Can’t get comfortable

[bigcat93]

No that would probably help. Mostly hunt in rubber boots

I switched from rubber boots this season and my foot warmth (my feet are the first to get cold always) and comfort increased a bunch.

where are you feeling discomfort? Is it hip pinch, sore feet, low back?

have you tried a different brand or type of saddle

 

[gcr0003]

I’ve come to categorize the ways of using a soft saddle in conjunction with a platform: Sitting, hanging, and leaning

Sitting is straight forward but I would consider sitting to be where your legs at or a little above 90 deg to the tree. 90% of weight in saddle, but you also have weight on knees if you are pushing off the tree to maintain your position. Would recommend a pad or knee pads. You can move around the tree easily enough but requires you to first push off. More comfortable with a high tether, but allows more swinging. Easier to go under tether and bridge.

Hanging is what I consider you’re doing when you push away for the the tree after being in a sitting position. This to me has your legs at about a 40-60 deg from the horizontal plane. This is very comfortable way to hang for me. It’s also easier to push around the tree. 70% weight in the saddle. This means it’s the position I’m most likely to move around in, be exposed in, and feel least comfortable shooting from. If you don’t pay attention when setting up this hanging can put you too far away from the tree that you can’t reach your bow without swinging around or standing up. Medium weight on feet. Reduce feet fatigue if you have a angled platform or can angle your platform down. Tether bridge may be right in the way, may be equal to go under or over the bridge.

Leaning is what I feel the most stable in for shooting because it restricts my movements the most and keeps me up right. This would be like leaning against a wall. I’m probably 60-75 degrees from the horizontal, most of the weight is in my feet, and I’m using the saddle to hold me from leaning back. I can not swing around the whole tree, but I can swing enough to shoot around the whole tree. I think this conceals me better, being close to the tree. I can easily grab my bow I’m this position and I use a tad lower tether and shorter bridge. If hunting a straight tree or the top side of a lean I can easily stand up on the platform without grabbing anything. This does put a lot of weight on your feet so you want comfortable shoes. This position keeps me awake, I don’t get sore, and I have confidence when shooting. Easily to go up and over bridge.

If I’m serious about killing deer I’m going to be upright as possible. Someone told me about this when I first started and I didn’t listen but they were right and they probably know who they are. That’s not to say you can’t kill deer in any of the three ways, I’ve not killed many deer but I have killed from all three positions. This is simply how I break it down and what makes sense to me. You can find comfort in each position but there are a lot of variables in there.

 

[Jammintree]

Did a quick scan and didnt catch it if it was mentioned but as a leaner, the thing that made the biggest difference for me was tether height. For me getting that set low enough so that force of body weight is being carried through the center of the saddle vertically made a big difference. Again for me, tether will be on the tree about collarbone high or a little lower and the friction hitch I am clipped to is obviously below that. This is where I found the "leaning against a counter" comfort.

I’d be curious to see your setup. I strive to get my tether that low but cant seem to get there unless I shorten my bridge so much that it starts squeezing my hips. I prefer a friction hitch over a mechanical device and the hitch adds length to the tether and often results in a higher tether.

 

[thedutchtouch]

I’m a big fan of climbing right up into conifers / trees tucked into conifers for this very reason. I also find late season I can stay at lower heights but be in dense cover.

and @tailgunner how do you guys shoot OUT of conifers? i struggle without a wider shooting lane/ branches too close to my bow when drawing/aiming - are you threading small gaps? or do i just need more time in the tree and this'll go away.




and on the issue of positional comfort - a back band helps, good for more than just relaxing, lets you lean back a bit more which kinda torques your weight off of your feet, if that makes sense

 

[BTaylor]

I’d be curious to see your setup. I strive to get my tether that low but cant seem to get there unless I shorten my bridge so much that it starts squeezing my hips. I prefer a friction hitch over a mechanical device and the hitch adds length to the tether and often results in a higher tether.

I know exactly what you are talking about. I have been using a fleece saddle and the first year I used a bridge but didnt like the interference I had from needing a higher tether plus the bridge rope. Year 2 and this year, I did not use a bridge and clipped into the loops on the ends of the saddle. On a long hunt, I would get the same hip pressure you are talking about. Taking a few minutes periodically to lean against the tree would be needed to take a break from that pressure. Now I have a fancy new store bought saddle I am going to hunt for the first time tomorrow. In a short test hang in the yard, I think I got the bridge length sorted out to help with hip pressure and still keep from having ropes where I dont want them. Will try to remember to take some pics.

 

[Jammintree]

and @tailgunner how do you guys shoot OUT of conifers? i struggle without a wider shooting lane/ branches too close to my bow when drawing/aiming - are you threading small gaps? or do i just need more time in the tree and this'll go away.




and on the issue of positional comfort - a back band helps, good for more than just relaxing, lets you lean back a bit more which kinda torques your weight off of your feet, if that makes sense

Usually mature conifers have plenty of room inside the canopy. If it’s a tree that I’ve prepped I’ll use my handsaw to remove dead branches and generally set it up so that I have plenty of clearance for moving around and sufficient windows to shoot out of.

In other occasions I’ll tie into a hardwood but be tucked up against a conifer, group of conifers, beech saplings or anything else that hold leaves all winter, or whatever brushy cover.

It’s all about being out of plane sight - setting up scenarios where I see them before they see me.

 

[DelaWhere_Arrow]

Did a quick scan and didnt catch it if it was mentioned but as a leaner, the thing that made the biggest difference for me was tether height. For me getting that set low enough so that force of body weight is being carried through the center of the saddle vertically made a big difference. Again for me, tether will be on the tree about collarbone high or a little lower and the friction hitch I am clipped to is obviously below that. This is where I found the "leaning against a counter" comfort.

I’m tether right above my hair, hitch at collar level. About 5’7” tall and using a 13” bridge.

 

[BTaylor]

I’m tether right above my hair, hitch at collar level. About 5’7” tall and using a 13” bridge.

I cant see how there could ever be be a blanket correct answer to the issue. Preferred lean angle, preferred distance from the tree, inseam compared to height, etc. are all going to impact user comfort and thus tether and bridge height and length. That's why the First Lite response from the other thread telling someone they are setting their tether wrong is so laughable. Also why trying different setups is important so you understand how minor adjustments will impact comfort.

 

[DB4x4]

I’ve been saddle hunting for about 6 years. The last couple years I’ve moved back to a light weight hang on for most of my hunting. I prefer packing in and setting up with a saddle. Thought I’d throw a post to get some help to tweak my setup and see if that helps.

Biggest issue is I move too much in the saddle and can’t really get super comfortable for a long time. I have a aerohunter flex and feel my tether length is ok for hip pinch.

I also find my feet get sore and I have to shift/distribute my weight a lot due to that.

late season is tough for getting picked off but my last couple sits in a saddle this month I feel like I’m getting burnt by does way more than in my hang on. I’ve been zip tying small Pine branches to my stand and next to my head. So I’ve been able to create some camo so not a true fair comparison. But I move way less in the stand. The saddle I’ve been cool when the tree is in front but when they eventually get to my side they seem to be picking me off fast.

I’m more of a leaner. Any tips I’m missing for comfort? Especially foot pressure. Should I consider a different saddle? Im tall and have a long inseam not sure if body type translates to comfort but I just can’t figure out why some people are so comfortable and I’m struggling to stay still for more than 5 min.

My recommendation:

Getting comfortable ..

Hey guys. Looking for some input. I probably have close to 10 sits in my Cruzr xc saddle. I am running 3 beast sticks with aiders and cheap hawk platform. Love how light and packable the system is (kuiu venture 2300). Coming from a lone wolf assault hand climber, so I am liking how I no longer...

saddlehunter.com

Getting comfortable ..

Hey guys. Looking for some input. I probably have close to 10 sits in my Cruzr xc saddle. I am running 3 beast sticks with aiders and cheap hawk platform. Love how light and packable the system is (kuiu venture 2300). Coming from a lone wolf assault hand climber, so I am liking how I no longer...

saddlehunter.com

If that doesn't work, just go back to the hang on stand full time and sell me your saddle gear at heavily discounted prices.

 

[thedutchtouch]

My recommendation:

Getting comfortable ..

Hey guys. Looking for some input. I probably have close to 10 sits in my Cruzr xc saddle. I am running 3 beast sticks with aiders and cheap hawk platform. Love how light and packable the system is (kuiu venture 2300). Coming from a lone wolf assault hand climber, so I am liking how I no longer...

saddlehunter.com

Getting comfortable ..

Hey guys. Looking for some input. I probably have close to 10 sits in my Cruzr xc saddle. I am running 3 beast sticks with aiders and cheap hawk platform. Love how light and packable the system is (kuiu venture 2300). Coming from a lone wolf assault hand climber, so I am liking how I no longer...

saddlehunter.com

If that doesn't work, just go back to the hang on stand full time and sell me your saddle gear at heavily discounted prices.

What a minute... Does having the steps up like that let you go back and forth from leaning to sitting without touching the tether? Game. Changer.

 

[DB4x4]

What a minute... Does having the steps up like that let you go back and forth from leaning to sitting without touching the tether? Game. Changer.

Yes. You can "sit" and put your feet on the steps or lean with your feet on the platform. Or any variation of the Captain Morgan stance in between. It seems so simple, but made a world of difference for me.

 

[2Sloe]

I’d be curious to see your setup. I strive to get my tether that low but cant seem to get there unless I shorten my bridge so much that it starts squeezing my hips. I prefer a friction hitch over a mechanical device and the hitch adds length to the tether and often results in a higher tether.

Yep. I find a long bridge to be the most comfortable, but I couldn’t get my tether short enough with even the shortest of friction hitches unless my tether was really high, which is also uncomfortable, so I switched to the Kong Duck for my tether. The Kong Duck lets me run a lower tether height and a long bridge for maximum comfort.

 

[Apex7]

I have always been a sitter and I use 4 different saddles including the Aero Hunter flex and by sitting I have no problem with comfort. I use a one stick with ROS and that way I can slide around the tree when a deer approaches and keep them from picking me off. I do the same thing with my platform and stick setup.

 

[Jammintree]

One of the techniques I experimented with this season was to vary tether height Depending on the tree. Strait trees I can be comfortable on a slightly longer tether; enabling me to move more fluidly around the tree. Trees with a lean I tend to use a shorter tether to minimize unwanted swing; but this also varied depending on which way the tree leans. But all in all my tether was generally at my nose or just above my head. I’d like to use a lower tether but I’m not willing to shorten my bridge.

 

[Jammintree]

One of the techniques I experimented with this season was to vary tether height Depending on the tree. Strait trees I can be comfortable on a slightly longer tether; enabling me to move more fluidly around the tree. Trees with a lean I tend to use a shorter tether to minimize unwanted swing; but this also varied depending on which way the tree leans. But all in all my tether was generally at my nose or just above my head. I’d like to use a lower tether but I’m not willing to shorten my bridge.

Another benefit to me of a tether around head heights or just above is the it allows me to stand on the platform with my back against the tree and the tether across my chest. This is a super stealthy position and I’m able to slowly and easily turn out of it and back to the standard lean.

 

[Close caller]

I’ve been hunting a bunch so I haven’t replied but Thanks for all the advice. I’m gonna try all these adjustments. Finally got my buck tagged filled so now I have time to tinker. First late season buck for me!

 

[Iron_llama]

I hunted out of a Drey this year. It was my first year in the saddle so I didn't have anything to compare it to. I found it very, very comfortable - I could have taken a nap, if I wasn't afraid of missing a deer. You could make a large-ish fleece saddle and use it as a backband / auxiliary positioning aid in addition to your saddle. I also had kneepads (cheap from HF) and a 1-stick. My feet got cold but I don't remember them getting sore. I wear orthotics in my boots so I didn't have any pressure points there.