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question for those that went up a size in a Kestrel Flex, can you still get it tight?

raisins

raisins

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Jan 17, 2019
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I'm 6 foot, 185 lbs (more like fluctuate between 175 and 190 lbs depending upon time of year and lifestyle at time), and wear size 34" waist in Levi jeans.

With light pants and shirt on, will I be able to crank the waist belt of an Aerohunter Flex when climbing and get it "rock climbing harness tight" above the hip bones while I am climbing (can loosen a bit at height)? I don't want to run out of belt adjustment and end up with a loose saddle when it is taken all the way in. I want to be able to squeeze my guts pretty good if I feel like it.

20 years ago, I feel out of a tree (not hunting, just being an idiot) and fell 12 to 15 feet (the impact was unbelievable). I am not afraid of heights, but I now have a phobia of falling! (no anxiety when in a tree looking around but utter dread when pondering falling again) I'm lucky I'm not dead or in a wheelchair. So that explains some of my posts here.

Thanks to anyone of a similar size that can chime in!

-R
 
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raisins said:
I'm 6 foot, 185 lbs (more like fluctuate between 175 and 190 lbs depending upon time of year and lifestyle at time), and wear size 34" waist in Levi jeans.

With light pants and shirt on, will I be able to crank the waist belt of an Aerohunter Flex when climbing and get it "rock climbing harness tight" above the hip bones while I am climbing (can loosen a bit at height)? I don't want to run out of belt adjustment and end up with a loose saddle when it is taken all the way in. I want to be able to squeeze my guts pretty good if I feel like it.

20 years ago, I feel out of a tree (not hunting, just being an idiot) and fell 12 to 15 feet (the impact was unbelievable). I am not afraid of heights, but I now have a phobia of falling! (no anxiety when in a tree looking around but utter dread when pondering falling again) I'm lucky I'm not dead or in a wheelchair. So that explains some of my posts here.

Thanks to anyone of a similar size that can chime in!

-R
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Sucks on the fall man. Thanks for sharing. I for one would have viewed a couple of your posts differently had I known. Sorry for that.

That said, I am 6’ 2” 190lbs size 34 waist and though I haven’t owned a size 1 kestrel, I did have a size 2 kestrel that fit really well. I was able to snug it down and loosen it up without any problems. You might have a good bit of tag end left over if you tighten it down a lot but I didn’t ever tighten my so much that I didn’t have more length to tighten it down so more if it was smaller. I say this because I would lift the kestrel above my hips and tighten it down basically on my stomach while walking in so it wouldn’t fall down or get in the way.
 
I have and hunted all last year with a size 2 Kestrel and have been messing around with a buddies Size 2 Flex. The flex fits me great but I wouldn't want it any bigger at all.
I'm 36-37 waist and 220

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I'm around 190 lbs, 36" waist. I can get it tight but not like a belt on my jeans. I use my linesmans and put it over my shoulder and use it like suspenders on the walk in
 
owned 3 different aero hunters and my flex in a size 2 was the most comfortable of all of them. Same waist size as you. I was glad I had the extra bit of room when it got cold in November and the heavier clothes went on.
 
nockedup said:
owned 3 different aero hunters and my flex in a size 2 was the most comfortable of all of them. Same waist size as you. I was glad I had the extra bit of room when it got cold in November and the heavier clothes went on.
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Thanks, on your frame can you cinch the waist belt in above the hips while climbing and make it very tight (like a rock climbing harness) without running out of adjustment?
 
I am and have always been in between saddle sizes. I can hunt out of a size 1 pleated saddle somewhat comfortably but prefer a size 2. In my experience it's usually better to size up. Getting it tight enough to walk around in has never been an issue. I always wear my saddle in from the truck. Most saddles have plenty of adjustment. I'm 5'11" with a 34 inch waist for reference.
 
raisins said:
Thanks, on your frame can you cinch the waist belt in above the hips while climbing and make it very tight (like a rock climbing harness) without running out of adjustment?
Click to expand...
I wore it above my beltline when walking in. No shortage of adjustment and never felt like it was going to fall down.
 
Murph4028 said:
I am and have always been in between saddle sizes. I can hunt out of a size 1 pleated saddle somewhat comfortably but prefer a size 2. In my experience it's usually better to size up. Getting it tight enough to walk around in has never been an issue. I always wear my saddle in from the truck. Most saddles have plenty of adjustment. I'm 5'11" with a 34 inch waist for reference.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'm less concerned with walking in it and more concerned with getting it tight enough that I can't come out of it in a fall where I end up upside down.

If guys my size can get it tight enough to walk in, and still have more adjustment, then I think that tells me what I need to know.

Thanks again - R
 
I'm 5'11" tall. Weigh 205 lbs. And wear 36" jeans.

I have a Kestrel Flex in size 2 and have no issues getting the belt pretty snug if I want to.
There is still more adjustment range to make the waist belt tighter if I wanted to.

I don't have any basis for comparison with any other size or brand. This is my first hunting saddle.
 
I personally think you'd be happier in a size 1 based on your comments but the 2 will adjust to your waist size. I had the 1 originally and hunted out of it all last season without any issue but I recently exchanged it for the 2. I'm 6'2" with 34-35" waist. I've only had two short hangs in my size 2 but it's very roomy which I don't think you would like. Both of them have leg loops that would wrap around Emmitt Smith's thighs!! So there's already lots of extra strapping tangling around.
 
I’d go size 2 also
It will get tight enough to do what u want
And also leave room for changes in clothing
U will be fine man


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I bought a size 2 Aero Evolution. I am really size 1 at about 175 lbs. I climb SRT so I am sitting 100% of the time while climbing. The size 2 made the bridge loops, actually metal paws, ride up into the bottom of my ribcage causing pain, something my sitdrag never did since it is much smaller. I made a DIY saddle recently and made sure it was small so that it would not do this.
 
bj139 said:
I bought a size 2 Aero Evolution. I am really size 1 at about 175 lbs. I climb SRT so I am sitting 100% of the time while climbing. The size 2 made the bridge loops, actually metal paws, ride up into the bottom of my ribcage causing pain, something my sitdrag never did since it is much smaller. I made a DIY saddle recently and made sure it was small so that it would not do this.
Click to expand...

Due to the overall design of the evolution vs the flex, it’s not going to fit or fee the same as the flex does.
How long have u been doing DRT? I recently got into that method of climbing myself


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6 foot 165-180, 32-34 inch waist. I have a size 1 Kite. I can cinch it down tight to walk in no problems. I also have the closed adjustable webbing bridge than I could tighten down if I needed to. All that said, I feel like I might be more comfortable in the tree in a size 2, but have never sat in one, so could be a greener grass thing. I can get it comfortable but sometimes it takes some fidgeting. And definitely depends what pants I’m wearing and I can’t wear a leather belt under it.
 
Squatch said:
Due to the overall design of the evolution vs the flex, it’s not going to fit or fee the same as the flex does.
How long have u been doing DRT? I recently got into that method of climbing myself


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Click to expand...
I have been doing SRT since around last August when I bought an SRT kit from a member here. That is all I used for hunting after trying one sticking, 4 sticking, DRT and Primal steps. I developed a method for getting a rope up a limbless tree. My climb and hunt is described here.

Electrical Rope Pusher Pole Success

I used my 10 foot electrical conduit rope pusher to push the rope up a tree. It worked. I shot a doe. Now I can try for the buck. My tether was set at 17 feet which seems kind of low but the leaf canopy was around there so I could not see as far if I went higher. It was so thick in there at...
saddlehunter.com
 
I'm 5'11 and run 180-200 pounds depending on the season. I have a 32" waist and I have no problem getting the waist band secure on my Kestrel Flex size 2. I have not tried it above the hip bones.
 
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