg belts are snug, but not too bad. The bridge is about what the belt should be.

I pulled the saddle up to my waist without the belt, and tethered myself in with an amsteel bridge I use for my other saddle to the linens loops. I did this to considered if any modifications would make it useable. Unfortunately the waist webbing and the under leg webbing became taught without the mesh supporting any weight. This was rather uncomfortable. It is likley due to me being on the larger end of things that it was so uncomfortable. Ultimately, this is just unusable for me, despite appearing larger than the kite.

I will be sticking with my kestrel size 2.

As a side note, the belt being so short was very strange. I was able to get the belt for a mantis large that my friend owns around my waist last week. I wouldn't consider that to have been comfortable, but it was more useable than the trophyline L/XL. I have a mantis XL on order to see how that fits.
 
5' 6", 175 lbs, ~33 inch waist, no butt. I knew in 5 minutes that I was going to keep my Mantis and send the TL back. TL pinched my sides above my hips or didn't cup at all. I really wanted to like it. Guess I'll wait on a mesh Flex (not interested in Yarak).

On a side note: I love my medium mantis!

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Just received my Trophyline today. I ordered the M/L size. I’m 5’10 and 200lbs. Waist belt fits well. There is plenty of mesh in the seat of the saddle, which I prefer over my tethrd mantis. I also like the bags that came attached to the saddle.
My problem with the trophyline is the hip pinch. I think it has to do with the bridge location on the saddle. I’ve tried adjusting the bridge length, tether height, and saddle placement on my hips. The pinch is not too bad when leaning, but for me it is unbearable when sitting. I will be sticking with my tethrd mantis.


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jakechildress00 said:
Just received my Trophyline today. I ordered the M/L size. I’m 5’10 and 200lbs. Waist belt fits well. There is plenty of mesh in the seat of the saddle, which I prefer over my tethrd mantis. I also like the bags that came attached to the saddle.
My problem with the trophyline is the hip pinch. I think it has to do with the bridge location on the saddle. I’ve tried adjusting the bridge length, tether height, and saddle placement on my hips. The pinch is not too bad when leaning, but for me it is unbearable when sitting. I will be sticking with my tethrd mantis.


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I also think the bridge location is causing the problem. I have adjusted it numerous ways and it seems to keep the pressure on the top strap behind where the bridge is attached. It feels like I am not sitting into the mesh all the way because of it.
 
Sent mine back last week, as was said in a prior post, could not relieve the hip pinch no matter how I adjusted my tether height. The earlier models have way more thigh support for sitters. I compared it against my older mesh and leather TL’s no comparison...was kinda hoping they would have nailed this one but I can’t say they did for those that are sitters bs leaners.


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baz77 said:
sending mine back ...just not for me. I like the flex and my mantis better.
Click to expand...

Same for me. Did not like the bridge. Was concerned that the LM loops would in a weird position. Finally the leg strap seem to dig into my thighs. Sticking with Mantis for now gunna try a Kite at some point.
 
I finally found my sweet spot with it yesterday. Shortened the prusik on the tether considerably and finally got rid of the hip pinch when sitting. This is my first saddle so nothing to compare to and i love the concept. Sold my API climber which i stopped using for the most part years ago. Have several preset lock ons that will come down after season and be sold more than likely. I will keep the sticks up for quicker set ups.
 
Mine will end up going back messed with it for 3 hrs trying to get rid of hip pinch just cant get it comfortable. Wishbid have just ordered a mantis for my first saddle

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