I wear them but to be fair, they're so loose I never feel them.
An XC will certainly go a long way to the comfort you are seeking, but it seems from your comments that being still is your biggest problem. And while comfort has a lot to do with that, an XC isn’t going to strengthen your legs, make your knees stop hurting or stiffen your foot arches. I loved to lean, but I just got busted too much because it’s just too easy to sway or move around unconsciously trying to relieve pain or fatigue in those parts or to just keep looking behind you. Soooo…I had to move to sitting. Kind of pointless to be in a tree if you can’t get deer in close because you are moving around too much. IMO a good tree pad/kneepads is key to sitting. I use the Thermaseat Heat a Seat that hangs on my hys strap. The longer I sit, the more comfortable it gets. I can sit for hours with that thing and never move and it‘s only about $10. Lastly, IMO your bridge length is key to hip pinch. Run that bridge almost all the way out and I guarantee the level of hip pinch will go down. Good Luck!!
I threw away my XC for an overwatch orion. Night and day.
I practice shooting from the sitting position but I prefer to get into a lean if I can prior to shooting. It gives me more flexibility as far as moving around the tree if I need to. From the sitting position you're severely limited to only strong side shooting lanes.
I shoot a xbow, so I can shoot seated or leaning. I generally sit in one of two ways, ”shallow” sit with thighs at 45 degree angle, where a short push of the legs and you are leaning, or a “deep” sit where my thighs are almost 90 degrees. I shallow sit at peak times and sit a little deeper during off peak hours. IMO, if you can’t sit still and get deer in range, it really doesn’t matter what you are shooting because you aren’t going to kill anything anyway. So doing what you have to do to sit still and get deer in range is kind of priority, no matter what happens next. Just my .02.
Over the past few years I’ve made a strong effort to practice shooting from every position imaginable, whether on the ground, in the saddle, and everywhere in between. I find shooting from a fully seated saddle position to be one of the more challenging positions, even more so than sitting on the ground.
I’m going to try all of these things and hopefully I can make it work. I have a few spots that I really can only use a saddle, so I will still use it some. If I can’t find a solution I’ll just use the hang on and climber mostly. I don’t know if I’m allowed to say that here
This ain’t yo’ granddaddy’s hunting forum (although he might have a username, you should ask him). You can hunt using whatever you’re into and tell us all about it. Besides, these SaddleHunter tech dweebos (hi me too) will mod and personalize and ridiculize a DIY version of anything you suggest anyway, so have at it, you’re only fueling their forges. On that note, DIY a little yourself: try the saddle with your normal treestands as a replacement, “safer” harness, then either carry your platform for comparison or if you can manage a couple of hunt with each tool you will probably discover your style and comfort more quickly.I’m going to try all of these things and hopefully I can make it work. I have a few spots that I really can only use a saddle, so I will still use it some. If I can’t find a solution I’ll just use the hang on and climber mostly. I don’t know if I’m allowed to say that here
