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Bridge length

State forest hunter86

State forest hunter86

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 26, 2018
Messages
204
Hey guys
This is probably a stupid question but I got my first saddle a size 2 kite recently. Took it out to mess around and to me the bridge seems long. From where to where do you get your bridge length? From knot to knot mine is around 36." also are the ropemans really handy compared to the Prussik knots on the linemans belt and tree tether? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!!!
 
The bridge length is adjustable. Most guys prefer somewhere around 30” give or take a few inches. The longer the bridge length the less hip pinch and more comfort. All depends on you the individual

A lot of guys only use a prusik, especially know that AeroHunter is putting a rope slider in with it to make it more one handed. I switched over over to a distel hitch using a shizll rope slider. I prefer this hitch and use it both on my tether and lineman’s lanyards. This make it one handed just like a ropeman. It all comes down to what you prefer. With a ropeman for safety you should always back it up above the ropeman with a prusik or a distel. Some gents do others do not.
 
I’ve used ropeman 1, ropeman 2 and a prussic with a tender and I far prefer the prussic with a tender.

I kept untying and retying my Kestrel bridge until I got it where I wanted it then made a fixed bridge out of amsteel. Adding a prussic to make the bridge adjustable speeds this process up immensely.
 
Definitely try varying lengths till you find your sweet spot, took me several months to final settle on 26”. Trial and error, but comfort is crucial for success
 
I've been hearing anywhere from 24-30". I guess the kites come with a long bridge so you can adjust to your liking
 
This is what I rigged until I figure out what my bridge length will be...girth hitch (factory splice) to one side. Prussick tied with a double fisherman's knot to the other for adjustable bridge. Rope man's on both linesman and tether, with factory splice at tag end for backup.
 
The prussic with a tender is much more to my liking than a ropeman. You have to pay attention releasing tension in the ropeman. The prussic and tender is just more comfortable to me.
 
I like a very short bridge. I think mine is around 22", but I've converted it to Amsteel with a whoopee sling, so it's very easily adjustable. I may eventually convert to a fixed length, but for now, I really don't see the reason why I wouldn't want to just keep it adjustable.
I like a short bridge because it allows me to have more adjustment on my tether. I also like a low tether, so a long bridge, and a low tether doesn't leave much room for adjusting my Ropeman1 because with a long bridge, the carabiner would essentially butt up against the tether girth.

A short bridge gives me more elbow room when drawing my bow with less chance of my elbow bumping the bridge as I reach full draw. Bumping my elbow during a draw is a real concentration killer for me.

I used to believe that short bridges and low tethers created hip pinch, but after reading some stuff from @DaveT1963, I decided to try his method of a low tether. I really like it. No hip pinch, more adjustment for going from leaning to sitting, or for extending the tether if I want to travel around the tree.

Ropeman1 or prussic?? No contest. I love my Ropeman1.
 
I'm with @Allegheny Tom on bridge length. I like mine short. For me, a short bridge and lower tether alleviated the lower back pain I used to get on long sits. At first I thought it was a physical conditioning thing, and I went through a lot of effort planking everyday to build my core and back strength. That did make it better, but all-day sits or 3 day weekends were still rough.

After looking at pics of John Eberhart's setup, I realized he was sitting a little higher in his anderson and tethering a little lower than I was. Tried it out and it was night and day the difference it made for my back. Made it much easier to keep my lower back straight instead of slumped.

FWIW, I also hunt from a ring of steps this way. I find that it doesn't put extra pressure on my feet, contrary to consensus. Pressure is nicely distributed between my saddle, my kneepads, and the steps. Currently, the issue that eventually causes discomfort is the lower 2" strap on my kestrel digging into my lower butt/upper leg. But that takes quite a while, and never becomes unbearable.

Definitely experiment and keep an open mind until it "clicks" for you.
 
Sounds good thanks a lot for giving me some answers guys. Can't wait to get back out again and do some more experimenting! Hahaha hopefully have something good going by next October
 
Hey quick question, what are your thoughts on using a bowline knot for your bridge, do you think that would be okay?
 
I had a Mantis I used all last season. I recently bought a Kestrel. After hanging in the Kestrel for a while I came to overwhelming conclusion that the bridge on the Mantis is way to short for my liking! I like them long I guess...
 
I've been playing with bridge lengths from 22"-38" and varying tether heights and really can't tell a much difference myself. Pretty much anyway I sit my saddle wants to ride up or it bunches up and starts getting uncomfortable. I've got a medium mantis, it's fine for a long time but first time I switch to sitting from leaning or vice versa it moves and I constantly readjust it
 
Great Info. Thanks. I Use a Web Bridge and the little prusics do work well on webbing for a recliner.
 
bigjoe said:
The bridge length is adjustable. Most guys prefer somewhere around 30” give or take a few inches. The longer the bridge length the less hip pinch and more comfort. All depends on you the individual

A lot of guys only use a prusik, especially know that AeroHunter is putting a rope slider in with it to make it more one handed. I switched over over to a distel hitch using a shizll rope slider. I prefer this hitch and use it both on my tether and lineman’s lanyards. This make it one handed just like a ropeman. It all comes down to what you prefer. With a ropeman for safety you should always back it up above the ropeman with a prusik or a distel. Some gents do others do not.
Click to expand...
I second the Distel Hitch, soooo much easier to work with cause it releases with no load.
 
Ed the Red said:
I second the Distel Hitch, soooo much easier to work with cause it releases with no load.
Click to expand...
I use a schwabish, but feel the same.

Picked up a 15' length of blue water 1" tubular webbing yesterday, tied it into my mantis about 2-3 inches longer. Hung for a very brief minute yesterday, will give it a longer go today, but I'm sure the stock bridge length on my mantis is not for me.
 
I think the skinnier you are the shorter the bridge you will prefer.

Me being a fat boy I like a long bridge.

I retired my ropeman1s and started using a prussic tender. So far I like it...
 
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