I use the Kestrel size 2. I am a 44" waist and have no issue. Even with more cloths in the colder season. I use 3 lone wolf sticks and 1 hawk as my top. Most of the season I utilized the hawk as my platform with a ring of steps. I did get a preaditor platform at the end of the season. Love it. It feels more comfortable to me. I did set it at the same height as my hawk step so I can still move around the tree a bit.
This is my first year using a saddle. I didn't have hip pinch as much as gut pinch. The length of the bridge made a big difference in comfort. DIY sportsman showed a mod where you use a prusik knot on 1 side of the bridge. He did it to allow the bridge to get longer and fit over his head walking in. I tried it and it seemed to help. I also added knee pads for the last few hunts. That helped a lot too.
As far as safety goes, no issue with saddle hunting. All the webbing and ropes are rated for way more than me. Compared to years past using a lock on for mobile hunting I feel much safer. Tied to the tree the entire time and no awkward step onto the stand.
I am still trying to figure out comfort. The back rest, knee pads, changeable bridge length, and preaditor helped but I am not there yet. I read a post somewhere here where all the talk was about cutting ounces from the set up. One dude said he lost 40 lbs and that helped a lot... kind of the obvious thing that cool gear mods won't get ya. I've never been able to pull of any significant and lasting weight loss (short of giving up my lock on for a saddle) but that is the plan for this off season.
Hope this helps.
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