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Packless setup

This is the setup I started using. I use the sys hauler to store my tethrd tether and linemans belt. I use the camo molly pouch to store knife, kill kit(rubber gloves, sharpie, tie wraps for tag), hand warmers, headlamp and bow rope and the dump pouch i added to hold a water bottle. I put a snack in my pocket and wear my rangefinder, put facemask and gloves and release in pockets.

I use the LWCG ambush with 3 helium sticks attached and have that on my back. Works pretty good. Nxt year will go with LWCG sticks to make the setup even better.

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This is what I used this year. I can slide it around to the back while climbing. Keeps my saddle from having so much on it. Also if you load your saddle up I fight getting into the back pouches.
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What fanny pack is that?
 
This is what I am experimenting with right now. I put shoulder straps on my Lone Wolf Hand Climber then strapped a fanny pack on it. I wear my Kite with one very lite pouch from @DanO Eastern woods Outdoors. I keep my tether and 550 cord in it. When I get to the tree I strap on the fanny pack and use the LWHC to climb the tree and when I get to my height it's my platform. I take the fanny pack off and strap it to the tree. In the fanny pack I have my rappelling rope, range finder, screw in step and a few other things in it. I'm still working on dialing it in but this is it so far.
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This is what I am experimenting with right now. I put shoulder straps on my Lone Wolf Hand Climber then strapped a fanny pack on it. I wear my Kite with one very lite pouch from @DanO Eastern woods Outdoors. I keep my tether and 550 cord in it. When I get to the tree I strap on the fanny pack and use the LWHC to climb the tree and when I get to my height it's my platform. I take the fanny pack off and strap it to the tree. In the fanny pack I have my rappelling rope, range finder, screw in step and a few other things in it. I'm still working on dialing it in but this is it so far.
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I like that idea. I have been testing small pack options ( sys hauler or fanny pack style) for all my main gear so that I could strap it to the tree about waist level when hunting and have everything at my fingertips. I would then only carry a backpack for extra layers as it gets cold.
 
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Yes you can, mantis with battlebelt mod, I have everything I need on my waist.

With the battle belt mod do you feel it gets in your way when climbing or hunting? I've been wanting to go all in on the battle belt mod- I tried it with an existing battle belt that I had- the molle on my practice belt doesn't go all the way around and was really just on the hip areas but I found it cumbersome in the tree and the buckle in front got in my way/was uncomfortable climbing and sitting.

Just curious if you have better results using a different belt.

Thanks!
 
With the battle belt mod do you feel it gets in your way when climbing or hunting? I've been wanting to go all in on the battle belt mod- I tried it with an existing battle belt that I had- the molle on my practice belt doesn't go all the way around and was really just on the hip areas but I found it cumbersome in the tree and the buckle in front got in my way/was uncomfortable climbing and sitting.

Just curious if you have better results using a different belt.

Thanks!
I tried a cheaper belt and it did ok, but started folding down some, I went with a greyghost belt, it is narrower with a small buckle, however when sitting it was still uncomfortable since I had two buckles now and this one was sitting higher on top of my Mantis buckle and digging into my stomach, so I tinkered around and used some molle clips that you can get from Areohunter and put thru the first molle hole on the belt and clipped into my amsteel bridge, after I climb and have everything set up before I sit back and undo my linesman rope I unbuckle the battle belt, the clips along with the stiffness of the belt hold it just to my side and it's never got in my way,and anything I may need is still in easy reach, when I'm packing up I just do reverse, hope this helps, I've tried many setups and systems over the past 10 years and so far for me this is the most efficient.
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I'm seeing a lot of posts about backpacks people use and setups for carrying sticks and whatnot, but what about any guys that run no pack? The largest property I hunt is 300 acres and everything is pre-set sticks or screw-ins. I used to be a carpenter so I'm used to having the fully loaded tool belt on.

I have a guidos but looking to buy a Mantis, Kestrel flex, or H2 and have visions of carrying everything I need in pouches. Since I don't have the saddle yet I'm not sure what will fit. Thinking 2 sys hauler es type pouches on each hip. Ropes, hys strap, and biners in 1 and my homemade ozonics, battery, grunt tube, and headlamp in the other. Then a small horizontal pouch for kill kit/extra batteries/etc. Also a retractable gear hoist of some kind. Extra coat could be slung over my shoulder tied with 550 cord. Cargo pockets take any excess. Bow would be carried. Platform would be carried? Gear tie to attach to saddle?

Is there room for all this? As I type this out I can't help but think "just carry a backpack". Is it just a pipe dream to think having everything on my hips is going to be better than a smaller pack? Interested to hear what you guys do when you're just going in for a 3-4 hr sit on a smaller parcel.

I hunt public around me and often hike in 1/4 to 1 mile. I got away with no back pack pretty easily but it would require me to re-arrange gear based on the conditions and circumstances. In the end it just made life more simple to carry a very small back pack and never have to think about gear. I don't carry much....the only questionable piece of gear I bring is my binoculars (I often don't need them but when I want them I REALLY want them).
 
I hunt public around me and often hike in 1/4 to 1 mile. I got away with no back pack pretty easily but it would require me to re-arrange gear based on the conditions and circumstances. In the end it just made life more simple to carry a very small back pack and never have to think about gear. I don't carry much....the only questionable piece of gear I bring is my binoculars (I often don't need them but when I want them I REALLY want them).

I like having my binoculars also, I only bowhunt but I still want them with me, I went compact, the Vortex 10×28 fit perfect in a sys hauler.

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I tried a cheaper belt and it did ok, but started folding down some, I went with a greyghost belt, it is narrower with a small buckle, however when sitting it was still uncomfortable since I had two buckles now and this one was sitting higher on top of my Mantis buckle and digging into my stomach, so I tinkered around and used some molle clips that you can get from Areohunter and put thru the first molle hole on the belt and clipped into my amsteel bridge, after I climb and have everything set up before I sit back and undo my linesman rope I unbuckle the battle belt, the clips along with the stiffness of the belt hold it just to my side and it's never got in my way,and anything I may need is still in easy reach, when I'm packing up I just do reverse, hope this helps, I've tried many setups and systems over the past 10 years and so far for me this is the most efficient.
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Looks super slick- appreciate the insight. I see what you mean about the advantages of a narrower belt. Good idea getting that buckle out of the way while sitting/leaning that was a major source of my discomfort. Thanks again I appreciate it!
 
Looks super slick- appreciate the insight. I see what you mean about the advantages of a narrower belt. Good idea getting that buckle out of the way while sitting/leaning that was a major source of my discomfort. Thanks again I appreciate it!

No problem, I hope you can figure out a system, I changed up mine about 4 times Last summer alone before I decided on that one, I'll be experimenting again this year!
 
I was never really a fan of big back packs. Mostly just liked to carry in my pockets or a vest but I wanted to switch to a small back pack just to keep my stuff all in one small bag so my stuff would be easy to keep track of.

I found a small, camo, soft canvas back pack. It’s perfect! Having stuff attached to the saddle becomes a hassle if I’m hunting from a ground setup. A dedicated vest isn’t ideal in early season when it’s hot or late season when I’ve got a bunch of clothes on. I didn’t like having to transfer everything around and worry about forgetting something.

I have one small pouch hooked to the saddle with a lineman’s, bow rope and tether. Everything else goes in the pack. Carry the platform on my back over top of the small pack. Carry sticks in one hand, bow in the other.

Happiest I’ve ever been with any setup. Light and easy.
Here’s a list of what’s in my pack:
License
Truck keys
HME strap to hang bow
Grunt call (sometimes)
Small compass
Milkweed
Two headlamps
Extra hat (if it’s cold enough to need 2)
Face mask
Food and water (occasionally)
 
I have gone from backpacks to fannypacks, back to backpacks and then to only a chest bingo pack (but not while saddle hunting). I prefer minimalist packing whenever possible, but the one thing that always adds bulk and weight is quality binoculars. Do you guys not carry binoculars? Good 10x42 binoculars are heavy and bulky. But I love having them. Tried small binoculars, but field of view and low light isn’t good. I believe I could get everything on a battle belt type setup, but the binoculars pose a problem, unless I go without them.
I only use a backpack when it's cold out I will pack my bibs or jacket in it ,other than that my gaffs are gear tied to my platform that has shoulder straps and i just bought badlands new bino case with the magnets ,its super sweet
 
I used this little pack mostly this year. I too try not to take much. the only upgrade I would do a strap to carry my coat in. the platform clips right on the pack. I hunt mostly private.2020-03-02 07_42_31-Timber Hawk Mission Hydration Hunting Backpack, Mossy Oak Break Up Country...png
 
I like the idea of these battlebelt mods but what are you doing for the mod.? Are you sewing the Mantis to the battle belt or just using some kind of clip system with the MOLLE loops on the belt/saddle?
@woodsdog2 I'm clipping into the molle loops of the Mantis and battlebelt. I use 4 of them spaced out evenly , they are molle pals made by Condor, you can find them on Ebay. I also have 2 of the girth hitch clips( I guess that's what you call them) from Areohunter clipped into the loops of my amsteel bridge, that holds everything in place because when I'm tethered up I unbuckle and sit back, the buckle can be uncomfortable if you leave it buckled. Works great for me, used it all last season.
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