• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

Hip Pinch

1canvas

1canvas

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2022
Messages
679
Location
The Great State Of Ohio
Although I am new to saddles I’m wondering about more saddle comfort. I haven’t spent hours in a saddle and don’t feel any hip pinch, I’m wondering about some of the spreader gadgets just adding comfort for long sits. Has anyone tried them and what is your opinion?
 
Ballshooter said:
Its all in bridge and tether adjustment imo I can sit all day in my ape canyon outfitters Pioneer saddle. No spreader gizmos.
Click to expand...
I tend to agree but would add like boots there may be one or two that just fit you better than everything else. Find the one that fits you right and get the bridge and tether adjustments right and you will be plenty comfy.
 
From my research it seems like much depends on body size and weight, and that makes sense when you consider you are sitting in a sling. Also, I would think it would also depend on how much you sit or lean. Even a hammock has a spreader bar on one end. I haven’t sat in a saddle long enough to experience hip pinch, but shooting out of a saddle I can see where a spreader on my bridge may interfere with my bow string. I know my saddle is pretty comfortable with my bridge length out a bit, but setting my tether at forehead height I loose minimal tether length adjustments with a longer bridge. With any friction knot my tether is too long, I need a Ropeman to shorten my tether.
 
Depends on the saddle. The Latitude Method 1 and 2 were medieval torture devices for me. Tried every tweak and position and they were just plain brutal hip pinch. The XC and Lonestar I get zero hip pinch, no tweaks needed.

But for all of tethrds marketing, then are right in that you need to get in saddle shape. Every single year no matter what, the first couple of hunts suck. Your body hasn't felt that pressure in a long time and needs to get adjusted.
 
I personally wouldn't try to solve a problem that I haven't experience yet. If you haven't had hip pinch yet, you may not. Like most have recommended, tether and bridge adjustment to find the sweet spot solves the issue for most folks anyway.

The issue I don't see discussed often is the definition of comfort. I get this idea sometimes that people coming in to saddle hunting believe that there is some ideal combination of saddle, platform, etc that will make an all-day sit 20 feet up a tree in cold weather somehow feel like a day at the spa, and when they can't find that they are dissatisfied and buy a new saddle, or platform, of whatever. They are chasing something that doesn't exist. Perfection. A saddle needs to be reasonably comfortable, but this is hunting. Sitting motionless in a tree for hours on end is not fun for 99.99% of folks, any way you slice it.
 
NMSbowhunter said:
I personally wouldn't try to solve a problem that I haven't experience yet. If you haven't had hip pinch yet, you may not. Like most have recommended, tether and bridge adjustment to find the sweet spot solves the issue for most folks anyway.

The issue I don't see discussed often is the definition of comfort. I get this idea sometimes that people coming in to saddle hunting believe that there is some ideal combination of saddle, platform, etc that will make an all-day sit 20 feet up a tree in cold weather somehow feel like a day at the spa, and when they can't find that they are dissatisfied and buy a new saddle, or platform, of whatever. They are chasing something that doesn't exist. Perfection. A saddle needs to be reasonably comfortable, but this is hunting. Sitting motionless in a tree for hours on end is not fun for 99.99% of folks, any way you slice it.
Click to expand...
Ultimately 100% this. You wanna be comfortable stay home in bed. Pumpkin spice makes things a lil better on stand however.
 
Last edited:
I've tried a few saddles and some do pinch more than others. Though I've found it's more an issue on bridge length and tether height than anything else. A high tether and short bridge will pinch badly versus a lower tether height and a longer bridge length. I also think the more time you spend up a tree and the more comfortable you are hanging so to speak the less pinch you'll find as you get more comfortable being further from the tree
 
NMSbowhunter said:
I personally wouldn't try to solve a problem that I haven't experience yet. If you haven't had hip pinch yet, you may not. Like most have recommended, tether and bridge adjustment to find the sweet spot solves the issue for most folks anyway.

The issue I don't see discussed often is the definition of comfort. I get this idea sometimes that people coming in to saddle hunting believe that there is some ideal combination of saddle, platform, etc that will make an all-day sit 20 feet up a tree in cold weather somehow feel like a day at the spa, and when they can't find that they are dissatisfied and buy a new saddle, or platform, of whatever. They are chasing something that doesn't exist. Perfection. A saddle needs to be reasonably comfortable, but this is hunting. Sitting motionless in a tree for hours on end is not fun for 99.99% of folks, any way you slice it.
Click to expand...
I was just curious at others experiences with hip pinch. When researching saddles a couple of years ago some had mentioned that with some it can be a problem. I‘ve only had a couple of hours at most at one time and have not had an issue.
My thing is striking a reasonable level of comfort, if anyone doesn’t achieve a certain level of comfort in any climber, hang on, or saddle it is responsible to look to rectify the situation or try something else. I have been fortunate to have acquired good for me gear at great prices in January.
 
1canvas said:
I was just curious at others experiences with hip pinch. When researching saddles a couple of years ago some had mentioned that with some it can be a problem. I‘ve only had a couple of hours at most at one time and have not had an issue.
My thing is striking a reasonable level of comfort, if anyone doesn’t achieve a certain level of comfort in any climber, hang on, or saddle it is responsible to look to rectify the situation or try something else. I have been fortunate to have acquired good for me gear at great prices in January.
Click to expand...
Understandable. The only "hip pinch" I've ever had was caused by the way the pants fabric overlapped under the saddle, causing hot spots. I think you can find that reasonable level of comfort. It's just going to be a matter of spending some real time in the saddle and working out the kinks as they happen. Also, as previously stated, getting in saddle shape is important. After the first couple of hunts of the year I am sore in several spots for a few days. After the first week. I am OK. Give yourself some time before you start major tweaking of the system. Chances are you will be sore after those first couple of hunts regardless.
 
NMSbowhunter said:
Understandable. The only "hip pinch" I've ever had was caused by the way the pants fabric overlapped under the saddle, causing hot spots. I think you can find that reasonable level of comfort. It's just going to be a matter of spending some real time in the saddle and working out the kinks as they happen. Also, as previously stated, getting in saddle shape is important. After the first couple of hunts of the year I am sore in several spots for a few days. After the first week. I am OK. Give yourself some time before you start major tweaking of the system. Chances are you will be sore after those first couple of hunts regardless.
Click to expand...
I'm more of a leaner so haven't experienced much as far as hip pinch goes. Leaner vs sitter seems to matter quite a bit. jmo
 
I went from a latitude method 2 XL to a latitude maverick. I thought the method was not comfortable but it must have been me. I was wrong. Bought the maverick and was 100% more comfortable. Hip pinch is real but if you can find a saddle that fits, it's non existent. Unfortunately trying saddles for any period of time requires purchase. I'm glad I found the one after buying 3.

Sent from my moto g 5G - 2023 using Tapatalk
 
bigmike23 said:
Depends on the saddle. The Latitude Method 1 and 2 were medieval torture devices for me. Tried every tweak and position and they were just plain brutal hip pinch. The XC and Lonestar I get zero hip pinch, no tweaks needed.

But for all of tethrds marketing, then are right in that you need to get in saddle shape. Every single year no matter what, the first couple of hunts suck. Your body hasn't felt that pressure in a long time and needs to get adjusted.
Click to expand...

Nah, saddle shape is just more Tethrd nonsense.
 
Ballshooter said:
Its all in bridge and tether adjustment imo I can sit all day in my ape canyon outfitters Pioneer saddle. No spreader gizmos.
Click to expand...
I presently have two saddles.... a similar Ape Canyon Pioneer single panel and an Oveerwatch double panel. Both are comfortable to me. I bought the Pioneer last summer as a backup and to have an extra when our son-in-law comes up to MI from FL to bowhunt in October. However, after testing the Pioneer and hunting with it a few times, it became my primary for the '24 season. There is a 'Goldilocks' just right adjustment with your bridge and tether that provides maximum comfort. But as others also noted, some saddle designs are going to be naturally more or less comfortable to a particular physique. The last thing I want is more 'stuff' to haul into the woods...like a hip pinch spreader. If I got to that point, I would resell my saddle and continue searching for the best fit.
 
With my phantom I would have to get in saddle shape meaning that you would have sore spots on the contact points that after a couple sits would not be sore anymore however even after getting in saddle shape I would get hip pinch on the long sits. With my Overwatch Orion I sat dawn to dusk opening day 2024 and did not have any sore spots or hip pinch and no having to get in saddle shape.
 
I agree whole heartedly. If you feel like you've got to get in "saddle shape" to sit for longer durations in your saddle then you're in the wrong saddle for you or have something wrong with your tether and/or bridge length. My second saddle was a large Kestrel and try as I might I couldn't avoid hip pinch after a couple of hours in it. That's not meant as knock on the Kestrel, it was just the way the saddle was cut, it didn't suit my hips. My current saddle is not far from a Kestrel in size/shape but it has never caused me discomfort even on dawn to dusk sits. It's just different enough that it suits my build properly.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top