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One Stick/Rappel/SRT tips/tricks for JX3 Hybrid?

tarafrost

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2021
Messages
549
Location
Ontario, Canada
I've got a JX3 on order....was wondering if anyone has any tips/tricks they can share for how to do one stick/rappel/SRT with this saddle, since it's a bit different than a normal fabric saddle?

I was thinking that it might be a bit more awkward to use these techniques with the JX3 since the bridge is attached to the bottom seat and might be harder to one stick or SRT? Don't think it would be as much of an issue with rappeling down after a hunt though.

Do you use a pouch/roll for your rappel/SRT line with the JX3, and if so, which one and where do you mount it? Or do you just stuff the rope somewhere into the JX3?

Appreciate any pointers you experienced JX3 users can offer. Thanks!
 
Biggest misconception is the JX3 will make things harder…. Wrong!!

I think it’s easier to SRT, 1-stick, and rappel in it.

Just sit down and dig the whale tail into the tree and you are 10 time more stable than “traditional” saddle. On rappelling just sit down and enjoy the ride!

My pouch bag set up:

4085035b5b6d46a930f678163484eca3.jpg
 
Biggest misconception is the JX3 will make things harder…. Wrong!!

I think it’s easier to SRT, 1-stick, and rappel in it.

Just sit down and dig the whale tail into the tree and you are 10 time more stable than “traditional” saddle. On rappelling just sit down and enjoy the ride!

My pouch bag set up....

Good to know...thanks!

When you are ascending with SRT, I just can't picture how you transition between sitting and standing up in the foot strap attached to the ascender. It sounds awkward, but maybe it's not a big deal.....won't really know till my new JX3 arrives and I can experiment with it. Rappeling down sounds easy since you can just sit in the seat the whole way down. Sliding down in comfort, so to speak. :tearsofjoy:

Can you get your rappel rope out of the web clips while wearing the JX3? That's a really clean/light way to pack the rope for sure.

Curious as to what you typically have in your pouch bags and can they be reached when in the saddle?

I apologize for the newbie questions.....I'm sure it will all become clearer when I have the saddle in hand and can practice. Hopefully before the snow is too deep and it's too cold here to make practicing less attractive a proposition. lol
 
Good to know...thanks!

When you are ascending with SRT, I just can't picture how you transition between sitting and standing up in the foot strap attached to the ascender. It sounds awkward, but maybe it's not a big deal.....won't really know till my new JX3 arrives and I can experiment with it. Rappeling down sounds easy since you can just sit in the seat the whole way down. Sliding down in comfort, so to speak. :tearsofjoy:

Can you get your rappel rope out of the web clips while wearing the JX3? That's a really clean/light way to pack the rope for sure.

Curious as to what you typically have in your pouch bags and can they be reached when in the saddle?

I apologize for the newbie questions.....I'm sure it will all become clearer when I have the saddle in hand and can practice. Hopefully before the snow is too deep and it's too cold here to make practicing less attractive a proposition. lol

I have the same questions, plus: what is that string on your coffee bottle?

:D
 
Good to know...thanks!

When you are ascending with SRT, I just can't picture how you transition between sitting and standing up in the foot strap attached to the ascender. It sounds awkward, but maybe it's not a big deal.....won't really know till my new JX3 arrives and I can experiment with it. Rappeling down sounds easy since you can just sit in the seat the whole way down. Sliding down in comfort, so to speak. :tearsofjoy:

Can you get your rappel rope out of the web clips while wearing the JX3? That's a really clean/light way to pack the rope for sure.

Curious as to what you typically have in your pouch bags and can they be reached when in the saddle?

I apologize for the newbie questions.....I'm sure it will all become clearer when I have the saddle in hand and can practice. Hopefully before the snow is too deep and it's too cold here to make practicing less attractive a proposition. lol

Yeah it’s a little hard to explain verses trying it but you have to play with the length of your foot loop to get the right step. But with the same a normal saddle you pretty much just sit down slide ascender up and stand. The seat will just hang down flat as you go up and then sit down again to move up.

Yes I can reach my rope but most of the time when I get to a tree I take the JX3 off and cool down/add layers etc. when I do that I take my rope out and stick for one-sticking.

Yes I can reach everything in the pouches too. The biggest thing is to store each item in the same place each time since you can’t see what you are grabbing. If you can reach behind and touch your spine you will have no problems. Those pouches carry everything other than stick, ropes, and layers. I have calls, snacks, kill kit, range finder, 3 treehopper steps, and monocular.
 
I have the same questions, plus: what is that string on your coffee bottle?

:D

The string is just the draw string. I loop it around the top to keep the coffee bottle from sliding out. Since the bottle is taller than the top it doesn’t cinch down and lock it in place.
 
Biggest misconception is the JX3 will make things harder…. Wrong!!

I think it’s easier to SRT, 1-stick, and rappel in it.

Just sit down and dig the whale tail into the tree and you are 10 time more stable than “traditional” saddle. On rappelling just sit down and enjoy the ride!

My pouch bag set up:

4085035b5b6d46a930f678163484eca3.jpg
I can’t keep up these days, maybe I missed a thread, but do those pouches detach, or do you just reach back there, and if so how?

I’m a one stick / rappel weirdo… I also have an RC harness on, I go up with that to rappel rope tether and then come down on bridge, in the easy chair.

I don’t find it difficult, although I do have to keep it slow and deliberate at the bottom and the top to make sure I have my shi? together, I wouldn’t call my total system optimized or particularly dialed, especially by mid November when I’m hauling a bit more gear.
 
I can’t keep up these days, maybe I missed a thread, but do those pouches detach, or do you just reach back there, and if so how?

I’m a one stick / rappel weirdo… I also have an RC harness on, I go up with that to rappel rope tether and then come down on bridge, in the easy chair.

I don’t find it difficult, although I do have to keep it slow and deliberate at the bottom and the top to make sure I have my shi? together, I wouldn’t call my total system optimized or particularly dialed, especially by mid November when I’m hauling a bit more gear.

I just leave them attached. It’s pretty easy to reach behind unless you happen to have shoulder issues. Just have to grab stuff blindly. So I always put stuff in and out in the same spot to make it quicker to grab items. Most items come out when I reach hunting height and go on my gear strap so don’t have to go back and forth grabbing items.
 
Yeah it’s a little hard to explain verses trying it but you have to play with the length of your foot loop to get the right step. But with the same a normal saddle you pretty much just sit down slide ascender up and stand. The seat will just hang down flat as you go up and then sit down again to move up.

Yes I can reach my rope but most of the time when I get to a tree I take the JX3 off and cool down/add layers etc. when I do that I take my rope out and stick for one-sticking.

Yes I can reach everything in the pouches too. The biggest thing is to store each item in the same place each time since you can’t see what you are grabbing. If you can reach behind and touch your spine you will have no problems. Those pouches carry everything other than stick, ropes, and layers. I have calls, snacks, kill kit, range finder, 3 treehopper steps, and monocular.

Thanks for all the insights, Aaronpaul14!
 
I bought a used JX3 that did not come with any ropes or a bridge. So I rigged up two loops of climbing rated tubular webbing and attach one to each bridge side. Right now it is a little bit long. I just have a little bit of trouble getting a full pull because the madrock safeguard is too close to my my hand ascender because my bridges just a little bit too long. I have a 10" climb rated runner that works better for srt, but Is a little tight to the hips when you are at height. Oh yeah, don't do what I did and make sure that you backup your mad rock with an Alpine butterfly through the Caribeener in case it releases. Otherwise I climb with my seat deployed. No problem.

06dc3b2dc83d599edc339a65b170ec8b.jpg
50ebdf01282f4fbea9c1cb6108dc9edb.jpg


Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
dc8661ec7b09aa374d28e8db0ba4bbaf.jpg
 
Oh yeah, don't do what I did and make sure that you backup your mad rock with an Alpine butterfly through the Caribeener in case it releases.

You put the alpine butterfly on the tag end of the tether? Wouldn't a stopper knot work as a backup as well?
 
Yeah it’s a little hard to explain verses trying it but you have to play with the length of your foot loop to get the right step. But with the same a normal saddle you pretty much just sit down slide ascender up and stand. The seat will just hang down flat as you go up and then sit down again to move up.

Yes I can reach my rope but most of the time when I get to a tree I take the JX3 off and cool down/add layers etc. when I do that I take my rope out and stick for one-sticking.

Yes I can reach everything in the pouches too. The biggest thing is to store each item in the same place each time since you can’t see what you are grabbing. If you can reach behind and touch your spine you will have no problems. Those pouches carry everything other than stick, ropes, and layers. I have calls, snacks, kill kit, range finder, 3 treehopper steps, and monocular.

I SRT with the JX3. I am have some knee issues and flexibility issues due to arthritis. I find using a lineman’s belt slows me down but it makes SRT easier by keeping me upright and close to the tree. I am sure not everyone would want to do use a lineman’s belt but it helps me.
I have other saddles but the JX3 is my favorite by far. I one stick and rappel and do SRT. If I can do it anyone can do it
The JX3 keeps me still and comfortable and keeps my knees off the tree. I usually remove one shoulder strap when hunting for mobility and noise reduction when shouldering my hickory creek bow
I leave one strap on so I can stand up to shoot if I wish

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Proo
 
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I bought a used JX3 that did not come with any ropes or a bridge. So I rigged up two loops of climbing rated tubular webbing and attach one to each bridge side. Right now it is a little bit long. I just have a little bit of trouble getting a full pull because the madrock safeguard is too close to my my hand ascender because my bridges just a little bit too long. I have a 10" climb rated runner that works better for srt, but Is a little tight to the hips when you are at height. Oh yeah, don't do what I did and make sure that you backup your mad rock with an Alpine butterfly through the Caribeener in case it releases. Otherwise I climb with my seat deployed. No problem.

06dc3b2dc83d599edc339a65b170ec8b.jpg
50ebdf01282f4fbea9c1cb6108dc9edb.jpg


Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
dc8661ec7b09aa374d28e8db0ba4bbaf.jpg

Thanks for the reminder!! I also have a separate short bridge made out of oplux I use for SRT climbing! I then switch over to the stock bridge at height. When I one stick I just use the stock bridge.
 
I SRT with the JX3. I am have some knee issues and flexibility issues due to arthritis. I find using a lineman’s belt slows me down but it makes SRT easier by keeping me upright and close to the tree. I am sure not everyone would want to do use a lineman’s belt but it helps me.
I have other saddles but the JX3 is my favorite by far. I one stick and rappel and do SRT. If I can do it anyone can do it
The JX3 keeps me still and comfortable and keeps my knees off the tree. I usually remove one shoulder strap when hunting for mobility and noise reduction when shouldering my hickory creek bow
I leave one strap on so I can stand up to shoot if I wish

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Proo

I do the exact same thing with one shoulder strap.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
Thanks for the reminder!! I also have a separate short bridge made out of oplux I use for SRT climbing! I then switch over to the stock bridge at height. When I one stick I just use the stock bridge.

When you switch bridges, are you not connected to the tree for a moment, or do you use your LB or 2nd tether to remain connected?
 
When you switch bridges, are you not connected to the tree for a moment, or do you use your LB or 2nd tether to remain connected?

I SHOULD use a lineman belt to transfer over but I don’t.

I tuck the original one behind my back while climbing. It never comes detached from the bridge loop. When I get to height I clip in the original one and then open the carabiner gate and slip the original in then lock it back. So both are hooked in. Then I stand up enough to be able to take tension off the short one and unclip it from the side and then pull any slack I have through the safegaurd. Then feed the short one back out and clip it out of the way.

Maybe if I try using the lineman belt line [mention]Ontariofarmer [/mention] mentions I would already have it set up for smoother/safer transferring.
 
I SHOULD use a lineman belt to transfer over but I don’t.

I tuck the original one behind my back while climbing. It never comes detached from the bridge loop. When I get to height I clip in the original one and then open the carabiner gate and slip the original in then lock it back. So both are hooked in. Then I stand up enough to be able to take tension off the short one and unclip it from the side and then pull any slack I have through the safegaurd. Then feed the short one back out and clip it out of the way.

Maybe if I try using the lineman belt line [mention]Ontariofarmer [/mention] mentions I would already have it set up for smoother/safer transferring.

I don't think you need the LB if you are using two tethers, and thus always connected to the tree.
 
What is the recommended short bridge option for the JX3 for SRT ascents?

JX3 have a pre-made one, but having both that and the long one attached seems like it would be awkward and/or cluttered.

Anyone had luck with an Amsteel adjustable Utilibridge instead of the stock/short JX3 bridges? I've seen some comments around that Amsteel isn't recommended for bridges, but it does seem to be a common option with a number of respected saddle companies, like Cruzr, offering an amsteel bridge option.

One concern with an amsteel bridge is that girth hitching it to a bridge loop can reduce strength of the amsteel by up to 50%. Most amsteel bridges have a main line of 1/4", which is rated at 8000 lb (35.6 kn). So half of that is 4000 lbs (17.5 kn), which still seems reasonable. However, if you instead girth hitch the prussic loop, which is typically 3/16" amsteel on a utilibridge (5400 lbs/24kn), the girth hitch could be down to 2700lbs/12kn, which seems borderline life support rating. Note: I'm assuming the main line has a spliced loop and you use that to girth hitch in. Also assuming the prussic is a full bury loop, but that means where the two buried ends meet, you have a single line....and if that spot is in the wrong place (middle of girth hitch) strength could be 1/2 of the single line load. I suppose the easiest way to avoid the strength issue is to girth hitch the main line and use a biner to attach the prussic.

Thoughts anyone? kyler1945?
 
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Reviving this thread to get some interaction specifically about using the JX3 platform/climbing stick as a 1-stick.

Swamp & Stomp has a video demo on it that is pretty helpful. Will try to post here.

Did my first attempt last night. I'm a somewhat experienced 1-sticker (1.5 seasons) but I was more awkward than expected last night. Managed it all but wonder if others have any tips or tricks. Mostly struggled with the attachment method as I am used to cam cleats.

2nd hunt using the platform stick as a platform and that thing rocks! It's hard to explain why but it just works beautifully in conjunction with the Hybrid. Makes pivoting super smooth, controlled, and quiet. Way better than various ROS I've used. Also way better than various platforms I've used. If you are a Hybrid user and haven't tried the JX3 stick with platform I really think you should. It also packs beautifully on the back, no strapping required.

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