To be honest. I looked at the tree climbing harness too. But if money is your main decision. I wouldn't buy it to get your feel of saddle hunting. Because there is not alot of resale value. Most likely you're going to eat the whole cost. But buying an actual saddle, it still have a resale value. Most saddles in the classified sell for almost same value. Its same principle as used car, the good one always sell well. But if you want to get the feel. Seriously just do a DIY fleece saddle at ground level without a harness, you'll fall 2 ft and land on your butt. Heck, a old blanket or bedsheets cut down and basic ropes would do. I dont think it's fair sometimes when people use harness as intro to saddle. Harness are never meant to be sat in long term. Its a safety device. I think harness and sit drag are good if you actually hunt with them and realizes that the harness should not have any affect on your comfort, its the sit drag that should be primary device doing all the supporting. When people say the harness is uncomfortable, they are missing the reason for the harness. for backyard testing at ground level, l say just use sit drag or fleece saddle. If you want to go high after you like the feel of saddle hunting, then get a harness. JMHO