First Sling

[Erniepower]

The other biggie is the Guido's Web


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I started with a gw. It has some draw Backs when it comes to climbing and when carrying your gear but you can't beat the comfort once set up.

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[Maustypsu]

So I looked up New Tribe and I looked up Trophy Line as well as Sit Drag.
Are there other brands I need to consider? Seems I read on here that there is one that no longer makes them.
Are Trophy Tree Saddle and Tree Saddle the same or different brands?

Trophyline is a brand that used to make a product called the "Tree Saddle". Usually if you see that word, then folks mean the Trophyline Tree Saddle. But of course, it is also a generic term used to describe both the hunting saddles as well as arborist saddles.

Trophyline is out of business. A company made something called the Tree Suit at one point. That is also out of business.
Big Buck and Anderson made a simple tree saddle from seat belt material. Also, probably not a great place to start but can be had for around $100. To research those Search for "Anderson Tree Sling", they are both basically the same thing made by different people but now only found rarely on eBay (don't buy those, save them for me).

The only two companies currently making saddles dedicated to hunting from above ground that I am aware of are: New Tribe and Guido's Web. The Sit and Drag is not rated by TMA for use at height. But many have added belts to keep it in place and trust it as a climbing and hunting height safety feature. Others use this in conjunction with a rock climbing harness. The harness is their safety and the sit drag is their tree sling for comfortable sitting.

If you go the sit and drag route, I know a guy who has done a few mods to them...

 

[kenn1320]

Tma is a joke by the way. They don't test anything. You pay to have your product tested and submit the results to them along with a big check. They either cash your check and put your results on file or send it back. Stupid.

 

[PJC]

Trophyline is a brand that used to make a product called the "Tree Saddle". Usually if you see that word, then folks mean the Trophyline Tree Saddle. But of course, it is also a generic term used to describe both the hunting saddles as well as arborist saddles.

Trophyline is out of business. A company made something called the Tree Suit at one point. That is also out of business.
Big Buck and Anderson made a simple tree saddle from seat belt material. Also, probably not a great place to start but can be had for around $100. To research those Search for "Anderson Tree Sling", they are both basically the same thing made by different people but now only found rarely on eBay (don't buy those, save them for me).

The only two companies currently making saddles dedicated to hunting from above ground that I am aware of are: New Tribe and Guido's Web. The Sit and Drag is not rated by TMA for use at height. But many have added belts to keep it in place and trust it as a climbing and hunting height safety feature. Others use this in conjunction with a rock climbing harness. The harness is their safety and the sit drag is their tree sling for comfortable sitting.

If you go the sit and drag route, I know a guy who has done a few mods to them...

Would that someone happen to be you?


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[Jed33]

I'm in the same boat as you PJC, not wanting to spend a lot of $$ on a saddle and not like it.

I have used a custom sit drag off and on this season from ground level. I have enjoyed the comfort and maneuverability. Planning on making the switch from terra firma to sitting in a tree at elevated levels next season. I will use it in conjunction with a rock climbing harness for safety and peace of mind.

I am curious as why this will not be a good starter saddle.

 

[PJC]

I'm in the same boat as you PJC, not wanting to spend a lot of $$ on a saddle and not like it.

I have used a custom sit drag off and on this season from ground level. I have enjoyed the comfort and maneuverability. Planning on making the switch from terra firma to sitting in a tree at elevated levels next season. I will use it in conjunction with a rock climbing harness for safety and peace of mind.

I am curious as why this will not be a good starter saddle.

I just bought a custom used Sit Drag from someone on this site who listed his for sale. He has decided to only hunt from the ground from now on. Just barely used. So I'm in the Sit Drag mode and I'll have to learn to get the rest of the pieces of the puzzle together now. (insert smiley face)

 

[redsquirrel]

I am curious as why this will not be a good starter saddle.

I would say just because it is not intended to be used as a saddle. The other saddles that are intended to be used off the ground are build more rugged and as fall prevention devices. The sit and drag is marketed to be used on the ground. If you are a new user, there is less room for error with one.

 

[Erniepower]

I'm in the same boat as you PJC, not wanting to spend a lot of $$ on a saddle and not like it.

I have used a custom sit drag off and on this season from ground level. I have enjoyed the comfort and maneuverability. Planning on making the switch from terra firma to sitting in a tree at elevated levels next season. I will use it in conjunction with a rock climbing harness for safety and peace of mind.

I am curious as why this will not be a good starter saddle.

For what it's worth, if you buy them used here, you can turn around and sell them without losing more than shipping cost pretty easily. I have rotated through a bunch of them in the last year. Basically for 20$ in shipping, you can try out any saddle. The hardest part is waiting for the right saddle at the right price to come up

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[kyler1945]

My exact thoughts Ernie. The saddles hold their value well.

The most important piece to sling hunting for me was to get comfortable swinging from a rope smaller than my pinky.

Monkeying around with a rock climbing harness, and one stick climbing, flipping upside down in my web, and generally getting used to motion at height with no wide stable platform underneath me helped get a handle on how dynamic saddle hunting can be and the movements expected of you.

I don't think I've heard of a single person being immediately comfortable with the whole idea. So much of the tree stand industry focuses on keeping you still so you don't hurt yourself or sue them. Generally speaking, I think people take for granted safety harnesses when tree stand hunting. They are designed to save your life, but if you fall once, they recommend you replace it. I think this leads to a false sense of security, which also leads to a lack of inspection.

I'm a fan of using the equipment that protects me in a controlled fashion. It builds confidence in it and my ability to handle a bad situation. Most importantly, I'm constantly putting my eyes and hands on it looking for signs of wear or failure.

I would not recommend jacking up 30' in a sitdrag with no practice, and no RC harness. There are plenty of ways for it to fail or for you to slip out of it if you try hard enough or something kookie happens.


However, practicing at ground level to see how it reacts to your movements, and having a good climbing harness on when making your first ascents, I don't see how they are any more dangerous than any other type of stand for your first time. The danger in stand hunting is ascent and descent, and sudden equipment failure. I don't ever have a scenario where I can fall more than a couple feet. If the measures I take to ensure this aren't enough, then it's my time.

If you're a careful deliberate person, and understand how each component works, you should be fine. If you're not, you're at just as much risk clanging around the woods with a chunk of metal.

 

[g2outdoors]

I would say just because it is not intended to be used as a saddle. The other saddles that are intended to be used off the ground are build more rugged and as fall prevention devices. The sit and drag is marketed to be used on the ground. If you are a new user, there is less room for error with one.

I agree.

I'm a huge advocate of the sitdrag. As a matter of fact, I get my fair share of ball busting because of it. However, I hunted from a trophyline tree saddle for 5 years before I made the switch. I was very comfortable with knots, safety, and the mechanics of saddle hunting. It took me several seasons (at least 3) to get to that point of confidence.

The SD is very safe, but the redundancies and overbuilt components engineered into "traditional" saddles are not present with the SD. That's my reason for not recommending it to someone unfamiliar with this style of hunting. I think spending a few seasons in a more robust system is the best way to learn.

 

[MCDM]

I will also 2nd G2 on this. I started in the aerohunter and by the time the sitdrag craze took off i was more than comfortable with the knots and safety of the system. For newbies yes swinging from a rope so to speak is a mental adjustment however for the looks and the verbal crap I get from others who are not fimilar either i attempt to educate or let them fade into the woods. I am more than comfortable and feel safe in the sitdrag however i have all the other hookups and connections for safety down and practice them consistently to keep things fresh and safe

 

[g2outdoors]

It's weird, and somewhat counterintuitive, but I feel much safer in my sling than any treestand.

 

[redsquirrel]

I agree.

I'm a huge advocate of the sitdrag. As a matter of fact, I get my fair share of ball busting because of it. However, I hunted from a trophyline tree saddle for 5 years before I made the switch. I was very comfortable with knots, safety, and the mechanics of saddle hunting. It took me several seasons (at least 3) to get to that point of confidence.

The SD is very safe, but the redundancies and overbuilt components engineered into "traditional" saddles are not present with the SD. That's my reason for not recommending it to someone unfamiliar with this style of hunting. I think spending a few seasons in a more robust system is the best way to learn.

Wait, you use a sit and drag?!?

 

[MCDM]

Wait, you use a sit and drag?!?

News of the century whoa lol

 

[deleted_user01]

I agree.

I'm a huge advocate of the sitdrag. As a matter of fact, I get my fair share of ball busting because of it. However, I hunted from a trophyline tree saddle for 5 years before I made the switch. I was very comfortable with knots, safety, and the mechanics of saddle hunting. It took me several seasons (at least 3) to get to that point of confidence.

The SD is very safe, but the redundancies and overbuilt components engineered into "traditional" saddles are not present with the SD. That's my reason for not recommending it to someone unfamiliar with this style of hunting. I think spending a few seasons in a more robust system is the best way to learn.

Great write up...

 

[Jed33]

Thanks for all the responses, this has me second guessing starting off with the sit drag.

I have been researching and watching videos that you guys post and it has helped me tremendously. I am a little intimidated by heights, have been my whole life, however I feel more confident with a LW climber than I do with ladder stands. When I first stumbled on the saddle style stand the biggest thing that perked my interest was that the sling was the stand, and there was nothing to fall from so to speak. I like the idea of the comfort aspect also.

I may end up spending the off season practicing from 3-6' above ground and work my way up.

 

[deleted_user01]

Thanks for all the responses, this has me second guessing starting off with the sit drag.

I have been researching and watching videos that you guys post and it has helped me tremendously. I am a little intimidated by heights, have been my whole life, however I feel more confident with a LW climber than I do with ladder stands. When I first stumbled on the saddle style stand the biggest thing that perked my interest was that the sling was the stand, and there was nothing to fall from so to speak. I like the idea of the comfort aspect also.

I may end up spending the off season practicing from 3-6' above ground and work my way up.

Im fortunate to have a heated (man cave) that I put a tree trunk in to experiment with all sorts of systems...ie... sit/drag, mini platforms, rappel options etc...
Your plan to do it at low altitude is exactly what I did. You will get comfortable real quick with your equipment. Confidence will also increase.

 

[g2outdoors]

Thanks for all the responses, this has me second guessing starting off with the sit drag.

I have been researching and watching videos that you guys post and it has helped me tremendously. I am a little intimidated by heights, have been my whole life, however I feel more confident with a LW climber than I do with ladder stands. When I first stumbled on the saddle style stand the biggest thing that perked my interest was that the sling was the stand, and there was nothing to fall from so to speak. I like the idea of the comfort aspect also.

I may end up spending the off season practicing from 3-6' above ground and work my way up.

This is a really good plan.

Where are you located? You may be near someone you can link up with and try them out.

Can you make it to Pigmageddon in February? If so, you'll be able to try out every saddle and climbing system available right now. That would be a great way to get your feet wet and make a decision about your first setup.

 

[kenn1320]

Remember the first time at hunting height that you let go of the tree and hung by your tether? Boy was that a scary moment, remember it very well. I was using a trophy line saddle. I felt so confident climbing with the lineman belt, never really used one before that. Undoing that and hanging from the tether and looking down was a scary feeling. When I went to 7/16" rope for a tether I thought dang Im trusting this tiny rope this high up? Now I hang from 1/4" Amsteel and dont give it a second thought.

 

[Jed33]

I'm in southwest Ohio