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Ordered a Dryad Drey Yesterday!

_Dario said:
I love the drey saddle, but for me it’s just too busy to one-stick in. I use my linesman belt and it can be a little tricky with the hammock covering the LB loops. But once you are at height it’s almost worth the trouble of dealing with everything on the way up because it’s so comfortable. If you climb with sticks this saddle is a no brainer, at least in the early season. I am pretty certain if you want to use this saddle at all when the temp starts dropping you will need to invest in the underquilt.
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It’s for the reasons you mentioned that I decided to stick with just the d ring and no lineman loops. Hammock bridge is on prusik and end of tether is linked to d loop as a backup. It’s definitely more material to keep straight while one sticking, but I really think taking a short fall in the hammock will really slow you down and likely the back up harness won’t come into play. This saddle is not only worlds more comfortable but I think it’s very safe too with the redundancies.
 
I'm posting here because, of the few big Dryad Drey threads, this looks to have the most Drey owners. Your thoughts are appreciated.

Here it goes:

Backstory: I saddle hunt with an old flex, and am happy with it. But I also have a one small property to hunt that is set up with Millenium M100 treestands. Honestly, I have not used a safe harness while hunting it.

Bottom Line: I'm in the market for a harness for treestand (M100) use and, despite the prudence of whats been said on other threads, it won't be a full body harness. I'm considering the Drey (belt/leg loop) harness as an option and would appreciate feedback on its comfort when seated in a treestand.

Looking at RCHs, there seem to be two design types. Those with a leg straps connected through a belay loop (e.g. the Drey) and those with leg straps connected to the belt itself (image attached).

My intuition is that leg loops through the belay loop (like the Drey) would be less comfortable because the belay is positioned over the crotch, whereas the other design has no interferences there. But, I've never used a harness with comfort as a consideration, so I'm hoping to benefit from those with harness experience in hunting applications.

Honestly, I don't know that I'm a hammock guy, but I'm inclined to support saddlehunting developers, especially with all the positives I'm hearing about Dane. And, maybe I love it.

On the other hand, I'm happy using my AH Flex to saddlehunt and am only in the market for a harness because of this one property with stands. So, it could be hundreds less to just get an RCH...which I suppose I could retrofit with a Dryad hammock down the road.

Appreciate any insight you can provide. Thanks.0B690792-05B4-40A6-82CF-941E7AF85D40.jpegDE5C25BD-210E-4DB2-B436-8B1E8F857352.jpeg
 
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Plebe said:
I'm posting here because, of the few big Dryad Drey threads, this looks to have the most Drey owners. Your thoughts are appreciated.

Here it goes:

Backstory: I saddle hunt with an old flex, and am happy with it. But I also have a one small property to hunt that is set up with Millenium M100 treestands. Honestly, I have not used a safe harness while hunting it.

Bottom Line: I'm in the market for a harness for treestand (M100) use and, despite the prudence of whats been said on other threads, it won't be a full body harness. I'm considering the Drey (belt/leg loop) harness as an option and would appreciate feedback on its comfort when seated in a treestand.

Looking at RCHs, there seem to be two design types. Those with a leg straps connected through a belay loop (e.g. the Drey) and those with leg straps connected to the belt itself (image attached).

My intuition is that leg loops through the belay loop (like the Drey) would be less comfortable because the belay is positioned over the crotch, whereas the other design has no interferences there. But, I've never used a harness with comfort as a consideration, so I'm hoping to benefit from those with harness experience in hunting applications.

Honestly, I don't know that I'm a hammock guy, but I'm inclined to support saddlehunting developers, especially with all the positives I'm hearing about Dane. And, maybe I love it.

On the other hand, I'll happy using my AH Flex to saddlehunt and am only in the market for a harness because of this one property with stands. So, it could be hundreds less to just get an RCH...which I suppose I could retrofit with a Dryad hammock down the road.

Appreciate any insight you can provide. Thanks.View attachment 53314View attachment 53315
Click to expand...
If you're happy with you flex, buy a $30 rock harness and wear that when your either hanging or hunting out of a regular stand. It's what I did for years. Mine are the style like the Drey. Very comfortable; I'd wear it over pants and under bibs in cold weather, just running the tether out of the zipper.
 
philsanchez76 said:
It’s for the reasons you mentioned that I decided to stick with just the d ring and no lineman loops. Hammock bridge is on prusik and end of tether is linked to d loop as a backup. It’s definitely more material to keep straight while one sticking, but I really think taking a short fall in the hammock will really slow you down and likely the back up harness won’t come into play. This saddle is not only worlds more comfortable but I think it’s very safe too with the redundancies.
Click to expand...

If you have the newer version dryad saddle you can hook your tether to the loop the leg loops go in. Dane told me it was weight rated. That makes one sticking very simple


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So I own the drey. It’s an amazing system. Honestly at this point I can’t imagine using anything else. The minimalist harness is comfortable enough and super out of the way minimalist. The hammock is super comfy and can be worn in just about any position you can fold it. The belt that comes with the drey is made for it and you can tell that after climbing a few times. I wouldn’t do a regular harness and I don’t think retro fit is as comfortable because you have a saddle between you and the hammock. All this to say is buy the drey as the whole kit.
 
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If you decide to go with the Dryad, get one of the load rated leg strap option. I went with the steel sliders.
 

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If anyone know someone looking, I have a l/xl version with linesman’s loops that I’m going to list this weekend. Love it, just too many saddles.


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For the folks that purchased the fleece for the Dryad-does it go on the outside of the hammock or the inside of the hammock (closer to the body) ? Also-does it pack up with the Drey in the pouch or do you have to remove it before stowing the Drey? Thanks for the help!


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Boomstick300 said:
For the folks that purchased the fleece for the Dryad-does it go on the outside of the hammock or the inside of the hammock (closer to the body) ? Also-does it pack up with the Drey in the pouch or do you have to remove it before stowing the Drey? Thanks for the help!


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Outside. The idea of an under quilt as a dedicated hammock camper is to form a warm pocket of air between you and the bottom the hammock so your body heat doesn’t get sucked from under you. It has its own attached storage bag. It does not go in the drey bag.
 
Petrichor said:
Outside. The idea of an under quilt as a dedicated hammock camper is to form a warm pocket of air between you and the bottom the hammock so your body heat doesn’t get sucked from under you. It has its own attached storage bag. It does not go in the drey bag.
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Thanks for the quick response!


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Has anyone had any experience with the retro kit. If so what you thought and experience so far?

Thanks

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So I just got my Dryad today and put it on and walked around the house and the yard. I will say this is the most comfortable saddle there is to walk in with. You really forget it is on your waist after about a minute. Can't wait to try it in a tree.
 
VF_MIKE said:
Has anyone had any experience with the retro kit. If so what you thought and experience so far?

Thanks

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Click to expand...

I have a retro fit kit en route! However, I was able to temporarily zip tie the Drey to my Aerohunter Kestrel Flex for two hunts. It worked out great and I didn’t feel any of the Aerohunter saddle giving any extra hot spots. I think it’s a perfect combination. I Stowe my linesman rope, tether, and ROS in a Hill People Gear SAR chest rig. I felt this enabled me to unpack and pack up the Drey at height a little smother as I was able to use the Aerohunter bridge as support instead of using the linesman belt and loops. Great complement.


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Boomstick300 said:
I have a retro fit kit en route! However, I was able to temporarily zip tie the Drey to my Aerohunter Kestrel Flex for two hunts. It worked out great and I didn’t feel any of the Aerohunter saddle giving any extra hot spots. I think it’s a perfect combination. I Stowe my linesman rope, tether, and ROS in a Hill People Gear SAR chest rig. I felt this enabled me to unpack and pack up the Drey at height a little smother as I was able to use the Aerohunter bridge as support instead of using the linesman belt and loops. Great complement.


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Click to expand...
Interesting. I will have to give that a try. I have the drey with linesman loops, but I found them uncomfortable.
 
Boomstick300 said:
I have a retro fit kit en route! However, I was able to temporarily zip tie the Drey to my Aerohunter Kestrel Flex for two hunts. It worked out great and I didn’t feel any of the Aerohunter saddle giving any extra hot spots. I think it’s a perfect combination. I Stowe my linesman rope, tether, and ROS in a Hill People Gear SAR chest rig. I felt this enabled me to unpack and pack up the Drey at height a little smother as I was able to use the Aerohunter bridge as support instead of using the linesman belt and loops. Great complement.


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Thanks, I have a Merlin and was thinking this would be a good compliment to it.

Interesting on the chest rig as I have thought of that as well. Any pics?

Thanks

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VF_MIKE said:
Thanks, I have a Merlin and was thinking this would be a good compliment to it.

Interesting on the chest rig as I have thought of that as well. Any pics?

Thanks

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Click to expand...

Absolutely-I’ll send some pics if I’m able to get out Monday. I’m currently away on business.


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VF_MIKE said:
Has anyone had any experience with the retro kit. If so what you thought and experience so far?

Thanks

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I have it on my Kite & like it better that way than on the stock belt. I’m sure that’s just familiarity but it’s a great compliment to a current setup
 
Absolutely love this thing!
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