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

jbogg said:
I figured you JX 3 fans would appreciate this. I couldn’t get it done with my Recurve this year, so I grabbed the rifle and headed up to National Forest Friday early afternoon. Was blessed with a nice bear showing up early enough that I had plenty of daylight left to break it down. It wasn’t fun, but I packed it all out on the JX 3 Hybrid, and saved having to make a second 3 mile round trip to the truck. I was solo, but use a wire gear tie to attach my phone to a tree for photos.
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Congrats on the bear! That's awesome! I hauled my JX3 deep into bear country last weekend. Lots of sign. My brother had an encounter with one but couldn't close the deal.
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It's been hashed out before on here, and it comes down to a delta of 5-7 pounds depending what frame pack is used as the alternative. You've got knee pads or tree padding to throw in there. It has a lot of comfort upgrade for that delta in my opinion.

If we're talking warmer temps (geography and/or early season) where you don't need a pack to haul 8 lbs of cold gear, then that's obviously different. If you can go with a light backpack or no pack you can increase the delta for sure. I don't walk as far in early season, and even though hunts are shorter I still think the comfort improvement is worth the penalty.

No matter what I've used in late season (northeast) I hate the weight. They all suck, but at least with the JX3, once at the tree, I start to forget how much that sucked. Until I remember on the walk out.


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Okay... So before I go full circle saddle hunter and buy something I sold a few years ago... What foot method works best on a bigger tree? I can see how the platform is to narrow. I didn't like a ROS for a saddle it's self when I tried it. But didn't have jx3 in the day. Seems like a ROS is the best choice on paper. But before I aquire another set of something, anything else I should consider?
Most of the time I will probably be DRT in a tree. So platform on a stick seems excessive. But if its something I own, I will deal. I'm on private. So might just think about permanently attaching something on the bigger trees. Don't really want to drill trees. I want a little more to stand on than a bolt. Who makes the biggest ROS?
 
Back in the 80's there was a treestand called the Pack A Stand. We used them a lot. Simple concept and very solid in the tree. They had a large & small model. I used the concept to make a couple platforms to use with my saddle. They work great & you can angle them for your feet. Simple to make if you have a tubing bender. Only thing I really need to change is the platform needs to have carpet.
 

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MattMan81 said:
Okay... So before I go full circle saddle hunter and buy something I sold a few years ago... What foot method works best on a bigger tree? I can see how the platform is to narrow. I didn't like a ROS for a saddle it's self when I tried it. But didn't have jx3 in the day. Seems like a ROS is the best choice on paper. But before I aquire another set of something, anything else I should consider?
Most of the time I will probably be DRT in a tree. So platform on a stick seems excessive. But if its something I own, I will deal. I'm on private. So might just think about permanently attaching something on the bigger trees. Don't really want to drill trees. I want a little more to stand on than a bolt. Who makes the biggest ROS?
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I avoid huge trees, and avoid bigger ones if possible. If not, the wide top stick has still outperformed ROS. I tried roomier Bullman Platform steps and packable squirrel step type aluminums. I also used to own Ameristeps. To me they all leave much to be desired with the JX3, other than packability.

The wide top platform works so well I believe you either have to incorporate it in your climbing system or just accept that you are bringing a 3 lb foot rest with you. It packs so well that weight is the only real issue.

It's possible someone is working on a smaller & lighter but similar performing platform only device. We'll see.

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MattMan81 said:
Okay... So before I go full circle saddle hunter and buy something I sold a few years ago... What foot method works best on a bigger tree? I can see how the platform is to narrow. I didn't like a ROS for a saddle it's self when I tried it. But didn't have jx3 in the day. Seems like a ROS is the best choice on paper. But before I aquire another set of something, anything else I should consider?
Most of the time I will probably be DRT in a tree. So platform on a stick seems excessive. But if its something I own, I will deal. I'm on private. So might just think about permanently attaching something on the bigger trees. Don't really want to drill trees. I want a little more to stand on than a bolt. Who makes the biggest ROS?
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I haven’t yet bought a JX3 wide top stick, so I’ve always been at the top of a variety of sticks, currently the Tethrd One, with a 4 step ROS. 0 complaints really. Of all the things I need to improve in my hunting and comfort game the JX3 + ROS seems just fine to me. Not sure if I’ll try the on brand stick next year or not.
 
I use the EWO ultimate 1-Stick and 3 bullman steps. Not sure if I can find anything better. I know a lot of people like the JX3 top step, but IMO it is not near as good as the EWO 1- stick.
 
MattMan81 said:
Okay... So before I go full circle saddle hunter and buy something I sold a few years ago... What foot method works best on a bigger tree? I can see how the platform is to narrow. I didn't like a ROS for a saddle it's self when I tried it. But didn't have jx3 in the day. Seems like a ROS is the best choice on paper. But before I aquire another set of something, anything else I should consider?
Most of the time I will probably be DRT in a tree. So platform on a stick seems excessive. But if its something I own, I will deal. I'm on private. So might just think about permanently attaching something on the bigger trees. Don't really want to drill trees. I want a little more to stand on than a bolt. Who makes the biggest ROS?
Click to expand...

How big a tree are we talking? I’d think the JX3 top stick platform bar or a platform (like the X-Wing) would be preferable on a big tree because the ROS geometry gets a little duck foot funky the bigger a tree gets.
 
As a JX3 evangelist, about the only time I prefer my hangon is giant trees. It’s not comfort so much as limited shot angles and staring at the same section of bark for hours.

But the fork is long enough and the seat deep enough that I can position any platform or ring of steps and be comfortable.
 
TNSTAAFL said:
It's been hashed out before on here, and it comes down to a delta of 5-7 pounds depending what frame pack is used as the alternative. You've got knee pads or tree padding to throw in there. It has a lot of comfort upgrade for that delta in my opinion.

If we're talking warmer temps (geography and/or early season) where you don't need a pack to haul 8 lbs of cold gear, then that's obviously different. If you can go with a light backpack or no pack you can increase the delta for sure. I don't walk as far in early season, and even though hunts are shorter I still think the comfort improvement is worth the penalty.

No matter what I've used in late season (northeast) I hate the weight. They all suck, but at least with the JX3, once at the tree, I start to forget how much that sucked. Until I remember on the walk out.


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Click to expand...

As a point of reference, a .5 treestand is 6lbs. So the weight delta is big enough to merit some hard thinking about what one wants in his/her setup, imo.
 
I did a short sit this morning with my son. We just set up behind my parents house. The intent was get up enough over the grass to shoot. I do know what @kyler1945 means by staring at the same piece of bark as the tree was to big to see around. The hour my son lasted, and I knew it well.
This thing will definitely require some more dialing in. I have always run dump pouches. So gotta figure out how to stash the ropes. Or at least attach a pouch. It was very comfortable. Just gotta get use to the set up.
 
I’ve hunted with a lineman’s belt and tether for 10+ years every hunt I might climb a tree. I’ve never put those ropes in a bag. They get daisy chained and clipped to me or my gear.

No ropes were injured or killed during the filming of those hunts…
 
MattMan81 said:
I did a short sit this morning with my son. We just set up behind my parents house. The intent was get up enough over the grass to shoot. I do know what @kyler1945 means by staring at the same piece of bark as the tree was to big to see around. The hour my son lasted, and I knew it well.
This thing will definitely require some more dialing in. I have always run dump pouches. So gotta figure out how to stash the ropes. Or at least attach a pouch. It was very comfortable. Just gotta get use to the set up.
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Agree with the bark staring point. Experienced that myself. Definitely worse with bigger trees. Also not exclusive to JX3, but somehow a bit more noticeable. Don't notice it as much this year. Feels like a phase I may have passed. We'll see.

Agree with the point about regular ropes just being daisy chained and not in bags. That said, I attached a fleece EWO dump pouch to each bridge loop webbing and I really like how they provide easily accessible quick storage at almost no weight penalty. If/when I don't use them they collapse fully and quietly and are unnoticeable. Highly recommend putting at least one on. For me one holds my rapel setup whenever I'm not actively rappelling, and the other holds a gear strap, an autoblock and biner, and I stuff my LB in there during the hunt so it doesn't dangle.

On the weight delta vs other setups: the same 5-7 lb delta seems unavoidable (whether seeking to minimize it or exaggerate it). Math is math, and basic requirements to hunt elevated are requirements. A 6 lb stand and a 2 lb harness or saddle is 5-7 lbs less than a 13 lb JX3 and a 1 lb place for your feet. Agree the tradeoffs are worth comparing based on personal desires, experiences, and conditions. To me, there is 5-7 lbs worth of comfort upgrade, though I've never owned a .5 specifically so I'm stuck only imagining the comparison. YMMV.


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Are the JX3 steps worth it by them selfs? Or just mod an existing stick. Seems I could add a piece of metal conduit to my beast stick. Bend it like they did, and attach it to the stick. I'm sure the weight penalty would be higher and wouldn't secure all fancy like their stick. But seems I could accomplish something similar with a stick I all ready own. Seems like a good after season project.
 
MattMan81 said:
Are the JX3 steps worth it by them selfs? Or just mod an existing stick. Seems I could add a piece of metal conduit to my beast stick. Bend it like they did, and attach it to the stick. I'm sure the weight penalty would be higher and wouldn't secure all fancy like their stick. But seems I could accomplish something similar with a stick I all ready own. Seems like a good after season project.
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They’re worth it. I haven’t had mine long, but they are rock solid, priced nice, and sold separately.
 
MattMan81 said:
Are the JX3 steps worth it by them selfs? Or just mod an existing stick. Seems I could add a piece of metal conduit to my beast stick. Bend it like they did, and attach it to the stick. I'm sure the weight penalty would be higher and wouldn't secure all fancy like their stick. But seems I could accomplish something similar with a stick I all ready own. Seems like a good after season project.
Click to expand...

I don’t like using the full set of sticks because I hate all sticks. They’re no different.

But I’d pay 250.00 for just the top stick setup by itself, so it’s worth it to me.

My instinct is that you’re not capable of doing it yourself and getting a good end result - based purely on the fact you had to ask. That is a very uninformed opinion, but you asked for it.

If you’re good at this stuff - make it. Who knows if the stick you want to put it on will have the same stability with side pressure that the JX3 stick does.
 
MattMan81 said:
Are the JX3 steps worth it by them selfs? Or just mod an existing stick. Seems I could add a piece of metal conduit to my beast stick. Bend it like they did, and attach it to the stick. I'm sure the weight penalty would be higher and wouldn't secure all fancy like their stick. But seems I could accomplish something similar with a stick I all ready own. Seems like a good after season project.
Click to expand...
Another point to consider regarding adding a DIY bent tube to an existing stick is the difference in how JX3 sticks connect to the tree vs most other sticks. Since the JX3 sticks have a double post design they have 4 points of contact with the tree, and more importantly, the side to side distance between each set of 2 contact points is really wide. I'm no engineer but I believe that is an important reason why the platform is so stable even when way out on those wings.

The tree brackets on most sticks, while also touching in 4 places, is much narrower and might create instability. Just speculation on my part.

Plus the JX3 stick packs so perfectly on the Hybrid you'd be giving that up to go with a different stick.

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I think I’m gonna sell mine if anyones interested I didn’t post it in the Classifieds yet


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