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Saddle riding up

B

beej32

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 10, 2017
Messages
279
Using a kestrel, any tips on keeping it from riding up? I try keeping the waist band just below my belt, but if inevitably winds up around resting about my lower back. I’ve tried tightening the waist band as much as possible, varying degrees of tightness in the leg straps, and the side adjustments.

I suspect this is user error and there’s a simple fix, but I haven’t been able find it yet.
 
If my tether gets much above my chin that angle causes my saddle to ride up uncomfortably high. I prefer mid-chest. I am just finding too some setups are just more a struggle than others. I was set up in a tiny tree last night with a lot of lean and just could not get comfortable.
 
elk yinzer said:
If my tether gets much above my chin that angle causes my saddle to ride up uncomfortably high. I prefer mid-chest. I am just finding too some setups are just more a struggle than others. I was set up in a tiny tree last night with a lot of lean and just could not get comfortable.
Click to expand...

Yep. What is your bridge length and tether height? Also, what position do you have the side adjustment buckle set to?
 
Jasper2 said:
Yep. What is your bridge length and tether height? Also, what position do you have the side adjustment buckle set to?
Click to expand...
I’ve tinkered with tether height, going from above my head to about chin level. Bridge is in the ballpark of 24”. Side adjustment I’ve gone from fully tight to completely loose. If those are the things to key in on, it sounds like I just need to be more scientific with my changes- just making one at a time.
 
I found this happening to me yo

I do keep the side straps all the way up
Also I really keep the saddle a good 2 inches below my belt area

I will agree in that different trees require different adjustments on the saddle

Seems fir me at least 12 inch diameter tree or less is best
 
Tightening the leg straps has worked for me, although this results in some uncomfortable pressure points...
 
Push the waist belt strap of saddle underneath your arse. Most of the saddle designs, trying to keep everyone happy, make saddles far to wide and you start out with one weight bearing strap on the small of your back and one under your rear end. This will promote moving up as gravity is pushing you down. Push them both under your rear end once you are set up.

There is not such thing as a saddle that you can wear for hours without making slight adjustments. I think so many new folks are coming into the saddle game with unrealistic expectations. If you want comfort and like to sit and don't want to adjust from time to time - get a Guido's web. If you want a lightweight saddle, that is packable, weighs next to nothing, can get in most any tree, then get a mantis - but just realize you will make adjustments throughout a long sit and you learn to deal with the "pressure points.'

Also, the more you weigh the more pressure you will feel. I had to make an honest assessment 2 years ago - I was FAT. I changed my lifestyle, dropped 40 pounds, added in some weight and core training, and that is helping a lot. I see so many folks worrying about ounces when the biggest weight reduction/savings for many of use lies between our waist and chest.
 
Last edited:
beej32 said:
Using a kestrel, any tips on keeping it from riding up? I try keeping the waist band just below my belt, but if inevitably winds up around resting about my lower back. I’ve tried tightening the waist band as much as possible, varying degrees of tightness in the leg straps, and the side adjustments.

I suspect this is user error and there’s a simple fix, but I haven’t been able find it yet.
Click to expand...
When you get hooked into the tether loosen up your waist belt and then slide the saddle down to a spot where it cups your butt. Once you find the sweet spot there you can use the lower adjusters to make it more comfortable.
 
Had the same problem with the trophy saddle years ago. As Dave said, they are designed too wide. Also as Dave said its normal to adjust once in awhile on a sit, part of saddle hunting. The more you move around, the more its gonna move. The one I use never.....never rides up like that, but its not a wide craddle style like those.
 
I wonder if a guy could put some sort of rubberized texture on the inside of a saddle to keep it from riding around? Or sew a piece of neoprene to the bottom edge. Someone do some testing for me.
 
Wirrex said:
I wonder if a guy could put some sort of rubberized texture on the inside of a saddle to keep it from riding around? Or sew a piece of neoprene to the bottom edge. Someone do some testing for me.
Click to expand...

spray it with plasti-dip
 
beej32 said:
Using a kestrel, any tips on keeping it from riding up? I try keeping the waist band just below my belt, but if inevitably winds up around resting about my lower back. I’ve tried tightening the waist band as much as possible, varying degrees of tightness in the leg straps, and the side adjustments.

I suspect this is user error and there’s a simple fix, but I haven’t been able find it yet.
Click to expand...


I never found a sweet spot with the kestrel. It wasn’t unbearable just more of an aggravation. Came to the conclusion it was the material of my hunting cloths. I wear polyester in early season and the material is slick and nylon bibs in cold weather which is slick. It causes the saddle to ride up and I found my self adjusting every hour or so. I’ve finally gave up sold it and went to the JX3 hybrid. Couldn’t be happier!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Two straps supporting weight - if they are not directly under the weight they will tend to SPREAD (i.e. ride up) you are not going to overcome physics folks. Put both straps under your "arse" (the wider the more likely they will try to ride up or one or the other will take prominence and cause pressure points) and make periodic adjustments.... that and get used to a little discomfort.
 
Like @DaveT1963 and @redsquirrel stated they are spot on!! I think people are looking to sit in a couch while deer hunting lol!! There will always be pressure at some point due to the make up of how they are constructed. Learning how to adjust is critical especially for those that sit long hours or all day like I do!! I don’t experience pain or anything like that but occasionally just need to move a little bit.
 
DaveT1963 said:
Push the waist belt strap of saddle underneath your arse. Most of the saddle designs, trying to keep everyone happy, make saddles far to wide and you start out with one weight bearing strap on the small of your back and one under your rear end. This will promote moving up as gravity is pushing you down. Push them both under your rear end once you are set up.

There is not such thing as a saddle that you can wear for hours without making slight adjustments. I think so many new folks are coming into the saddle game with unrealistic expectations. If you want comfort and like to sit and don't want to adjust from time to time - get a Guido's web. If you want a lightweight saddle, that is packable, weighs next to nothing, can get in most any tree, then get a mantis - but just realize you will make adjustments throughout a long sit and you learn to deal with the "pressure points.'

Also, the more you weigh the more pressure you will feel. I had to make an honest assessment 2 years ago - I was FAT. I changed my lifestyle, dropped 40 pounds, added in some weight and core training, and that is helping a lot. I see so many folks worrying about ounces when the biggest weight reduction/savings for many of use lies between our waist and chest.
Click to expand...
This is a perfect answer, I'm not as eloquent as Dave, but he is spot on. There is no instant gratification in saddle hunting, it takes work and practice to figure out, "Your Way". You get out of it what you put in it.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 
In my experience it was about 10 set up and short practice sits. Few adjustments and now I feel like mine fits like a glove. I have a Ropeman on my bridge, it frees me up to a lot of different angles and pressure points.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
In my limited experience, I've experienced quite a bit of hip pinch. To the extent that I definitely feel it the day after a sit. I have a horrible back, and I'm used to being in discomfort, so I deal with it. Still making adjustments in hope's of trying to find the sweet spot.

This issue did have me thinking of a potential comfort modification while I was on stand last week. I was envisioning a piece of plastic, wood or aluminum, notched on each end, used as a "spreader" of sorts, wedged between the bridge connection loops on your saddle. Just wide enough to take the pressure off the hips.

The only safety concern I can imagine is if you were to become inverted, you may not be held in as securely. I dont have a lot of hours in the saddle, but I've never even come close to feeling like I'd end up inverted.

Crazy idea? Pose any safety concerns? Just suck it up buttercup?
 
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