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Sitdrag vs Kestral

Wirrex said:
Another bonus I have found to the firstlite bibs I wear in the saddle... no belt! Even my early season pants I try not to wear a belt for this reason. It’s harder with full pockets.
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I don’t believe in not wearing clothes to make my saddle work. Lol.
And if I’m in clothes it’s more than likely held up by a belt. I can still feel my Father slap me up the back of the neck when my pants would sag a little and my undies would show. In my house we wore under shirts tucked in with your pants pulled up with a belt. No matter what.


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ImThere said:
My best guess i need a size 2. I think the hook ups were to far back and came across my belt that holds up my pants. guys Im not kidding when I say i was praying to God to end the hunt one way or the other . Newtribe is a fantastic company I appreciate everything they do for the saddle community. I was just sharing my experience
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If it was on your belt, you were wearing it too high. I did the same thing the 1st time I put it on and felt the pain. I wear a 34 waist pant. I too find the bridge loops & lineman loops too far back. And attaching anything to the molle loops are too far back and tight to remove. Molle loops are way to tight. Wish I had a size 2. I do t even use the lineman loops. Wish they wasn’t there. Would make it less bulky. I just hook my linemans belt to the bridge loops like I did on the sitdrag. Other than that, I love it and I’m very comfortable in it now that I wear it low. I miss the packability of the sitdrag but I rather hunt in the kestrel than a sitdrag and rock harness.
 
ImThere said:
My first and only sit in a Kestrel I lasted almost 3 hrs after the first hour my hips were hurting. After the first 2 hours I was making myself stay in the tree, hour 3 I climbed down because I ran out of toilet paper to dry up the tears from the mid evil torture device I was wearing. A size 1 is not for me I wear a 36” waist.
I use a sitdrag and love it. I feel comfortable, safe and secure.


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You’d like the size 2 much better.
 
I'm gonna pick up a size 2 in the off season so I can do a fair comparison. If the size 2 wins, I'll keep the size 1 for my kids.

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ImThere said:
I agree, right now Im financing custom sticks so a Kestrel is in the background if even on the radar right now. Its tough being 5'7" and 200lbs lol
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Oh in that case I can definitely say you'd like the 2 better. Not pushing it, just giving you info. You got me, I'm 5'7" 180 and if you're built like me I'm built like a fire hydrant so I'm wider than some of the other small guys.
 
Kestrel was a non-starter for me. When I got it and tried it on, I could not reach the linemans hookup on the right side. I have shoulder arthritis and a bone spur that lowers my range of motion in my right arm. I had to send it back. Never attached it to a tree. A shame, as it is high quality and I liked it.

For me, sit drag w/ RC harness backup early season (when too hot for Guidos Web), then Guidos Web with RC harness backup for the remainder of the season.
 
ImThere said:
I agree, right now Im financing custom sticks so a Kestrel is in the background if even on the radar right now. Its tough being 5'7" and 200lbs lol
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I’ve got a size two you are welcome to try out in February. It took a while to get used to the linesmans loops being back like they are. It is nice sometimes. When I have to go around a limb I use my tether as a second linesmans and there is no way the carabiners will bump each other and make noise. Also when hooking into the tether it doesn’t interfere with the bridge.
 
I can’t imagine that a sit and drag is more comfortable than a TL neoprene. I’ve never hunted out of a S&D but I have hunted out of my TL for 10 years.


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I plan to get a Kestral to reduce bulk for hiking in hill country.


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I made a replica of a Kestrel this summer and hunted opening day this year in VA from sunrise to sunset - and I forgot my knee pad and dont own knee pads. That was the longest hunting set I have ever conducted, almost 13 hours.
I was in a tree the following morning hanging in a saddle.

My point is that all saddles can be comfortable, the key is to adjust to a different position before you 'have' to move because you are in pain.
Small movements are easy with a Ropeman or other device and a couple inches high or low makes a HUGE difference.
Hard soled boots on a platform makes a HUGE difference in foot comfort.
Taking the extra minute or two to ensure your platform is set up where you need it so you can relax from your tether males a HUGE difference.

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Plattmasterson said:
I can’t imagine that a sit and drag is more comfortable than a TL neoprene. I’ve never hunted out of a S&D but I have hunted out of my TL for 10 years.


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I hunted from a TL from 2009-2015. Switched to a Sitdrag and wouldn't go back to my TL.

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Well season’s been over for me since Nov 19. I went to Va the 29th of Oct slept in a tent and hunted every day except Sundays. Took Evo SD and Kestrel S1. Had climber hang on’s with sticks bolts Trophy Stepp and XOP climber top. I saw 11 deer off stand in 18 sit’s out of Kestrel several 10 to 12 hour sit’s. I set in my climber one day and and hated it. Every other sit was my Kestrel all but two were with XOP climber top. With the XOP while climbing on most tree’s you have to hang out of your saddle to readjust the platform because of tree getting smaller as you climb. With SD I didn’t feel as safe as Kestrel with leg straps. I would put Kestrel on when leaving 4 to 5 in the morning with only waist buckled. Depending on how far I walked and temp how much clothing to take with me. The buckles made it so easy to add clothes at the tree after walking in. I would read this website at night in tent and started reading about hip pinch and the size 2 being a little bigger with lineman loops longer and bridge loops longer also so I ordered one but was already happy with the 1. All this being said I’m in Cyprus right now but when I get home in mid Jan there will probably be a lot of my stuff for sale but don’t think Kestrel is one of them. Don’t keep notes so am not sure how many hours I put in it but 18 days minimum 6 hours. No luck missed biggest buck I’ve ever shot at 10 yards and gut shot a 120 eight point at about the same. Not proud of it but that was my season. Can’t wait till next year.


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ImThere said:
I don’t believe in not wearing clothes to make my saddle work. Lol.
And if I’m in clothes it’s more than likely held up by a belt. I can still feel my Father slap me up the back of the neck when my pants would sag a little and my undies would show. In my house we wore under shirts tucked in with your pants pulled up with a belt. No matter what.


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That gave me a good laugh and fond memories. My Pap would never have stepped foot out of his bedroom without a belt and a hankie in his back pocket. If you didn't have either, you might as well be barefoot!

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I have used just about every saddle out there at some point. All of them have pros and cons.

I used the kestrel for most of this season. It is great tool if you want to combine a hunting tool (saddle) with a fall restraint device. I don't.

I personally am going back to a minimalist saddle of my own design (taken from studying John E's saddle) that has a sole purpose: to be an efficient hunting tool that allows me to get the most shots off with as little movement and noise as possible. I add a very lightweight (under 1 pound) rock harness as a fall restraint device. My saddle allows me to rotate it in and to adjust it so I can make just about any shot I encounter. It does not have a lot of comfort features - it is a hunting tool. But I can and do lean/sit all day with no problem.

My approach is not for everyone that's for sure. But my entire saddle, rock harness, lineman's belt and tether fit into a small pouch on the side of my pack. My platform fits inside my pack and my three sticks are now latched to my pack. My total set up for sticks, foot aider, saddle, rock harness, platform and tether is right at 13 pounds.... but more importantly, it allows me 360 shooting with far less movement, and far more balance/gravity control without using my hands, than a ring of steps. I can add the top of my third stick for really big trees to allow for shooting for directly behind it (which I never had to do this entire season).

My climbing system easily allows me to reach 20 foot which I seldom go past) but I can alter and use a one stick climbing if I want to get additional height - I seldom need to.

Not knocking anyone else's preferences, but when someone declares this is the best way I usually laugh a little and move on. There is no one single best way. Use the tool that meets your purpose, meets your safety requirements, and is an asset to the way you hunt. For me, I want a simple system, that can be carried in a pack, cuts down on noise and movement, is safe, and allows me to get off unplanned shots (I still have not trained deer to walk where I think they should - especially old bucks). I want it to be universal in that I can use it in any tree I encounter while I hunt/scout. I am always seeking for new and improved methods and tools but they have to meet my requirements listed above or it doesn't make it past the trail and error.

As far as comfort - I think it takes some hours in a saddle to build up your core muscles. I use mine throughout the year (scouting, setting up cameras, prepping trees, and shooting).... I also practice my climbing a lot during the off season so I can do it in the dark or with just a very faint red glow type head lamp. When hunting I slow way down, take my time and try my best to climb trees totally undetected. Since I hunt a lot of doe bedding areas in Nov I cannot tell you how many does I have had bedded within 50 yards of me as I climb a tree. In fact I have had numerous deer walk by my tree while I was climbing it. Once I leave the ground the only thing I have on a haul line is my bow.

I have eliminated individual foot aiders on sticks as I had two different bucks get nervous and alter their course last year when they saw them fluttering in the wind. I now use one and it goes up with me and then in the pack. I spend an enormous amount of time working out my approach to stand. I carry pruners with me and a saw so that when and if I find hot sign I pick the right tree and I get in it.

So I encourage everyone try some things. Don't become closed minded. take everything stated on the forums as a starting point and with a grain of salt. Write a list of the attributes you want in your saddle system and then use some problem solving to pick out what will work best for you. Some might need more comfort - so use a back band, wood seat, etc.... whatever it takes. Trust me when I say that no one has the right solution - they have the right solution for them.

So if you back is hurting after a hunt - trouble shoot why. if your feet get sore - trouble shoot why, if you get busted moving - trouble shoot why.... That is how you will perfect "your system" for you... lots of options and info these days.

Shoot straight.
 
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I agree with @DaveT1963 that there is no single set of tools that is perfect for everyone.

However, for those guys new to saddle hunting, that do not have the luxury of owning all these different methods, I would suggest this setup to learn.

Saddle - Aerohunter Kestrel
Platform - Ring of steps (5 Ameristeps, 5 Bullman Outdoors Silent Approach steps, or 3 Wild Edge Stepp Ladders)
Climbing method - climbing sticks (LoneWolf, Muddy, or Helium) with aiders if necessary for your preferred hunting height.

Again, saddle hunting is not one-size-fits-all. After hunting with nearly every saddle setup imaginable, if I had to pick 1 system to start with, I'd go with up above.

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g2outdoors said:
I agree with @DaveT1963 that there is no single set of tools that is perfect for everyone.

However, for those guys new to saddle hunting, that do not have the luxury of owning all these different methods, I would suggest this setup to learn.

Saddle - Aerohunter Kestrel
Platform - Ring of steps (5 Ameristeps, 5 Bullman Outdoors Silent Approach steps, or 3 Wild Edge Stepp Ladders)
Climbing method - climbing sticks (LoneWolf, Muddy, or Helium) with aiders if necessary for your preferred hunting height.

Again, saddle hunting is not one-size-fits-all. After hunting with nearly every saddle setup imaginable, if I had to pick 1 system to start with, I'd go with up above.

Sent from my Galaxy S8.
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True. I'd add a platform asterisk. I know at least 3 dozen hunters that reconsidered and stuck with saddle hunting after switching to a platform vs. the steps. It's gotten to the point that platform guys are more common than the step guys.

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Platforms are tough to beat. I have several. Still, if I had to pick one, I'd pick the steps. I think they're a little more versatile.

However, I don't think you can go wrong either way.

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