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Need Some help! Cant stay comfortable

I will say with saddle hunting there are a lot of factors. If you're fat like me well, everything sucks and is uncomfortable. I have found that a long tether helps but tying into the tree lower helps too. Can't have both so it's a compromise.

Steps around the tree are better for comfort for me. I use 4 big fat screw in steps from Cranford.

I usually wear a heavy coverall or sweat pants. No jeans and belts.

How you position the tether around the tree makes a difference too. Try putting the loop towards one side or the other. For a tree that is leaning and I want to be on the high side I put the tether loop right in front of me. If I was to be on the low side I would put it towards whichever side I need to travel too first.

Also get a sit drag. I put a bridge on mine and sling it around my should and one arm. When up the tree it makes for a nice support if you want to lay back.
 
So might be a dumb question what exactly is it that you do? What is the kite and drey?
Aero hunter Kite, (basically a mesh version of the Kestrel) so a real basic single panel saddle.
Dryad drey is the full hammock setup but if you add only the hammock to any single panel saddle it gives unlimited positioning of pressure.
 
With the Helo out now by Novix as a budget friendly option and even the LWCG and Beast gear stuff the weight isn’t THAT much of a difference. People get so caught up in weight shaving but ultimately it doesn’t matter.

I gave the saddle a fair shake and have come full circle back to hunt from a lw with two sticks. My setup with an alpha is lighter than what most guys carry here. most people just carry entirely to much stuff into the woods. I can't imagine needing a backpack lmao.
 
I still have my Guido's Web the one that started it. It's true you can sit comfortable all day and take naps. I can also do that in my ESS and I'm 62 with a bad back and hips.
 
huh.....45 years old here, 6 foot, 180 lb, cruzr xc size 2....tether set to forehead height, bridge around 24 inches, tether adjusted so my thighs are at a 45 degree angle when my knees touch the tree.....i've been super comfortable from day one, much better than a stand.....i usually lean but sit for breaks and have a back band but don't need it on hunts less than 6 hours....i guess everyone is different

Curious, do you have a platform built into your stick or do you use a separate platform (like the Predator platform)
 
Curious, do you have a platform built into your stick or do you use a separate platform (like the Predator platform)

predator is my go to platform, i also have treehopper treesuit platform that i hardly use

the treesuit is 1/3 lighter, but it is too small/bad geometry for fully standing and taking your weight off your tether to adjust/turn, etc

i'm mostly a leaner/stander with occasional breaks to sit

leaning is much more comfortable for me, so if you are trying to sit all the time then maybe that is part of the issue you are having

i probably lean 90 percent of the time
 
You are on a saddle hunting forum so you won’t get this from many ppl but maybe the saddle just isn’t for you. That’s not a knock on you personally - after 4 seasons giving saddle hunting a complete and honest shake I don’t know that’s it’s for me either. The ONLY way I can stay comfortable without constantly fidgeting is to lower my tether to nipple high and shorten my bridge to 18” or so and just lean all day long. Even then I get tired and just want to sit down. I will keep my saddle and mission platform for early season hunts of a few hours but that will be all I use it for.

After 4 seasons hunting saddle exclusively I have come to the conclusion that I just move too damn much. I’ve tried every gadget, platform, ROS, and several different saddles all with similar results. After this season I will move back to a lock on. I drank the kool-aid and got several of my friends into it a saddle as well. I think I just wanted it to work so bad for the mobility aspect of it I convinced myself I was comfortable enough but deep down I knew I was moving and shifting my weight around too much.

With the Helo out now by Novix as a budget friendly option and even the LWCG and Beast gear stuff the weight isn’t THAT much of a difference. People get so caught up in weight shaving but ultimately it doesn’t matter. Going from a 25lb climber to a saddle will be a big difference, but going from a saddle to the lightweight stands on the market now will be negligible. I’m young and in good shape, the difference in 5lbs won’t matter. If I get to the point where it does I’ll just hunt on the ground.

i've always had allergies and hats and layers touching me makes me itch no matter what they are made of (and i don't like how allergy meds make me feel), so i've practiced slow controlled fidgeting

very small movements done slowly are less likely to scare deer, for instance turning your head with a ball cap on i've always thought the deer should see the bill sticking out moving, but those small and slow movements don't seem to bother them as much as large movements like taking a jacket on and off
 
I gave the saddle a fair shake and have come full circle back to hunt from a lw with two sticks. My setup with an alpha is lighter than what most guys carry here. most people just carry entirely to much stuff into the woods. I can't imagine needing a backpack lmao.

Yes this is a very gear heavy forum. Starting out doing DIY tinkering I freaking loved It and gave me tons to do in the off-season. Fine tuning my gear, shaving weight here and there was fun. Like I mentioned in my post earlier - I think I wanted the saddle to work because I enjoyed the fine tuning and tinkering aspect of it but at the end of the day it just isn’t working for me.
 
I gave the saddle a fair shake and have come full circle back to hunt from a lw with two sticks. My setup with an alpha is lighter than what most guys carry here. most people just carry entirely to much stuff into the woods. I can't imagine needing a backpack lmao.

So you carry two sticks, a lw alpha, grunt call, knife, first aid kit, water, hat, gloves, extra layers, etc.. without a backpack?
 
So you carry two sticks, a lw alpha, grunt call, knife, first aid kit, water, hat, gloves, extra layers, etc.. without a backpack?
I don't carry water or a first aid kit. Everything else I have pockets for, layers get bungeed to the stand.
 
I don't carry water or a first aid kit. Everything else I have pockets for, layers get bungeed to the stand.

Right, so u are just stuffing the same things in your pockets/strapping to your stand, that most guys put in a small pack. A pack is far easier and quieter to haul gear than having them in your pockets

Not carrying a first aid kit reminds me of a guy in my town that tripped walking out to his stand. Some how one of his arrow popped free and the broad head got buried into his thigh. He had about a 20min walk out. He was found passed out from blood loss in a persons driveway. I believe it was the driveway motion light turning on that alerted the home owner. He lived, but barely.. Ill sacrifice the few ounces of weight and space in my pack to know my life isnt reliant on someones motion detection driveway light.
 
Right, so u are just stuffing the same things in your pockets/strapping to your stand, that most guys put in a small pack. A pack is far easier and quieter to haul gear than having them in your pockets

Not carrying a first aid kit reminds me of a guy in my town that tripped walking out to his stand. Some how one of his arrow popped free and the broad head got buried into his thigh. He had about a 20min walk out. He was found passed out from blood loss in a persons driveway. I believe it was the driveway motion light turning on that alerted the home owner. He lived, but barely.. Ill sacrifice the few ounces of weight and space in my pack to know my life isnt reliant on someones motion detection driveway light.
Sounds like he needed a tourniquet, and to sharpen those heads. If I fall on my head like that it better be sharp enough to get my femoral, gosh I’d consider myself a failure otherwise.
 
Sounds like he needed a tourniquet, and to sharpen those heads. If I fall on my head like that it better be sharp enough to get my femoral, gosh I’d consider myself a failure otherwise.

He would have 5 mins or less if he hit an artery. Especially standing up and walking on in.
 
Thank you for the medical education.

No problem. Now go out and get yourself a first aid kit, or at the very least, an Israeli Bandage and a QuickClot Gauze.
Im sure you can find room in a pocket for those two small items ;)
 
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