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The ultimate ultralight saddle?

justsomedude said:
View attachment 1554 I have a small hammock seat where it is just a short/narrow hammock where you hang the foot end low. It doubles as a gear hammock and backpack cover ...cool piece of kit.

48" long 40" wide camo EpsIlon. Sew double stitched channels into each end and run Amsteel loops (tied or spliced) through each end and girth Hitch to give you a loop at each end. Weighs 3.25oz! Rolls up smaller than a tennis ball.

Well....
I just hooked it to my tether and wrapped it around my back. COMFORTABLE! You can sit in it like a SitDrag and expand the material up behind your back and way down your legs. I was using it without a bridge and just turning inside of it.

You would have to make sure you didn't snag on the material. It isn't silent but it isn't noisy like canvas at all. I didn't have my rock harness yet.

Because it is 48" wide and extends in front and it wraps around you there is zero hip pinch.

Definite possibilities.
I was thinking about making one out of fleece to be silent. I might still try but it won't be as small, light, strong or as easy to move it around for comfort. I would probably reinforce fleece at the channels with some webbing
Click to expand...
Please make me one!! I will pay for supplies and dance at your next wedding!
 
I'm really liking this idea. The fleece material is strong enough to hold your weight? For safety, could you see an external webbing "harness" that would only bear weight if the material failed?
 
See my thread about Ultralight Harnesses. I have a CAMP Alp Racing Harness coming today that is lighter than my carabiner

sampotter said:
I'm really liking this idea. The fleece material is strong enough to hold your weight? For safety, could you see an external webbing "harness" that would only bear weight if the material failed?
Click to expand...
 
UPDATE:

I just spent some time messing with these and shooting out of them. The Wider/longer hammock is definitely better. If you picture the shape of a Hammock when you are laying in it the right way, the middle sags (in both directions).

Sitting ACROSS a Hammock, the front edge will tend to dig into your legs. The narrower the hammock, the more tension will be on the front edge. So the goal is to distribute the stress to even it out.

Running a low tether and putting my Amsteel loops directly on the carabiner with a Ropeman adjusted all the way in was definitely the best. You can pull the back up and get support. If you sit knees into the tree (kneepads) you can make ALL the hotspots go away and it is really nice. If you sit with your legs at about a 90 angle it is really nice.

Using it without a bridge and just turning inside of the hammock didn't bother me. It does make a sound. Enough to matter? We'll see....if you re wearing fleece it is quieter.

I was able to walk halfway around the tree and shoot no problem.
Standing on my platform with my feet right in front of me was comfortable too.
 
sampotter said:
I'm really liking this idea. The fleece material is strong enough to hold your weight? For safety, could you see an external webbing "harness" that would only bear weight if the material failed?
Click to expand...

I would think that would be pretty easy to do. It may be easier IMO to wear a super light weight RC harness with loops for a LB and just put the hammock seat on once you are up the tree. I might mess with this idea over the winter. I'm dialed in with the SitDrag for now so I will stick with it.
 
The fleece stretches A LOT. But it didn't feel scary once it settled.
sampotter said:
I'm really liking this idea. The fleece material is strong enough to hold your weight? For safety, could you see an external webbing "harness" that would only bear weight if the material failed?
Click to expand...
 
I have to do some MATH but I am wondering about an asymmetrical design where the back support side is shorter than the leg support side.
 
justsomedude said:
I am wearing an Alpine Bod with a 24" sling (the little yellow line in the top photo) girth hitched to the front and running straight to the carabiner/ropeman. There is weight loading on the Rock Harness with the Hammock Sling dispersing it. If the hammock snapped, I would just lose my balance a little but wouldn't fall more than a few inches.

If you spread the material out, it goes almost to my knees and under my arms

View attachment 1557 View attachment 1556
Click to expand...
That thing looks super comfortable


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Contact sit drag. He may be interested in a 2.0 version


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Experimented a little. Asymmetrical is the KEY. The Leg side needs to be longer than the back side. But get eh leg side too long and it rolls up on you.

I'm going to research a bit and see if I can find a way to make it adjustable like the whipped end hammocks but have it stay in place when I get it right.
 
BREAKTHROUGH!

I took in one side 2" on each end by folding it one inch at a time and then stitching it up along the edges. I'll reinforce those spots with webbing or grosgrain and it will be easy to identify the top edge.

Now the hammock gives back support without leg pinch and you don't have to run the tether so low.
I did the "Whipped End Method" so there is a ball of fabric on each end and then I triple wrapped my girth hitched amsteel loops to shorten them as well as making the connection more spread out and secure.

Using about a 24" web bridge but will shorten it until I find just the right angle.

Weight including web bridge (tied on no carabiners) is 137gr
 
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On my SMALL version, it is 32" end to end and 23" deep.
I adjusted the back support side in 2" and reinforced the sewn fold on that side with Grosgrain so I can easily identify the back as well as reinforcement.

For me it is more comfortable than the sit drag. I won't know until after a long sit if I will be constantly adjusting the fabric...but that's part of what makes it more comfortable.

I tied on a 6mm accessory cord bridge and the whole thing weighs 73 grams.
 
So Im using 1/4" amsteel for my bridge and feel pretty confident in it. Now I see your pics and gotta ask how small is your amsteel? I know the hamack guys use 7/64, but that seems risky for our situation. I realize you will have a rc harness on, but lets be honest, one fall and being caught by a rc harness and you wont be messing with any ultra light saddles for a long time. :eek:
 
That Amsteel is on a hammock seat I already had. You should see the thin webbing and tiny titanium rope cleats I use with it! (Ground level)

But yeah...I'll probably change them out.
I run my climbing harness with NO slack!
 
I hunted out of a quick-made fleece model this weekend. Definitely stretches a lot but more comfortable than a Tree Saddle. The only time I had "hot spots" was if the material bunched up. Super light weight and packable. Winner for sure.
 
justsomedude said:
On my SMALL version, it is 32" end to end and 23" deep.
I adjusted the back support side in 2" and reinforced the sewn fold on that side with Grosgrain so I can easily identify the back as well as reinforcement.

For me it is more comfortable than the sit drag. I won't know until after a long sit if I will be constantly adjusting the fabric...but that's part of what makes it more comfortable.

I tied on a 6mm accessory cord bridge and the whole thing weighs 73 grams.
Click to expand...
Pics?
 
Pics of the grosgrain part? Just let me know.
The main thing to know is that it doesn't take a LOT of asymmetry to really affect the comfort
 
justsomedude said:
Pics of the grosgrain part? Just let me know.
The main thing to know is that it doesn't take a LOT of asymmetry to really affect the comfort
Click to expand...
I just have a hard time visualizing. Did you start with a square?
 
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