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

[kyler1945]

I’ve been having some “testicular” issues, mentioned in another post, with soft saddles. So this weekend did some more serious back country sits with the JX3; after 4-5 years and not even with late season loads yet, I’m officially a bit frustrated with the overall size of the thing, the strappiness of it, and always having my bag sandwiched in and strapped when I need to access something while prepping or hiking. At 6’ 165lbs a skinnier version a few lbs lighter would be ideal, but that doesn’t exist so this is the best option I have, I’m committed to simplifying the thing, probably cutting off anything extra like the seat ground brackets, and tempted next year to try different hip / shoulder strap options like @kyler1945 did. I’ve got to rethink the system, probably stop sandwiching the pack, I’m just too slow and clumsy, still. It’s great once it’s set, but you’ve really gotta be on the ball for all before and after processes.

I’m so tired of the climb / setup / takedown time I’m tempted to go back to hang ons or climbers for a couple years, we’ll see. I think what’s put me over the edge is the long rappel / tether which I’m convinced is worth it for safety, but all the gear and the ropes add up.

To backpedal a bit, I do like a lot about it and the more I use it the more wrinkles I iron out. But the comfort does come with some cons, and I need to think about a process makeover. To @Plebe ’s point, making any system “smooth” in and out of the woods, up and down the tree, is not easy. I was 35 minutes on Saturday from starting to takedown, to walking away from the tree, and I was not fiddling around. I think strapping it tight with all gear non-sandwiched riding on the back is a good start.

I don’t sandwich anything between anymore without the ground standoffs.

It’s just a frame pack you strap everything to just like you would with any other pack system.

How is it any different from any other pack system in regards to that?


You have clothes and you have climbing method. Those are constant with any way you decide to sit in a tree. So their setup and takedown time are not different regardless of soft saddle, hang on, hybrid.

What’s left is prepping the sitting on butt device for climbing.

In that case, the hybrid has as many connections and adjustments as a soft saddle and a back band.


How much of your 35 minutes had anything to do with the hybrid?

Even if you sandwich stuff between, you’re talking an extra two buckles to pull the seat up.

 

[neonomad]

@kyler1945 I don’t know the % Hybrid and that’s a fair question. Here in the garage skipping the sandwich seems like a good move. Because my little pack is not wide and flat what I end up with is the seat base - just guessing - pushed 8” out from the burrito with a lotta air on the left and right of the pack, and then sticks way out back there. Squashing the thing mounting two sticks to each side held by the leg straps and then hanging the bag in the middle already looks like a tighter more convenient setup, pics shown. I’ll take off the bottom brackets and probably put the fork in my pack so it could never end up at the back of my neck if I fall. I’m not giving up, maybe the hills just beat me up, intending good things to come from some frustration.

 

[kyler1945]

My ground stand offs have been removed for two seasons. I don’t regret it.

If I want to sit on the ground I just get two sticks as big around as high I want to sit. Set the chair on top of that. Done.

That helps pinch the seat tight to frame so it doesn’t push your gear back

 

[kyler1945]

I also put my fork on once I’m at height - it stays in one of my pouches for same reason.

 

[kyler1945]

@kyler1945 I don’t know the % Hybrid and that’s a fair question. Here in the garage skipping the sandwich seems like a good move. Because my little pack is not wide and flat what I end up with is the seat base - just guessing - pushed 8” out from the burrito with a lotta air on the left and right of the pack, and then sticks way out back there. Squashing the thing mounting two sticks to each side held by the leg straps and then hanging the bag in the middle already looks like a tighter more convenient setup, pics shown. I’ll take off the bottom brackets and probably put the fork in my pack so it could never end up at the back of my neck if I fall. I’m not giving up, maybe the hills just beat me up, intending good things to come from some frustration.
View attachment 93944View attachment 93945

Bundle those sticks sideways underneath your pack.

They’re shorter than the seat is wide, no?

 

[neonomad]

Bundle those sticks sideways underneath your pack.

They’re shorter than the seat is wide, no?

Thanks for the tips, ok yep will try that configuration as well. Moving away from the pack sandwich may change my mood here.

 

[kyler1945]

Thanks for the tips, ok yep will try that configuration as well. Moving away from the pack sandwich may change my mood here.

Jon also set up a magnet option for the fork for a trial run. It’s on a section of tiny aircraft cable. Then just sticks to magnet inside frame where it can’t poke ya.

I’d rather just have it removable. I don’t care if I drop it once I can still hunt. Not ideal but not with fiddle. Someone else may feel differently.

 

[Chandler96]

I like your efficiency.

Probably saddles are all about the same when you consider all aspects of using them…price, effort to research, effort to practice, storing them, packing them to hunt, carrying them to hunt, unpacking them to climb, climbing up, climbing down, packing them to leave, carrying them out. In terms of time/money/effort/suffering, they're all about the same. lol.

I just can’t sit down for more than 20 minutes. I agree though. All pretty much the same with variants for personality

 

[TNSTAAFL]

Glad to see this thread pop back up, as I was just thinking this weekend that I feel like I reached the "crush" phase of the Hybrid over the last couple weeks of hunts.

In my experience it really does take more than a hunt, or a month, or maybe even a season to get to that phase. I did half a season in the Gen1, sold it, then picked up a Gen2 last year and used it the back half, and so far I'm 100% Hybrid this year.

A huge part of my reaching the crush phase is the pairing of the Hybrid with the new JX3 wide top stick platform. I can't emphasize enough how much better that stick makes using the Hybrid. They are like peanut butter & jelly.

I have a few other thoughts to share based on some posts here but I'll keep this short for now. Off to work...which is painful cause this frost this morning feels very deery.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

 

[kyler1945]

Glad to see this thread pop back up, as I was just thinking this weekend that I feel like I reached the "crush" phase of the Hybrid over the last couple weeks of hunts.

In my experience it really does take more than a hunt, or a month, or maybe even a season to get to that phase. I did half a season in the Gen1, sold it, then picked up a Gen2 last year and used it the back half, and so far I'm 100% Hybrid this year.

A huge part of my reaching the crush phase is the pairing of the Hybrid with the new JX3 wide top stick platform. I can't emphasize enough how much better that stick makes using the Hybrid. They are like peanut butter & jelly.

I have a few other thoughts to share based on some posts here but I'll keep this short for now. Off to work...which is painful cause this frost this morning feels very deery.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

I couldn’t have imagined carrying that stick until I did it.

It instantly replaced the ring of steps for me.

I keep ‘em, because I feel like I’ll have a hunt that changes my mind. But I haven’t yet.

I have a climbing sling as a single step aider on it. This gives me 4’ of height, so I can stop whatever climbing method that much shorter.

This gains me, or subtracts me, depending on how you look at it, 2.5-3’ of height compared to using the ring of steps.

And it’s rock solid.


It looks and feels stupid until you use it. I’m with you. Peanut butter and jelly a good analogy.

 

[TNSTAAFL]

A few other musings on my Hybrid use, some in response to recent posts.

I keep my ground brackets on. I really thought about removing them since I don't expect to use it on the ground and I wanted to shed some weight, but I really like using the hook and front bracket to hold the 2 sides together in transport mode. I have Gen2 with the improved hook, and it stays on there quite well, unless I do something aggressively out of vertical alignment. This allows me to NOT use the leg straps to secure the seat. I just buckle them outside my legs for the walk then swap them through my legs for the climb. WAY better than having to reach behind you or take the Hybrid off at the tree (early season anyway). I hated having to try and reach back to free those and never could rehook them while wearing the Hybrid.

I do not use a pack at all, much less sandwiched between the seat and backrest. For now I'm using a soft, light string bag to hold my typical tree stuff. It hangs over the shoulder bumps nicely and is deploys/stows without too much fuss. There's so little in it that it does not impede the seat stowing. Layers do not go in packs. I put one between the bottom of the seat and the support straps, and 1-2 strapped to the frame with the accessory straps. If you keep them limited, organized, and stowed strategically they don't create much sandwich effect and I can still just use the hook to secure the seat. Next year I plan to swap the string bag for the JX3 bino harness which can fit all that I bring for tree gear and keep it on my front and out of the way altogether. Key take away here: don't try to bring a pack with the Hybrid. You'll just be frustrated. Figure out how to secure stuff without a pack or don't bring it. I don't film so that probably helps in this regard.

I have 2 EWO fleece dump pouches attached to each side of the bridge loops. Right side holds my rappel rope. Left side holds my gear hanger, pull down rope, and head lamp (and anything else that migrates in there).

I usually leave my kill kit in the truck, but if I don't want to go back then the tools go in the string bag and the tags/bag assembly goes in the backrest under the mesh.

The JX3 wide top stick platform rides so beautifully upside down on the seat. Again, it's a peanut butter and jelly kinda thing. I don't even notice it on there, weight, or bulk, or noise wise. I don't strap it at all. It just snugly fits into place. I can remove it without taking the Hybrid off, but I have yet to figure out how to repack it without doing so. Sometimes I just carry it in my hand on the walk out at night to save the effort. It's no bother. On afternoon walks in I really appreciate having hands on my crossbow only. For having all that climabilty and comfort on my back I'm in still hunt mode all the way. Every other stick or steps I tried to pair with the Hybrid was significantly more of a pain to pack and significantly less effective as a platform to pivot off of.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

 

[BuffaloBill]

A few other musings on my Hybrid use, some in response to recent posts.

I keep my ground brackets on. I really thought about removing them since I don't expect to use it on the ground and I wanted to shed some weight, but I really like using the hook and front bracket to hold the 2 sides together in transport mode. I have Gen2 with the improved hook, and it stays on there quite well, unless I do something aggressively out of vertical alignment. This allows me to NOT use the leg straps to secure the seat. I just buckle them outside my legs for the walk then swap them through my legs for the climb. WAY better than having to reach behind you or take the Hybrid off at the tree (early season anyway). I hated having to try and reach back to free those and never could rehook them while wearing the Hybrid.

I do not use a pack at all, much less sandwiched between the seat and backrest. For now I'm using a soft, light string bag to hold my typical tree stuff. It hangs over the shoulder bumps nicely and is deploys/stows without too much fuss. There's so little in it that it does not impede the seat stowing. Layers do not go in packs. I put one between the bottom of the seat and the support straps, and 1-2 strapped to the frame with the accessory straps. If you keep them limited, organized, and stowed strategically they don't create much sandwich effect and I can still just use the hook to secure the seat. Next year I plan to swap the string bag for the JX3 bino harness which can fit all that I bring for tree gear and keep it on my front and out of the way altogether. Key take away here: don't try to bring a pack with the Hybrid. You'll just be frustrated. Figure out how to secure stuff without a pack or don't bring it. I don't film so that probably helps in this regard.

I have 2 EWO fleece dump pouches attached to each side of the bridge loops. Right side holds my rappel rope. Left side holds my gear hanger, pull down rope, and head lamp (and anything else that migrates in there).

I usually leave my kill kit in the truck, but if I don't want to go back then the tools go in the string bag and the tags/bag assembly goes in the backrest under the mesh.

The JX3 wide top stick platform rides so beautifully upside down on the seat. Again, it's a peanut and jelly kinda thing. I don't even notice it on there, weight, or bulk, or noise wise. I don't strap it at all. It just snugly fits into place. I can remove it without taking the Hybrid off, but I have yet to figure out how to repack it without doing so. Sometimes I just carry it in my hand on the walk out at night to save the effort. It's no bother. On afternoon walks in I really appreciate having hands on my crossbow only. For having all that climabilty and comfort on my back I'm in still hunt mode all the way. Every other stick or steps I tried to pair with the Hybrid was significantly more of a pain to pack and significantly less effective as a platform to pivot off of.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

I think this was my frustration my first go around with the JX3. Also packing sticks . The Latitude sticks pack pretty nicely against the seat with the leg straps ran through the standoffs. I had planned on using a fanny pack but realized I can get by with putting things in my coat pockets for most hunts. I just have my Doyle’s attached to the bottom of the seat and I bought a $7 Walmart Thermaseat pad for the seat. I also like the idea of the bino harness. I will have to pick one up eventually.

 

[Coachschaller]

I'm still trying to figure out how to sling my bow for the walk in. When I use my CRUZR XC, the paracord sling works great and holds the bow to my back. Can't do that with the JX3. I just end up carrying it. Hmmmm don't have it perfected yet.

 

[Bratch]

I’ve only gotten 5-10 hunts in mine this season and am still learning but have started tweaking a little already.

The properties I’m hunting have a one hour before sunrise access rule, our shooting light is 30 minutes before sunrise, with 15-20 minutes walk from the parking area to hunt zone on average I wasn’t having any luck getting in the tree before first light and often was pushing sunrise before I was settled.

I’ve started ground hunting the first morning staging my sticks and ROS on the first afternoon hunt. The rest of the weekend I’m getting everything set up with the JX3 at the truck so when I get to the tree to I can start climbing immediately without having to take it off. This has made my climbing much more enjoyable and gotten me at height around first light.

I’ve actually considered getting a second set of sticks and ROS so I could stage two trees for the weekend.

 

[Slingin eastons]

Hey guys hoping for a little guidance from the pros. Just got a Jx3 I haven’t figured out how to pack my crap in I’m hoping for some recommendations on how to set this thing up. I use 4 beast sticks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[kyler1945]

I'm still trying to figure out how to sling my bow for the walk in. When I use my CRUZR XC, the paracord sling works great and holds the bow to my back. Can't do that with the JX3. I just end up carrying it. Hmmmm don't have it perfected yet.

Bow Sling | The Montana Bow Sling

Popular bow sling for hands-free hunting and tracking. Made in Bozeman Montana. The Montana Bow Sling was created as one of the most versatile and efficient bow slings on the market.

www.creativeoutdoorsmt.com

Works with any pack. Use it when I elk hunt too

 

[TNSTAAFL]

Hey guys hoping for a little guidance from the pros. Just got a Jx3 I haven’t figured out how to pack my crap in I’m hoping for some recommendations on how to set this thing up. I use 4 beast sticks


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm far from a pro, but see my post from earlier today about packing layers. Find a way to stash all little items in pockets and avoid taking a pack at all costs. Supposedly those Beast sticks fit perfectly horizontally on the seat, using the leg straps to secure. I don't own them so I'm not sure.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

 

[Plebe]

I just can’t sit down for more than 20 minutes. I agree though. All pretty much the same with variants for personality

Lol, I was just quoting Kyler (his oft shared take on sticks).

But I definitely agree, it’s just preference.

 

[woodsdog2]

I like your efficiency.

Probably saddles are all about the same when you consider all aspects of using them…price, effort to research, effort to practice, storing them, packing them to hunt, carrying them to hunt, unpacking them to climb, climbing up, climbing down, packing them to leave, carrying them out. In terms of time/money/effort/suffering, they're all about the same. lol.

Yep

 

[woodsdog2]

Hey guys hoping for a little guidance from the pros. Just got a Jx3 I haven’t figured out how to pack my crap in I’m hoping for some recommendations on how to set this thing up. I use 4 beast sticks

I haven’t tried one yet but I saw them in action at TAC. The bow spider system seems tangible of use.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Bow Spider Bow Holder Carrier | Archery Sling Holster | Bow Hanger

Bow Spider is a lightweight tool designed to carry your bow for you in the field while traveling.

bowspider.com