Hybrid or Cruzr or Recon

[kyler1945]

Ha! I keep thinking of things to say and want to add I'm in no way affiliated with Cruzr. I just really appreciate a well made product that works for me when I'm spending my hard earned cash on a product. The Cruzr XC gives me personally zero hip pinch. My knees start to get sore from sitting against the trunk all day but I generally take a break between standing and sitting and have found a Hawk seat pad strapped to the tree alleviates this for all day sits. I'll just use my knee pads for the shorter half days.
Ok so back to the Hybrid! Maybe @kyler1945 has a method that works for him he'd be willing to share or already has. I didn't really find a great way to carry the multiple small items I carry with me on the Hybrid without having a backpack or some other pack that I would then attach to the Hybrid anyways. There's a pouch on the Hybrid a ring of steps will fit in and maybe a water bottle but I carry a decent amount of other things as well as layers of clothes I like to keep dry where a pack and a soft saddle combo excels for me.

I will put pictures of my bag setup in my modifications thread shortly. Maybe I'll do a video...

 

[HappyChappy]

One other thought to consider, is to buy a cheap heavy duty frame pack. I say cheap relatively speaking. But get something with no bags.

Cabelas outfitter frame pack comes to mind. Throw all your crap on it and hike to within 2-300 yards of where you hunt. Deer will smell your ground scent anyway. Drop it there, and continue on with daypack and such. If you kill, it's 300 yards away. If not, you're not dealing with it at tree.

I spent the time/effort to make my hybrid as effective, if not moreso, for packing than my dedicated frame packs. Would I use it on a western backcountry hunt? Probably not, because the seat is an extra 2 pounds I don't need for that type of hunting. But if the seat were removable, I'd strap my regular pack to it in a heart beat.

Great advice. I’ve actually thought the same thing recently so I bought a molle frame for $15 on Amazon. It was such a small investment, I figured it would be worth a shot. I also bought it with the thought of making it my back rest like the hybrid. Has anyone else tried this—a molle frame with a soft saddle instead of a backband? I like the idea of it pulling double duty.

Also, good idea about dropping the frame a few hundred yards from the tree.

 

[kyler1945]

Modifications to First Gen JX3 Hybrid

you should have robbed a bank before shaving.....It would have been the perfect crime!!!LOL

saddlehunter.com

Added a video to this thread. Note - yes I changed a lot of stuff from stock. But you can accomplish a lot of this without doing so.

as for keeping layers dry, I have found the easiest way to do that is have it all in my rain jacket, and folded such that rainrolls Off without hitting openings. I turn sleeves inside out, put all clothes in body of jacket, zip it up, then fold inhalf. I’ve never had an issue keeping things dry.

 

[RRussell]

I had the JX3 and Cruzr.... Sold both but both worked well and also had shortcomings that may or not be ok for some. The JX is a easy chair like comfort but more bulk and weight and a little more of a hindered shot (my experience) and the cruzr was easier shot, easier pack, easier climbing, but not as comfortable. Somewhere between the cruzr and JX is the perfect saddle for me

 

[HappyChappy]

Just pulled the trigger on the hybrid! So stoked!
Thanks for all the input fellas.