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I love the saddle, but...

C

C.J.M.

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SH Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2022
Messages
96
If I can't figure out a way to address easing the pain on my knees to the tree then I'm gonna have to find another option. My 1st preference is still a hang on (hate the climber treestands), but I absolutely love everything a saddle has to offer.

Tried knee pads, none work. Currently hanging a cushion from my tether. It's the only thing that seems to work, but it's bulky to pack.
 
If you’re in a hang-on using your saddle, flip the seat cushion to the underside and lift the seat, you can rest your knees on it.
If you’re in a “traditional” saddle setup (ie ROS or platform) then hang your backpack at knee height and use that.
I have no use for knee pads, but people who use them seem to love them.
You can also do what I do and just become a leaner. I find sitting has its time and place but I personally prefer leaning about 80-90% of the hunt.
 
C.J.M. said:
If I can't figure out a way to address easing the pain on my knees to the tree then I'm gonna have to find another option. My 1st preference is still a hang on (hate the climber treestands), but I absolutely love everything a saddle has to offer.

Tried knee pads, none work. Currently hanging a cushion from my tether. It's the only thing that seems to work, but it's bulky to pack.
Click to expand...

Try this...

Getting comfortable ..

Hey guys. Looking for some input. I probably have close to 10 sits in my Cruzr xc saddle. I am running 3 beast sticks with aiders and cheap hawk platform. Love how light and packable the system is (kuiu venture 2300). Coming from a lone wolf assault hand climber, so I am liking how I no longer...
saddlehunter.com
 
I have a video on this somewhere. Basically, your weight gets distributed between 3 points. Your butt, your knees, and your feet. A big part of comfort for me was learning how to tweak my tether height and length to distribute the pressure in what felt, to me, like an even manner. The bigger you are, the more gravity works against you getting comfortable because it's mashing you harder into everything. But if you're wearing knee pads, you should be able to play with tether height and length and find what takes the pressure off of your knees.
 
C.J.M. said:
If I can't figure out a way to address easing the pain on my knees to the tree then I'm gonna have to find another option. My 1st preference is still a hang on (hate the climber treestands), but I absolutely love everything a saddle has to offer.
Tried knee pads, none work. Currently hanging a cushion from my tether. It's the only thing that seems to work, but it's bulky to pack.
Click to expand...

I would add to all the other great tips provided, be sure to adjust your tether height so that your butt is slightly higher than your knees, approximately 45 degrees instead of 90 degrees to the tree. That inside angle closer to half than closer to straight perpendicular to the tree keeps your knees from mashing in as hard has been my experience.
 
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I'm using a platform. I wear the Sitka Stratus set up. I thought about those other pants, but I've determined i really just don't like knee pads.

Haven't tried adjusting the tether. Don't know why I didn't think of that.

I'm not bashing my knees into the tree.
I generally stand, but there are times I go into the sit position. The pain on the knees against the tree is almost instant.

These are some great tips though, many of which I haven't thought of so I appreciate it.
 
JX3, Preacher’s Seat, Guido’s Web; these will free your knees.

If you’re tall enough, a Lone Wolf Custom Gear .5 is something to consider. You can lean (no knee contact), sit on a seat (no knee contact), and knee into the seat pad while sitting in the saddle (cushioned knee contact). Shorter user’s knees are too low to use the seat pad as a knee cushion though.

You prefer a hang-on, like a saddle, there it is.
 
put bolt on each side of platform about 4-6in high and use a back band. straddle like on a motorcycle when u need a break from leaning. ROS same way if bolts not legal. and pants with pad sleeves are better than kneepads
 
C.J.M. said:
I'm using a platform. I wear the Sitka Stratus set up. I thought about those other pants, but I've determined i really just don't like knee pads.

Haven't tried adjusting the tether. Don't know why I didn't think of that.

I'm not bashing my knees into the tree.
I generally stand, but there are times I go into the sit position. The pain on the knees against the tree is almost instant.

These are some great tips though, many of which I haven't thought of so I appreciate it.
Click to expand...
Is it the surface pain from pressure or more like internal aching? Instant pain even with knee pads sounds more like knee problem than saddle problem.
 
A couple options for sitting:
After adjusting height of tether and/or bridge length instead of putting your knees against the tree put the balls of your feet against the tree with your heels angled onto your platform, then bend your knees and kinda sit down.
Another option is similar to placing your knees against the tree but instead place your knees to either side of the tree and hug the tree. This is a sitting position.
Another option is to sit in the saddle but instead of knees toward the tree turn sideways and sit against the tree with your hip to the tree.
 
A lot covered above but tether height mentioned, also not sure what saddle you have but can adjust the bridge a little as well. It’s all geometry, you have to find what works best. I don’t love kneepads either. I like that tree pad from CruzR, but only after you have your adjustment’s dialed in. Btw you can always figure out some reference on your tether by where you like the ht on the tree in relation to your eyes/ forehead & where your prussic connection lines up with you chest, make some mental notes. So you can get setup comfortably with little adjustment each sit. Eventually it’s secondary but tree size/ lean affects these as well……
 
Plebe said:
JX3, Preacher’s Seat, Guido’s Web; these will free your knees.

If you’re tall enough, a Lone Wolf Custom Gear .5 is something to consider. You can lean (no knee contact), sit on a seat (no knee contact), and knee into the seat pad while sitting in the saddle (cushioned knee contact). Shorter user’s knees are too low to use the seat pad as a knee cushion though.

You prefer a hang-on, like a saddle, there it is.
Click to expand...
My preachers seat is great at ground level but not sure how you use it w/a saddle? You fasten it to your bridge ?
 
I had the same problem as you and quit saddle hunting for a while. Then I remembered back in the early 2000s when I originally started, I was more comfortable. After thinking about it, I was using a ring of steps at the time. To me if you have any pain a ring of steps is the best way to saddle hunt. You can sit at a 45° angle and kind of have your knees to the side of the tree. You can also straddle the tree with no knee pressure.
 
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