JPS
Member
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2020
- Messages
- 47
Hello Everyone
Last week was the opener in Michigan and I went and sat 4 evenings in a row for the first time. I've been practicing and doing observations stands all spring and summer long, but this was the first time bringing the bow and sitting very early (~3pm) until well after dark. I want to share now what I've learned and ask a few questions to the more experienced saddle hunters here.
I sat on two different saddles on two occasions each: 1) ESS, 2) Mantis. This is what I observed:
1) ESS: for me it's the most comfortable one for sitting for extended periods of time. It is REALLY easy to customize and change positions with MINIMAL movement. No need to touch the tether, just move the panels to desired position and they stay in place. I really liked it while up on the tree. I don't think I would even need a large platform while using it.
CONS: noisy while putting on/off and sometimes when walking. Walking with it on it was not that easy for me. I tried and decided not to load it with any pouches. And here is the worst part: once it "came undone" up in a tree it was almost impossible to put it back in the "walking position". So I climbed down carefully and threw it in my pack to walk out, otherwise I had the lower panel riding down and hanging below my butt, which was really annoying while walking.
2) Mantis: It was awesome to walk in and out: it stayed on all the time, even when I loaded it with two pouches with tether+lanyards and a couple of more things and walked through thick stuff. Very silent. Cons: it kept riding up despite multiple adjustments to tether height, etc. Comfortable to lean on, uncomfortable to sit on (hip pinch was brutal after a certain amount of time). I found myself tinkering with it a lot more compared to the ESS. I had to re-adjust the tether height a couple times to get some relief on pressure points as the tether position commanded the way in which it pulled up on me. So, it's OK to use it to lean on especially with a platform (predator), but I don't see myself on it for an extended period of time.
So.... Now I am practically decided: the ESS will be my go-to saddle. I only need to figure out two things:
A) A way to stow the lower panel back under the upper one, once I am done hunting (do this while up in the tree, many times in darkness).... and get it to stay there while I walk (this is the hardest for me).
B) I will have to silence those huge D-rings (and the metal triglide) too in some way.
And there is one more thing about sitting on any of the two saddles: Knee pads/cushion.
Do you guys prefer to "straddle" the trunk or lean with the (padded) knees on it? Does trunk diameter guarantees different solutions? I tended to put the knees on it and when trying to straddle I would not last long. But all the trees where fairly small diameter.
Does anyone have some suggestions for these things? I would really appreciate them!
Thanks in advance
Juan P.
Last week was the opener in Michigan and I went and sat 4 evenings in a row for the first time. I've been practicing and doing observations stands all spring and summer long, but this was the first time bringing the bow and sitting very early (~3pm) until well after dark. I want to share now what I've learned and ask a few questions to the more experienced saddle hunters here.
I sat on two different saddles on two occasions each: 1) ESS, 2) Mantis. This is what I observed:
1) ESS: for me it's the most comfortable one for sitting for extended periods of time. It is REALLY easy to customize and change positions with MINIMAL movement. No need to touch the tether, just move the panels to desired position and they stay in place. I really liked it while up on the tree. I don't think I would even need a large platform while using it.
CONS: noisy while putting on/off and sometimes when walking. Walking with it on it was not that easy for me. I tried and decided not to load it with any pouches. And here is the worst part: once it "came undone" up in a tree it was almost impossible to put it back in the "walking position". So I climbed down carefully and threw it in my pack to walk out, otherwise I had the lower panel riding down and hanging below my butt, which was really annoying while walking.
2) Mantis: It was awesome to walk in and out: it stayed on all the time, even when I loaded it with two pouches with tether+lanyards and a couple of more things and walked through thick stuff. Very silent. Cons: it kept riding up despite multiple adjustments to tether height, etc. Comfortable to lean on, uncomfortable to sit on (hip pinch was brutal after a certain amount of time). I found myself tinkering with it a lot more compared to the ESS. I had to re-adjust the tether height a couple times to get some relief on pressure points as the tether position commanded the way in which it pulled up on me. So, it's OK to use it to lean on especially with a platform (predator), but I don't see myself on it for an extended period of time.
So.... Now I am practically decided: the ESS will be my go-to saddle. I only need to figure out two things:
A) A way to stow the lower panel back under the upper one, once I am done hunting (do this while up in the tree, many times in darkness).... and get it to stay there while I walk (this is the hardest for me).
B) I will have to silence those huge D-rings (and the metal triglide) too in some way.
And there is one more thing about sitting on any of the two saddles: Knee pads/cushion.
Do you guys prefer to "straddle" the trunk or lean with the (padded) knees on it? Does trunk diameter guarantees different solutions? I tended to put the knees on it and when trying to straddle I would not last long. But all the trees where fairly small diameter.
Does anyone have some suggestions for these things? I would really appreciate them!
Thanks in advance
Juan P.
