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Mantis Comfort
- Thread starter LA Archer
- Start date
I think the Mantis favors the "leaner" style of SH as opposed to the "sitter", for comfort. That said, this advice will help with either style.
What I do is I pull the Mantis down until the top strap is under my butt. Then I let the saddle slide up and I pop into the right position. Eventually it will ride up again and I have to repeat the process but this makes it comfortable for that time. You'll probably have to loosen the straps and then retighten.
Playing with tether height is also good. I found a lower tether helped. I ended up going as low as chest height.
Later on I also replaced the stock bridge with a shorter one and this also improved my comfort. Mainly, I think, because the shorter bridge works better with the lower tether.
What I do is I pull the Mantis down until the top strap is under my butt. Then I let the saddle slide up and I pop into the right position. Eventually it will ride up again and I have to repeat the process but this makes it comfortable for that time. You'll probably have to loosen the straps and then retighten.
Playing with tether height is also good. I found a lower tether helped. I ended up going as low as chest height.
Later on I also replaced the stock bridge with a shorter one and this also improved my comfort. Mainly, I think, because the shorter bridge works better with the lower tether.
I had similar problems with it riding up. Try to cinch the leg straps down pretty tight on the lower connection point to keep things in place. Once I did that, I was off and running.
I was going to buy a Mantis several times when I noticed many people comment about this. I am a sitter so I never did. @DanO suggested a battle belt many moons ago added to a saddle I think to get it to hang down onto your seat to enable better sitting. I added a belt to my sitdrag and it was very comfortable so that is what I continue to use. Thread is here.
Battle Belt with DIY Lineman Belt for SitDrag/Wraptor/etc
After I made my Wraptor saddle I knew I had to come up with a way to hold it up easily and a way to store my lineman rope and tether. I researched various battle belts and found one made by OneTigris. It has three rows of molle, but most importantly it is segmented which allows my lineman loops...
saddlehunter.com
Lower the tether to neck lvl, let you main belt of the mantis go below you belt line. The leg straps i loosen almost all the way out so they don't catch on my pants when I move around. I lower you platform to a downward angle if you can. Im 6'1 235 and have a really bad back from when i was in the service. I can do a all day sit doing this. Now i like to stand so i will have to adjust when I decide to sit again. I do about 60% stand and 40% sitting..
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i experienced ride up on my mantis too, another thing i didn't see mentioned would be to use the other attachment for the leg straps when climbing or hanging, it does make a difference. also make sure that the bridge is in a good position on your bridge loops. i never could get rid of the ride up myself though
I think the biggest thing with a mantis is it works better for learners and low tethers. I’m a sitter mostly and have swapped over to the phantom with no complaints.
I was hoping to hear that! I mostly sit and the mantis was painful compared to my old Trophyline. I'm a little concerned with trying a platform over a ROS for same reason
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Nothing about it was "great" but I did find ways to make it work for me since it was pretty much the only commercially built saddle out there. Got into Saddle shape as we call it. Could've done the same with the Mantis if I had to but hoping the Phantom makes it easier. As a note I just made a new bridge which I could cinch both sides to do the same as the comfort loops but than seen the phantom came out and decided to sell but definitely could've made it work.
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@beaston ut wasn’t that I couldn’t get comfortable in the original trophylines it was just the sheer size. I had already been spoiled with a mantis and kestrel.
Mine rides up too but it not uncomfortable. I pull it down when I think of it. The absolute biggest comfort factor for me was getting the Predator Platform that changed everything. I run my tether at eye level and mostly lean. I was in the saddle last weekend for 4.5 hours and never felt like I needed to sit or rest on my knees. When I do get to wanting a different feel I choke up on the tether which puts me more towards the tree and standing but not really........does that make sense? Also keep at it.....I've had mine since October last year and it wasn't until I go the platform that it all came together!
I made a saddle that is a lot like the Mantis. I sewed the leg strap loop in the middle of the saddle bridge loops, but I put a double sided loop. I have another adjustable strap that is not load bearing that I can move around under my butt and tighten it to keep the saddle from riding up. It is easily removed and rolled up with my back rest band. Works amazing for me
