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Saddle beginner

J

Jwink1017

New Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2019
Messages
8
Location
Dayton, Ohio
I am 21 in college & looking to not spend too much $ getting into saddle hunting.. Not too into the the idea of modifying like the sit drag & I have pretty much already set my mind on the Eberhart signature for the 2 panel versatility + quiet fabric. That being said I want to know the cheapest way to build the rest of my kit without compromising quality + safety. Any suggestions?
Jake
 
Go check out the tree hopper recon sling. For ropes you can buy the muddy safe line and cut it and tie your own ropes. The tree hopper tree suit platform is a good buy as well. Cheapest sticks that are worth using is the hawk heliums
 
Nice the recon sling is basically the exact same! I was reviewing tree hopper products and saw they’re strap on steps, are those a form of platform?
 
Look up a ring of steps. Pretty popular system, I don’t think it’s as comfortable as a platform
 
Get your tether and lineman’s from hunter safety system. Half the price of any saddle company. I use hawk helium’s and stand on my top stick. I think they also sell a small platform for ~$40 bucks that fits onto their step. With a one step aided and 4 sticks I can get to 23’ easy
 
But the ring of steps does seem a bit less comfortable than a traditional platform. Also backlash How does the top of a helium hawk feel on your feet after 5-6hrs?? I have considered that as an option as well.
 
Jwink1017 said:
But the ring of steps does seem a bit less comfortable than a traditional platform. Also backlash How does the top of a helium hawk feel on your feet after 5-6hrs?? I have considered that as an option as well.
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I preferred it over the ring of steps I used. I sat for about 4 hours with no pain or soreness.
Doesn’t hurt to have a limb to put a foot on or a pad for your knees every once in a while.
 
Backlash27 said:
I preferred it over the ring of steps I used. I sat for about 4 hours with no pain or soreness.
Doesn’t hurt to have a limb to put a foot on or a pad for your knees every once in a while.
Click to expand...
Hell yeah I’m thinking I’m gonna start out using the helium top step and see how it goes.
 
I can’t afford a platform this year. So I’ve been trying out all sorts. I’ve also put two sticks the same height. Used screw in steps. Climbed to a solid limb etc. there are plenty of options out there.
 
Ring of steps is used at height instead of a platform. Some are marketed as a climbing method, but I've never heard of anyone using them that way.

You'll need the following at minimum. Please do your research on equipment and climbing methods. It's better to save up for proper gear to keep you safe or hunt from the ground than risk your well being if necessary.

A saddle - Recon sling is probably the most inexpensive commercial saddle. I have one and like it, but a sling style does differ significantly from a single panel saddle in several respects. Prior to so many commerical saddles being offered, a sit drag backed up with a rock climbing harness was always the goto budget friendly option. Some guys still use it and swear by it. I know you said you didn't want to modify a sit drag, but I didn't know if you'd consider it if all you really had to do was wear a rock climbing harness .

Tether - There are a lot of different options here, but whatever you go with you, you want static climbing rated rope.

Prusik Cord - What size to get will vary depending on what you decide to use for your tether. Wesspur.com has a lot of options here. I like professionally sewn eyes personally, which you can also get through Wesspur.

Climbing method - Hawk Heliums are probably the most budget friendly option here.

Platform or Ring of Steps - You need something to rest your feet on. Ring of steps will likely cost less. I haven't used a ring of steps personally, so I don't have any recommendations here.

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What’s the differences between a sling/ single-panel other than versatility? From my research I figure a sling style will be more useful ultimately because I can start at a more comfortable width and gradually sit on it narrowed up some as I get used to it.
 
Jwink1017 said:
What’s the differences between a sling/ single-panel other than versatility? From my research I figure a sling style will be more useful ultimately because I can start at a more comfortable width and gradually sit on it narrowed up some as I get used to it.
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For me one of the big differences was the waist belt. On a sling style saddle it has to be loose when you sit in it and as a result the saddle will fall when you stand up. Leg loops are also largely an afterthought on most sling style saddles. Saddle hunters have wildly divergent views on the necessity of leg straps, but it is something to consider.

There is more adjustability on a sling, but that also can lead to messing with it more.

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sweats said:
For me one of the big differences was the waist belt. On a sling style saddle it has to be loose when you sit in it and as a result the saddle will fall when you stand up. Leg loops are also largely an afterthought on most sling style saddles. Saddle hunters have wildly divergent views on the necessity of leg straps, but it is something to consider.

There is more adjustability on a sling, but that also can lead to messing with it more.

Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk
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Very interesting! Something I still definitely consider more.
 
I have helium’s a couple different ring of steps and the predator and predator xl. You definitely wouldn’t find me using the top of my helium stick for any extended length of time. I’m using a ring of steps 90 percent of the time. The predator xl the other 10 percent. I’m plenty comfortable on a ring of steps. I seem to be in the minority here so try to find someone nearby that will let you test some gear.
 
I love my recon! Its comfortable and lightweight. The double panel system doesn't fall as bad as others have stated, at least not in my experience. I have hawk helium I put an ooal scout on my top stick as a platform. Its nice but on longer sits its not a friend of my feet. I use a muddy linemans rope and a 10mm static rope and 8mm prussic as my tether.
 
You also may want to check out a local REI or other climbing store. They sell rope by the foot and for about $25 you will have enough rope for both a lineman’s belt and tether. Black Friday is coming up and I would think sales will help with hardware like Ropeman/Ducks and carabiners. Keep an eye on Wes Spur for sales too. I bought 180’ of predator rope for $100.
 
Jwink1017 said:
I am 21 in college & looking to not spend too much $ getting into saddle hunting.. Not too into the the idea of modifying like the sit drag & I have pretty much already set my mind on the Eberhart signature for the 2 panel versatility + quiet fabric. That being said I want to know the cheapest way to build the rest of my kit without compromising quality + safety. Any suggestions?
Jake
Click to expand...
Be careful of the Rabbit hole of trying to get off cheap...it can (likely will) end up being deeper than doing it right the first time...dont do it twice to do it nice
 
Hmm, well a good place to start is building your own lineman and tether. Use rope and prussiks alone, its more affordable and it will also give you the basic skills you need for rope positioning systems, the importance of knowing the "old school" is if mech devices or other modern setups fail... you've got a way out. platforms/steps/climbing sticks are a beast you gotta deal with...unless you are going to limit yourself to heavily branched trees, then budgeting/saving is your option.
 
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