• 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

It's just...a little crush... - Review of the JX3 Hybrid Saddle

kyler1945 said:
I’ve done both.

It’s not close.

Even a bigger hang on which I have, is still not close in comfort to the hybrid. Different ballparks.
Click to expand...

thanks for the reply.

Do you feel you can make all the same shots from the JX3 as you do a regular saddle?
 
I'm certainly no expert in saddles, in fact I know very little..I tried a saddle but I could see it wasn't gonna work for me..I like the idea of it though.
As of now, if I'm gonna hunt above ground it will be between a JX3 or a Summit Viper..never tried the JX3 but it's obvious it is comfortable, going by what I've read about ...thanks to folks on this site and elsewhere.
 
Plebe said:
I also have both. I don't agree.
Click to expand...

Specifically the .5 - I’m 6’3 and sitting with my knees at 90*, my feet hang 8” off the front of the platform. Further than the balance point of my feet. To be able to use the platform I have to tuck my feet in tighter. This leads to shifting constantly.

This is remedied by a longer platform.

But it doesn’t address the specific issue I have with a hang on - I can’t adjust the angle of my backrest easily. This is because the backrest is a tree. This leads to shifting constantly, as well as pain the next days and weeks.

I use a hang on. I can be still enough in a hang on.

In a hybrid, I can adjust my foot placement, back angle, and to an extent my seat angle, with almost no movement. And quickly. And quietly. This leads me to be able to sit still for longer spells. And to remain in a tree all day, multiple days in a row, without pain, should the conditions dictate it.

My guess is, if someone is comfortable standing/leaning most of the time, they aren’t chasing comfort in a saddle, because any saddle will work, or a hang on will work.

If someone is more comfortable sitting, or if sitting is the majority of their time on stand, my guess is the hybrid will address those topics better than anything else.

How has your experience differed?
 
kyler1945 said:
Specifically the .5 - I’m 6’3 and sitting with my knees at 90*, my feet hang 8” off the front of the platform. Further than the balance point of my feet. To be able to use the platform I have to tuck my feet in tighter. This leads to shifting constantly.

This is remedied by a longer platform.

But it doesn’t address the specific issue I have with a hang on - I can’t adjust the angle of my backrest easily. This is because the backrest is a tree. This leads to shifting constantly, as well as pain the next days and weeks.

I use a hang on. I can be still enough in a hang on.

In a hybrid, I can adjust my foot placement, back angle, and to an extent my seat angle, with almost no movement. And quickly. And quietly. This leads me to be able to sit still for longer spells. And to remain in a tree all day, multiple days in a row, without pain, should the conditions dictate it.

My guess is, if someone is comfortable standing/leaning most of the time, they aren’t chasing comfort in a saddle, because any saddle will work, or a hang on will work.

If someone is more comfortable sitting, or if sitting is the majority of their time on stand, my guess is the hybrid will address those topics better than anything else.

How has your experience differed?
Click to expand...

I'm 6'3" as well. I use it (LWCG .5) with a saddle.
 
I'm 90% closer to ordering the JX3, but a question for those of you that have used a lightweight hang on like a Lone Wolf Assault and say 3 sticks...was the difference on the weight noticeable as far as packing it in and out, between the hang on and JX3?
 
Chorn said:
I'm 90% closer to ordering the JX3, but a question for those of you that have used a lightweight hang on like a Lone Wolf Assault and say 3 sticks...was the difference on the weight noticeable as far as packing it in and out, between the hang on and JX3?
Click to expand...

The jx3 feels lighter than my assault due to how it carries.
 
okccj said:
thanks for the reply.

Do you feel you can make all the same shots from the JX3 as you do a regular saddle?
Click to expand...
I’ll chime in as more of an amateur user… I previously used an M7 stand which has gotta be at least as comfortable as the 0.5… what might illustrate the answer simply is there’s only one you could take a nap in.

As for shooting, I live in the burbs so can’t practice (anything) as much as I’d like. I just need one good tree, dammit. I think with practice you could take all the shots, but at my current skill level from about 1 to 5 o’clock, I don’t know if I could pull it off without getting busted. But I know others can. For some reason though, I shoot as accurately, maybe more accurately, than I do at the range in the JX3, especially from 7 oclock to 11 oclock.
 
Chorn said:
I'm 90% closer to ordering the JX3, but a question for those of you that have used a lightweight hang on like a Lone Wolf Assault and say 3 sticks...was the difference on the weight noticeable as far as packing it in and out, between the hang on and JX3?
Click to expand...
I one stick most often, so I can’t remember how stack of sticks compares to the hang on pack, but I can tell you it carries better overall than any stand and sticks config I had. But if I were bringing a full set of sticks in these days, I think I’d bite the bullet and buy the Tethrds.

Edit: maybe I’m just getting old but my first experiences with the JX3 the ropes and gear felt like a lot to manage, expect that feeling, but with reps the payoff is there. Many ways to skin the cat but I personally like two pouches at my sides for gear like linemans, pull up rope, pack hanger, bow hanger, ROS, and rappel rope. I’ve since ditched one pouch and stuff my rappel rope behind the seat. If you don’t rappel you still may like one or two pouches… but again many other ways to stash gear depends on what you prefer. Also I wear a stinking RC harness w the thing for redundancy, I second tether to that when I sit… even with all that BS it’s still a good comfortable rig.
 
Last edited:
neonomad said:
I one stick most often, so I can’t remember how stack of sticks compares to the hang on pack, but I can tell you it carries better overall than any stand and sticks config I had. But if I were bringing a full set of sticks in these days, I think I’d bite the bullet and buy the Tethrds.

Edit: maybe I’m just getting old but my first experiences with the JX3 the ropes and gear felt like a lot to manage, expect that feeling, but with reps the payoff is there. Many ways to skin the cat but I personally like two pouches at my sides for gear like linemans, pull up rope, pack hanger, bow hanger, ROS, and rappel rope. I’ve since ditched one pouch and stuff my rappel rope behind the seat. If you don’t rappel you still may like one or two pouches… but again many other ways to stash gear depends on what you prefer. Also I wear a stinking RC harness w the thing for redundancy, I second tether to that when I sit… even with all that BS it’s still a good comfortable rig.
Click to expand...
You run a separate tether on the RC harness?
 
I'm still torn between the JX3 and a .5

Is it easy enough to sandwich a pack into the JX3?
 
kyler1945 said:
Do you see a material difference in being able to sit still in either setup?
Click to expand...

No. But I rarely use the .5 seat for anything other than a kneepad. I couldn't finish a hunt sitting on the metal .5 seat.

I'm not downplaying the comfort of the JX3. It's pretty awesome. Why I've kept it.

The JX3 is superior in two ways, imo. 1. NO knee pressure. 2. You can completely unweight feet, resting them on ROS (also possible on a stand with foot rest).

But "not close", I disagree with that. I'm really comfortable in my saddle with the .5. Leaning or sitting. And I think having the option to fully stand adds a comfort position that most JX3 setups aren't going to offer. I've spent some time standing and leaning shoulder or back to the tree and it can be less fatiguing on the neck and/or less movement inducing than trying to cover blind spots in the JX3.

Anyway, both great choices imo.
 
After 2.25 seasons Im done with the jx3 if interested


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Mine is sitting on the floor in my shed. I get ready to grab it, but the Drey setup is so minimalist. Even looking at the jx3 and knowing I don't need to carry anything else. Mind games.
I'm determined to give it a fair go, however.
 
I moved to the JX3 because it meets my requirements:
  • Must sit facing the tree
  • Must be able to pack out deer without going back to get something
  • Must not wear knee pads or tree pad
  • Must have everything ready to go when I walk to the tree without unpacking
  • Must not switch systems based on hunting in a tree, blind, ground, etc.
Those were just my requirements or wish list. Everybody's different.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top