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Saddle comparisons

I think my body was built for the saddle lol. I have spent extensive time in the Kestrel and Mantis and to me I can make them feel the same. I am just fine in the Sitdrag as well. There's tricks to each one and you for sure can't wear them all exactly the same and expect the same results. I think some guys are sizing too big as well. I have a hard time in a large Mantis wanting to slide on me. The medium is no issue and more comfortable to me. It's hard to know what to go with tho unless you can try several on which is a problem for most guys.
 
I said the flex is more comfortable, but still haven't hunted out of it... still give the nod to mantis when I go out into the woods... at least so for this year which is only one deer hunt. That may change, but so for love the simplicity of the stock amsteel bridge on mantis and its definitely cooler. My flex has the adjustable rope bridge... not what I'm used to and bulky... so I may either use it as LB/bridge combo. Also thinking of going to 8mm Oplux bridge/LB combo on my mantis once I feel like replacing the amsteel.
Nice to have things to tinker with... I spend for more time doing that and on this forum than hunting. ***.
 
I have a flex and mantis and find the flex takes less fuss to be comfortable but the mantis is lighter, simpler and packs smaller. So far this year all hunts I’ve taken the mantis.
 
redsquirrel said:
I wear my saddle in on almost every hunt. I find it to be perfect. On a preset tree I can literally walk right up to it and start climbing!
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Second that. Wore my Kestrel (no suspenders, size 1 and it’s kinda big on me) for 4 hours this morning and I didn’t even climb a tree. Only noticed its absence after hunting, not its presence while hiking.
 
ImThere said:
17 post and not one person likes the Mantis?
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OK, I'll chime in. So far, for me the Mantis has been the best fit. I loved my size 2 Kestrel the first year I had it but for me the Mantis XL gets the nod ever so slightly. I'm not getting rid of the Kestrel but I'm grabbing the Mantis for hunts. Still want to try a Kite and a Tactisaddle . . you never know until you sit in them.
 
ImThere said:
17 post and not one person likes the Mantis?
The Kestrel size 1 had me begging for death after the 2nd hour in the tree. I’m 2 years in to the kestrel size 2 and my sitdrag gets the nod most of the time. I forced myself to use it exclusively for 1 year and still ended up in the sitdrag! Lol. The second year it grew on me a little bit but only after I put like a 30” bridge on it (thanks @swampsnyper !)
I sat in the Mantis XL and knew right away it was too big. I would like to try an large or Med.

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I didn’t say I don’t like my Mantis, I just said my Kestrel is more comfy. I will never get rid of either one.


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ImThere said:
17 post and not one person likes the Mantis?
The Kestrel size 1 had me begging for death after the 2nd hour in the tree. I’m 2 years in to the kestrel size 2 and my sitdrag gets the nod most of the time. I forced myself to use it exclusively for 1 year and still ended up in the sitdrag! Lol. The second year it grew on me a little bit but only after I put like a 30” bridge on it (thanks @swampsnyper !)
I sat in the Mantis XL and knew right away it was too big. I would like to try an large or Med.

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Like I said before, all my aerohunter saddles are in a tub.... they were too bulky, restricting and noisy..... I saw ZERO comfort difference between them. My four Mantis saddles are washed, modded and waiting for next Tuesday. I could hunt with anyone of them ( AH or Tetherd) as I like both companies. But I choose to hunt with the Mantis as it fits my style of run and gun, packs up very small, and it is quiet. And if that wasnt enough, which it is for me, my final reason is Greg and Ernie. They were part of all the DIY days, are long time saddle hunters, and Greg is a brother in arms.

Ok, time for the stalkers to start swarming again.
 
I have more experience with the Mantis than the Kestrel. So far I like both. I get the most comfort out of the Mantis when I use the bottom leg loop hook ups and cinch the micro adjusters and leg straps until I have equal pressure on the top and bottom of the saddle. This ensures that the rear is being cupped perfectly by the mesh. Try it out!
 
I have both the mantis and the Kestrel. My Kestrel is more comfortable so that’s what I use. I’ll take the little extra bulk and weight to sit comfortable for hours. I wish I had light weight, packable, safe, and comfortable but that saddle hasn’t been made yet for me.
I’ve had a few people come to my house to try my saddles before making the big investment. They preferred the Kestrel also. That has just been my experience, since you asked.
 
Well maybe I’m just slower than y’all but I’m perfectly comfortable in my little ole DIY SitDrag. I walk in with it, I walk out with it, I ride my bike wearing it, I paddle my kayak without removing it. I might even try wear it to bed. :hearteyes:
 
I’ve tried to spend time in all I can get my hands on. I haven’t sat in a leather trophyline but the ambush was comfy enough but too big. I ran two sit drags independent of each other and that was pretty comfortable. Then aerohunter came out with the kestrel. It’s the most comfortable for me of the “minimalist” saddle for me it is also the bulkiest of them with exception to maybe the flex but I haven’t had the opportunity to try it. The kestrel is bomb proof. I’ve never had to search for comfort in it. While I have made adjustments here and there it was comfortable from day one. It’s also my experimental climbing methods saddle because it has just enough structure that I feel safe doing what could be considered stupid stuff. What I can’t do with the kestrel is wear any pouches on it and I really need to add suspenders to it If I don’t want to stop and pull it up every 50’.
Then the mantis appeared. I struggled to find comfort in the mantis. It was there to be had but unlike the kestrel I had to work at it to find the comfort level I wanted for hunts lasting more than a couple hours. The good thing is I can run a pouch on it and it stays on my waist on the walk in.
I now have a kite. It’s somewhere between the kestrel and mantis but I really need to upgrade the hardware because the factory buckles kind of suck.
The jx3 is pretty comfortable. Not sure if I really consider it a saddle but for all day rifle hunting in the rut it will shine. It’s not always about the lightest most compact way to get in a tree. It will never be my go to saddle for every situation but for some situations it just shines.
Many guys here say comfort is way down on their lists of necessary features. They tough it out because they are there to kill deer and not hang out in comfort. I say all that is BS. Find something your comfortable in. Fine tune it to your needs and hunt. Weight is a big deal but who cares if I have to carry an extra pound of weight for two miles if It means I’m comfortable for the next four hours. If your comfortable you will move less and sit longer. To me that translates into killing more deer. That doesn’t mean that you want find the absolute lightest saddle more comfortable and if you do congrats. I’m just saying that there’s no need to sit in an ultra lightweight saddle that your uncomfortable in just to save a pound.
 
I have not tried an actual kestrel but have made the kestrel clone that is floating around on here. I find it to be comfortable but to me the mantis is actually more comfortable. I lean 90-95 percent of the time and it is way more comfortable for me to lean in. If I would be a sitter, I think the kestrel would get the nod.

I seem to be grabbing my diy sit drag/ mantis hybrid out of fleece this year. It is comfy both sitting and leaning. I'm also really liking my wraptor but I need to do some mods to keep it from getting tangled.

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I really like my leather trophyline saddle. It's the only saddle I've had so I cant compare but it is comfy. I put suspenders on it and could walk all day with it. Probably not the lightest set up but I'd rather hike with extra ounces than be uncomfortable and fidgety during a hunt.

As I primarily hunt with firearms I am very interested in picking up a jx3 for next year. Figure I can use my trophyline for my "hike into public land" saddle and the jx3 where my walk in isn't as long.

I have the tethrd recliner and it is ok for a lean. When I want to sit and wear it higher under my armpits it pinches and leaves bruises on my lats. Have a nicely padded weight lifting belt I'm gonna make into a recliner for when I want it. I like back support.

Would love to try out some other saddles. Love how lightweight and packable the mantis looks. If I could make that work for me I'd much rather have that for a lightweight set up. I'd have to try it out before I buy though.

I was able to get into saddle hunting pretty cheap. Got a heck of a deal on my trophy line by checking around locally. Picked up for $75. Got 12 primal steps for $70. Some skateboard grip tape and reflective strip for $20. An HSS tether for another $20 or right around that. A gear hanger off Amazon for another $20. Right at $200 to get my initial set up. Not too bad.

Of course now I'm all interested in trying out bow hunting so we'll see how much I can devote to that for next year. Gonna have to get a bow soon so I can spend the next year becoming proficient. Was thinking of making a takedown recurve out of some gemsbuck horns but that will have to be after hunting season for time.

This turned into an off topic ramble. Anyway, I like the leather trophyline is the point.
 
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