Packless setup

[JBDaddy]

I found an old Thunderchicken turkey vest. It's mesh front & back so I don't get too hot in it, but has lots of big pockets and attachment points to carry everything I need. I can easly carry 40ft of rope in the game bag on the back, and it's pretty much all accessible when I'm in a saddle - but the vest distributes weight across your shoulders rather than sagging down your belt. I much prefer it to attaching bags to my saddle.

 

[woodsdog2]

@woodsdog2 I'm clipping into the molle loops of the Mantis and battlebelt. I use 4 of them spaced out evenly , they are molle pals made by Condor, you can find them on Ebay. I also have 2 of the girth hitch clips( I guess that's what you call them) from Areohunter clipped into the loops of my amsteel bridge, that holds everything in place because when I'm tethered up I unbuckle and sit back, the buckle can be uncomfortable if you leave it buckled. Works great for me, used it all last season.
View attachment 25812

Thank you for taking the time to share this info. that is very helpful!!!

 

[VA saddlehunter]

Thank you for taking the time to share this info. that is very helpful!!!

You're welcome, if you have anymore questions hit me up, actually would prefer not to wear the battlebelt either, but the Mantis waist belt did not support the extra pouches good enough on the walk in and this is the most efficient system I've found so far

 

[Teddy9871]

I'm gonna give this a shot versus needing pouches on every saddle. Definitely needs some type of silencing tape the material is noisy.

 

[Shane6491]

I used a only a fanny pack on all but two hunts this year. I love not having to take a backpack. Bolts, drill, squirrel steps, LB, tether, nipper, and milkweed go on saddle. Tag, pen, light, call, battery pack, phone, and folding saw go in fanny pack. I think I could fit everything on my saddle if I wasn't worried about climbing method or platform, or run another dump pouch.

I like that I’m not alone using the fanny lol I love my fanny. 19 bucks from Walmart.

 

[HappyChappy]

Going to a satchel this year. Love it so far. Helikon-Tex Bushcraft satchel. Wrote a review here: https://saddlehunter.com/community/index.php?threads/satchel-ditch-that-pack.25953/


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[Wlog]

I found an old Thunderchicken turkey vest. It's mesh front & back so I don't get too hot in it, but has lots of big pockets and attachment points to carry everything I need. I can easly carry 40ft of rope in the game bag on the back, and it's pretty much all accessible when I'm in a saddle - but the vest distributes weight across your shoulders rather than sagging down your belt. I much prefer it to attaching bags to my saddle.

Vests work really well. When I use a vest I’ll usually unzip it once I’m up in the tree so it’s out of the way of my bridge.

 

[woodsdog2]

You're welcome, if you have anymore questions hit me up, actually would prefer not to wear the battlebelt either, but the Mantis waist belt did not support the extra pouches good enough on the walk in and this is the most efficient system I've found so far

I just saw this response!!! I agree about the upper end of the Mantis, the BB Mod provides a stiffer and more robust waist belt to carry the syshaulers and other gear much more effectively!! I got a bb from EWO and the mole clips gonna set it up on my Mantis soon.

 

[j_laucks]

This is what I am experimenting with right now. I put shoulder straps on my Lone Wolf Hand Climber then strapped a fanny pack on it. I wear my Kite with one very lite pouch from @DanO Eastern woods Outdoors. I keep my tether and 550 cord in it. When I get to the tree I strap on the fanny pack and use the LWHC to climb the tree and when I get to my height it's my platform. I take the fanny pack off and strap it to the tree. In the fanny pack I have my rappelling rope, range finder, screw in step and a few other things in it. I'm still working on dialing it in but this is it so far.

@rutjr Is this the MR Hip Monkey?

 

[VA saddlehunter]

@woodsdog2 , I got my Phantom a couple weeks ago and put some of my pouches on without the battle belt, and with the option of being able to tighten the bridge, put it in transport mode, and running the access through each linesman loop and tighten them up it seems to do great, I've just walked around the yard but so far but I'm impressed! It supports everything I need. I've got one more test, I've got a custom pouch being made, just like the sys hauler, but a little bigger. I can drop my tether, linemans, and squirrel steps in, I'll give an update and pics when I get it together.

 

[woodsdog2]

@woodsdog2 , I got my Phantom a couple weeks ago and put some of my pouches on without the battle belt, and with the option of being able to tighten the bridge, put it in transport mode, and running the access through each linesman loop and tighten them up it seems to do great, I've just walked around the yard but so far but I'm impressed! It supports everything I need. I've got one more test, I've got a custom pouch being made, just like the sys hauler, but a little bigger. I can drop my tether, linemans, and squirrel steps in, I'll give an update and pics when I get it together.

Sounds good, I've not had one in my hands but the Phantom seems like they beefed up the waste belt more. The BB may then not be necessary.

 

[VA saddlehunter]

Sounds good, I've not had one in my hands but the Phantom seems like they beefed up the waste belt more. The BB may then not be necessary.

Yes, that's what I'm hoping, its definitely stiffer. Being able to sinch up the bridge through the lineman loops made the difference. One of my main requirements of a good saddle is how good it stays in place on the walk in. I do alot of scouting/walking during the season with it on so it needs to not sag and hold its weight . I just loved my Mantis and the battle belt made it work.

 

[TJutte]

If you guys have ever done long distance backpacking you’ve probably heard of lighterpacks, its a tool to ensure you’re packing the most efficient balance of food, shelter, clothes etc.

I add pics to mine and it serves as a printable packing list, and allows me to obsess over my gear even more than I already do

https://lighterpack.com/r/b5sbnw

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[SnakeEater]

If you guys have ever done long distance backpacking you’ve probably heard of lighterpacks, its a tool to ensure you’re packing the most efficient balance of food, shelter, clothes etc.

I add pics to mine and it serves as a printable packing list, and allows me to obsess over my gear even more than I already do

https://lighterpack.com/r/b5sbnw

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Flask of whiskey..

Sent from parts unknown

 

[SETXsportsman6]

I look at the backpack thread and can’t believe how much some people feel they need to carry with them. But then again I don’t use sticks and I do not require snacks or reading material while hunting. I have a fanny pack to carry my climbing system (4 wild edge steps & 5 step aider). But other than that I can get everything I NEED in my sys Es hauler (range finder, drag strap/emergency step, milkweed, havalon, rite in the rain pen, tiny ptec headlamp, EZ kut pruners) and sys hauler holds my tether, lineman belt. Bino’s stay on my chest and my perch clips on my caritool at my hip and fastened to my thigh with bungee cord. When it gets cold I have a Kuiu stalker 500 which is tiny. Its supposed to be used as a hydration pack, but its just enough to strap clothes to. I think if you already have presets there should be no reason to have a backpack. Good luck! part of the fun is tuning in your system.

also have danOs Doyle’s hoist pouch in the centered on the back of my saddle

I just have a one question, not knocking the idea behind it just curious because it has a clip on it. What is the Doyle pouch for? I've seen them on DanO's site but didn't understand the purpose for them.

 

[SETXsportsman6]

I'm trying to go the opposite of this myself. I've realized I carry way too much crap. So I'm trying to get everything off of my saddle that I can other than I'm going to keep my Doyle's on it and my LB girth hitched and Daisy chained. I'm going to run a modded Predator pack. Predator platform, hys strap, and tether on main dump pouch. Then the attached pouch to the predator platform I'll have a thermacell (South East Texas absolute must), knife, maybe a handheld GPS if I decide to buy one, milkweed, range finder, dude wipes, headlight, a few zipties, some water and maybe a jerky stick or two. Sticks I will tuck between the predator pouch and the molle pouch attached. I'm going to try to get by with just that atleast early season, real cold days I'll have to change it up to accommodate more clothing, gloves, etc. Still feels like a bunch of stuff, but I'm definitely cutting back from what I used to carry.

 

[bj139]

Why not just put less stuff in your pack? It would be lighter since cloth weighs less than stuff. When you get a deer put the heart and liver in your pack. Now it is full. If you get hot you can stuff your jacket in the empty pack to get it out of the way. Many uses for an empty pack.

 

[bj139]

I like that I’m not alone using the fanny lol I love my fanny. 19 bucks from Walmart.

What makes a fanny PACK not a pack?

 

[Shane6491]

What makes a fanny PACK not a pack?

Not sure what your asking here ????

 

[Weldabeast]

I just have a one question, not knocking the idea behind it just curious because it has a clip on it. What is the Doyle pouch for? I've seen them on DanO's site but didn't understand the purpose for them.

I have a couple different setups....backpack, fannypack, and a vest. The fanny and backpack I had cut a hole and added a grommet for the Doyle's hoist......untie the rope or strap and put it through the grommet so the hoist was inside the pack. That works good but if you like to change things around it was a pain untying the Doyle's to switch between packs. With the fleece pouch u can remove the metal clip, thread the rope/strap through the hole in the bottom of the pouch, and attach to anything u want without having the untie/tie the Doyle's everytime....and the fleece deadens the noise it makes also