Fleece saddle question

[BCHunter]

That's one downside to the fleece saddle. You have to spend some time spreading it out across your butt, legs and back. If you stand up it moves and you have to spend time again spreading it back out to get comfortable. Weaeing fleece/wool clothing as an outerlayer makes it a little more difficult as the fleece saddle tends to 'stick' to them doesn't want to spread out easy. Once it is spread out it can't be beat for comfortability in my opinion though.

The 3/16" amsteel kills me. lol First time I let go up high on 1/4" I thought I was crazy. lol Ill have to look into 3/16 and try one of these fleece saddles. My only concern is I sometimes unload my saddle to turn as Im really a stander using the saddle to keep me from falling on leaning shots. My current diy saddle has a belt to keep it somewhat in place. Any concerns with this fleece slipping/moving if you unload the tether?

i would just use some bungee webbing and a quick release buckle as a belt to keep the ends tight to you when you stand up.

 

[Sheldon]

I tried the "double girth" from that video and must not have tightened it down enough first because it slipped off. Luckily I had my rock harness set so I only dropped about three inches...scared the crap out of me though....I tried just the standard girth hitch and didn't have an issue with slippage but if there is a better way, I'm all for it. Do you think tying Paracord tightly around the bunched end would help give the girth hitch more to bite down on?

Having built numerous gathered end hammocks and one fleece saddle (same thing really) what worked for me was to have the stretch go side to side then triple stitch the channels on the ends. The three seams ensure the channels will be strong enough to run the amsteel thru then splice. On mine I made an adjustable bridge using whoopie sling. Having had hammock suspensions work loose exclusively do the reinforced channel. Sometimes gravity sucks maybe I should wear my harness in the hammock.


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[donnieballgame]

I did the triple channel on all of mine, works great you can use the channel to gather the ends to keep ur double girth hitch from coming off as well. I also always use a RCH.

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[Bdg848]

Definitely using a rc harness with it. I guess I didn't realize it stretched one way and not much the other way, I'll have to try it both ways....

 

[donnieballgame]

Definitely using a rc harness with it. I guess I didn't realize it stretched one way and not much the other way, I'll have to try it both ways....

I'm in the same boat, I did make one that stretched front to back but I gave it away and can't remember how it felt, lol. I need to make another one.

 

[checkerfred]

I did the triple channel on all of mine, works great you can use the channel to gather the ends to keep ur double girth hitch from coming off as well. I also always use a RCH.

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Does there happen to be a video on this? How do you run the amsteel through the channel then double girth?

 

[Jtaylor]

Does there happen to be a video on this? How do you run the amsteel through the channel then double girth?

There's a few ways to skin this cat. There's a no sew method if you wanted to go that route. Check out theultimatehang.com for tying the ends. The double girth is done just by girth hitching and slipping the amsteel over the bunched end. You'll get it once you have it made. I made two continuous loops of amsteel, girth hitched on a sewn bunched end held together with paracord and tied on some climbing webbing (figure 8 on a bight) for my bridge. Here's a link for the continuous loop amsteel if you go that route:

 

[sojourner]

Am I the only one who does a double sheet bend of 8mm rope to the fleece?

https://www.101knots.com/double-sheet-bend.html

The sheet, AKA, the fleece, Is the blue rope in the image in the URL for the knot. Easily undone if you pull on the blue tag ends, and quite easily tied.

If you want to try this, make sure you have a RCH backup and try at ground level.

 

[robanna]

Am I the only one who does a double sheet bend of 8mm rope to the fleece?

https://www.101knots.com/double-sheet-bend.html

The sheet, AKA, the fleece, Is the blue rope in the image in the URL for the knot. Easily undone if you pull on the blue tag ends, and quite easily tied.

If you want to try this, make sure you have a RCH backup and try at ground level.

I've done it that way on several quick hammocks or to temporarily shorten a hammock. I tried it on my saddle and didn't like the extra bulk it created. It's not much but the girth hitch is a bit smaller and uses less fleece.

 

[sojourner]

I've done it that way on several quick hammocks or to temporarily shorten a hammock. I tried it on my saddle and didn't like the extra bulk it created. It's not much but the girth hitch is a bit smaller and uses less fleece.

I don’t mind the extra fleece, when untied, I layer it over my pack before cinching everything down.

Whatever works is all good.

 

[robanna]

Does there happen to be a video on this? How do you run the amsteel through the channel then double girth?

Did you find you answer? If not, look here. After the channel is sewn, there's at least two ways to girth hitch (larks head): whipped end then girth hitch or girth hitch through the channel with a small loop. http://theultimatehang.com/2013/10/29/make-hammock-3-minutes/

 

[Woofron]

Does there happen to be a video on this? How do you run the amsteel through the channel then double girth?

I triple stitched a hem on the bridge ends of the fleece. Nothing special required, from what I understand it isn't really load bearing. I then gathered the ends by putting a zip tie through the hem and tightening it up. This created a solid end that I could double girth hitch without worrying if it would slip off.

 

[Woofron]

More complete instructions are in this thread:

The ultimate ultralight saddle?

I have a small hammock seat where it is just a short/narrow hammock where you hang the foot end low. It doubles as a gear hammock and backpack cover ...cool piece of kit. 48" long 40" wide camo EpsIlon. Sew double stitched channels into each end and run Amsteel loops (tied or spliced) through...

saddlehunter.com

My saddle, and explanation are on page 15. The entire thread is a great read.

 

[checkerfred]

I’ve been just girth hitching it. It’s holding on 1/4” amsteel. I keep slight tension on my rch with a prusik too. I’ll go check this out and probably redo it but just been busy hunting

Did you find you answer? If not, look here. After the channel is sewn, there's at least two ways to girth hitch (larks head): whipped end then girth hitch or girth hitch through the channel with a small loop. http://theultimatehang.com/2013/10/29/make-hammock-3-minutes/

 

[Jtaylor]

I’ve been just girth hitching it. It’s holding on 1/4” amsteel. I keep slight tension on my rch with a prusik too. I’ll go check this out and probably redo it but just been busy hunting

7/64" seems to dig in really well if the 1/4" is slipping.

 

[robanna]

I’ve been just girth hitching it. It’s holding on 1/4” amsteel. I keep slight tension on my rch with a prusik too. I’ll go check this out and probably redo it but just been busy hunting

I just girth hitch it too. No sewing at all. Fleece compresses and makes a good ball on the end that it won't slip off. Do you use a locked girth hitch so it won't loosen up when not weighted? Lots of them out there but the one in David's video is great: https://saddlehunter.com/community/index.php?threads/fleece-saddle-question.10590/post-159332

 

[Woofron]

I just girth hitch it too. No sewing at all. Fleece compresses and makes a good ball on the end that it won't slip off. Do you use a locked girth hitch so it won't loosen up when not weighted? Lots of them out there but the one in David's video is great: https://saddlehunter.com/community/index.php?threads/fleece-saddle-question.10590/post-159332

I’m using single sided 100 weight fleece. I tried 7/64 amsteel and it slipped off the fleece occasionally. That is why I put the hem in. You can also do the hammock knot which locks the amsteel and fabric together.

 

[bj139]

I used the double girth hitched fleece saddle with a RCH once while hunting with no problem. I just tried it inside to test an ATC and the double girth hitch came loose on one end. I didn't fall on my butt since I wasn't hanging at the time. This needs stitching IMHO.

 

[Jtaylor]

I use a triple or double sewn hem on each end with paracord, spare fleece material, rope, zip tie, whatever through the sewn ends works (its just there to hold the fleece bunched up). Fold the material over two or three times on itself, knot the paracord or whatever you used through the hem, crisscross then knot again on the other side. The ends should now look like a ladies hair bun (not a man bun). I only use one layer of fleece and I'm 225lbs. Use 2 continuous loops of 7/64" Amsteel on each end girth hitched or "lock" girth hitched. This method allows you to use a bridge of choice. I prefer climbing webbing lately. Rope, amsteel, webbing, etc. are all options.

 

[velociraptor802]

That's one downside to the fleece saddle. You have to spend some time spreading it out across your butt, legs and back. If you stand up it moves and you have to spend time again spreading it back out to get comfortable. Weaeing fleece/wool clothing as an outerlayer makes it a little more difficult as the fleece saddle tends to 'stick' to them doesn't want to spread out easy. Once it is spread out it can't be beat for comfortability in my opinion though.

Absolutely...hours in the saddle and no issues...a clove hitch with a cat's ass (half hitch) No girth ...hitch