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23 Pounds - Just Platform, Saddle and Sticks

I started shedding weight 11-12 years ago. 5, 10, or more pounds a year. I was just carrying the entire mancave stash into the woods with me! I'm down to nearly nothing. Saddle, SRT halfline system, extra tether, couple super thin pull up lines, something to hang my bow with, ring of steps OR not, phone, no wallet JUST lisenses, 2 headlamps, 2 zip ties for tag, and that is it.

I shed more weight each year. I'm getting old and sick, and my body can't do it with all that stuff anymore. Barely doing it with my tiny list! LOL
 
Nothing can shed more weight in gear than learning to 2tc.lose all your steps or sticks to just use the 2 ropes you already have....cant beat that as a game changer for weight, mobility and stealth.
 
Its just a coïncidence that my own saddles started out ultralight.it was the brothers on this forum that got me to ditch 8 lbs of steps and the 2 lb.bag i carried them in.via the why dont yall 2tc. Thread..i wasnt even trying to shed weight.now im 3.5 lbs.of tree gear.this equity in weight savings lets me carry all kinds of other ultra light gadgets for less weight than i started with.
 
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Jtaylor said:
Keep what you want in your pack and shave that weight off yourself.
The best way and it will actually save money is to put down the Big Mac and Busch Lattes.
I'll probably be eating my words in 10 years.
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I have not been overweight in decades, 60 years on the planet! I think most of the guys saddle hunting are in pretty good shape.
 
You also have to think about effectiveness. 2 tether climb is the lightest, but you don't climb the tree the fastest. Sladder might be the next lightest and you can get seven feet but its untested, I'm sure after a while it'll be great for people. Then one sticking which people are used to and have down now. then multiple sticks which is the "easiest."

I don't think of just pure weight because my fat as* is going to be pouring sweat at the top of the tree if I do the 2-tether climb.
 
Must not do it wright.......
To 1 stick you have to move your upper tether up....if reaching down and unhooking à stick then reataching it is easyer than simply moving another tether up.......sumpin wrong.i dont breath hard or sweat.and its faster than most guys getting their stick off their bag.its like riding à bike people only think its hard before they get their balance...but then.no sweat
 
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tailgunner said:
Must not do it wright.......
To 1 stick you have to move your upper tether up....if reaching down and unhooking à stick then reataching it is easyer than simply moving another tether up.......sumpin wrong.i dont breath hard or sweat.and its faster than most guys getting their stick off their bag.its like riding à bike people only think its hard before they get their balance...but then.no sweat
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I’m betting most of the people who are struggling with it are dealing with the same issues. They’re trying way to hard to get as big of a move as they can each time. I shortened my move and it went so much easier.
 
tailgunner said:
Must not do it wright.......
To 1 stick you have to move your upper tether up....if reaching down and unhooking à stick then reataching it is easyer than simply moving another tether up.......sumpin wrong.i dont breath hard or sweat.and its faster than most guys getting their stick off their bag.its like riding à bike people only think its hard before they get their balance...but then.no sweat
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You just don't move as far as you can with one sticking. You can move five to six feet in a single move with one sticking and maybe 3 max with a 2TC. The part that's wrong is my option to eat double cheeseburgers from McDonalds instead of a salad lol that's where the sweating comes from lol.
 
Once you learn to adjust your ropes to the right lenghts.......knowing the ropes they would say...they dont need to be way over your head they can be rught in front of you......then.stand on your sturdyer jumping leg not your kicking ass leg.just move the tethers up.....dont think about how far you are moving them......its just another step up.like climbing à ladder stepping up with one leg at a time.no sweat ..you can sit in the saddle and look for deer between every step and just relax.no reaching for a metal stick.i promis, its easyer than walking up the mountain to the tree.
 
BlackpowderGuy (AJHS) said:
OK, I just weighed my gear.
Trophyline Mission w/UTH Amsteel mod from Custom Amsteel Guy, 5lb 12 oz.
4 Skeletor Sticks - 8lbs 8 ounces
Saddle 7lbs 4.5ounces - Phantom XL, lineman, tether, HYS strap, aiders

So basically, before a pack, rangefinder, water, warm layer...anything like that, we are talking about 23lbs.

In terms of where to cut, I can imagine going down to 3 sticks - that will save 2.2 pounds, I can use my EDP, that will save 2 pounds. - One sticking is just not a thing for me.

So those two changes would get this down to 18 pounds, plus the weight of the pack I use, Eberlestock F1, another 5-ish pounds, so back to 23...

When all is said and done, I don't see how to get this under 30...unless I become a 1-sticker. And maybe that is OK...it is just that it ends up not really being lighter than my climber, only that it opens more tree options and gives better concealment.
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My whole setup weighs 6lbs 5 oz. Here is a video showing what I use.
 
I’d like to add a ring of steps to use on full day sits. Currently using a Tethrd Predator. Anyone ever go to a ring of steps after using a platform and then go back to the platform?
 
elk yinzer said:
Yeahhhhh you're pretty much me 4 or 5 years ago.

5ish lb saddle platform + 5ish lb pack to carry it = 10 lbs

5 lb treestand 2x the size of the saddle platform + 2 pound harness to turn it into a packframe = 7 lb. More room to maneuver for shots. Works in treestand mode. No brainer.

Welcome to the hybrid club.

That was the calculus that got me into the LWCG .5 and it's been my main squeeze for 3 seasons.

You know the answer to lighter climbing is one-sticking, but I agree that's not for everyone.
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I also choose the .5 most often. But mine weighs over 6lbs.

I have a Seek Outside frame that weighs 2.5lbs. And 5.5lb RRXL saddle platform that offers about the same usable foot space as a .5. (I find the slightly lighter Ambush pretty roomy as well.)

As well, I have a climbing platform that weighs 10lbs. Very roomy platform.

Anyway, if I use sticks with the .5 or saddle platform, they both outweigh my climbing platform.

In other words, I agree, climbing method can be a big slice of pie.
 
This is why all said and done a Light Weight climber like the Lone Wolf Assault hand climber is still a great option. The weight of 4 sticks just take away from the weight benefits of a saddle. If weight reduction is what u are looking for.
 
BlackpowderGuy (AJHS) said:
OK, I just weighed my gear.
Trophyline Mission w/UTH Amsteel mod from Custom Amsteel Guy, 5lb 12 oz.
4 Skeletor Sticks - 8lbs 8 ounces
Saddle 7lbs 4.5ounces - Phantom XL, lineman, tether, HYS strap, aiders

So basically, before a pack, rangefinder, water, warm layer...anything like that, we are talking about 23lbs.

In terms of where to cut, I can imagine going down to 3 sticks - that will save 2.2 pounds, I can use my EDP, that will save 2 pounds. - One sticking is just not a thing for me.

So those two changes would get this down to 18 pounds, plus the weight of the pack I use, Eberlestock F1, another 5-ish pounds, so back to 23...

When all is said and done, I don't see how to get this under 30...unless I become a 1-sticker. And maybe that is OK...it is just that it ends up not really being lighter than my climber, only that it opens more tree options and gives better concealment.
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7 wild edge stepps- 7 pounds, ROS- 1 pound, I don't think my saddle can weight more than 4-5 pounds so that puts my at 12-13. I wear my saddle in and carry the rest of my setup with my MR popup 28.
 
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