Convince to stick with saddles

[sconnieman]

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 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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[Vtbow]

Bulk reduction, noise. I can carry my whole saddle setup in my pack all day. And if I don't use it, oh well. Walk around with a summit climber all day and don't use it...even if the weight is similar. You're going to hate having the thing on your backnaftern2 hours max. But if you're hunting farmland and logging roads and walk open terrain for an hour or less to your spot, the viper will do it. Different tools for different times. But the saddle can do it all...

 

[Noonespecial]

I had a summit viper for many years killed a lot of deer from it. Like you I could sit all day. Got tired of the bulk and noise and getting picked off in a tree so I switched to a lone wolf hand climber. Used that which was much better for bulk and noise but still got picked a lot. I’ve heard about saddles for years but when I went to buy one trophyline went out of business. Waited until this great market opened back up and got my saddle. I hated it at first and remember last year during my first sit being so uncomfortable I was already thinking of going back to my climber until a doe walked in. I silently moved around to the back of the tree out of sight. She ate in front of me at 10 yards for a while then bedded down for two hours until the bugs irritated her enough to move. That’s when I new I had to suck it up and figure out a way to make it work. I bought different saddles to try until I found the one that worked for me. Also I do a lot of presets which is why a saddle is so awesome...only need one saddle. I never liked always having to hang and then tear down. Stick with it and tinker with your setup to make it work and you may end up selling all of your treestands like I did. Good luck!

 

[CooterBrown]

I had a summit viper for many years killed a lot of deer from it. Like you I could sit all day. Got tired of the bulk and noise and getting picked off in a tree so I switched to a lone wolf hand climber. Used that which was much better for bulk and noise but still got picked a lot. I’ve heard about saddles for years but when I went to buy one trophyline went out of business. Waited until this great market opened back up and got my saddle. I hated it at first and remember last year during my first sit being so uncomfortable I was already thinking of going back to my climber until a doe walked in. I silently moved around to the back of the tree out of sight. She ate in front of me at 10 yards for a while then bedded down for two hours until the bugs irritated her enough to move. That’s when I new I had to suck it up and figure out a way to make it work. I bought different saddles to try until I found the one that worked for me. Also I do a lot of presets which is why a saddle is so awesome...only need one saddle. I never liked always having to hang and then tear down. Stick with it and tinker with your setup to make it work and you may end up selling all of your treestands like I did. Good luck!

What saddle is your preference?

 

[SNIPERBBB]

I never liked the climbers, was always worried about them kicking out and I could never get the foot straps really adjusted to where it was easy to climb without feeling like the thing was going to fall off my feet while wearing size 12-13boots.

Partly why I jumped straight to SRT/DRT.

 

[stevethebreeze]

 

[Sniper4hire]

Why does it have to be just one thing? Use all your tools. Just maybe practice your saddle techniques a bit more in the yard during daylight..

 

[stevethebreeze]

I have lease land and I plan on Public hunting. I HATE setting up ladder sticks, lock ons, ladders stands, and even though I love the comfort of my Summit climber, Im just as comfortable in my H2. And for whatever reason, I always get a cramp in the back of my leg when I am putting on the footstraps. I mean it happens so fast I want to jump out of it and scream.

 

[dalton916]

Not even going to read the responses. Switch back to the summit. And do me one favor after you do, go forth to the world and proclaim at every opportunity how much saddles suck, how you almost died, how (___________) .......

Scare off as many people as you can.

Thanks in advance

 

[sconnieman]

Bulk reduction, noise. I can carry my whole saddle setup in my pack all day. And if I don't use it, oh well. Walk around with a summit climber all day and don't use it...even if the weight is similar. You're going to hate having the thing on your backnaftern2 hours max. But if you're hunting farmland and logging roads and walk open terrain for an hour or less to your spot, the viper will do it. Different tools for different times. But the saddle can do it all...

Yea last year I ordered a predator and it didn’t get to me in time for my rut trip so I ended up carrying my summit titan all around a pretty big bowl formation. It was brutal. I definitely think I’m going to get better molle backpack straps for it and wrap it in camoform to make it quieter if I do use it.


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[stevethebreeze]

I agree with @Sniper4hire the learning curve on a climber is pretty quick. Not so much with saddle and sticks. the subtle nuances of getting the sticks right or whatever method a person uses, dealing with all those ropes and/or buckles, camming that platform just right, etc. There's a lot going on there. BUT, the more practice you do the little things become habit. Just like practicing with your bow. They become ingrained over time.

 

[Noonespecial]

What saddle is your preference?

H2

 

[larasea]

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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I too am making the switch this year to a saddle from a climber. I have been using a climber for a long time. My first climber was a Baker in the 80's and have used Summits since. I would weight your Viper and you may find that in fact it weights more than 20 lbs. My comfort zone is for sure with a climber. But with that said here are two facts that have not been mentioned. (1) You have to stand up to shoot a long bow or compound out of the Viper. More movement than a saddle. (2) Have you thought about how you are going to self recover yourself if your platform breaks and you are hanging in the middle of the top section. I have and the saddle is for me from here on out.

Big learning curve for sure, but well worth it. Boyne Bowhunter, Red Beard, Bwhana ,and several others have given me guidance on one sticking and rappelling down. I have tons to learn and experience. I had 4 climbers and have sold two. Will not be going back in time.

 

[Bwhana]

Man, whatever suits your style. Saddle is just a tool! Still gotta get in the right spot & kill em...... what if you split to difference & used a LWHC??

The LWHC should be the default starting point for all climber converts! Way lighter and easier than carrying sticks and a platform, and almost no learning curve on using it, the saddle just replaces the top piece. Sticks make sense for guys in some areas due to the lack of good climbing trees, but that is far from the norm for most, and they get sucked into buying sticks because they think they need to due to the attention they get on the site.

I still use my Xstand climber for some hunts and it is my gold standard at a true 12 lbs carrying weight. I refuse to hunt out of a saddle setup that weighs more than it does. You can always go that route if you can't find a better saddle setup and cut your weight.

 

[Westdesign03]

I’ve gone in heavy into saddle hunting between last year and this year. Although I still keep my one LW Assault lock on stand. And as into the saddle as I am, I am still considering buying myself another LWHC stand. Seems like overall climbers are the least preferred by most hunters out there (at least the ones on hunting media), but there was still something about my climber that I really liked and miss.


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[PaulK]

Two pages in and I can’t believe no one has said it yet- hell of a job, dude, losing that weight! 80 lbs in no joke. Most folks have no idea what that means. Good for you!

 

[Exhumis]

Everyone else has sounded off with pretty much the same, so here’s another guy to kick a dead horse. Sure the weight is close but the mobility and noise hands down goes to the saddle. I got tired of feeling like an organ grinder walking through the woods when I used a viper. When I hunt with my hunting partner I make him wait 15 minutes to follow me cuz he uses a summit and sounds like a rhinoceros even tho he’s trying to be quiet. The possiblities for climbing are endless. Don’t like sticks use steps. Don’t like steps use bolts. Can’t use bolts srt/drt. Don’t like that use squirrel steps. Etc. but I will have end with this: go with what works for you. You like a climber use a climber.

 

[Hillclimber]

 

[gameflogger]

I hunt out of a saddle for the sex appeal!! Chicks dig a guy that is a tree ninja. Just don’t ask my wife...... she would probably disagree with me.

 

[BCHunter]

Are you using a knee pad and a back band? Those are the 2 best accessories for comfort once you are in the tree. Are you hunting public land? Depending on the state, you could use climbing spurs, nothing I know of is quieter or faster.

With that said, I would like you to go to your hardest hunt for walk in access and climb. Do it once with the summit, and once with the saddle setup. You may find that the summit isn't all you remember it to be for access Kinda like how women forget how bad child birth is.

Good luck this season!