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SRT Hunting

J

Jfastenal1

New Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2020
Messages
11
I have just started to get into SRT hunting and I like it but it’s is wearing me out when I do it.I use a tethrd phantom saddle had it for 3 years now but I just can not get it comfortable enough to ascend. I tried it low on my butt and a little higher on my waistline. The higher helps a little but still doesn’t feel completely comfortable. As I’m going up my bridge puts pressure on my chest and stomach so I pulled slack of the bridge just a bit so it’s not so close to my stomach and it seemed to help. I want to figure out a way ti make this work so I’m not going to give up on but it would be awesome to hear bigger guys using srt for hunting and what worked for them. I might just need a 2 panel saddle but that won’t be to after season I can get it. Any feed back would be appreciated.
 
Jfastenal1 said:
I have just started to get into SRT hunting and I like it but it’s is wearing me out when I do it.I use a tethrd phantom saddle had it for 3 years now but I just can not get it comfortable enough to ascend. I tried it low on my butt and a little higher on my waistline. The higher helps a little but still doesn’t feel completely comfortable. As I’m going up my bridge puts pressure on my chest and stomach so I pulled slack of the bridge just a bit so it’s not so close to my stomach and it seemed to help. I want to figure out a way ti make this work so I’m not going to give up on but it would be awesome to hear bigger guys using srt for hunting and what worked for them. I might just need a 2 panel saddle but that won’t be to after season I can get it. Any feed back would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
What’s your SRT system look like? Are you using a belay device (gri gri or Madrock), pulley and a carabiner with a traditional hip thrust technique? Are you using the same set up with a leg loop and doing the sit stand advance method? Or are you using a friction hitch, a rope wrench and a couple foot ascenders so you can rope walk? I ask because it you are doing a sit stand advance or a hip thrust method, you might be better off with a pleated saddle or possibly a 2 panel saddle. Another thing is to shorten your bridge. It shouldn’t be up to your chest while climbing. You would shorten it to provide more pulling room while you climb and also to give more saddle squeeze while you climb.
 
I’m using grigri+ with a pulley carabiner with a foot loop attached to a hand ascender. Using the sit to stand and I did the shorten bridge all the way but it seems to constrict me while climbing so I let it off just and it seemed to work better. I’m thinking the 2 panel also but for right now I can only use my phantom saddle until later.
 
I’m not a big dude, but I tried DDRT with a phantom and always found it uncomfortable. I tried every possible configuration with the saddle and eventually just came to feel that its ergonomics were not compatible with rope climbing for me. Since then I have found other saddles that simply feel better ascending.
 
Get some rope or webbing and tie a second, super-short bridge onto your saddle. You can use a carabiner on one side and a lark’s head on the other, and it’ll be removable. This will be your “climbing bridge” only, and you can remove it if necessary while you’re actually hunting and tethered in, but you could also just leave it in place. Your normal bridge will only be for tethering in at that point.
 
I found a 2 panel to be MUCH more comfortable for one-sticking and SRT.
 
Yeah, a larger saddle or a two panel will probably alleviate the discomfort. I'm a big guy and climb SRT using basically the same setup, except for the saddle. I started with a Merlin (pleated) and now use a 2 panel. The 2 panel is more comfortable, but the Merlin was not bad at all. I did a ton of climbs with it. If you can't afford a different saddle at the moment, and are committed to this climbing method, you'll have to just make adjustments to make it as comfortable as you can for the time being. Luckily, you should only be spending a few moments/minutes climbing, so you don't have to deal with the discomfort too long.

For the bridge length, you don't want it super short. When sitting in my saddle and all hooked up, I found it worked best for me around belly height/below my chest.
 
Jfastenal1 said:
I’m using grigri+ with a pulley carabiner with a foot loop attached to a hand ascender. Using the sit to stand and I did the shorten bridge all the way but it seems to constrict me while climbing so I let it off just and it seemed to work better. I’m thinking the 2 panel also but for right now I can only use my phantom saddle until later.
Click to expand...
You picked a saddle with some of the smallest surface coverage to climb in. Sounds like that is your comfort issue. You wouldn’t believe the difference a larger seating surface such as a pleated saddle, makes when rope climbing. I personally prefer a single panel but I think you’ll find any pleated saddle or any two panel will be better suited to your climbing style
 
Exactly what these guys said. I first tried SRT and 1-sticking in a Flex. Normally a comfortable saddle but for this, I hated it. Switching to my Evo or my Latitude 2 was night and day. Totally comfortable and relaxed in either of those two compared to the Flex. (The Flex found a new home)
 
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