Catskills
Well-Known Member
100%, but i'm saying waiting to the list minute should mean knowing it might not go perfect. Thats all. Can't buy a bow a week before the season and expect to be proficient. Same for a saddle.
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Frustrated
- Thread starter predatorhunter
- Start date
100%, but i'm saying waiting to the list minute should mean knowing it might not go perfect. Thats all. Can't buy a bow a week before the season and expect to be proficient. Same for a saddle.
predatorhunter
Well-Known Member
If everyone did things themselves then the saddle hunting industry will never be able to sustain a viable commercial solution and company. FYI, I was not sitting around and complaining. I was venting a frustration.
Thats a legit set up, ive hunted out of that for 3 years now.I've been looking into a rock climbing harness and sit drag for the last couple days just to hold me over until my Mantis and Predator arrive. I'll probably just use my hang on until everything arrives. Pretty sure my wife will leave me if I spend one more penny on hunting gear this year... ...
Oh I get that - after a whole week of being a member on this site.
predatorhunter
Well-Known Member
I joined the site a week ago but there are other sources of information, but this is the best minus all the angry people. I have been looking at saddle hunting for several years, but never got serious.
If I was in your shoes, and I wanted to try a saddle - I would go the sit drag option. You could have a saddle and RCH in a week. I would also recommend going ahead and purchasing one of the Aerohunter or Tehter'd saddles and then when it comes in you are good to go.
predatorhunter
Well-Known Member
All you folks that are bitching at me or think less of me because I don't want to make my own need to relax. Not everyone is a DIYer when it comes to saddles. If I am putting my life on the line, I prefer to have something that has been engineered and extensively tested. This is the same reason NONE of you are selling your DIY solution.
That's your choice - I don't think anyone thinks less of you either way. And you don't have to do the DIY thing, that's also a choice, but then don't expect us to have bleeding hearts when you don't have a saddle come Oct when you haven't even ordered one in August.
best of luck to you
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2014
- Messages
- 1,431
I recieved training in recreational tree climbing in an effort to use the techniques I learned for bow hunting. I have had a Treesuit,New Tribe Evolution, Guidos Web and made a sit drag DIY. I am presently using my Web that I have modified to allow me to use my version of the 1 stick method as well as use it for srt climbing. One thing or another has always been lacking in all these designs as far as combining a tree climbing harness and a hunting saddle to facilitate climbing the way I have been doing. I am hoping that the Mantis will perhaps bridge the gap and be closer to what I am looking or. I think with a short add on bridge I can use for ascending and the correct placement of the linemans loops this will work. Hard to find the balance between functionality and comfort along with compactness.
Wolverinebuckman
Well-Known Member
Wow, dude's getting a baptism by fire in this thread...never really seen that before here.
Country
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 7, 2018
- Messages
- 895
Yup. Noticed that too. Not too cool.Wow, dude's getting a baptism by fire in this thread...never really seen that before here.
Enough guys. Everyone better start being respectful or people are getting warnings and this thread is going away. I need to be able to step away from the site for an hour without this drama.
Keep your comments productive or don't comment at all.
Keep your comments productive or don't comment at all.
@Babshaft offered the perfect solution. I hunted out of a sitdrag/RC harness combo last year. Is it as nice as the kestrel, kite, or mantis? Probably not, but some find it extremely comfortable. I didn't have any issues with that approach last year. The RC harness ensures you have the engineering and testing you are wanting.
I get this isn't the way you are wanting to get into a saddle...but it is a great way to build some comfort/confidence while you are waiting for your ideal saddle to arrive.
- Joined
- Dec 25, 2015
- Messages
- 5,258
@Babshaft sure was accommodating. That is the normal spirit of this site. Keep it up Brother.
"Slum it in a kestrel?"
Boo on you sir. I'll have you know the kestrel is the finest piece of fabric to ever caress a coon-ass.
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2016
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You definitely want climbing rated stuff, that's why I use a rock climbing harness. You stay hooked to that the whole time. The DIY saddles or sit drags are just a seat when you get to height, the harness is always there. Not ideal buying twice, but you can get a RC harness and fleece saddle put together for less than $60.
Babshaft
Well-Known Member
I agree with you 100%. It's one of the reasons I actually prefer the rock climbing harness. Sure all of the commercially available saddles have ridiculous strength ratings, but I've never seen a video of a dynamic fall. If someone has a video of a person falling 6+ feet in a kestrel, kite or mantis I'd love to see it. It'd be a huge confidence booster. The best I've seen is Ernie's drop test with the mantis, where he broke the carabiner. Now that is a huge confidence booster.
I know these saddles are meant to be used to prevent a fall from ever happening; however, in the extremely unlikely event a dynamic fall does happen it'd be cool to know they hold up. I'm sure they do, but there's nothing like a good video. Especially if Ernie is laughing like a maniac. Yes I know we need to consider static vs dynamic rope. I've seen guys fall in rock climbing harnesses; in person. Man do I love knowing I'll be fine.
Seriously bro, take me up on my RCH and sitdrag. You'll be super impressed while you wait on whatever you ordered. The black diamond momentum is the harness. Check out some youtube vids. It'll hold you just fine man. I'd sell it to you, but frankly I like it too much to sell. I'd guess that's why you don't see them for sale.
predatorhunter
Well-Known Member
For all those that have offered helpful advice, I greatly appreciate it. I briefly looking into the sit-n-drag but thought I read that it is unsafe. It could be that it was stated unsafe w/o a Rock climbing harness. I am still considering my options and your input has been helpful.
Thanks
Thanks
pesqimon
Well-Known Member
The time and money I spent on the RCH + SD has been more than worth it. The only required DIY is cutting the straps that come with the SD and adding a bridge. The bridge an be tied on with a water or figure 8 knot. Both knots should be known for saddle hunting whether you are a DIYer or not and therefore this is a good opportunity to learn them . The bridge can be tubular webbing or climbing rope, either can be acquired at the local climbing shop (REI, EMS etc). An HSS tether can be bought for $20 and will serve.
Maybe if we all throw ourselves on the floor and wail our arms and legs the mantis would ship earlier, heck might even work for bringing the deer in. #tantrums should be stickied, so it can be avoided and no ones white flag shows. -_- I'm sure those boys at Tethrd would like nothing more than to get the products that you've ordered into your hands. Many options inside this forum that will guide you to a DIY saddle that you could have a professional sew up. Just be sure to tell your seamstress it will be load bearing. Just my 14.02