Has anyone done a comparison of the two?
-
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
Kestrel vs Kite review?
- Thread starter Allegheny Tom
- Start date
For some reason I can no longer log on to Saddlehunter can only see posts through tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
Your review video was very helpful Dave.
Thanks for making it.
Glad it helped - but it is only my opinion. we all will differ to some degree.
A saddle for me personally is really only two straps that support your rear end. All the material in between if it is flexible, has pleats, etc... is not going to remove the pressure going to those two straps. And the best place for those straps is not under your leg or riding on lower back - the best places is for both to be under your rear end. I mean think about it, if material gives/stretches the weight will eventually wind up on the points that don't. I have taken a saddle, cut all the material away from the straps and found it to be every bit as comfortable as when it had the material. What makes the fleece DIY saddle so dang comfortable, is there are not straps it all stretches and conforms to your rear. I think most might be shocked if they could take pics of their rear ends in a saddle (please no youtube videos demonstrating) throughout a hunt how often the material between the two support straps has slack in it. I don't care what saddle you use, to include the guidos web versions) you sit long enough you will have pressure and need to adjust - same for lock on stands, ladder stands even ground bling chairs. Outside hardware, ropes, noise and cosmetics, there really is just not that much difference between saddles theses days if the straps wind up under your rear.
For those that like to label me as a leaner - please - I sit all day at times from 0500-1900 during early season and I assure you I spend a lot of time sitting in a saddle. I just prefer to be leaning most of the time as it is far more conducive to getting into shot position with less movement not because I have to.
My comfort sweet spot in a saddle is when the waist strap is slightly below my hips. While I respect Dave's school of thought that the saddle should ride lower, it just doesn't work for me. Not everyone is built the same obviously.
The Flex definitely distributes the weight more evenly to my rear end than my Kite which distributed the weight better than my Mantis. I never really gave the Kestrel a chance because the thick cordura was just too bulky for my liking. But the flex is proving to me there is absolutely more to weight distribution possibilities than the outer frame straps of the saddle.
What I've yet to determine is if that flex panel really does anything. That's not to say it hasn't improved weight distribution, purely by nature of the possibly improved contour of the saddle and fabric. I'm just anticipating that the flex is going to get stuck in the stretched position unless you mod it with elastic to pull back. But either way it seems it just contours to my [large] backside better. I really can't say much more about it until I spend some actual hunts in the tree. A couple quick backyard practice sessions can only tell you so much.
The Flex definitely distributes the weight more evenly to my rear end than my Kite which distributed the weight better than my Mantis. I never really gave the Kestrel a chance because the thick cordura was just too bulky for my liking. But the flex is proving to me there is absolutely more to weight distribution possibilities than the outer frame straps of the saddle.
What I've yet to determine is if that flex panel really does anything. That's not to say it hasn't improved weight distribution, purely by nature of the possibly improved contour of the saddle and fabric. I'm just anticipating that the flex is going to get stuck in the stretched position unless you mod it with elastic to pull back. But either way it seems it just contours to my [large] backside better. I really can't say much more about it until I spend some actual hunts in the tree. A couple quick backyard practice sessions can only tell you so much.
I spent some sleepless hours last night with an active mind pondering this stuff, so I got up and read as many opinions as could find on the Kite. One thing is for sure, I wouldn't put up with the standard buckles. I'm not threading the waist strap each time and I'm not messing with the leg buckles, either.
Another thing that nobody has addressed is what it might be like walking trough multi flora rose with a mesh saddle on. It's hard enough walking thru that crap without mesh.
Now, my next decision...Do I keep my flex, or exchange it for a Kite, or just remain a one saddle guy with my beloved Kestrel?
Another thing that nobody has addressed is what it might be like walking trough multi flora rose with a mesh saddle on. It's hard enough walking thru that crap without mesh.
Now, my next decision...Do I keep my flex, or exchange it for a Kite, or just remain a one saddle guy with my beloved Kestrel?
Last edited:
I love my kestrel but picked up a kite a month ago mainly for early season since its so hot in S Georgia.
The leg buckles I can live with but I swapped out the slider on the waist for a plastic buckle. Haven't set in it much but by first impression it was a little more comfortable than the kestrel. I believe that had a lot to do with the bridge as the Kite's was longer than the amsteel on my kestrel. If I had to keep one right now it would be the kite since the mesh allows more breathability and as a big fellow that sweats a lot that's a big win!
The leg buckles I can live with but I swapped out the slider on the waist for a plastic buckle. Haven't set in it much but by first impression it was a little more comfortable than the kestrel. I believe that had a lot to do with the bridge as the Kite's was longer than the amsteel on my kestrel. If I had to keep one right now it would be the kite since the mesh allows more breathability and as a big fellow that sweats a lot that's a big win!
Agree we are all different. Everyone will and should experiment and find what works for them.
On another note - I've worked out a system over decades of saddle hunting that works for me - I couldn't be happier with the items we have commercially available today and the ones I personally use are based off that experience. A lot of new saddle hunters are trying and promoting all kinds of stuff/methods, and that is fantastic for all of us! And yes there are others that make quick assumptions on gear they have never tested and certainly for not more than a single season or two. However, if the masses sticks around this game long enough, like most things, hype where's off and people naturally gravitate towards what actually works best for them and the faddish/trendy things kind of fade away.
I understand that you have figured out a system that works for you and I get that, but as a physicist I have to point out that this is incorrect. The material in between the 2 straps reduces the pressure. Pressure = Force/area. When you increase the area the force is applied over, the pressure goes down. It is the same concept why you can walk on a bed of nails but you'll puncture your foot if you step on one. The reason your fleece saddle is so comfortable is because it spreads the pressure out so evenly. From my experience, I suspect that if most people tried to sit on just two pieces of 2 inch webbing for a saddle, they're not going to make it very long.
Agreed but your analogy is flawed bud. The nails all have the same resistance, mass, density and DISTANCE therefore the load is distributed but even then some will bear more weight depending on the mass, weight and center of gravity of the object; The webbing and straps in a saddle do not as straps do not give netting, pleats do. It might help distribute some of the weight but there will still be pressure points. Dont believe me go sit on a board swing for a few hours without moving or go visit the nursing wards where paraplegics lay on foam/gel mattresses and still get ulcers on the skin pressure points . You could also try walking across the nail board where a small percent of the nails are made of steel and randomly placed in the board, and the majority made out of a flexible material - keep them all the same height and distance and i bet the pain level would increase.
Like I said, its what works for me, may not work for others. I accept some discomfort as part of saddle hunting and I believe comfort is better mitigated through a lower tether height and a platform (also believe it is a more efficient system at getting into bow position undetected). others will disagree no doubt. Using netting for a saddle is NOT a new concept, and yet people still complain about pressure points while using them. You are not going to get around that I don't care what you make a saddle out of. So you adjust and reposition - it is part of saddle hunting. the marketing hype does not change it. Anyone who has spent more than 4 hours in a saddle knows that readjusting in them is just part of the game.
Last edited:
No one is debating that there are pressure points. Humans are made of skin, bones, muscle and fat which is all different densities with a nonuniform surface so there will always be pressure points. But what I pointed out still holds. Take your example of sitting on a 6 inch board like swing. This is actually very comfortable, I have a DIY saddle exactly like that. Sure, in any saddle you readjust periodically, but it is generally very comfortable. Let's say it is 12 inches wide, giving it a surface area of 72 square inches. Now take that wooden board and shrink it down to 1 inch from the original 6. Now you have 12 square inches of surface area. So in the case of of the 1 inch by 12 inch "saddle" your pressure is 6 times greater than the 6 inch by 12 inch saddle.
I don't care if you believe me or not but I want to put the facts out there for others. The case of the board is a simplified case but I guarantee that most people are going much happier sitting in something that has more surface area that a couple straps.