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Convince to stick with saddles

sconnieman

sconnieman

Active Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2019
Messages
157
So hear me out. I’ve finally got my whole setup for the year.

Kestrel flex
3 hawk heliums
Predator xl
Sterling oplux rope/Kong duck x2

Current setup is 18lbs. A summit viper is 20. I was very uncomfortable using sticks last year. I hunted from a saddle maybe ten times. I almost fell out of a tree when coming off my platform and accidentally knocked the strap on my helium loose and it fell as I stepped on. Thank god I was still in my tether!

Now I’m in much better shape than last year. I’ve lost around 80lbs since last deer season. However, I know from experience how comfy a summit is. I’m comfortable climbing in one. Why should I stick with saddles? What am I going to gain over switching to a summit viper? I don’t get into the crazy trees because I’m barely comfortable climbing a regular tree with my sticks and I know I can do an all day sit in a summit.


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sconnieman said:
So hear me out. I’ve finally got my whole setup for the year.

Kestrel flex
3 hawk heliums
Predator xl
Sterling oplux rope/Kong duck x2

Current setup is 18lbs. A summit viper is 20. I was very uncomfortable using sticks last year. I hunted from a saddle maybe ten times. I almost fell out of a tree when coming off my platform and accidentally knocked the strap on my helium loose and it fell as I stepped on. Thank god I was still in my tether!

Now I’m in much better shape than last year. I’ve lost around 80lbs since last deer season. However, I know from experience how comfy a summit is. I’m comfortable climbing in one. Why should I stick with saddles? What am I going to gain over switching to a summit viper? I don’t get into the crazy trees because I’m barely comfortable climbing a regular tree with my sticks and I know I can do an all day sit in a summit.


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Click to expand...

Comfort wise not much.

For me it was more about bulk than anything else. Walking through thick stuff and dragging half the woods along with me is deal killer.

If you are walking a clear path and know the tree is going to be easy, then a climber makes sense.


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sconnieman said:
What am I going to gain over switching to a summit viper? I don’t get into the crazy trees because I’m barely comfortable climbing a regular tree with my sticks and I know I can do an all day sit in a summit.
Click to expand...
Nothing. It's all preference. But to me, even though you are only 2 lbs different, a Summit hangs way further off your back and carries like a lot different than the 2 lbs you mention. I'm not 100% saddle, still hunted out of climber and lockon last year. Do what works for you!
 
Honestly, it sounds to me like you shouldn't stick with a saddle. The climber seems to fit your hunting style better.

The main thing you're going to get from a saddle over a climber is:

1. More options for tree diameter: . You can get into smaller diameter trees than you'd be safe in your climber.
2. You can get into leaners with a saddle you wouldn't want to be in a climber.
3. Conceal: I like to hide behind the trunk of the tree until my shot. A climber sticks out alot. I definitely got busted more in my climber.
4. Branches: You can climb around branches. You don't need a telephone pole tree each time.

Ignore weight savings which sometimes isn't all its cracked up to be.
 
You're not exactly comparing apples to apples with the weight. I assume you wear a safety harness and tether when using your climber.

But, all I can do is tell you why I choose a saddle over a climber. Off the top of my head they are:

-Bulk
-less metal (less chance of banging something)
-ability to hunt "crazy trees"

If the comfort and familiarity of your climber is more important to you then those reasons, then use your climber and have fun.
 
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Man I have both. I would say, you can't have too many tools to get the job done. Use one or the other as the situation calls for it. I feel the same as you do, I'm not going to make a true all day sit in an area that I know is full of slick pine trees during rifle season with a saddle when I know I've got a summit viper that is like a lazy boy recliner and has a front bar I can prop on. Bow season however, I'm not hunting the open areas with a 200 yd shot. I want the ability to go 360 around my tree, I want to be able to hide behind the tree, etc.

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dlist777 said:
Honestly, it sounds to me like you shouldn't stick with a saddle. The climber seems to fit your hunting style better.

The main thing you're going to get from a saddle over a climber is:

1. More options for tree diameter: . You can get into smaller diameter trees than you'd be safe in your climber.
2. You can get into leaners with a saddle you wouldn't want to be in a climber.
3. Conceal: I like to hide behind the trunk of the tree until my shot. A climber sticks out alot. I definitely got busted more in my climber.
4. Branches: You can climb around branches. You don't need a telephone pole tree each time.

Ignore weight savings which sometimes isn't all its cracked up to be.
Click to expand...

The cover from a saddle is a big deal for sure and really loved that about the saddle.


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SETXsportsman6 said:
Man I have both. I would say, you can't have too many tools to get the job done. Use one or the other as the situation calls for it. I feel the same as you do, I'm not going to make a true all day sit in an area that I know is full of slick pine trees during rifle season with a saddle when I know I've got a summit viper that is like a lazy boy recliner and has a front bar I can prop on. Bow season however, I'm not hunting the open areas with a 200 yd shot. I want the ability to go 360 around my tree, I want to be able to hide behind the tree, etc.

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Click to expand...

That’s another part where I’m torn. I’m not sure I could pull off an all day sit in a saddle. I never did a sit in a saddle for more than 4 hours last year and would get pain in my knees. Nothing serious but I doubted my ability to do an all day rut sit.


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The biggest thing for me was the bulk reduction. I loved the climber comfort and liked the fact that my climbing method and stand are all "in one". For me the biggest issue was the noise I made walking down through the woods on my way in. A set of sticks didn't solve that for me. For me they still stuck out too far and still caught and rattled off brush. I had to find a more compact method to get up the tree for me to stick with the saddle.

First off was WE steps. I really liked the compact design and the fact that I could carry them in my pack with no tending needed. The downside was that they are a bit fiddly to put on and take off the tree for me. I also really like spurs, the downside for me is I hunt 95% public and they're not legal. I ended up settling on one stick climbing. For me its the best solution. The stick is compact enough to go into my pack so I don't have to tend to it going in. The method isn't fiddly once you figure it out and I can climb most any tree to whatever height is convenient for the setup. I'll admit there is a learning curve to it though.

I know when I first made the transition to saddle hunting from the climber it was a gradual transition. The first year, I hunted probably 10% saddle, 90% climber. The next year was more like 50-50 and now, I can't tell you last time I even climbed a tree in the climber. It definitely took me some time to transition but now I can't see myself going back.

As other have said, there's nothing sacred about the saddle, it's just a tool to get you in the tree. If you feel more comfortable in the climber or if the climber checks all the boxes for you personally, go for it.
 
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Dibs on the predator XL!!!.... ;)

I know I am no help. I am wondering if I should just go back to a hang on myself....:confused:

If all the trees are straight where you hunt I can’t say the saddle would be better.
 
Once I spent a decent amount of time in my saddle I dont think I could go back to the climber. I took the climber for a quick hunt last year and it was obnoxious. Loud, bulky, clunky the darn thing just sucks now that I had been saddle hunting. When I was a climber guy you would have never convinced me of that. I say give you saddle set up some more time. Figure out you tether height and the right lean angle for yourself to make it more comfortable.
 
Hey at least I know if I give the saddle another year, I’ll have no problem selling my gear!


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To me very rarely is it one thing or the other. I just have a toolbox full of tools and I grab the right one for the occasion. I'll never get rid of my Summit climber because I'll always reach for it when it is pouring rain or miserably cold. I hate climbing sticks in those conditions and a climber is the fastest and easiest way up a tree, period.
 
I originally decided to try saddle hunting after a terribly frustrating hunt with my climber, where I got hung up on brush, clanked the metal loudly, and was forced to sit a different tree than I wanted because the one I wanted had some low limbs I didn't want to cut. I tried the Mantis at the end of last season and dealt with bad hip pinch, but found it much more comfortable for my lower back. I was using three full-length Hawk Heliums and found them to be nearly as bulky and cumbersome as my climber was. This year, I switched to a Cruzr XC and bolts, and man oh man, what a difference that's made. I'm much more comfortable, it's easy to keep the bolts from clanging together, and it's much lighter and less bulky going to and coming from the tree. I share all that to say, I think saddle hunting can be a much easier, slicker setup than climbers, but a lot of that depends on your climbing method. If you're willing to keep trying, I'd suggest testing as many different climbing methods as your budget (and regulations) allow, and go with whatever suits you best.
As for comfort, I suggest using a tree stand seat pad tied around the tree where your knees are, which I've found to be much more comfortable than knee pads or bare bark. That said, it's hard to beat the comfort of a nice climber for an all-day sit, so it might be ideal for you to use the saddle for shorter hunts and climber for all-day sits.
That's a lot of rambling, and I'm by no means an expert on all this, but that's what works well for me. Good luck this season!
 
elk yinzer said:
To me very rarely is it one thing or the other. I just have a toolbox full of tools and I grab the right one for the occasion. I'll never get rid of my Summit climber because I'll always reach for it when it is pouring rain or miserably cold. I hate climbing sticks in those conditions and a climber is the fastest and easiest way up a tree, period.
Click to expand...

I think my problem is that I only know my summit. This is only my 3rd season hunting and my wife bought me a titan for my birthday my first year. So all I know is the ease and comfort of a summit. I hated carrying that thing around. Ive lost a lot of weight and can fit into a viper now and there’s plenty of easy mods that make it quieter and easier to carry. That’s the only reason I’m considering it.


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