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Kind of apprehensive

OP...what kind of saddle? Is it a stock, factory Trophy Line, Guido, Kestrel? I'm a little new to saddles, too, but I spent a few dozen hours in a stock Trophy Line, and I never felt nervous. But I also have little fear of climbing and being in stands.
From my limited saddle perspective, I'd say that as long as you're always staying attached to the tree, and not using modified gear, you'll be safe. I think that when we start tinkering with ropes, knots, assistors, etc, and we aren't really experienced with those mods is when we are taking risks. Become well practiced with stock gear before trying to climb 30 feet with 2 steps or a single rope.
I have a Kestrel on order and I can't wait to experiment with new climbing methods and saddle modifications, but I won't climb more than a few feet until I know my system is bomb-proof.
Practice at ground level in the beginning. I think you'll find that saddles are as safe as it gets.
 
Last edited:
g2outdoors said:
You'd be crazy if you weren't nervous. I still get nervous on my first climb every year.

Practice breeds familiarity and familiarity breeds confidence.

BEFORE YOU CLIMB, setup your platform about 8" off the ground. Tie in your tether and hang right off the ground. Learn how to move. Learn how it feels. If you have your bow, take a few practice shots. Here's something most guys don't do, but I always recommend - try to fall out of it at ground level. Bring your legs up in weird ways, sit sideways on the tree, flip upside down (if you're so inclined). This will build a lot of confidence in your gear. What you'll find is that it's impossible to fall once you've learned your system and set everything up correctly.

Next, go 10 feet up and do the same process. The more time you spend in your saddle, the more you'll begin to trust your equipment. You've been trusting your tree stand equipment for all these years. Learning to trust a saddle is no different.

Have fun and report back. I want to hear about your experience.
Click to expand...
X2
 
JBDaddy said:
Has anyone actually managed to get upside down in their kestrel?? The belt was pretty substantial, I wouldn't be worried, but I'd like a picture :)
Click to expand...
I just got my Kestrel the other day and couldn't wait to try it out. I tethered onto a basement support post (3") wrapped it a bunch of times to secure it and was doing all kinds of acrobatics! lol I was upside down several times and tried to get out of it,...I couldn't!
 
Well, I am home safe and sound from my property in southern Ohio. I spent a few hours in the woods about 50 yds from my cabin. I learned a lot this weekend. Some good...some frustrating. I ended up trying to figure out the WE steps first, just because. I planned on setting up my Kestrel close to ground level as suggested by folks here. I bought one of the platforms from a fellow member here. Initially I was going to use that but I need to figure out exactly how to attach it that minimizes movement. That will be for another day. So then I remembered seeing folks used the WE steps for a platform. So I attached 3 steps about 4 ft off the ground. Remember that number! I struggled to get the steps "Just Right". I was having to change the tension a lot to get the cam action to thud over as shown in the videos. Well, that was a dumbass attack on my part. I was also trying to remember how to use the loop method for tying the step knots. I sucked at it.

After the afternoon trials ended I went back for lunch with the wife. I glanced at the instruction sheet WE includes for the step by step knot tying. OH! The rope passes OVER the initial pass through the step. OVER THE INITIAL PASS!?!? Not under? NOT UNDER! Well crap. I went back out this morning and it is a wonder what following the instructions will do for you. It works a lot better when threaded according to the instructions. Instructions?? Who would have thunk it?? I had much better success with the steps after this. So today I spent about 90 mins just putting one step on a couple dozen trees. All different species, sizes, and varying heights. Over my head, waist high, low. I learned how the quick tie loop worked. So easy compared to my saturday attempts. Still struggled a little with correct tensioning to achieve the rollover thud and lock you want to see. All in all I feel much more confident using the steps now.

Now on to the Kestrel.......well....I did get into the saddle. I did get on to my WE step platform. I did "hang" out for a while. I should have set up 2 feet off the ground though. I climbed onto my platform and swung my linemans belt up to hold myself vertical. Then I hooked up my main line over my head a few feet. Then I hooked up my bridge line. Then I tried(key word here) to release the linemans belt tension. The Kestrel comes supplied with modified Blakes knots on the tree line and on the linemans belt. I do not know if it is because the harness is brand new and they are just stiff or if it is the nature of this knot but these knots were a bear to get free once they were tensioned. All of my other safety lines from hunting with harnesses used prussick knots for carabiner attachments. These modified blakes knots are new to me. A prussick will lock up tight when loaded but as soon as it is not under load it can be moved up and down easily with a single hand. Not so for the modified blakes I have on my harness ropes. It definitely binds well under load but when I stood up and needed to slide the knot up the linemans main line to hold me closer to the tree, I was unable to budge it without having to bring my other hand over to assist. That is fine when both hands are free but it is NOT fine when I needed one hand to hold myself against the tree. I was facing a whopping 4 foot fall!! So I let go. Problem is that my main line and saddle bottomed out around 18 inches from the ground. Yikes.

So there I was. Hanging a foot and a half from my toes touching. One of the wiser members here suggested I start a foot off the ground. A smart man I say now. My main line was too high for me to reach. My step platform was belly/boob high and in my face basically. The saddle is comfortable at least. Luckily my wife was reading inside and did not come see me dangling. I was able to grab my main line and got my feet back up on the platform. Pulled myself up vertical again and then tried to release the tension on the main line's sliding blakes knot. Again....not releasing with one hand even when it had zero load. It tensioned up and was a tight knot of rope. So use another hand I said. But I need that hand to stay upright against this stupid tree trunk I answered rather snarkily. Well do it quickly I snapped back. Yeah. So there I dangled a second time. My pride taking the brunt of abuse at this point. So to end this debacle, I again hoisted to vertical and this time I reached up and released the main line above me. Good idea said me. Wait said I. Too late. The line looped to my waist area. My linemans belt was fully extended because, remember, I could not get the blakes knot to slide up the rope earlier. Oh yeah. That would have been a good thing to remember 10 secs earlier reminded I. Shut up, said me. With me and I not wanting to jump a measly 4 ft to the ground while still harnessed in, the two of us worked together finally to unbuckle the legs straps and waist buckle single handedly. The we courageously lept together to the safety of solid ground.

About 20 mins of messing around with the knots I had trouble with and I packed it all away for the day. Between the WE steps and the Kestrel, well....a man has to know when to say when. WHEN!

I did decide to work on the step knot as mentioned above but I decided to wait a day or two before I try the saddle again. For the record....when I did slowly release the linemans belt to shift the weight into the saddle, it all went great, except that I ended up way too low. This is where the knot being locked and not sliding was such a problem. I needed the bridge line higher by a good foot or so. I had it above my head though?? I really do not know what all I did wrong. I do know that I watch that Boudreax guy attach, climb, set up and be ready to hunt in around 6 mins, all while providing verbal instructions. Amateur. I knocked out the same thing in 90 mins flat! Tomorrow is a new day and a chance to improve upon my less than stellar first attempt.

I need your guys thoughts on these knots I am talking about. Please, please, please if anyone has suggestions I will say thank you ahead of time.
 
Billfresh said:
Well, I am home safe and sound from my property in southern Ohio. I spent a few hours in the woods about 50 yds from my cabin. I learned a lot this weekend. Some good...some frustrating. I ended up trying to figure out the WE steps first, just because. I planned on setting up my Kestrel close to ground level as suggested by folks here. I bought one of the platforms from a fellow member here. Initially I was going to use that but I need to figure out exactly how to attach it that minimizes movement. That will be for another day. So then I remembered seeing folks used the WE steps for a platform. So I attached 3 steps about 4 ft off the ground. Remember that number! I struggled to get the steps "Just Right". I was having to change the tension a lot to get the cam action to thud over as shown in the videos. Well, that was a dumbass attack on my part. I was also trying to remember how to use the loop method for tying the step knots. I sucked at it.

After the afternoon trials ended I went back for lunch with the wife. I glanced at the instruction sheet WE includes for the step by step knot tying. OH! The rope passes OVER the initial pass through the step. OVER THE INITIAL PASS!?!? Not under? NOT UNDER! Well crap. I went back out this morning and it is a wonder what following the instructions will do for you. It works a lot better when threaded according to the instructions. Instructions?? Who would have thunk it?? I had much better success with the steps after this. So today I spent about 90 mins just putting one step on a couple dozen trees. All different species, sizes, and varying heights. Over my head, waist high, low. I learned how the quick tie loop worked. So easy compared to my saturday attempts. Still struggled a little with correct tensioning to achieve the rollover thud and lock you want to see. All in all I feel much more confident using the steps now.

Now on to the Kestrel.......well....I did get into the saddle. I did get on to my WE step platform. I did "hang" out for a while. I should have set up 2 feet off the ground though. I climbed onto my platform and swung my linemans belt up to hold myself vertical. Then I hooked up my main line over my head a few feet. Then I hooked up my bridge line. Then I tried(key word here) to release the linemans belt tension. The Kestrel comes supplied with modified Blakes knots on the tree line and on the linemans belt. I do not know if it is because the harness is brand new and they are just stiff or if it is the nature of this knot but these knots were a bear to get free once they were tensioned. All of my other safety lines from hunting with harnesses used prussick knots for carabiner attachments. These modified blakes knots are new to me. A prussick will lock up tight when loaded but as soon as it is not under load it can be moved up and down easily with a single hand. Not so for the modified blakes I have on my harness ropes. It definitely binds well under load but when I stood up and needed to slide the knot up the linemans main line to hold me closer to the tree, I was unable to budge it without having to bring my other hand over to assist. That is fine when both hands are free but it is NOT fine when I needed one hand to hold myself against the tree. I was facing a whopping 4 foot fall!! So I let go. Problem is that my main line and saddle bottomed out around 18 inches from the ground. Yikes.

So there I was. Hanging a foot and a half from my toes touching. One of the wiser members here suggested I start a foot off the ground. A smart man I say now. My main line was too high for me to reach. My step platform was belly/boob high and in my face basically. The saddle is comfortable at least. Luckily my wife was reading inside and did not come see me dangling. I was able to grab my main line and got my feet back up on the platform. Pulled myself up vertical again and then tried to release the tension on the main line's sliding blakes knot. Again....not releasing with one hand even when it had zero load. It tensioned up and was a tight knot of rope. So use another hand I said. But I need that hand to stay upright against this stupid tree trunk I answered rather snarkily. Well do it quickly I snapped back. Yeah. So there I dangled a second time. My pride taking the brunt of abuse at this point. So to end this debacle, I again hoisted to vertical and this time I reached up and released the main line above me. Good idea said me. Wait said I. Too late. The line looped to my waist area. My linemans belt was fully extended because, remember, I could not get the blakes knot to slide up the rope earlier. Oh yeah. That would have been a good thing to remember 10 secs earlier reminded I. Shut up, said me. With me and I not wanting to jump a measly 4 ft to the ground while still harnessed in, the two of us worked together finally to unbuckle the legs straps and waist buckle single handedly. The we courageously lept together to the safety of solid ground.

About 20 mins of messing around with the knots I had trouble with and I packed it all away for the day. Between the WE steps and the Kestrel, well....a man has to know when to say when. WHEN!

I did decide to work on the step knot as mentioned above but I decided to wait a day or two before I try the saddle again. For the record....when I did slowly release the linemans belt to shift the weight into the saddle, it all went great, except that I ended up way too low. This is where the knot being locked and not sliding was such a problem. I needed the bridge line higher by a good foot or so. I had it above my head though?? I really do not know what all I did wrong. I do know that I watch that Boudreax guy attach, climb, set up and be ready to hunt in around 6 mins, all while providing verbal instructions. Amateur. I knocked out the same thing in 90 mins flat! Tomorrow is a new day and a chance to improve upon my less than stellar first attempt.

I need your guys thoughts on these knots I am talking about. Please, please, please if anyone has suggestions I will say thank you ahead of time.
Click to expand...
Billfresh said:
Well, I am home safe and sound from my property in southern Ohio. I spent a few hours in the woods about 50 yds from my cabin. I learned a lot this weekend. Some good...some frustrating. I ended up trying to figure out the WE steps first, just because. I planned on setting up my Kestrel close to ground level as suggested by folks here. I bought one of the platforms from a fellow member here. Initially I was going to use that but I need to figure out exactly how to attach it that minimizes movement. That will be for another day. So then I remembered seeing folks used the WE steps for a platform. So I attached 3 steps about 4 ft off the ground. Remember that number! I struggled to get the steps "Just Right". I was having to change the tension a lot to get the cam action to thud over as shown in the videos. Well, that was a dumbass attack on my part. I was also trying to remember how to use the loop method for tying the step knots. I sucked at it.

After the afternoon trials ended I went back for lunch with the wife. I glanced at the instruction sheet WE includes for the step by step knot tying. OH! The rope passes OVER the initial pass through the step. OVER THE INITIAL PASS!?!? Not under? NOT UNDER! Well crap. I went back out this morning and it is a wonder what following the instructions will do for you. It works a lot better when threaded according to the instructions. Instructions?? Who would have thunk it?? I had much better success with the steps after this. So today I spent about 90 mins just putting one step on a couple dozen trees. All different species, sizes, and varying heights. Over my head, waist high, low. I learned how the quick tie loop worked. So easy compared to my saturday attempts. Still struggled a little with correct tensioning to achieve the rollover thud and lock you want to see. All in all I feel much more confident using the steps now.

Now on to the Kestrel.......well....I did get into the saddle. I did get on to my WE step platform. I did "hang" out for a while. I should have set up 2 feet off the ground though. I climbed onto my platform and swung my linemans belt up to hold myself vertical. Then I hooked up my main line over my head a few feet. Then I hooked up my bridge line. Then I tried(key word here) to release the linemans belt tension. The Kestrel comes supplied with modified Blakes knots on the tree line and on the linemans belt. I do not know if it is because the harness is brand new and they are just stiff or if it is the nature of this knot but these knots were a bear to get free once they were tensioned. All of my other safety lines from hunting with harnesses used prussick knots for carabiner attachments. These modified blakes knots are new to me. A prussick will lock up tight when loaded but as soon as it is not under load it can be moved up and down easily with a single hand. Not so for the modified blakes I have on my harness ropes. It definitely binds well under load but when I stood up and needed to slide the knot up the linemans main line to hold me closer to the tree, I was unable to budge it without having to bring my other hand over to assist. That is fine when both hands are free but it is NOT fine when I needed one hand to hold myself against the tree. I was facing a whopping 4 foot fall!! So I let go. Problem is that my main line and saddle bottomed out around 18 inches from the ground. Yikes.

So there I was. Hanging a foot and a half from my toes touching. One of the wiser members here suggested I start a foot off the ground. A smart man I say now. My main line was too high for me to reach. My step platform was belly/boob high and in my face basically. The saddle is comfortable at least. Luckily my wife was reading inside and did not come see me dangling. I was able to grab my main line and got my feet back up on the platform. Pulled myself up vertical again and then tried to release the tension on the main line's sliding blakes knot. Again....not releasing with one hand even when it had zero load. It tensioned up and was a tight knot of rope. So use another hand I said. But I need that hand to stay upright against this stupid tree trunk I answered rather snarkily. Well do it quickly I snapped back. Yeah. So there I dangled a second time. My pride taking the brunt of abuse at this point. So to end this debacle, I again hoisted to vertical and this time I reached up and released the main line above me. Good idea said me. Wait said I. Too late. The line looped to my waist area. My linemans belt was fully extended because, remember, I could not get the blakes knot to slide up the rope earlier. Oh yeah. That would have been a good thing to remember 10 secs earlier reminded I. Shut up, said me. With me and I not wanting to jump a measly 4 ft to the ground while still harnessed in, the two of us worked together finally to unbuckle the legs straps and waist buckle single handedly. The we courageously lept together to the safety of solid ground.

About 20 mins of messing around with the knots I had trouble with and I packed it all away for the day. Between the WE steps and the Kestrel, well....a man has to know when to say when. WHEN!

I did decide to work on the step knot as mentioned above but I decided to wait a day or two before I try the saddle again. For the record....when I did slowly release the linemans belt to shift the weight into the saddle, it all went great, except that I ended up way too low. This is where the knot being locked and not sliding was such a problem. I needed the bridge line higher by a good foot or so. I had it above my head though?? I really do not know what all I did wrong. I do know that I watch that Boudreax guy attach, climb, set up and be ready to hunt in around 6 mins, all while providing verbal instructions. Amateur. I knocked out the same thing in 90 mins flat! Tomorrow is a new day and a chance to improve upon my less than stellar first attempt.

I need your guys thoughts on these knots I am talking about. Please, please, please if anyone has suggestions I will say thank you ahead of time.
Click to expand...
I cannot help with the Blake hitch, but you have come to a good understanding, 1 step at a time... your trying to eat an elephant in one bite, that don't work... but you are starting early enough in the year to say ... "I am CONFIDENT that by opening day you will be more than ready"

I'm glad no one seen me in my trophyline hanging on the wrong side of a leaning tree my first time in the woods...12 ft off the ground and couldn't get back to my steps.
Unlike you I started my training mid season. You are far ahead of the game and much wiser than I. Follow the tips on the thread and you will be like Tarzan in no time.
 
You are not alone. It takes time to work it out and learn everything. You have a leg up because you are starting in March. Hang in there, it will get better! Focus on one thing at a time and master that! A ropeman1 will be a life changing device, in particular on your lineman's belt, but its good on the tether too.

In order to get comfortable with your saddle, you don't even need to be on a platform. Just stand on the ground for starters!
 
I'll echo what everyone else said in regards to the ropeman 1. Life changer.
Also, try putting your tether at eye level. That way your tether line has more of an angle off the tree vs. hanging you straight down tight to the tree. Listen to some John Eberhart podcasts, read his books, consume all things Eberhart.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk
 
River Hunter said:
I'll echo what everyone else said in regards to the ropeman 1. Life changer.
Also, try putting your tether at eye level. That way your tether line has more of an angle off the tree vs. hanging you straight down tight to the tree. Listen to some John Eberhart podcasts, read his books, consume all things Eberhart.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I will need to look at my bridge if i do this. It may be too long to attach this closely. I assumed that everything on the Kestrel would be preset to proper lengths, ect... maybe i need to shorten the bridge some to attach this low. Have you read of others having to adjust the bridge on these? Again...I am an absolute newbie so a lot of this info is just not common knowledge to me.
 
Billfresh said:
I will need to look at my bridge if i do this. It may be too long to attach this closely. I assumed that everything on the Kestrel would be preset to proper lengths, ect... maybe i need to shorten the bridge some to attach this low. Have you read of others having to adjust the bridge on these? Again...I am an absolute newbie so a lot of this info is just not common knowledge to me.
Click to expand...
You may want to try an adjustable bridge just to find your sweet spot. Adding a prusik to your bridge should suffice.
 
Billfresh said:
I will need to look at my bridge if i do this. It may be too long to attach this closely. I assumed that everything on the Kestrel would be preset to proper lengths, ect... maybe i need to shorten the bridge some to attach this low. Have you read of others having to adjust the bridge on these? Again...I am an absolute newbie so a lot of this info is just not common knowledge to me.
Click to expand...
You probably will have to adjust your bridge. The bridge new tribe was sending them with was very long. Many of us like ours between 24-30".
 
redsquirrel said:
You probably will have to adjust your bridge. The bridge new tribe was sending them with was very long. Many of us like ours between 24-30".
Click to expand...
so which end do you take up the slack in? re-tie to the knot side or move up the carabiner end?
 
When u order a Ropeman1, u might as well go ahead and order a second one.

Convenient to have one on lineman and tether.

I’m about to order a third one for a spare.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Tapeworm said:
When u order a Ropeman1, u might as well go ahead and order a second one.

Convenient to have one on lineman and tether.

I’m about to order a third one for a spare.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
these Ropeman must be good products. Many recommendations for them here.
 
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