I'm in my late 50's just wondering if a saddle would be a good option to a climber? I can sit for hours in comfort in a climber, but I'm not sure how comfortable I would be in a saddle for any length of time? It also seem like you would have more setup and weight to get to hunting height with a saddle? It's ez taking most shots out of a climber than a saddle? Is a sit drag going to be the same as a saddle?, if you already use a rock climbing harness? So Tell me why a saddle or sit drag would be a better option than a climber at my age? Any thoughts or opinion's or suggustion's would be helpful. Thank for taking the time to answer my thread
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Why a saddle over a climber for being mobile, but most of all being comfortable
- Thread starter blakeman
- Start date
Get a bag of popcorn and start here. Most, if not all of your questions will be answered. @g2outdoors might love saddle hunting more than his own children. The jury is still out! Enjoy!!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCcMKJIVm5mcnHcJlFhluXA
noxninja
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 21, 2015
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- 1,388
I guess it all depends on your style of hunting. By that I mean, how far are you walking? I know that I like covering large portions of ground with terrain is not too agreeable (crossing logs, large ditches, sloughs..etc) to lugging a climbing stand in very far. So mobility is the number one reason that I choose saddle hunting over other methods now in the area that I hunt.
While saddle-hunting rigs can be lighter than climbers, there's a lot of guys on here that are running setups that are just as heavy as my old hand climber. Just about any way you slice it, a climber is also fewer parts. Top, bottom, harness, tether, done. Climbers do have bigger platforms, and shooting from one is a bit more intuitive.
However, a saddle will get you into trees a climber can't. It is also possible to get a setup that is lighter and SUBSTANTIALLY less bulky. See the "Slummin' it in a kestrel" thread, where I have my entire system in a small daypack. Nothing to snag or clank going through the woods.
For me, saddle hunting cost much more and required me to do a lot of thinking and tinkering compared to just using a hand climber, but it allowed me to hunt areas where getting a climber or lock on was simply not possible. Since I hunt mostly large tracts of swampy public ground with no motorized vehicle access, it made sense for me do fork out the cash and work through the learning curve.
Just my honest thoughts. Most of the guys on here are going to be understandably biased in favour of the saddle. Most of the hunting beast guys are going to be biased in favor of lone wolf stands. I've used both of them, and while I'm 90% saddle hunting, I still break out different gear for situations where it makes sense.
However, a saddle will get you into trees a climber can't. It is also possible to get a setup that is lighter and SUBSTANTIALLY less bulky. See the "Slummin' it in a kestrel" thread, where I have my entire system in a small daypack. Nothing to snag or clank going through the woods.
For me, saddle hunting cost much more and required me to do a lot of thinking and tinkering compared to just using a hand climber, but it allowed me to hunt areas where getting a climber or lock on was simply not possible. Since I hunt mostly large tracts of swampy public ground with no motorized vehicle access, it made sense for me do fork out the cash and work through the learning curve.
Just my honest thoughts. Most of the guys on here are going to be understandably biased in favour of the saddle. Most of the hunting beast guys are going to be biased in favor of lone wolf stands. I've used both of them, and while I'm 90% saddle hunting, I still break out different gear for situations where it makes sense.
d_rek
Well-Known Member
@blakeman I see you posting frequently about saddles on archerytalk.com, and am happy to see you've posted here as well. I think you'll get much better responses here than you would on AT.
I will answer each of your questions, but first I want to suggest that you should try and sync up with a saddlehunter who is local to you. There is a saddlehunter google map you can use to find someone close. I think being able to see how a saddle hunter sets up will put most of your basic questions at rest. Here is the link: https://www.google.com/maps/@37.3978941,-86.4406581,5z/data=!4m2!6m1!1s1GhuYfPZR436tAHCVJAi2Z9oc-oc
However, I got an error stating the map had too many layers. Look for the message on the bottom, then tell it to 'open in my maps'. Then you should be able to see all of the users on the map.
I'm in my late 50's just wondering if a saddle would be a good option to a climber?
As you age and are wondering how to reduce the amount of weight you haul into the woods I think a saddle is a great option! Not to say you're incapable of hauling a climber, but i've been there at age 26 - hauling a 20lb+ climber into woods along with other gear. It's no fun. I knew from that first season I had to go lighter.
I can sit for hours in comfort in a climber, but I'm not sure how comfortable I would be in a saddle for any length of time?
Unfortunately there is almost always a 'comfort curve' that has to be gotten over when starting to saddle hunt. And comfort is going to be totally relative. Out of the box your saddle may or may not be as comfortable as a climber. It may take some adjusting and spending time in a particular brand/model of saddle to get dialed in. It might take a sit or two to iron out all of the kinks. Still, on a whole, I find saddles to be much more comfortable than hang on and climbing treestands.
It also seem like you would have more setup and weight to get to hunting height with a saddle?
Potentially. It really depends on your climbing method and platform solution. I know with 4 LW sticks and a DIY XOP platform I am walking into the woods with about 16lbs of gear to climb and get setup at hunting height. Still not bad, but maybe not as lightweight as you'd like. If you use aiders, a SWaider, a Knaider, or other devices to assist in climbing you may significantly reduce weight for mobile hunts.
Also, on private lands where you are comfortable using screw ons or pre-set climbing sticks, your weight can extremely minimal - just your saddle and your bow, and whatever other gear you haul in.
On a whole I would say setup is less bulky but maybe slightly more involved than a climbing treestand, but not drastically so.
It's ez taking most shots out of a climber than a saddle?
Yes, very easy. For the most part it's not much different than shooting out of a regular treestand. Offside and around-the-tree shots can be challenging, but with a little practice can be made comfortably. Shooting, for me, is not an issue out of a saddle.
Is a sit drag going to be the same as a saddle?, if you already use a rock climbing harness?
Honestly I would suggest a commercially made saddle like a aerohunter kestrel or kite (or tethrd mantis, though you may not have it in time or season) before jumping into the DIY saddle game. Unless you really like sewing and DIY projects. The commercial saddles I have owned (I still own a kestrel) are basically bombproof when compared to something like a sitdrag. Though when coupled with a rock climbing harness you still have a relatively safe setup.
So Tell me why a saddle or sit drag would be a better option than a climber at my age?
Assuming you're relatively fit with no major mobility or injuries... saddles are objectively lighter, safer, and give you more options on trees to hunt.
Hope that answers some of your questions.
I will answer each of your questions, but first I want to suggest that you should try and sync up with a saddlehunter who is local to you. There is a saddlehunter google map you can use to find someone close. I think being able to see how a saddle hunter sets up will put most of your basic questions at rest. Here is the link: https://www.google.com/maps/@37.3978941,-86.4406581,5z/data=!4m2!6m1!1s1GhuYfPZR436tAHCVJAi2Z9oc-oc
However, I got an error stating the map had too many layers. Look for the message on the bottom, then tell it to 'open in my maps'. Then you should be able to see all of the users on the map.
I'm in my late 50's just wondering if a saddle would be a good option to a climber?
As you age and are wondering how to reduce the amount of weight you haul into the woods I think a saddle is a great option! Not to say you're incapable of hauling a climber, but i've been there at age 26 - hauling a 20lb+ climber into woods along with other gear. It's no fun. I knew from that first season I had to go lighter.
I can sit for hours in comfort in a climber, but I'm not sure how comfortable I would be in a saddle for any length of time?
Unfortunately there is almost always a 'comfort curve' that has to be gotten over when starting to saddle hunt. And comfort is going to be totally relative. Out of the box your saddle may or may not be as comfortable as a climber. It may take some adjusting and spending time in a particular brand/model of saddle to get dialed in. It might take a sit or two to iron out all of the kinks. Still, on a whole, I find saddles to be much more comfortable than hang on and climbing treestands.
It also seem like you would have more setup and weight to get to hunting height with a saddle?
Potentially. It really depends on your climbing method and platform solution. I know with 4 LW sticks and a DIY XOP platform I am walking into the woods with about 16lbs of gear to climb and get setup at hunting height. Still not bad, but maybe not as lightweight as you'd like. If you use aiders, a SWaider, a Knaider, or other devices to assist in climbing you may significantly reduce weight for mobile hunts.
Also, on private lands where you are comfortable using screw ons or pre-set climbing sticks, your weight can extremely minimal - just your saddle and your bow, and whatever other gear you haul in.
On a whole I would say setup is less bulky but maybe slightly more involved than a climbing treestand, but not drastically so.
It's ez taking most shots out of a climber than a saddle?
Yes, very easy. For the most part it's not much different than shooting out of a regular treestand. Offside and around-the-tree shots can be challenging, but with a little practice can be made comfortably. Shooting, for me, is not an issue out of a saddle.
Is a sit drag going to be the same as a saddle?, if you already use a rock climbing harness?
Honestly I would suggest a commercially made saddle like a aerohunter kestrel or kite (or tethrd mantis, though you may not have it in time or season) before jumping into the DIY saddle game. Unless you really like sewing and DIY projects. The commercial saddles I have owned (I still own a kestrel) are basically bombproof when compared to something like a sitdrag. Though when coupled with a rock climbing harness you still have a relatively safe setup.
So Tell me why a saddle or sit drag would be a better option than a climber at my age?
Assuming you're relatively fit with no major mobility or injuries... saddles are objectively lighter, safer, and give you more options on trees to hunt.
Hope that answers some of your questions.
As far as the weight goes my current saddle set up with climbing equipment, ropes and platform is just lighter then my hang on stand. It was 1/2 hound last time I checked. However, my rock climbing harness I wear in and everything else fits into an incredibly comfortable backpack along with all my other hunting gear. Before when I used the climber exclusively it didn’t matter how I strapped it to my back it wasn’t very comfortable and the options after that to bring the rest of my gear along were limited to the point that I often made two trips in. Once with the climber and then again with everything else. Same would then happen on the way out. Now when I get out of the truck I put my pack on and I have everything i need for just about any situation I find.
As for comfort. My climber is very comfortable and I really thought that I would still use it for some long sits and cold late season sits on the farm. It took some time as I made all my gear myself but once I “found” my saddle I’d sit in that any day over my climber. I even climber with my saddle in the tree next to my hang on stand last season because the saddle is just that much more comfortable. I have taken naps in my set up and never thought twice about it. Even for cold late season hunts I’ve found the Saddle excels. My climber tends to creek quite a bit in cold conditions especially when I’m standing up to warm myself up.
There’s trade offs for everything we use in the woods. Gear equals weight and I haven’t shed any weight by going to a saddle. I have however reduce the number of trips I need to take into the woods thereby increasing how far in I’m willing to go. I no longer have a big climbing stand on my back getting hung up on seemingly every twig and branch in the forest. When I get to a stand location I don’t feel like I just did a bunch of work and I’m more often willing to go a bit farther in search of the perfect tree rather then the tree that’s closest and I can climb with my climber. The saddle has opened up the woods for me in a way that I didn’t think was possible. As I further refine my system it just keeps getting better. I had no idea just how limiting my climbing stand was before converting.
As for comfort. My climber is very comfortable and I really thought that I would still use it for some long sits and cold late season sits on the farm. It took some time as I made all my gear myself but once I “found” my saddle I’d sit in that any day over my climber. I even climber with my saddle in the tree next to my hang on stand last season because the saddle is just that much more comfortable. I have taken naps in my set up and never thought twice about it. Even for cold late season hunts I’ve found the Saddle excels. My climber tends to creek quite a bit in cold conditions especially when I’m standing up to warm myself up.
There’s trade offs for everything we use in the woods. Gear equals weight and I haven’t shed any weight by going to a saddle. I have however reduce the number of trips I need to take into the woods thereby increasing how far in I’m willing to go. I no longer have a big climbing stand on my back getting hung up on seemingly every twig and branch in the forest. When I get to a stand location I don’t feel like I just did a bunch of work and I’m more often willing to go a bit farther in search of the perfect tree rather then the tree that’s closest and I can climb with my climber. The saddle has opened up the woods for me in a way that I didn’t think was possible. As I further refine my system it just keeps getting better. I had no idea just how limiting my climbing stand was before converting.
My old man has been using a Loggy Bayou climber that weighs about 10 pounds forever. It's a shame they don't make that thing anymore. You are going to be very hard pressed to beat that kinda weight with a mobile saddle setup.
You can reduce bulk a great deal, which I think is the best selling point of saddle hunting.
Comfort is subjective, I find both comfortable in different ways. Never experienced the discomfort in a stand, but many here do and saddle hunting helps them with that. I don't particularly find sitting in a saddle all that comfortable, but I really like leaning. Similarly, I don't sit much in a treestand, I stand most of the time.
Shooting take some practice getting used to the weakside shots. 360 degree shooting is possible. It is in a treestand in most trees too....
You are here, so clearly you've thought about a different system. My old man is perfectly content with his Loggy and has zero desire to climb trees like a monkey as he says about my sticks. Worst that happens you try it and don't like it. You don't have to go balls to the wall with it and sell all your other gear.
You can reduce bulk a great deal, which I think is the best selling point of saddle hunting.
Comfort is subjective, I find both comfortable in different ways. Never experienced the discomfort in a stand, but many here do and saddle hunting helps them with that. I don't particularly find sitting in a saddle all that comfortable, but I really like leaning. Similarly, I don't sit much in a treestand, I stand most of the time.
Shooting take some practice getting used to the weakside shots. 360 degree shooting is possible. It is in a treestand in most trees too....
You are here, so clearly you've thought about a different system. My old man is perfectly content with his Loggy and has zero desire to climb trees like a monkey as he says about my sticks. Worst that happens you try it and don't like it. You don't have to go balls to the wall with it and sell all your other gear.
Warren Womack is in his 80's and just started saddle hunting after years of thinning the herd from a loc-on.
Joebuck
Member
I'm 56 and I kill more deer out of a saddle. There is definitely something about facing the tree while bowhunting that produces closer shots for me a traditional bowhunter
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BudgetBuck1
Active Member
I would add that noise is a big reason I went away from a climber. I have a super comfortable summit climber but it is extremely loud on some bark and if you somehow hit the top piece on the bottom piece, forget about it, every deer in a quarter mile just heard you. I have been there more times than I would like to admit. Also, I know many more people who have had tree stand accidents out of climbers than any other type. I myself had a pin somehow squeeze out of my cable and literally pop out of the stand and onto the ground. My bottom piece came out from under me and after my harness saved my bacon I had to do a pullup and climb on top of my shooting rail and wait an hour and a half for help to get me out of the tree. So far, knock on wood, no accidents in the saddle. The other reason I hated my climbers is that I would somehow manage to snag every limb within 10 feet of me while I was trying to "sneak" to my stand. Last reason, I lost several deer during the rut by smacking my bow limb on the shooting rail of my climbers while trying to take a shot. Not an issue with a saddle. Take the leap into a saddle and you will not regret it, I promise.
Rymanco
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@DaveT1963 ??
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Womack is gonna slap you and he should. That man is 70 something years young.
kelly.jayp
Well-Known Member
51 years old here
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20ftup
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- Aug 18, 2017
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My set up weighs in just about 10lbs. 4 we stepps knaider/ swaider predator platform. I shoot much better out of my saddle that out of my climbers because you have 3 points of contact two feet an your leaning into your saddle. I preferred my sit drag to my kestrel. I can fit everything into a normal back pack and my set up it’s definitely less intrusive than my summit climbers. Comfort is relative and does take a few sit to dial in.
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if you can use presets/screw-ins, its definitely a cheaper option rather than having to place a bunch of lockons all over the place, you just have to put in the steps prior to the season...then climb up and tether.
The saddle hunter has the camo advantage...theres a big tree to hide behind
If you just want saddle vs climber, then saddle can get into the best spot, while a climber looks for a good tree. light mobile lock-ons can do the same, but youre in front of the tree exposed
The saddle hunter has the camo advantage...theres a big tree to hide behind
If you just want saddle vs climber, then saddle can get into the best spot, while a climber looks for a good tree. light mobile lock-ons can do the same, but youre in front of the tree exposed
Peterk1234
Well-Known Member
I'm closing in on 52 years. I find the saddle with WE Stepps ridiculously easy to use. I have a summit climber and that thing is a bitch to carry for 1/2 mile or more through thick brush with the rest of my gear. I have not done an all day hunt in a saddle yet but I have spent a few hours in it with no problem. My climber is open ended, I am not sitting on mine to climb, so I have to go slow with it so I do not sweat out. Using the Steps is effortless. No issues with the bottom of my climber falling or the seat wanting to slip on smooth bark. Plus the saddle is much quieter. I also have 360 degrees of shooting. I find the saddle very comfortable. I tried it with the back strap the other day and I almost fell asleep in my backyard 
I am a fidgety fellow so I spend 75% of my time standing in my climber. So the saddle suits me well because I can place weight on the feet, or sit or put all the weight against the knees for positioning. All without having to make any major moves.
I am a fidgety fellow so I spend 75% of my time standing in my climber. So the saddle suits me well because I can place weight on the feet, or sit or put all the weight against the knees for positioning. All without having to make any major moves.why do I? because it's the most effective tool that allows me to set up in almost any tree, stay better concealed, more comfortable, quieter, allows true 360 shooting, and weighs far less. Coupled with a small platform like the Tether'd Predator, it is, IMO, the best elevated hunting system out there.... bar none.