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2022 WI Saddle Hunter Meetup
- Thread starter ofor
- Start date
Thanks for the great time! I really enjoyed meeting everyone, seeing different setups, and trying different saddles! The door prizes were great and it was awesome to see a new saddle hunter and a young man both walk away with saddles!
I'll definitely be keeping my eyes open for next year's Meetup.
I'll definitely be keeping my eyes open for next year's Meetup.
ofor
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2019
- Messages
- 1,072
Another Wisconsin Saddle Hunter Meetup is in the books. Based on a count of raffle tickets, there were 40 attendees this year and once again, everyone went home with something. I figure we handed out about $2500goodies. Thanks to all the sponsors. I appreciate everyone that came out with their gear to hang out with us!
The meetup consisted of demos and hands on opportunities to try everything out. Some grabbed a grilled lunch, beverage and headed out to shoot the 40 target 3D course in the afternoon.
As far as saddles we’re concerned, I personally spent time in my CRUZR XC, Buzzard Roost, Overwatch Outdoors Orion, Latitude Method 2, TX5 Lonestar, Trophyline, Outdoor Made Agile. I left the meetup without a feeling that I would gain much by switching from my CRUZR XC. Call me a fan boy.
Some personal observations…
The Outdoor Made Agile got a lot of buzz at the meetup for comfort. It is super light and packable also. The saddle is in production but on last check was out of stock on their website. I asked if they had completed third party load testing yet and they said they are only doing internal load testing. The saddle is constructed out of a nylon material so I wonder about long term durability at some of the stress points. I guess some time will tell. Price is only $200 so might be an appealing option for a lot of guys on a budget. Outdoor Made provided 1 for me to give away.
The Overwatch Outdoor Orion gets the nod for quality. @JCLINE84 craftsmanship is second to none. You will not find a single lose thread or a stitch out of place on that rig and it can come with many personal options for waist belt, leg straps and seat material since they are custom builds right now. I found the Orion to be very comfortable. The rope belt was very easy to operate and obviously quiet since it was buckles. I didn’t care for the adjustable bridge it came with since it floated on the bridge loops and didn’t cinch down tight for walking in. I would definitely swap out the bridge. The straps for controlling how far
I had heard quite a bit of “buzz” about Buzzard Roost going into the meetup so I was excited to try that out. Benny Greggoire is a super nice dude and their support was great. This is a 2 panel saddle with straps to “lock” the panels in place. The saddle was comfortable and adjustable but I’m just not a 2 panel guy. Biggest negative comment I heard on the buzzard was the leg loop design. Loops were removable so that is one remedy but for those that like to use loops, they involved feeding through a loop out on the hips, doubling back over and clipping back into a loop on the inner thigh. The shape of the bottom cut on the saddle didn’t fit the shape of my bottom half so I got some bunching when I cinched down the leg straps. Buzzard Roost sent me 2 to give away.
I was also excited to try out the TX5 Lonestar. I found it comfortable but need more time in it. The front of the saddle where the bridge loops connect is very structurally rigid to the point where it rode up into my lower ribs a little. It is also a very well constructed saddle. TX5 sent me one to give away but it didn’t arrive until yesterday afternoon after the meetup was already over. Still trying to decide how I will go about giving it away short of holding on to it until next years meetup.
I didn’t spend much time in the trophyline. It is too bulky and heavy for my personal liking but quality was very good.
Hunting Beast Gear was there with their new 1 stick and stick top micro platform. Stupid me didn’t get pics of either. The one stick steps are expected to start hitting the website in a week or 2. Beast Gear tossed in a set of 4 20” climbing sticks for the door prizes.
we gave away a Latitude Method 2 that Mark Dohring had received to do a review of. I didn’t find it as comfortable as everyone claims but again, I guess I am just not a 2 panel guy.
Lou sent over 9 rolls of Stealth Strips so those all went to good homes.
Some local archery shops offered up range passes, string and cable sets, headlamps, lighted nocks and camo baseball hats.
THP provided an autographed hat and a Tethrd back band.
So, my 4th season coming in a CRUZR XC with no regrets. Good luck out there.
some pics from the event below.
The meetup consisted of demos and hands on opportunities to try everything out. Some grabbed a grilled lunch, beverage and headed out to shoot the 40 target 3D course in the afternoon.
As far as saddles we’re concerned, I personally spent time in my CRUZR XC, Buzzard Roost, Overwatch Outdoors Orion, Latitude Method 2, TX5 Lonestar, Trophyline, Outdoor Made Agile. I left the meetup without a feeling that I would gain much by switching from my CRUZR XC. Call me a fan boy.
Some personal observations…
The Outdoor Made Agile got a lot of buzz at the meetup for comfort. It is super light and packable also. The saddle is in production but on last check was out of stock on their website. I asked if they had completed third party load testing yet and they said they are only doing internal load testing. The saddle is constructed out of a nylon material so I wonder about long term durability at some of the stress points. I guess some time will tell. Price is only $200 so might be an appealing option for a lot of guys on a budget. Outdoor Made provided 1 for me to give away.
The Overwatch Outdoor Orion gets the nod for quality. @JCLINE84 craftsmanship is second to none. You will not find a single lose thread or a stitch out of place on that rig and it can come with many personal options for waist belt, leg straps and seat material since they are custom builds right now. I found the Orion to be very comfortable. The rope belt was very easy to operate and obviously quiet since it was buckles. I didn’t care for the adjustable bridge it came with since it floated on the bridge loops and didn’t cinch down tight for walking in. I would definitely swap out the bridge. The straps for controlling how far
I had heard quite a bit of “buzz” about Buzzard Roost going into the meetup so I was excited to try that out. Benny Greggoire is a super nice dude and their support was great. This is a 2 panel saddle with straps to “lock” the panels in place. The saddle was comfortable and adjustable but I’m just not a 2 panel guy. Biggest negative comment I heard on the buzzard was the leg loop design. Loops were removable so that is one remedy but for those that like to use loops, they involved feeding through a loop out on the hips, doubling back over and clipping back into a loop on the inner thigh. The shape of the bottom cut on the saddle didn’t fit the shape of my bottom half so I got some bunching when I cinched down the leg straps. Buzzard Roost sent me 2 to give away.
I was also excited to try out the TX5 Lonestar. I found it comfortable but need more time in it. The front of the saddle where the bridge loops connect is very structurally rigid to the point where it rode up into my lower ribs a little. It is also a very well constructed saddle. TX5 sent me one to give away but it didn’t arrive until yesterday afternoon after the meetup was already over. Still trying to decide how I will go about giving it away short of holding on to it until next years meetup.
I didn’t spend much time in the trophyline. It is too bulky and heavy for my personal liking but quality was very good.
Hunting Beast Gear was there with their new 1 stick and stick top micro platform. Stupid me didn’t get pics of either. The one stick steps are expected to start hitting the website in a week or 2. Beast Gear tossed in a set of 4 20” climbing sticks for the door prizes.
we gave away a Latitude Method 2 that Mark Dohring had received to do a review of. I didn’t find it as comfortable as everyone claims but again, I guess I am just not a 2 panel guy.
Lou sent over 9 rolls of Stealth Strips so those all went to good homes.
Some local archery shops offered up range passes, string and cable sets, headlamps, lighted nocks and camo baseball hats.
THP provided an autographed hat and a Tethrd back band.
So, my 4th season coming in a CRUZR XC with no regrets. Good luck out there.
some pics from the event below.
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My son is beyond excited to have received a saddle at meet up on Saturday. He has already climbed into 3 trees in the front yard and hang out for awhile before moving to another one. He couldn't keep the smile off of his face or stop opening the box on the way home. We instantly climbed a tree for practice and to hang out when we got home. Thanks again for holding this event.
ofor
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2019
- Messages
- 1,072
We would love to have you Jamie!
ofor
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2019
- Messages
- 1,072
Nothing makes me happier than seeing a young person or someone new to this game go home with the saddles and sticks door prizes and we had that happen this year multiple times. The smiles make my day!
I'm new to saddle hunting and new to this community. But I'm really hoping that my son and I can make it out to this if it happens again this year!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
ofor
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2019
- Messages
- 1,072
I plan on doing something again this year. Talking with the shop manager down at Root River Archery in Racine about a demo day earlier in the year (early June) to be held at Racine Instinctive Bowmen and will probably still do the meetup at the end of August at Sherwood Forest Bowmen in Sussex. Outdoor Made is planning a party mid June in Watertown also and I’m sure they will have their stuff there. So, there should be multiple opportunities in the southern part of WI this year. Mobile Hunter Expo will be in Kalamazoo MI this year so that may be another option to consider. I’ll start a 2023 WI Meetup thread to get the discussion going
Iron_llama
Well-Known Member
My in-laws are in Racine, I might be able to time a visit to coincide with something. Watching.