Pac Seat Review

[Petrichor]

I told you all a while ago I would review the pac seat. And I finally feel that I am in a place to do so. Only time will tell so maybe we can revisit the longevity next off season. I am a fan of the pac seat but will attempt to be rather objective and my use with the seat has not been problem free. I want to be up front about that. But at the same time the issues are resolved and I look forward to giving you all that info too. Anyone can look up the specs of the pac seat. It weighs a little more than four pounds and until a month or two ago had a wait time of at least three months. Pac Seat made a partnership and instead of one guy making seats there are nine employees now.

While the specs are known let’s concentrate on other things for the review. The seat is 320 plus 30 shipping for an even 350. Is it worth the cost? Wait time? Accessories? Field use? Issues? resolution, and why bother hunting on the ground.

For those impatient, I love the pac seat and it will always be apart of my arsenal. Also two other things to note. One, I am not affiliated with Waldrop Pac Seat in anyway and purchased it with money I got from selling a firearm I didn’t need anymore. Two I am going to make several posts on this thread so the pictures line up with the review.

So what is a pac seat? Well it’s a seat and you can lean it or free stand it. Oh and it’s a sub five pound pack frame that can support more weight than the normal person can carry.

 

[Red Beard]

(maneatingpopcornemoji)

 

[Petrichor]

I first heard about the pac seat on a trad archery forum about five years ago. And wanted to try one ever since. The issues in my mind were. Man that is expensive, why can’t I find one for sale, what the crap on the wait time, and dang that’s expensive.

Back then I think the seats were only 250 shipped. I wanted one but at that time I was convinced that climbing a tree was the best way to hunt deer. So me and the viper mini (good stand) would hike in (18lbs) just for stand and hang all day. About five years in to public only trad only deer hunting I’d had enough. I told my wife I was selling that heavy stand and sitting my butt on the ground. And I did just that also my legs went numb, but I was seeing more deer. So I took the money from the sale that stand and bought a millennium tree seat which also weighs sub 5 pounds but must be connected to a tree and it is not a pack frame. So the logical next step was saddle hunting. And it is an improvement on the weight but eh, I find it a smidge lighter and more uncomfortable than stand hunting. While that millennium tree seat was limited in its use, I was seeing deer and it was light and comfortable.

 

[Petrichor]

So recently I made the thread biting the bullet after I finally broke down and ordered the pacseat, because nothing fit the bill. I ordered back in February and the estimated delivery was end of May which was delivered mid May. When the seat first arrived I couldn’t have been happier. I strap the thing to my waist adjusted the shoulder straps went out to the tree in my front yard leaned it against it and was able to shoot my bow within 30 seconds of finding where I wanted to sit.

 

[HuumanCreed]

Im sorry. You lost all credibility with me once you said you sold a firearm that you didnt need anymore. Thats blasphemy. We can't even be internet friends anymore.

 

[Petrichor]

However. On my first hunt the strap that held the seat leg up came undone from the small rivet in the field and I was mega disappointed. Clearly the nylon webbing has a tinch of stretch to it and the rivet was so small it just slipped right over.

 

[Red Beard]

Im sorry. You lost all credibility with me once you said you sold a firearm that you didnt need anymore. Thats blasphemy. We can't even be internet friends anymore.

Wait, wait.. give him the opportunity to make amends by telling you how the $350 chair was worth it

 

[Petrichor]

Im sorry. You lost all credibility with me once you said you sold a firearm that you didnt need anymore. Thats blasphemy. We can't even be internet friends anymore.

I’m a cop. It was more of a I didn’t like or need it anymore. I have plenty of firearms and was willing to part with it. Unlike the rest of the population the government gives me guns.

 

[Petrichor]

I tried the get the strap back over the rivet but I could not get it to stay. My turkey hunt got cut short and I left the field. On the drive home I called and emailed them and shortly thereafter I got a call from Tim. Tim said he was the new business partner with Waldrop and I explained the failure and texted him the pictures. He said he would have a new seat out tomorrow and just ask that I shipped the old one back. True to his word a new seat arrived, but it cost me 44 bucks to ship back. But ok. I’m still tracking. New seat arrived and I soon forgot about the 44 bucks. I wrapped it in vet tape and called it a day. I had a bbq to go to that night with a bon fire, perfect place for my new chair……

 

[Petrichor]

With the new seat came a phone call from Tim making sure I got the new seat and was happy. He explained with the supply shortages they had a long wait time on large head rivets so used the regular rivets instead. I noticed immediately the remedy was using a washer under the rivet so the nylon wouldn’t stretch over. Positive thoughts about a company that is honest and takes care of the issue. So I take it to the bonfire and as soon as I sit down it’s like a gun goes off. One of the zip ties on the seat broke. Easily fixed, I noticed that I needed to simply replace it but because of where it was on the seat (being the center zip tie) it seemed there was more pressure on it. So I just didn’t tighten the new zip tie as much. Still happy and slightly annoyed that my seat went boom in front of my friends. Here’s a picture of the new middle zip tie.

 

[Petrichor]

Based on all I know about pac seats, my experiences seem to be very a-typical with the seat itself. Bare with me the story gets better.

So I fix the zip tie takes 30 seconds and add a couple to my hunting pack just in case. I do several of the most comfortable hunts of my life in the chair and am having a great time! Here are some pictures of that. Even found that my dove belt pouches including the game bag mount directly on the seat.

 

[Petrichor]

Eventually I notice another small rivet on the seat. Same issue different location. It’s on the strap that holds the standing leg strap on. I can tell based on the stretch of the nylon webbing that eventually it will come off the rivet. I resolve myself to just use it until it does and send it back for repair.

Enter an unusual text message from Tiffany at Waldrop Pacseat. Showing that I owe a balance of 350 dollars. (I paid 100 percent upfront).

Annoyed again (look I love this system and believe in it but I felt that you all should know the whole story). I call Tiffany and left a voicemail and she calls back about five minutes later. I explained I used a check and paid up front. Tiffany perfectly friendly said they just switched computer systems so it was a mistake. While on the phone she asked how I liked the seat. I told her my impressions were generally positive and told her about the impending rivet failure on another part of the seat and she asked me to send pictures.

 

[Petrichor]

Tiffany was super surprised as she knows of pac seats in the field that have not needed repair in over 20 years of use. She shared the pictures with David Waldrop. I told her I didn’t want to send the seat back because it cost me 44 bucks the last time and I didn’t want to pay that again if I didn’t have too.

well they shipped a third new seat to me and this time with a return label!!! New seat arrived perfect. All new large rivets and everything perfectly aligned and as it should. Several test sits tell me this one will last me a while.

 

[Petrichor]

Just when I thought that things were finally settled and I was happy. I got a call out of the blue about a week after I received my new seat which has been perfect. It’s David Waldrop.

 

[Petrichor]

David calls out of the blue saying he got the 2nd seat that I sent back. He repaired the small rivet and apologized for the trouble I have had but assured me they would stand behind their product no matter what. With that said he knew I was given a new seat already but saw that I taped up the old one really nicely. He said that’s how he does them too. With the time I invested in the tape job and money. He said in addition to the new seat I received he was sending the repaired one back. So yes. I have two pac seats now and am able to have one for a kid or a friend.

I have used the seat in the woods several times and I can tell you. Moving, setting up, carrying gear with the pac seat is the best system available. Warranty is solid, company cares, sub five pounds, super comfortable. I don’t think the luck I had initially is the typical experience. Crap happens. They owned up and fixed the issue. This thing is keeping me on the ground.

 

[Petrichor]

Lastly, accessories are coming and with the addition of eight additional employees, there’s no longer a wait time. The accessories that David has developed over the years will finally begin production soon (meat bags and shelves). Other improvements for the Pac Seat (powder coating) etc are being developed and the new turkey model is already out. Really looking forward to seeing with this company puts out. I will be a customer for years to come

 

[GeoFish]

Great so the next BBQ you go to your wife will have a Pac Seat too.
How much do you weigh breaking all those seats? LOL.

 

[Petrichor]

Great so the next BBQ you go to your wife will have a Pac Seat too.
How much do you weigh breaking all those seats? LOL.

197. Rated for 400 lbs. yea I will be bbbqing all Monday in one.

 

[Red Beard]

Love you posting about this buddy. Really good to hear testimonials about companies that strive to make things right with a customer when something goes wrong.

 

[Swampman]

This was fun to read through even though I already know I love my Pac seat. Thanks for taking the time to write this up. It really is a great product and David Waldrop is a great guy.