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Official " Tethrd Mantis " Review Thread!

I have hunted out of my XL mantis several times now for about 4 hours each time. I have experienced hip pinch each time. I prefer to sit over lean but I cant do over 3-4 hour sits in it. I am thinking about a longer amsteel bridge maybe? Is there an easy way to undo the splices on the amsteel bridge? Right now I am really struggling with this whole system.


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First hunt in the mantis on Monday was a little rough and not as comfortable as the kestrel. Shortened my distel hitch and played around with tether height - yesterday afternoon was awesome
 
Mengle said:
First hunt in the mantis on Monday was a little rough and not as comfortable as the kestrel. Shortened my distel hitch and played around with tether height - yesterday afternoon was awesome
Click to expand...

What tether height did you settle on and what is a distel hitch?


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A replacement for the prussik. I used the rope the tethered prussiks are made of and had extra the first time I hunted with it. I shortened it and cut the excess.
Between my chin and forehead is pretty comfortable and I slide my distel hitch up and down to lean or sit.
 
My review is my wife said I officially own one today. It was ordered on May 28th L and if I’m a good boy I can take it to Va when I get home. In about three weeks.
This came with no notification notice.

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Legs straps hooked up on the main belt location and loose made a difference for me. Also longer bridge and head high tether around the tree made the most difference. Playing with belt position up and down to equal out pressure on the upper and lower strap is something else that helped.

A small screw driver can be used to pull out the bury in the bridge. I hadn’t tried it on the mantis but it should work unless there is stitching I haven’t noticed.
 
swampsnyper said:
Legs straps hooked up on the main belt location and loose made a difference for me. Also longer bridge and head high tether around the tree made the most difference. Playing with belt position up and down to equal out pressure on the upper and lower strap is something else that helped.

A small screw driver can be used to pull out the bury in the bridge. I hadn’t tried it on the mantis but it should work unless there is stitching I haven’t noticed.
Click to expand...

Too completely remove the bridge? Or to lengthen it?
 
Got my large Mantis today. Spent more time staring at it and fiddling for fun than actually hanging in it. Hung for 10 minutes or so. More pressure on top belt vs bottom. Could kind if see what some guys mean be feeling like you're falling out of it. Switched to lower leg connection and noticed more cuppage on bottom belt. I think the micro adjusters are going to do their job well if my imagination is imagining it the way I should be imagining it. Imagine that. I will have to try sliding the bridge on bridge loops like some guys are suggesting. I like the waist buckle. It can be done super quietly if you push the two release tabs during insertion. The leg straps are simple and functional. When practicing positioning for the drop shot, I had discomfort where the bridge was sort of pinching my belly. I figure I'm not going to be spending a whole sit in this position, so I really don't care. The build quality of this saddle is exceptional. Lightweight and SUPER strong. Feels like a very high quality piece equipment. Probably one of the coolest pieces of hunting gear I've ever purchased. Wore it around the yard. Wore it in the house. Put each of my kids in it and gave them a Mantis ride. Flexed my backside in it for the Mrs. Got the "diaper" comment. So much has happened since I got my Mantis. Looking forward to more.
 
@Country I’m fat enough the bridge pinches my belly all the time. Should have ordered a xxl. The drop shot is rough for me. I think it’s the thin amsteel more than the mantis itself. Good news is you don’t have to stay that way long.
 
EricS said:
@Country I’m fat enough the bridge pinches my belly all the time. Should have ordered a xxl. The drop shot is rough for me. I think it’s the thin amsteel more than the mantis itself. Good news is you don’t have to stay that way long.
Click to expand...
Yeah... working on that gut little by little. Was worried I should've bought the medium. Opened the package and looked at the size of the large and thought "Shoot...maybe I should've gotten the medium.". Tried it on and I'm happy I got the large.
 
First hunt out of my Mantis tonight. I found it quite comfortable probably more so than my Kestrel. Love the leg strap design on these. In that way it is definitely nicer than my Kestrel. I think this one was home run! Way to go @g2outdoors and @Erniepower.

You guys that are considering canceling Mantis orders need to hang on a little longer. :)

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Aeds151 said:
Anyone else have something to say about the XL Mantis? At 6’-5” 250lbs, Im wondering if this thing will fit me comfortably or be lacking in material to cup me from lower back to under the thighs.


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Click to expand...
6’1 285 lbs here. I think it fits me great.
 
I’ve had chance to hunt with my system a couple times really like the mantis I can’t see myself ever going back to traditional stands again. Can’t wait to get the pouches and backband to fully trick it out.

For the predator it’s a love hate thing with it. I like it but it’s a noisy little beast. I hit with some graphite when I initially got it made it through the first 4 hour hunt no problem ... 1 hour into the second hunt and it started to pop and creak again. I hope we are not expected to disassemble and lubricate every other hunt....I’ve got two big out of state hunts coming up and I’m not sure right now if it’s going with me or not. Never had this issue with any of my cast lone wolf products. I expect a little more for what we paid for this thing.
 
baz77 said:
I’ve had chance to hunt with my system a couple times really like the mantis I can’t see myself ever going back to traditional stands again. Can’t wait to get the pouches and backband to fully trick it out.

For the predator it’s a love hate thing with it. I like it but it’s a noisy little beast. I hit with some graphite when I initially got it made it through the first 4 hour hunt no problem ... 1 hour into the second hunt and it started to pop and creak again. I hope we are not expected to disassemble and lubricate every other hunt....I’ve got two big out of state hunts coming up and I’m not sure right now if it’s going with me or not. Never had this issue with any of my cast lone wolf products. I expect a little more for what we paid for this thing.
Click to expand...

I have totally silenced my predator by lubing with bow wax and gluing a piece of tubular webbing to where the adjustment bolt meets metal. I can’t take credit for the webbing, I heard it from @Nutterbuster
 
I’m going to try bow wax this time see if it does better I already glued a thick rubber washer where the bolt contacts works like a charm..I hope like hell it stays quite this time because I loved hunting off it the day it was silent.
 
Tjraley2 said:
I have totally silenced my predator by lubing with bow wax and gluing a piece of tubular webbing to where the adjustment bolt meets metal. I can’t take credit for the webbing, I heard it from @Nutterbuster
Click to expand...

X2 When you wax it make sure you get the entire bolt that makes contact with the post. I even put nylon washers on both ends of the bolt. Not sure it helped after throughly waxing the bolt and installing webbing patch but I cant get it to make a sound.


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Chistavocat said:
X2 When you wax it make sure you get the entire bolt that makes contact with the post. I even put nylon washers on both ends of the bolt. Not sure it helped after throughly waxing the bolt and installing webbing patch but I cant get it to make a sound.


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Click to expand...

I didn’t have washers, so I cut a coffee can lid up and made my own washers. Like you, not sure if it helped. But I know it’s quiet now!
 
tam9492 said:
Too completely remove the bridge? Or to lengthen it?
Click to expand...

To completely remover the bridge. You can’t lengthen it. So much has to be buried to meet safety specs. You will have to make a new bridge to size or a whoopi sling as an adjustable bridge.
 
EricS said:
@Country I’m fat enough the bridge pinches my belly all the time. Should have ordered a xxl. The drop shot is rough for me. I think it’s the thin amsteel more than the mantis itself. Good news is you don’t have to stay that way long.
Click to expand...

Try a strap bridge.
 
I may tie on a webbing bridge to play with different lengths. I can deal with it no longer than I have to be in position to shoot.
 
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