I think the Tethd team seem really nice and they do a lot for the saddle community, vets, etc but I think you'd be hard pressed to talk to guys that have tried a bunch of different saddles and say their products were the best. Cruzr has a strong following, Latitude has had lots of positive things said about them, Treehopper Recon seems to have a strong following, etc, etc. Spend some time on here, read lots of past threads, and don't be afraid to experiment. Picking the right saddle is like picking the perfect pair of jeans. What you love may be the worst thing I've ever tried. It's very individual just like your climbing method, your tether height, what ropes you like and on and on and on. What's great about saddle hunting is it's not a one size fits all. You can tailor everything to what works for you and what you enjoy. Like Wallhanger said, it takes some saddle time to find the perfect set up so don't expect to hit it out of the park with the first purchase. I'd wait until after the holidays when everyone has bought new stuff and wants to get rid of their barely used stuff. Hunting seasons will be over for the most part so demand will be lower and you may be able to find a good deal for your starter kit.