Mantis with Recliner ...

[swilk]

I am just now playing around with my new, and first, saddle ..... Im still waiting on my Predator platform so I have not hunted with it yet but have spent a few hours hanging in a tree in the backyard. My first thought, is how much different it is trusting everything at height vs just a few feet off the ground. Im not fond of heights to begin with so I figure that will just be a learning curve gained over time.

My question right now is about the Recliner .... how strong do you reckon it is? I find myself putting what seems like a lot of pressure on it at times. Leaning back into it to adjust the saddle seems like more than it was designed to handle. Im positive that it breaking would lead to an instant "need to change my shorts" moment and would rather avoid that if possible. I really like the back support it offers but am just wondering if I should replace the straps, and more importantly the plastic slides, with something a little more robust.

Any thoughts ... or what have others done.

 

[Rich1201]

I lean on mine pretty heavy and have had no reason for concern. I'm 190lbs so not light either. You should be good with the stock setup.

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[swilk]

Ever lean into it hard enough that you take all the weight off your saddle? Im the same weight as you ..... I dont doubt the strapping and stitching itself is fine but the plastic slides are what concerns me. But ... I dont know Ive ever read of one breaking either .....

 

[pesqimon]

The fact is that the recliner is not rated to hold your weight. Mine seems plenty strong, and I lean into it with all my weight, at times. However, I am really confident that if it breaks, I am not going anywhere. So if you haven't tried this already, set up a little bit off the ground and try to fall out of the saddle. This should increase your confidence in the system.

 

[swilk]

A fear of heights seems to throw all rational logic out the window. Im like a kid on a playground when only 4 feet off the ground ... swinging around, hanging upside down ...

I got in it at 15' for the first time yesterday and that irrational fear kicked in and I was not nearly as comfortable .... but, I expected that. Its the same way each year the first few times I climb into a stand and I eventually get over it.

Im not really worried about falling if the recliner breaks but it would definitely be a pucker moment .....

Time spent at height is the only thing that will work for the fear ....

 

[Cheeew]

Funny fear of heights is why I started hunting out of a saddle.

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[swilk]

Im sure Ill get used to it .... Ive been using lifelines on my stands for 12 seasons now and switched to a rock harness a couple of years ago. Even with those I rely on my hands and feet to get me up the tree and into the stand. Trusting, really trusting, linemans belts and saddles/tethers is just a learning curve. Itll come .....

 

[Rich1201]

Ever lean into it hard enough that you take all the weight off your saddle? Im the same weight as you ..... I dont doubt the strapping and stitching itself is fine but the plastic slides are what concerns me. But ... I dont know Ive ever read of one breaking either .....

Maybe not all of my weight but pretty hard. When adjusting the saddle mid hunt I find it easier to stand and adjust. Nothing wrong with upgrading straps as you mentioned earlier but I have leaned pretty good in it almost expecting it to break and it didn't. The plastic toggles do appear flimsy so I understand your concern.

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[east_of_90]

I’ve leaned into mine and tried to fall out with it on doing various dumb things and have yet to fall. It’s well built gear but I wouldn’t go all ham sauce into it and take a chance of ripping it or damaging it

 

[Crazy4bucks]

I use mine under the bottom of my saddle and sit on it. It’s makes the Mantis very comfortable for sitting this way. So far so good.

 

[S.McArthur]

My question right now is about the Recliner .... how strong do you reckon it is?

I've put quite a bit of weight on it and no issues. When I take my super break, I'm sitting with my thighs/nuts against the tree leaned back in the recliner. It literally looks like I'm in a La-z-boy, not good for taking shots, but super comfy for a break. It feels cheap, but it has held up to some serious weight that I've put on it.
I spent some time flipping around upside down, flipping left, right, sideways, etc. at ground height and still felt unsafe at hunting height. I did some more flipping and playing at ground height really putting the equipment through it's paces and now I will stretch out to clear shooting lanes without fear. Get tension on your tether at all times and you'll have no issues, I feel 10x as safe in my saddle than I did any safety harness I've ever used.
Seriously, do stupid stuff at ground level and you'll have full confidence in your equipment.

 

[Yooper14]

the first time i got above 10-12 feet climbing up in my saddle i was frozen with what i guess is fear for a few minutes at at a time. I got up to maybe 16-18 feet and sat there for bit and went back down. The next time i climbed it was easier, and then easier the next time after that. You start to realize that theres really no way you're falling out of that saddle, and there isnt anything to be afraid of. Now i can climb to 26-30 feet and never flinch.

As far as the back band goes, I doubt you'd ever put enough pressure on it to break it, but if you did it doesnt matter cause you arent going anywhere anyways. Once you get that platform you will feel 50 times better when at hunting height too. Its a great platform.