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Kestrel... Got mine in today

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Buckhorn70

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Nov 28, 2014
Messages
1,007
I got my Kestrel in today, a gray one.... I was order #851

Anyway... This thing is well made as most of you know. Those buckles are stout! I'm not sure I am keeping them on though, we will see after I play with it some more.
I have been using a TL mesh Tree Saddle for the last few years and the one thing I didn't like about the TS was the extra fabric that went under my thighs and that the TS rode up my back while hunting. The TS was comfortable and very light to me though. I had my TS trimmed down with no leg straps or suspenders by the way. I had the Aero Hunter Evolution and sold it because it was too bulky( too many adjustments) and no better than my TS in my eyes.
In the few minutes I have sit in the Kestrel in the backyard, I noticed it did not ride up the back and the amount of fabric for the seat seemed about right, no extra. The Kestrel is light and could be lighter without the buckles, but like I said I may do away with them. The buckles are nice, easy to use and very high quality though. I wear a 36" jean(6'1" / 215lbs) and I am not sold the size 1 Kestrel is a perfect fit either and may need the 2, but we will see. My Kestrel seems better for me with the 2 adjustment straps on the side all the way loose or just a very small amount of tension.
First impretion is I like the Kestrel, but I have more testing/playing to be done

questions...
  • How long do you guys run your bridge length
  • Did you guys eliminate buckles or leg straps to slim line the saddle
 
Buckhorn70 said:
I got my Kestrel in today, a gray one.... I was order #851

Anyway... This thing is well made as most of you know. Those buckles are stout! I'm not sure I am keeping them on though, we will see after I play with it some more.
I have been using a TL mesh Tree Saddle for the last few years and the one thing I didn't like about the TS was the extra fabric that went under my thighs and that the TS rode up my back while hunting. The TS was comfortable and very light to me though. I had my TS trimmed down with no leg straps or suspenders by the way. I had the Aero Hunter Evolution and sold it because it was too bulky( too many adjustments) and no better than my TS in my eyes.
In the few minutes I have sit in the Kestrel in the backyard, I noticed it did not ride up the back and the amount of fabric for the seat seemed about right, no extra. The Kestrel is light and could be lighter without the buckles, but like I said I may do away with them. The buckles are nice, easy to use and very high quality though. I wear a 36" jean(6'1" / 215lbs) and I am not sold the size 1 Kestrel is a perfect fit either and may need the 2, but we will see. My Kestrel seems better for me with the 2 adjustment straps on the side all the way loose or just a very small amount of tension.
First impretion is I like the Kestrel, but I have more testing/playing to be done

questions...
  • How long do you guys run your bridge length
  • Did you guys eliminate buckles or leg straps to slim line the saddle
Click to expand...
24 inch bridge for me and i dont mind the leg straps
 
Buckhorn70 said:
I got my Kestrel in today, a gray one.... I was order #851

Anyway... This thing is well made as most of you know. Those buckles are stout! I'm not sure I am keeping them on though, we will see after I play with it some more.
I have been using a TL mesh Tree Saddle for the last few years and the one thing I didn't like about the TS was the extra fabric that went under my thighs and that the TS rode up my back while hunting. The TS was comfortable and very light to me though. I had my TS trimmed down with no leg straps or suspenders by the way. I had the Aero Hunter Evolution and sold it because it was too bulky( too many adjustments) and no better than my TS in my eyes.
In the few minutes I have sit in the Kestrel in the backyard, I noticed it did not ride up the back and the amount of fabric for the seat seemed about right, no extra. The Kestrel is light and could be lighter without the buckles, but like I said I may do away with them. The buckles are nice, easy to use and very high quality though. I wear a 36" jean(6'1" / 215lbs) and I am not sold the size 1 Kestrel is a perfect fit either and may need the 2, but we will see. My Kestrel seems better for me with the 2 adjustment straps on the side all the way loose or just a very small amount of tension.
First impretion is I like the Kestrel, but I have more testing/playing to be done

questions...
  • How long do you guys run your bridge length
  • Did you guys eliminate buckles or leg straps to slim line the saddle
Click to expand...
I have a Kestrel. I use a rope man on the bridge so it is adjustable. I like the bridge extended out when I’m connected to the tether and hunting. I like the bridge pulled all the way in and tight when climbing/ascending a rope SRT or RADs.

I might be wrong but I think if you cut the leg straps, you have made your Kestrel into a fancy sit drag and it doesn’t work as a climbing harness. Maybe you would need a rack harness with it to be safe if you cut the leg straps off. There’s a lot of extra strap on the leg harness that could be cut off though.

I read on a forum here to wear it the Kestrel low for comfort and to minimize hip pinch. I wear the waist strap between the top of the femur and the hip bone. That helps a lot.
 
Buckhorn70 said:
I got my Kestrel in today, a gray one.... I was order #851

Anyway... This thing is well made as most of you know. Those buckles are stout! I'm not sure I am keeping them on though, we will see after I play with it some more.
I have been using a TL mesh Tree Saddle for the last few years and the one thing I didn't like about the TS was the extra fabric that went under my thighs and that the TS rode up my back while hunting. The TS was comfortable and very light to me though. I had my TS trimmed down with no leg straps or suspenders by the way. I had the Aero Hunter Evolution and sold it because it was too bulky( too many adjustments) and no better than my TS in my eyes.
In the few minutes I have sit in the Kestrel in the backyard, I noticed it did not ride up the back and the amount of fabric for the seat seemed about right, no extra. The Kestrel is light and could be lighter without the buckles, but like I said I may do away with them. The buckles are nice, easy to use and very high quality though. I wear a 36" jean(6'1" / 215lbs) and I am not sold the size 1 Kestrel is a perfect fit either and may need the 2, but we will see. My Kestrel seems better for me with the 2 adjustment straps on the side all the way loose or just a very small amount of tension.
First impretion is I like the Kestrel, but I have more testing/playing to be done

questions...
  • How long do you guys run your bridge length
  • Did you guys eliminate buckles or leg straps to slim line the saddle
Click to expand...
I keep my bridge about 24 inches but mine is adjustable with a ropeman 1. I didn't get rid of my buckles or straps they are fine no problem at all.
 
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