Generally, I prefer the vertical bow over a "normal" style Horizontal Xbow as I just think that to me personally, they are much easier to move around in the tree. The front heavy standard-horizontal crossbow configuration is a bit bulkier and front heavy and I don't find it as nimble or manageable as my vertical bow. That being said, I have been spring turkey hunting with the Hickory Creek Mini-Crossbow this year and it is a vertical crossbow and to me, mimics much of the maneuverability of a vertical bow. I am also thinking that the Darton Toxin, Scorpyd, Mission, Raven which have a narrow axel to axel width and more of a bullpup design may be a bit more manageable than your run of the mill crossbows but I do not own any of those. To me, the Hickory Creek Mini seems to be the most manageable but I have not hunted out of a saddle with mine yet. In a pop up blind so far very balanced and to me, none of the front heavy bulk of your more standard crossbow type configurations.