SecretAgentMan
Active Member
- Joined
- Dec 31, 2019
- Messages
- 129
I'd start off my saying that this forum is such a wealth of information for newbies, and folks here are genuinely interested in helping someone out. So, thanks for that.
I'm about 6'3", 250 most days. 36" waist. I got my XL Mantis right after Christmas and like many, I went in head first and soaked up everything I could. I spent money recklessly. But whatever, most of what I don't wind up using I can sell or trade.
I settled on trying to one stick and rappel on single rope. Maybe not the easiest way to start, but the idea of not carry two sticks and being to able to go as high or as low as I want was appealing. I figured the beginning was as good of a time as any to learn what most might think is a little more advanced technique. I bought an Artisan platform to put on top of my Helium stick. I practiced several times in the yard and did anything new at ground level until I was very comfortable. I'm not a fan of heights, but if I feel safe, that is kept in check.
It took me a little while to get to height (maybe 25'-30' at head height). I'm sure I'll get more efficient with time. Learning to hang in the saddle dang near inverted to retrieve the stick seems to be the way to go maximize the gains with each stick movement. Also, I have a webbing step aide on it to give me another 18-20" or so with each move. I'm sure all of this has been covered in way more detail in a one sticking thread somewhere.
I've got a Cabela's Elite Scout pack that I use. It's plenty large for what I need. Maybe too large. My Mantis has two dump pouches on it that I bought on Amazon and a Allen retriever for my bow. For a tether and rappel rope, I have 8mm Oplux rope. Two separate pieces of rope, but I'll ultimately just use the rappel line as the tether too. I use a distel hitch while tethered and then a Grivel Mono Master with a Mad Rock Hulk HMS carabiner and a Sterling 6mm autoblock to come down. I may switch to the 6.8 mm. The 6.0 doesn't bite as well as I wish it would
Once I got to where I wanted to be, it was a constant battle the whole 3 hours I was out to get comfortable. I spent most of my time leaning. Some sitting. Maybe 70/30. Hip pinch galore both ways. I will say that I only had on some heavy material hunting pants with a leather belt. That could've been a big part of my issue. I've made my bridge adjustable, so I was able to play around with that some. I tinkered with tether height some, but it stay mostly at eye level (maybe another problem). I couldn't tell that the microfit adjusters did squat for me. I do have the recliner that Tethrd makes, and it was helpful to relieve some hip pinch. Regardless, I never sat still more than 10 minutes. I was under the impression that it should be worn above your iliac crest like a rock climbing harness, so that's what I did. That puts my buckle at just above my belly button. But I've seen other threads around here where folks said to have the top strap much lower, like down below your waist (to me, waist is below your gut, where normal fellers wear their belt.)
As far as the platform goes, my feet were plenty comfortable. I can see how having more surface area would be nice, but until I practice shooting at different angles more, I'm good with it.
I'm not giving up on it by any means. I know that everything has to find their own sweet spot. More time playing in the backyard is in order.
.
I'm about 6'3", 250 most days. 36" waist. I got my XL Mantis right after Christmas and like many, I went in head first and soaked up everything I could. I spent money recklessly. But whatever, most of what I don't wind up using I can sell or trade.
I settled on trying to one stick and rappel on single rope. Maybe not the easiest way to start, but the idea of not carry two sticks and being to able to go as high or as low as I want was appealing. I figured the beginning was as good of a time as any to learn what most might think is a little more advanced technique. I bought an Artisan platform to put on top of my Helium stick. I practiced several times in the yard and did anything new at ground level until I was very comfortable. I'm not a fan of heights, but if I feel safe, that is kept in check.
It took me a little while to get to height (maybe 25'-30' at head height). I'm sure I'll get more efficient with time. Learning to hang in the saddle dang near inverted to retrieve the stick seems to be the way to go maximize the gains with each stick movement. Also, I have a webbing step aide on it to give me another 18-20" or so with each move. I'm sure all of this has been covered in way more detail in a one sticking thread somewhere.
I've got a Cabela's Elite Scout pack that I use. It's plenty large for what I need. Maybe too large. My Mantis has two dump pouches on it that I bought on Amazon and a Allen retriever for my bow. For a tether and rappel rope, I have 8mm Oplux rope. Two separate pieces of rope, but I'll ultimately just use the rappel line as the tether too. I use a distel hitch while tethered and then a Grivel Mono Master with a Mad Rock Hulk HMS carabiner and a Sterling 6mm autoblock to come down. I may switch to the 6.8 mm. The 6.0 doesn't bite as well as I wish it would
Once I got to where I wanted to be, it was a constant battle the whole 3 hours I was out to get comfortable. I spent most of my time leaning. Some sitting. Maybe 70/30. Hip pinch galore both ways. I will say that I only had on some heavy material hunting pants with a leather belt. That could've been a big part of my issue. I've made my bridge adjustable, so I was able to play around with that some. I tinkered with tether height some, but it stay mostly at eye level (maybe another problem). I couldn't tell that the microfit adjusters did squat for me. I do have the recliner that Tethrd makes, and it was helpful to relieve some hip pinch. Regardless, I never sat still more than 10 minutes. I was under the impression that it should be worn above your iliac crest like a rock climbing harness, so that's what I did. That puts my buckle at just above my belly button. But I've seen other threads around here where folks said to have the top strap much lower, like down below your waist (to me, waist is below your gut, where normal fellers wear their belt.)
As far as the platform goes, my feet were plenty comfortable. I can see how having more surface area would be nice, but until I practice shooting at different angles more, I'm good with it.
I'm not giving up on it by any means. I know that everything has to find their own sweet spot. More time playing in the backyard is in order.
.