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Saddle comparisons

hokiehunter373 said:
Man just when I decided that the Mantis would work for me for the long haul I go and read page 1 of this thread.... I should delete my account on here just for my wallets sake
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If you find your mantis comfortable your good for the long haul. We are all just a bunch of saddle junkies around here. And it doesn’t stop there. Come spring when we already own all the available saddles we will he trying new sticks and climbing methods. Electric bikes, canoes, and hammocks. Of course you’ll need a cargo trailer converted into a RV as a comfortable base cams on your week long scouting and hunting trips.
 
EricS said:
If you find your mantis comfortable your good for the long haul. We are all just a bunch of saddle junkies around here. And it doesn’t stop there. Come spring when we already own all the available saddles we will he trying new sticks and climbing methods. Electric bikes, canoes, and hammocks. Of course you’ll need a cargo trailer converted into a RV as a comfortable base cams on your week long scouting and hunting trips.
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Been thinking about a truck bed camper myself :).
 
EricS said:
If you find your mantis comfortable your good for the long haul. We are all just a bunch of saddle junkies around here. And it doesn’t stop there. Come spring when we already own all the available saddles we will he trying new sticks and climbing methods. Electric bikes, canoes, and hammocks. Of course you’ll need a cargo trailer converted into a RV as a comfortable base cams on your week long scouting and hunting trips.
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Oh I've already had that issue. One of my first posts on here was being curious about WE stepps but not wanting to spend money and just sticking my heliums because of it. Then before I even had a saddle I had continuous loops on my heliums. Then I traded away a helium for a couple stepps... then I bought more stepps.. it never ends.
 
EricS said:
I’ve tried to spend time in all I can get my hands on. I haven’t sat in a leather trophyline but the ambush was comfy enough but too big. I ran two sit drags independent of each other and that was pretty comfortable. Then aerohunter came out with the kestrel. It’s the most comfortable for me of the “minimalist” saddle for me it is also the bulkiest of them with exception to maybe the flex but I haven’t had the opportunity to try it. The kestrel is bomb proof. I’ve never had to search for comfort in it. While I have made adjustments here and there it was comfortable from day one. It’s also my experimental climbing methods saddle because it has just enough structure that I feel safe doing what could be considered stupid stuff. What I can’t do with the kestrel is wear any pouches on it and I really need to add suspenders to it If I don’t want to stop and pull it up every 50’.
Then the mantis appeared. I struggled to find comfort in the mantis. It was there to be had but unlike the kestrel I had to work at it to find the comfort level I wanted for hunts lasting more than a couple hours. The good thing is I can run a pouch on it and it stays on my waist on the walk in.
I now have a kite. It’s somewhere between the kestrel and mantis but I really need to upgrade the hardware because the factory buckles kind of suck.
The jx3 is pretty comfortable. Not sure if I really consider it a saddle but for all day rifle hunting in the rut it will shine. It’s not always about the lightest most compact way to get in a tree. It will never be my go to saddle for every situation but for some situations it just shines.
Many guys here say comfort is way down on their lists of necessary features. They tough it out because they are there to kill deer and not hang out in comfort. I say all that is BS. Find something your comfortable in. Fine tune it to your needs and hunt. Weight is a big deal but who cares if I have to carry an extra pound of weight for two miles if It means I’m comfortable for the next four hours. If your comfortable you will move less and sit longer. To me that translates into killing more deer. That doesn’t mean that you want find the absolute lightest saddle more comfortable and if you do congrats. I’m just saying that there’s no need to sit in an ultra lightweight saddle that your uncomfortable in just to save a pound.
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I dont think anyone said comfort is not important.... it's just not a deciding factor for some of us because all saddles are about the same in comfort. Personally, I dont find ANY of the modern saddles uncomfortable.... but a person has to use one a while and figure out how to use it best for them. If saddles are uncomfortable than God help those that choose to chase elk, sheep, goats.....
 
DaveT1963 said:
I dont think anyone said comfort is not important.... it's just not a deciding factor for some of us because all saddles are about the same in comfort. Personally, I dont find ANY of the modern saddles uncomfortable.... but a person has to use one a while and figure out how to use it best for them. If saddles are uncomfortable than God help those that choose to chase elk, sheep, goats.....
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I wasn’t targeting you Dave but I get what your saying. I agree for the most part most saddles are comfortable. It’s usually about the third hour for me before I feel any discomfort. I guess I would say for me some saddles have longer lasting comfort. If that is an 8oz rock harness for someone great they are super lucky.

I chase elk. I don’t care enough about the sheep to keep applying until I’m 80 to draw a tag and you can keep the goats. While I wouldn’t call elk hunting comfortable I still bring a sleeping pad. It may be minimal but I will carry that 3/4 pounds to add just a little comfort. I could just sleep on the ground and save that weight.
 
CrackbottomLouis said:
Been thinking about a truck bed camper myself :).
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This.

So on my to do list. Existing truck is a crew cab with only 5.5' bed. Doesn't fit my 6' length. Actively hunting for a trade.

So many cool YouTube videos on truck bed camping.
 
TNSTAAFL said:
This.

So on my to do list. Existing truck is a crew cab with only 5.5' bed. Doesn't fit my 6' length. Actively hunting for a trade.

So many cool YouTube videos on truck bed camping.
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Truck beds are nice, but my father in law might be selling his panel van. I could live like a king in that thing.

I gotta say, I've spent a few nights laid back in the passenger seat of my accord too. For me that works pretty slick. Gotta love that mileage too.

And Jesus was Honda guy, he just didnt like to brag about it. John 12:49
 
Nutterbuster said:
Truck beds are nice, but my father in law might be selling his panel van. I could live like a king in that thing.

I gotta say, I've spent a few nights laid back in the passenger seat of my accord too. For me that works pretty slick. Gotta love that mileage too.

And Jesus was Honda guy, he just didnt like to brag about it. John 12:49
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I've slept in the back of the Suby many times. Actually quite comfortable. I"ve got a moon roof too, so you're sleeping "under the stars".
 
Nutterbuster said:
Truck beds are nice, but my father in law might be selling his panel van. I could live like a king in that thing.

I gotta say, I've spent a few nights laid back in the passenger seat of my accord too. For me that works pretty slick. Gotta love that mileage too.

And Jesus was Honda guy, he just didnt like to brag about it. John 12:49
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The ultimate hunting vehicle is a 4x4 cargo van. Quigley is a company that converts them. I cant believe Ford doesnt make 4x4 an option.

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
 
In the south you very rarely see 4x4 vans. Vans would make a pretty good hunting vehicle.
 
Vtbow said:
Touche. Guess I've never lived in an aread wtihout snow? that would be wrong.
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If we get 2 inches of snow on the ground they shut down the highways, most businesses close as well. I know this because it’s happened at least three times n the last 39 years. You can however find a vehicle from 39 years ago with only minor surface rusting on the frame. It seems stupid to shut everything down but if your here there are wrecks everywhere. There’s usually more ice on the road than snow.
 
EricS said:
If we get 2 inches of snow on the ground they shut down the highways, most businesses close as well. I know this because it’s happened at least three times n the last 39 years. You can however find a vehicle from 39 years ago with only minor surface rusting on the frame. It seems stupid to shut everything down but if your here there are wrecks everywhere. There’s usually more ice on the road than snow.
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yeeah, thats crazy. I repeatedel drive to work where theres enough snow on the roads to hit my front bumber and fly over the windshield. Kinda fun sometimes. kinda scary others. Good tires matter, and I think thats probabyl the biggest problem when places dont get it often. Everyone is on summer tires wtih 0 tread.
 
I've found the mantis to be pretty comfortable in the stand but impossible to hike in.
 
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