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

neonomad said:
I bought the Mini about a month ago and have hunted once with the newly installed red dot… I think I’m going to drop it to the rail to see how that looks, because it feels high on the booster.
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Look forward to hearing how that compares. Mostly because some red dots sell for less without the riser included.


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neonomad said:
You read my mind w these questions… the Mini hanging there looks sketchy without knowing the full situation.

I bought the Mini about a month ago and have hunted once with the newly installed red dot… I think I’m going to drop it to the rail to see how that looks, because it feels high on the booster.

Sunday evening I did a hunt from the ground in the snow… I had a very large bodied shed buck come to 3 yards eye to eye with me… the third buck back in the group still had his horns but after 15 mins of trying to figure me out they left and I couldn’t get the dot on him. I could have shot either of two deer in the group if I wanted, with a compound in that setup I would’ve had 1% chance.
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Definitely sketchy, which is why I made the comment and pictures. I can tell you it is likely the optimum location for the mini on a hunt for getting ready to shoot. Hopefully someone figures out a safe, quiet, look free way to hold it there.

I also seem to remember liking the higher mount for the red dot to clear the stirrup. I don't use the stirrup anymore, so I may revisit and see if I can drop the scope down more.
 
kyler1945 said:
Do this instead.

Some type of open hook that you can easily undo without looking.

View attachment 80562
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I leave my mini hooked to my Jx 3 100% of the time, even while shooting. I attach a loop to the loop on the bridge opposite to my shooting shoulder and left it hang on the shooting side
It is long enough to allow shooting and yet it cannot fall


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Ontariofarmer said:
I leave my mini hooked to my Jx 3 100% of the time, even while shooting. I attach a loop to the loop on the bridge opposite to my shooting shoulder and left it hang on the shooting side
It is long enough to allow shooting and yet it cannot fall


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Pictures!
 
kyler1945 said:
Pictures!
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I found this poor picture from the fall. The orange cord is attached across my body and is long enough that when I raise it I can shoot. It just hangs to my side.
e7b30817f73a1e952f943a2e222cdbc9.jpg


The orange cord is attached to a loop of amsteel on my inline crossbow

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...is there some kinda trophy we get if we've read ALL 62 pages?!!!o_O

I have a Dryad Drey LL, a Transformer, and the JX3. The Drey gets the nod for "quick," 3-4 hour sits in early season, when I'm going to public land close to home. I love the Drey-for me, it's the most comfortable soft saddle I've found. For longer & all day sits, it's the JX3 for me. The Transformer is basically still around as a backup, & in case my son decides to try saddle hunting-I'll be able to let him use it & work with him to help him "learn the ropes";). He's sold on a climber, but for good reason-we both have Treewalker climbers, & with a couple of accessories from Third hand Archery, those things are basically a Lazy Boy in a tree! My Treewalker hangs in my basement...maybe I'll use it again someday, maybe not!

I have sticks and WE Stepps, but I prefer using the stepps. Throw a bag of 'em in between the seat & back, cinch it down, & go!

The only "mods" that I did to the JX3 was I added one of those tactical hydration bladder packs to contain my small stuff-1st aid kit, binos, calls, water, snack, etc. For late season outer layers, I use 2 accessory straps threaded thru the metal "ground feet" on the bottom of the seat to hold whatever sized drybag I need to hold the layers. It stays secured across the bottom of the JX3 that way for the trips in & out, & nothing gets caught on any thorns or briars-it's all in the dry bag. When I get to the tree, I do take the JX3 off to remove the dry bag, but that doesn't bother me at all. I ain't ever in a hurry to get up a tree-it always takes as long as it takes! It then gets attached to my pull up line along with my bow.

I decided to learn how to rappel right after the season closed-ordered a rappel kit from EWO, & in the few practice sessions I've had so far, I realize that I will be coming down from the tree this way from now on! I have 10 stepps set up on one of the trees out front, with a platform up top-every other day or so, I strap on the Drey, climb up & rappel down. Once I get comfortable with that I'll start doing it with the JX3. I also got a 3 step aider, & am playing with that as well to see if I can reduce the number of stepps I take in from 10 to maybe 5 or 6. I really like using the WE Perch clamped to a stepp as a platform, with a stepp on each side of the tree when I use the JX3.
 
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Are any of the JX3 accessories must haves? I will probably order a saddle in the next few weeks and wanted to just do one big order.

I’m considering the compression straps, possibly the T handle and the headrest if it ever comes back in stock but am wide open to suggestions.
 
Bratch said:
Are any of the JX3 accessories must haves? I will probably order a saddle in the next few weeks and wanted to just do one big order.

I’m considering the compression straps, possibly the T handle and the headrest if it ever comes back in stock but am wide open to suggestions.
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The T handle is awesome.

Headrest doesn’t work for me because I have a gen 1, sit with the seat back behind the seat bottom not on top of it, and I’m 6-3. But it probably works fine on the new hybrid, and I can tell you it would be nice to have.

I’ve converted completely to the versa pack. I use it regardless of using the hybrid or not. It pairs well with hybrid, frame pack of any flavor, pac seat, or by itself. It took two seasons to start using the bino harness as a “pack” but that and one of the small pouches is what I carry on most of my hunts. I only switch to the bigger bag if I am carrying more than a liter of water.
 
I have a question. I recently purchased a JX3 but have not had it out yet. Plan is to get out next week with some cooperation from the weather. I just ordered a Mystery Ranch Popup 28 with hopes that when I use the JX3, I can remove MR pack from frame and sandwich it between JX3 to haul my stuff. And when using my regular saddle and one stick or 2TC setup I can just slap back on frame and good to go. Hope is to not have to worry about swapping out my gear for a different bag and inevitably forgetting something essential. Anyone try this or am I overthinking?
 
mattpsu1 said:
I have a question. I recently purchased a JX3 but have not had it out yet. Plan is to get out next week with some cooperation from the weather. I just ordered a Mystery Ranch Popup 28 with hopes that when I use the JX3, I can remove MR pack from frame and sandwich it between JX3 to haul my stuff. And when using my regular saddle and one stick or 2TC setup I can just slap back on frame and good to go. Hope is to not have to worry about swapping out my gear for a different bag and inevitably forgetting something essential. Anyone try this or am I overthinking?
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It will be both easy and simple to do.
 
kyler1945 said:
It will be both easy and simple to do.
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Yes.

Though it requires unthreading and rethreading the webbing of the bottom straps. Not much of a hassle but could be modified for even less fuss. Otherwise it's just uncliping buckles.

The PU28 bag weighs 1lb 4.6 oz. If consistency is important it's a fine play. But in the game of ounces, it's a place savings can be had, especially when paired with the JX3. JMO.
 
Bratch said:
JX3 delivered today after some UPS shenanigans. Now to try and figure out all these straps and buckles.

I need to get all of my projects done around the house so I can focus on the saddle for the next few months leading up to October.
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It takes a bit to get used to. I plan on one sticking with my JX3 this year. THAT is another level of difficulty but with practice, it is doable.
 
Back in the saddle again! I Purchased my GEN 1 JX3 when they first hit the market after meeting John at Saddlepalooza down at Fort Stewart GA. For all the reasons mentioned many thousands of times, this has been the perfect piece of gear to keep me up in a tree while hunting Public land in the mountains of the southern Appalachians.

Last fall I started hunting with a Recurve for the first time, and fell in love with archery all over again. My dilemma was that I could just not figure out how to shoot that bow well out of my JX 3. I had almost relegated myself to hunting off the ground for bears this fall when a buddy recommended that I try the Uukha S-curve limbs that would greatly shorten the length of my bow and help with my geometry problem that was the saddle seat on steeply angle shots. I am a long draw guy, and short bows just generally do not work well.

i’m happy to report that after a few shooting sessions, I am good to go. Thought I would be re-joining the ground dwellers, but no more. I’m guessing I have well over 100 hunts in my JX 3 at this point, and looking forward to 100 more.
 
Question for any JX3 one stickers. I hunted out the JX3 last year with beast sticks and wild edge sticks, but for two years before that I was one sticking with a regular saddle. This season I want to start one sticking with the JX3 just to keep my weight down packing everything in. What pouch do you guys use on the JX3 to hold your rope and ascender?
 
The few times I used rope for descent, I stuff the tag in the space between the seat and frame for storage while hunting. Or, once I had load lifters installed, I just coiled my rope and hung it from the load lifter.

The beauty of the hybrid is the options for attachment and carrying. You literally use any pouch you want. If cutting weight is the idea, use a mesh pouch.

I’m now pretty partial to the versa pack system john sells. Initially skeptical, it checks many boxes. The mesh pouch included wjth that would hold a rappel rope just fine.
 
Question for you guys. What do you think would be the smallest size person could use a JX3? Thinking about for the kids. Worried it could be to big and loose. But could help keep the wiggles down.
 
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