I'm Torn

[TeamHoyt2011]

Hey guys, I'm new to the forum but I've been watching and reading for a while now. I'm Torn between which route to take next season. I've tree stand hunted my entire life. This coming up season I'm making some upgrades. Either I want to upgrade my stand or go the saddle route. This being a saddle forum, I know what answers to expect. That being said my concerns are my size. I'm 6'5 and 290-300. Not a real fat guy, just ate my cornbread growing up. I'm very physical and have no problems doing hang and hunt setups on a daily basis. I'm just concerned with how safe id be in a saddle at my weight. I really want to go the saddle route for my upgrade but I want to go home to my family every night. Help me out. Am I going to be safe with a saddle setup? I'm looking at the aerohunter flex. Any and all opinions are welcome. Thanks.

 

[BackSpasm]

If safety is your primary concern, this is a non-issue. Proper equipment is rated in thousands of pounds and the testing standard by the independent testing company (TMA) is a 6 foot fall by a 300 pound dummy. I am 6'5" and 200 and have no safety concerns after many saddle hours. You just have to invest your time in learning the skills to be safe and trusting your equipment. With the proper procedures, in my opinion, I am much safer now that I ever was in my tree stand days despite wearing a harness.

 

[TeamHoyt2011]

Safety is my primary concern, and I fully intend to devote many practice hours prior to an actual hunt. My concern isn't necessarily the method of saddle hunting itself being safe, as it is saddle hunting with a 300 pound giant.

 

[BackSpasm]

Safety is my primary concern, and I fully intend to devote many practice hours prior to an actual hunt. My concern isn't necessarily the method of saddle hunting itself being safe, as it is saddle hunting with a 300 pound giant.

Well, commercial saddles are designed to handle the weight with no issue. Like I said, these things hold up under 6 foot falls with 300 pound dummys and, in my opinion, if you end up falling 6 feet something has gone horribly horribly wrong on your end. When you climb the tree, you always have a climbing rated lineman's belt, and you connect to your tether with that belt still on. The reverse is true when getting down. There should never be a time from when you leave the ground till your feet hit the leaves that you aren't tied to the tree with a piece of tested, climbing rated gear rated to thousands of pounds of breaking strength. There is much more in-depth info on this site in force and newtons etc if you browse around. One thing you should choose wisely is your method of support once youre in place, the tethrd commercial platform, the predator gen 2, is rated for 350 pounds of weight. Take note though that if your support was to fail, you should still be connected to the tree 100% of the time

 

[TeamHoyt2011]

Well, commercial saddles are designed to handle the weight with no issue. Like I said, these things hold up under 6 foot falls with 300 pound dummys and, in my opinion, if you end up falling 6 feet something has gone horribly horribly wrong on your end. When you climb the tree, you always have a climbing rated lineman's belt, and you connect to your tether with that belt still on. The reverse is true when getting down. There should never be a time from when you leave the ground till your feet hit the leaves that you aren't tied to the tree with a piece of tested, climbing rated gear rated to thousands of pounds of breaking strength. There is much more in-depth info on this site in force and newtons etc if you browse around. One thing you should choose wisely is your method of support once youre in place, the tethrd commercial platform, the predator gen 2, is rated for 350 pounds of weight. Take note though that if your support was to fail, you should still be connected to the tree 100% of the time

I've been considering the platforms as well. I really like the looks of the predator and everyone seems to have nothing but good things to say about it. Could you recommend another platform I should look at? My climbing method I plan to transfer over from my lock on. Currently I'm using sticks.

 

[BackSpasm]

I think you should spend some time just looking at all of the resources here. There are lots of platform solutions and options from DIY kits sold by @DanO to the perch (search it) etc. Everyone has their own preferences and styles. I run sticks as well and have a platform that I fabricated myself. Some people really like rings of steps too. Welcome to the forum! We are glad you are here

 

[TeamHoyt2011]

I think you should spend some time just looking at all of the resources here. Their are lots of platform solutions and options from DIY kits sold by @DanO to the perch (search it) etc. Everyone has their own preferences and styles. I run sticks as well and have a platform that I fabricated myself. Some people really like rings of steps too. Welcome to the forum! We are glad you are here

Lots of things to consider! I just wanted a little reassurance before I totally committed. Thanks for your help. Happy to be here!

 

[mtsrunner]

I've been considering the platforms as well. I really like the looks of the predator and everyone seems to have nothing but good things to say about it. Could you recommend another platform I should look at? My climbing method I plan to transfer over from my lock on. Currently I'm using sticks.

Take a look at the Ridge Runner by Out on a Limb Mfg. It is really solid. My favorite platform is a DIY, but I have been saddle hunting for over 10 years and knew exactly what I needed when I made mine.


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[TeamHoyt2011]

Take a look at the Ridge Runner by Out on a Limb Mfg. It is really solid. My favorite platform is a DIY, but I have been saddle hunting for over 10 years and knew exactly what I needed when I made mine.


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Just checked out the ridge runner. I think I like it better than the predator, to be honest. It looks beefier, the teeth are very aggressive, and I like how you have more platform to push off of from the sides to maneuver around the tree. So far I like it the best. Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[Westdesign03]

Just checked out the ridge runner. I think I like it better than the predator, to be honest. It looks beefier, the teeth are very aggressive, and I like how you have more platform to push off of from the sides to maneuver around the tree. So far I like it the best. Thanks for the recommendation!

I second the Ridge Runner. It’s my only platform I’ve used/own but it is awesome. It’s just solid and build like a tank. Something really good is going to have to come out for me to switch from the RR. It packs really nice onto a backpack too.


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[robstewart]

Hey guys, I'm new to the forum but I've been watching and reading for a while now. I'm Torn between which route to take next season. I've tree stand hunted my entire life. This coming up season I'm making some upgrades. Either I want to upgrade my stand or go the saddle route. This being a saddle forum, I know what answers to expect. That being said my concerns are my size. I'm 6'5 and 290-300. Not a real fat guy, just ate my cornbread growing up. I'm very physical and have no problems doing hang and hunt setups on a daily basis. I'm just concerned with how safe id be in a saddle at my weight. I really want to go the saddle route for my upgrade but I want to go home to my family every night. Help me out. Am I going to be safe with a saddle setup? I'm looking at the aerohunter flex. Any and all opinions are welcome. Thanks.

My advice if you want to start on the cheap is to use your normal tree stand backwards and your current harness and make a fleece saddle.

You will need a piece of climbing rope for a tether, some amsteel for bridges, some smaller diameter rope for prusik loops and a couple caribiners.

The basic setup would be a bridge on your harness for safety connected to the rope tether via a caribiner and prusik. Above that put another prusik and caribiner to the bridge on your fleece saddle and transfer the weight to the saddle for comfort. Basically what this guy is doing:

Try it at ground level and if you like it try it in your tree. If it works out then there’s little wasted money if you spring for a commercial saddle.




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[michigandrake]

No reason to be torn. You are allowed to use both. I picked up my Kestral for one specific tree that could just not be hunted any other way. I liked it so much I split my time 50/50 between saddle and stand this year It is a nice tool to have in your arsenal.

 

[Old squirrel]

I'm second year into saddle hunting. 72 yrs old both hips replaced, L1 thru L4 spinal fusion shoulder surgery, knee surgery. I climb drt with homemade saddle and love it. The only thing safer is staying home. Give it a try.

 

[Noonespecial]

Taylor Chamberlin from Tethrd is a big guy. He’s been saddle hunting for several years now. I encourage you to watch some of his videos and go the saddle route. I did last year and sold all my tree stands. Good luck!

 

[Liebadude]

Safety is my primary concern, and I fully intend to devote many practice hours prior to an actual hunt. My concern isn't necessarily the method of saddle hunting itself being safe, as it is saddle hunting with a 300 pound giant.

If safety is primary concern, agree with @BackSpasm that it is a non-issue. I'm 63, in excellent shape, but moved to saddle from tree stands because of safety factor.

Having said that, and as others have mentioned, there are other factors involved with safety besides the saddle itself, e.g. your chosen climbing method, and equipment (type of ropes, sticks, aiders, etc.).

Besides safety, if you are seriously interested in the saddle as an option, selection of the "right" saddle is extremely important. If you aren't comfortable in it, you will flat out cuss yourself for making the investment. If available, I would strongly encourage you to check out the Member Meet-Up Tab and see if anyone in your state is doing one. It will give you the best opportunity to check out various saddles, climbing techniques, etc., that you will feel most comfortable and safe using, and should help make your decision one way or the other.

 

[boyne bowhunter]

There's lots of large framed guys here that have been hunting out of saddles for years. While I'm not quite as full framed as you, I am a previous 250+pound (I've managed to shed a few lbs in the last year), late 50's year old saddle hunter. I've been hunting from trees for 45+ years and have never felt as secure in a tree as I do in a saddle.

Being always securely tied to the tree in a fashion that still allows all the necessary freedom of movement to take all the necessary shots for effectively hunting is awesome. I only wish I had discovered it years earlier. The boom of saddle hunting suppliers as created a bunch of options for safe saddles and platforms, even for large framed guys.

 

[Exhumis]

I'm 6'2", 225 dry and about 245 loaded and trending towards dadbod. I use a flex and RR. I've never felt unsafe in either. The RR bites hard. That said I'm not a cornbread fella and not as big as you so I could see your concerns. I'm certain you'll be fine but if you want the extra added advice call Aerohunter and talk to Deb and tell her your concerns. They're super awesome and will set you right.