ricky racer
Well-Known Member
I want to list a few things that have worked for me and make my life a little bit easier. I like easier!
The first thing is, if you wear glasses CLEAN YOUR DARN GLASSES!! It's amazing how dirty and smeared our glasses are before you notice how bad they are. Next time you are set up in your stand of choice, take a good look around and then clean your glasses and take another look. Yeah, that's what I'm talking about!
I see so many guys wearing back packs that look like they are going on a month long expedition instead of a 3 or 4 hour sit in the local woods. I've chosen a more minimalist back pack and try to keep the items carried to a minimum. If I need to carry additional clothing along with me, I don't need a back pack with the same cubic footage as a small refrigerator, all I need to do is tie the additional clothing to the outside of the pack. I have two pieces of paracord each about 36" long folded in half and girth hitched to a couple of D rings (or anywhere you can anchor it). On each of the paracords I have cord locks. To carry additional clothing all I have to do is slide the cord locks down the cords, insert the clothing into the loops and chinch the cord locks tight. The tie down method weighs nothing, is totally quiet, easy to use and cheap to make. Here are a few pictures to explain what I'm talking about.
Using a muff to keep your hands warm is a no brainer. However, the last thing I need is another thing belted around my waist. If you attach your muff correctly though, it serves much more than just a place to keep your hands warm. I have multiple muffs from light weight ones to warm ones and even waterproof ones. I've converted them all from a waist belt style attachment to a clip on attachment that attach to my bridge. I've made small prusik hitches with clips that stay permanently attached on my bridge. The prusik/clips are used to attach my back band if I choose to use one and also to attach my muff. The prusiks allow me to adjust the height of the muff to a comfortable position. Now one thing that I really like about using the lightweight muff, even if it's not cold out, it makes a great arm rest! Its amazing how much more comfortable having that arm rest is. Instead of trying to figure out what to to with my hands, I can now put them in the muff and greatly increase my comfort. Much more comfortable than laying them across the bridge. Below is a picture to show what I'm talking about. Give it a try, you'll like it!!
One last tip and I'll shut up. Most of us put on our saddles over our pants/bibs, pull on our coat and try to contend with the transition between the coat being outside the saddle behind us and inside the saddle (bridge) in front of us. The transition never goes real well. Much talk has been made about adding slits to the clothing to accommodate the bridge, kind of like Versa Skins but there are not a lot of options out there. Most just deal with it. However, if you loosen or unbuckle your waist belt on your saddle and pull it up over the bottom of your coat (kind of like tucking in your shirt) when you get to your tree, all of those issues go away. You'd be surprised how comfortable it is! Try it, you'll like it!
The first thing is, if you wear glasses CLEAN YOUR DARN GLASSES!! It's amazing how dirty and smeared our glasses are before you notice how bad they are. Next time you are set up in your stand of choice, take a good look around and then clean your glasses and take another look. Yeah, that's what I'm talking about!I see so many guys wearing back packs that look like they are going on a month long expedition instead of a 3 or 4 hour sit in the local woods. I've chosen a more minimalist back pack and try to keep the items carried to a minimum. If I need to carry additional clothing along with me, I don't need a back pack with the same cubic footage as a small refrigerator, all I need to do is tie the additional clothing to the outside of the pack. I have two pieces of paracord each about 36" long folded in half and girth hitched to a couple of D rings (or anywhere you can anchor it). On each of the paracords I have cord locks. To carry additional clothing all I have to do is slide the cord locks down the cords, insert the clothing into the loops and chinch the cord locks tight. The tie down method weighs nothing, is totally quiet, easy to use and cheap to make. Here are a few pictures to explain what I'm talking about.
Using a muff to keep your hands warm is a no brainer. However, the last thing I need is another thing belted around my waist. If you attach your muff correctly though, it serves much more than just a place to keep your hands warm. I have multiple muffs from light weight ones to warm ones and even waterproof ones. I've converted them all from a waist belt style attachment to a clip on attachment that attach to my bridge. I've made small prusik hitches with clips that stay permanently attached on my bridge. The prusik/clips are used to attach my back band if I choose to use one and also to attach my muff. The prusiks allow me to adjust the height of the muff to a comfortable position. Now one thing that I really like about using the lightweight muff, even if it's not cold out, it makes a great arm rest! Its amazing how much more comfortable having that arm rest is. Instead of trying to figure out what to to with my hands, I can now put them in the muff and greatly increase my comfort. Much more comfortable than laying them across the bridge. Below is a picture to show what I'm talking about. Give it a try, you'll like it!!
One last tip and I'll shut up. Most of us put on our saddles over our pants/bibs, pull on our coat and try to contend with the transition between the coat being outside the saddle behind us and inside the saddle (bridge) in front of us. The transition never goes real well. Much talk has been made about adding slits to the clothing to accommodate the bridge, kind of like Versa Skins but there are not a lot of options out there. Most just deal with it. However, if you loosen or unbuckle your waist belt on your saddle and pull it up over the bottom of your coat (kind of like tucking in your shirt) when you get to your tree, all of those issues go away. You'd be surprised how comfortable it is! Try it, you'll like it!
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