Tethrd Mantis & Aero Hunter Kestrel Comparison

[flinginairos]

Received my Tethered micro adjusters tonight. Only thing Tethrd designed I haven't been impressed with. The G hook you can't use one-handed. Should be a plastic ladderlock. And it doesn't take up nearly as much slack as the New Tribe adjuster. Which for me is key because that is my comfort adjust to walk in with the saddle. Kinda negates the weight advantage if I can't wear it hiking in. I can't get the Mantis to where I feel I can walk comfortably in it.

Are you tucking the bridge into the belt to pull the side loops closer together? I can’t even tell mine is on me while walking.


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[Jasper2]

Great comparison

I have hunted out of both the kestrel and now the mantis this season...

Really no difference in comfort.
As you mentioned the mantis is much lighter
A plus for me... the kestrel is hard to wear into a hunting spot for me it tends to fall off my butt... no problem with the mantis it stays on when walking in. That may be a problem just for some people. I always had to wear suspenders with the kestrel

The mantis has much less over build IMO... which makes it lighter.

As you mentioned I wish the leg straps on the mantis had some type of keeper.

As flinginairos mentioned, the key to keeping them up while walking in is to bring the bridge loops closer together so it wraps around you more and tightens up a bit. I run the bridge back through the bridge loops and hook it with a biner. Also, a couple of o-rings seem to be working for me on the Mantis leg strap "excess" just don't know how they will hold up yet....time will tell.

 

[Ontariofarmer]

Received my Tethered micro adjusters tonight. Only thing Tethrd designed I haven't been impressed with. The G hook you can't use one-handed. Should be a plastic ladderlock. And it doesn't take up nearly as much slack as the New Tribe adjuster. Which for me is key because that is my comfort adjust to walk in with the saddle. Kinda negates the weight advantage if I can't wear it hiking in. I can't get the Mantis to where I feel I can walk comfortably in it.

My mantis stays on me but my kestrel falls off my butt. So I guess we are opposite. Maybe it depends on how we are built. I need suspenders with the kestrel

 

[elk yinzer]

Are you tucking the bridge into the belt to pull the side loops closer together? I can’t even tell mine is on me while walking.


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That does help take up the rest of the slack. Good call. I might even secure them together with a light strap or bungee.

https://saddlehunter.com/community/...ite-vs-mantis-review-compare.9614/post-147873

This post I did a comparison and the Kite takes up about 6" of slack and the Mantis is about 2.5". I'm not sure that is relevant to comfort in the tree but it is what is causing the lack of snugness on my arse while walking. But securing the bridge is a good workaround.

 

[Wolfie]

So , I’ve been thinking of switching from a size 2 kite to a large mantis. I think the kite is just too big for me. It rides high on my back. For those of you that have both or have compared the two. I would like some input regarding fit. Has anyone had any luck using a size smaller saddle than recommended?

 

[Carcher87]

I am plenty happy in the kestrel this year. Interested in the Mantis but when some people trade or sell the Manits for kestrel or kite I always ask why. Could just be they like to tinker