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Just purchased a new cruzr xc!

KYdalton

Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2020
Messages
54
Ordered a new saddle today, so excited. I've been hunting out of the mantis for two seasons now and I knew in the back of my head the whole time there had to be something more comfortable and from everything I've read the "xc" is just that! If any ok ne has experience with this saddle please share. Also I'm looking to get rid of my mantis now. I've heard negative things about walking in with the "XC" on but that wasn't enough for me to not buy it.
 
I'm new to saddle hunting (and hunting) -- I looked at saddles and picked the cruzr xc -- so far it has been great! I've been out in it 3 times. The only time I have issues walking in with it is if it is not tight. If tight it is fine, but if loose it can sag.

What issues have you heard about?
 
Wear suspenders specially if loaded easy on and easy off cheap and easy and this time of year I’m definitely loaded and I made a continuous loop around some molle webbing on my saddles and I reach behind me and slide the plastic flat bar up into the loop and on the front I slide the bars in the waist belt and adjust tension. I have carried up to 15# on my saddle and no problem what’s so ever when I get to wear I’m going reach behind me and unhook and go hunt. And after reach behind and clip on and walk out
 
I moved from the Mantis to the XC, and I’ve been very happy with that decision from a comfort standpoint. I added an AustiAlpin buckle since I never could confirm where the stock buckle is manufactured or by whom, but I’m very risk-averse, and many folks hunt with the stock buckle. I always walk in with my saddle, and it can definitely wiggle loose and sag a bit, but it’s easy to re-tighten, and I’d choose that problem over discomfort while hunting any day of the week and twice on Sunday. Overall, I think you’ll be very pleased with the switch.
 
I'm new to saddle hunting (and hunting) -- I looked at saddles and picked the cruzr xc -- so far it has been great! I've been out in it 3 times. The only time I have issues walking in with it is if it is not tight. If tight it is fine, but if loose it can sag.

What issues have you heard about?
No issues really just heard people complain about all the material and what not wearing it walking in but like I said I can deal with that for a whole lot more comfort
 
I've spent a lot of time in mine since I got it. Walking in is a little weird with the leg straps buckled. Keep the leg straps behind you and buckled and you'll have no issues. Once you get to the tree unbuckle and re-attach around your legs and you're good to go. I Never changed out anything on mine, never modified anything I just added a couple cheap dump pouches from Amazon and a back band for the longer all day sits.
 
Keep the waist belt tight and the leg loops loose! No issues! If you tighten the leg loops when walking in, you get a "full diaper" feeling haha! I run 6" molle/pals strap loops from my saddle to my belt or to my pack's waist belt to alleviate sag as well.
 
The XC was my first saddle after just starting this hunting method this season. I honestly can’t think of one negative. The pleat is great and makes for serious comfort in the tree. My back used to hurt in my hang ons, but no longer. Doesn’t cause me any problems wearing it while hiking in either.


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Ordered a new saddle today, so excited. I've been hunting out of the mantis for two seasons now and I knew in the back of my head the whole time there had to be something more comfortable and from everything I've read the "xc" is just that! If any ok ne has experience with this saddle please share. Also I'm looking to get rid of my mantis now. I've heard negative things about walking in with the "XC" on but that wasn't enough for me to not buy it.

I have the Cruzr XC. It is my second saddle (first being a Recon).

The Cruzr XC is very comfortable to me and the stitching is good workmanship.

Here are some issues and how I dealt with them.

1. I don't find it comfortable to walk in wearing if you are also wearing a backpack with a waist belt. It gets jumbled and the pack pushes the saddle down. It is very tough to have a pack belt on your hips yet have a saddle there as well and not have slippage etc. Maybe I should ask people how they dealt with that in another thread. How I dealt with that is to stop wearing it in. It isn't an issue because my climbing system goes inside a pack, etc (I already can't just walk to a tree and start climbing using what is hanging off my saddle....I have to dig around for a few minutes to get setup); so I just have to slip it on. I fold the saddle like a burrito and slide it in a sea to summit sturdy mesh sack of the appropriate size (one with green top, too lazy to look it up right now). This then goes under the bungees that hold my platform on my pack.

2. Some people don't care or say it isn't so, but the buckles are pretty obviously not the same quality as a Cobra or a Raptor and it is doubtful that the ratings on the waist one (legs don't have ratings) are accurate. The buckles were found on ebay and alibaba for like a buck a piece (rated ones are over 20 bucks). How I dealt with that is I removed the stock waist buckle and bought the appropriate sized Cobra buckle (dual adjust). I threw on heavy duty Suncor triglides on the tags both sides because the webbing of the belt is so thin that it is likely out of spec for the Cobra buckle (this is seen by how easily it adjusts without much lifting of the buckle edge). I left the leg buckles alone because they are sewn on and there isn't an easy solution plus leg buckles are not as important.

3. I don't like amsteel bridges after doing some research. I switched to an Oplux and TRC triple adjustable bridge (both side positions and length).

4. The "loose" molle loops are still pretty tight. Before climbing, I attach plastic carabiners on each side. It was a real pain getting the 'biners through those loops while in heavy clothes, in the dark, etc. I tied small paracord loops in the right spots and now clip to those loops instead.

Number 2 and 3 above seem like common mods. I'm sure you'll be fine without making those changes, but I feel more confident in the saddle having made them. Hopefully they keep making this saddle for a long time and maybe offer these mods as options for a price.
 
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I moved from the Mantis to the XC, and I’ve been very happy with that decision from a comfort standpoint. I added an AustiAlpin buckle since I never could confirm where the stock buckle is manufactured or by whom, but I’m very risk-averse, and many folks hunt with the stock buckle.

Me and @jhunter13 were talking about this saddle and the buckle because he pulled the website up this week but I had a tab open from last week. Last week there was no option for a different buckle but starting this week, they sell an upgraded buckle. Anyway, just found that interesting because I was thinking it originally came with the upgraded buckle and this week they decided to start charging more for it, guess I was wrong based on your post.
 
Me and @jhunter13 were talking about this saddle and the buckle because he pulled the website up this week but I had a tab open from last week. Last week there was no option for a different buckle but starting this week, they sell an upgraded buckle. Anyway, just found that interesting because I was thinking it originally came with the upgraded buckle and this week they decided to start charging more for it, guess I was wrong based on your post.
@Gator good to know. The upgrade is cheaper than buying the buckle outright so its worth it.
 
Me and @jhunter13 were talking about this saddle and the buckle because he pulled the website up this week but I had a tab open from last week. Last week there was no option for a different buckle but starting this week, they sell an upgraded buckle. Anyway, just found that interesting because I was thinking it originally came with the upgraded buckle and this week they decided to start charging more for it, guess I was wrong based on your post.
Very interesting--I hadn't seen that before. I actually bought my AustriAlpin buckle before it was an option through Cruzr. Cost me about $50 by the time I paid for shipping from Canada... I wonder why they're still selling the standard (unknown manufacturer) buckle...
 
Very interesting--I hadn't seen that before. I actually bought my AustriAlpin buckle before it was an option through Cruzr. Cost me about $50 by the time I paid for shipping from Canada... I wonder why they're still selling the standard (unknown manufacturer) buckle...

And it takes a long time to get to you. I'm guessing the threads here on this might've helped guide them (if manufacturers don't lurk here, then they should). Half the folks didn't like the old buckle, half weren't worried....so offering both.
 
Like I said I just ordered mine yesterday but I upgraded the buckle and the bridge. Can't wait to try it out. Anyone interested in buying my mantis?
 
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