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Mantis and Spliced Rope Review

ImThere said:
Good Job Swamp. I still ain’t much on the kestrel. I’m waiting on it to get comfortable. I think I will make my bridge longer to see if it will relieve some pain caused by the kestrel. I think the biggest thing with the kestrel is I feel like I’m in between sizes. The size one pinched across my hip bone. I literally came out of the tree and just sat on the ground after 3 hr. The size 2 fixed that but it puts pressure under my thighs like it has too much “cup” for me.
I can wait to try the Mantis!


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I think you said it all . How one saddle is right for one person but not another. I love the Kestrel but haven't tried the Mantis so I can't say anything about it. I didn't like the Trophyline Neoprene saddle to much hip pinch for my liking. I like my Guido's Web alot and I still like my Treesuit. Each saddle is different and it's up to each individual to decide what works for them . It's great to have a forum that can help with issues like this. Back in the day there wasn't any help. I am very excited to see the new saddles and products that will be introduced to the saddle world in the near future. Keep hanging.
 
swampsnyper said:
Lots of us here have that same tub of saddles. Lol We all reach in for a different one for different reasons. At this point in my life, I feel I can tough through anything if I need too. May be a little slower than I use to be. Just not a lot of “need to” any more. I prefer the work smarter not harder route. I’m surely not gonna hunt out of the saddle that’s not as comfortable as the one next to it because it makes me feel tougher. Lol. It’s does have to be huntable 1st and foremost before comfort or weight or packability is even considered. I wear clothes that are comfortable instead of fashionable and cool. Wear crocks because I’m tough enough to say I don’t care what I look like, it feels good. And stubborn enough to tell @huck72412 a thousands times a year, “I’m not going to Saddlepalooza!”
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AMEN!, but I'm going to saddlepalooza.
 
ImThere said:
Good Job Swamp. I still ain’t much on the kestrel. I’m waiting on it to get comfortable. I think I will make my bridge longer to see if it will relieve some pain caused by the kestrel. I think the biggest thing with the kestrel is I feel like I’m in between sizes. The size one pinched across my hip bone. I literally came out of the tree and just sat on the ground after 3 hr. The size 2 fixed that but it puts pressure under my thighs like it has too much “cup” for me.
I can wait to try the Mantis!


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Click to expand...
As we've all seen we all fit saddles differently. I was very happy with the Kestrel size 2 but I found I couldn't sit in it. It was continually riding up on me. I was definitely a leaner using the Kestrel. Last year I got the XL Mantis and it fit me to a tee. I was completely comfortable sitting in it but I must admit it rides up on me some when I'm leaning. The two saddles fit me entirely differently and apparently fit others different than me. The best recommendation that I can make to people considering buying a saddle is find someone near you who'll let you try them personally. They fit everyone differently. The other thing I tell people is, when in doubt about the size, don't worry about picking the next size up. I've heard several people express a desire to try the next size up but I've never heard anyone looking to trade down in size.
 
I have been reading thousands of posts on Saddlehunter for months, and this is my first post. I have spent over 50 hours in a XL Mantis this season. I usually hunt a minimum of 3 hours. I am a sitter 90% of the time. I was sore for several days after my first hunt that lasted 4 hours. The next two hunts were just as uncomfortable. Being stubborn and cheap, I was bound and determined to make this work. Adjusted bridge length (longer is better for sitter), tether height (higher is better for sitter), microfit adjusters helped to put more load under the legs and off my back, etc. These adjustments helped, but still not comfortable enough to keep me from constantly adjusting to try and relieve pressure somewhere. This constant movement spooked a lot of deer. I then got the idea to try football hip pads. I bought some Bike brand hip pads on eBay. I ran the Mantis waist belt through the front slot on the hip pad on each side. The hip pads helped distribute the pressure across my hips and due to the thickness of the hip pads, it actually provided a little space between the waist strap and the small of my back. This was a major game changer for me and the only way I could have kept hunting with the Mantis for more than 1 hour. I will be getting me a JX3 when available, but I will be using the NFL version Mantis next season scouting and for run and gun setups. The hip pads obviously add some bulk (but not much weight) and will remind you of the two a days of your youth, but my 50 year old body sure appreciated not being sore two days later.
 
Gun4okie said:
I have been reading thousands of posts on Saddlehunter for months, and this is my first post. I have spent over 50 hours in a XL Mantis this season. I usually hunt a minimum of 3 hours. I am a sitter 90% of the time. I was sore for several days after my first hunt that lasted 4 hours. The next two hunts were just as uncomfortable. Being stubborn and cheap, I was bound and determined to make this work. Adjusted bridge length (longer is better for sitter), tether height (higher is better for sitter), microfit adjusters helped to put more load under the legs and off my back, etc. These adjustments helped, but still not comfortable enough to keep me from constantly adjusting to try and relieve pressure somewhere. This constant movement spooked a lot of deer. I then got the idea to try football hip pads. I bought some Bike brand hip pads on eBay. I ran the Mantis waist belt through the front slot on the hip pad on each side. The hip pads helped distribute the pressure across my hips and due to the thickness of the hip pads, it actually provided a little space between the waist strap and the small of my back. This was a major game changer for me and the only way I could have kept hunting with the Mantis for more than 1 hour. I will be getting me a JX3 when available, but I will be using the NFL version Mantis next season scouting and for run and gun setups. The hip pads obviously add some bulk (but not much weight) and will remind you of the two a days of your youth, but my 50 year old body sure appreciated not being sore two days later.
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Good deal. Yeah I tried all those things too. I’m not willing to go the hip pad route. I got a closet full of saddles that are good enough. Still not perfect but huntable.
 
I would hope Tether is reading this, as I feel that there were a number of things that need to change, I'm a learner , I had some long sits and I must like discomfort , because I was in pain. I got a large mantis I'm a 38 waist. I still think the large will work though for that size. Where I noticed the discomforts were in the waist belt. after a long sit it starts to cut into your back at the same time that's when the hip pressure starts. What adds to that pressure is the actual material the is made of. The webbing form fits to your butt like a glove. Which again pulls that strap into your lower back.
So its just my opinion that they should change the strap to something wider , it might make it heavier but really by what ? Id rather have comfort over a few ounces.
The leg straps are cool, that you can put them on the micro adjuster , but that sucks for walking , but where you have to try to hook them in the belt is really hard to find if they dropped two tabs down so the hook up hung lower that would make it a lot easier to find them. Just those couple things would help with comfort , I think the mesh seat is great , I also think the micro adjusters should just be part of the saddle its just something that can fall off , they work but they come on done , and these things I've mentioned make you fuss up in the tree with stuff. I want to sit and hunt not mess with the saddle. I think the design is there it just need some improvements. That said, the guys at Tetherd have been real cool, they kept the pressure down even when it took so much time to deliver the product . Which is just the case with saddle hunting , we have to be patient and hopefully they are listening with open minds. Great review swamp sniper
 
swampsnyper said:
Like $90 but almost $20 was for shipping. I seen someone say that if the order was over $100, shipping was a lot cheaper. If I knew that, I would have bought more stuff.
Live and learn.
Rope was .90/ft and each splice was $20ea. Wasn’t cheap
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Were do you order a bridge that is spliced? How do you attach to hip rings if it is already spliced on each end?
 
Jimgeorgia said:
Were do you order a bridge that is spliced? How do you attach to hip rings if it is already spliced on each end?
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Wasn’t a bridge. It was a tether and linemans belt. I made my bridge out of amsteel. I use a carabiner on each end. You can always girth bitch one end or splice one end on.
Thin I got my spliced rope from WesSpur
 
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