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Saddle Progression: What have you tried? Where are you now? Where are you going?

Started with an Anderson sling many years ago. Then had an original Trophyline but I sold that and used a Treesuit and a Guido's Web. From there I bought a Areo Hunter Kestrel and a Flex and a Cruzr XC. Sold the Kestrel. So I am down to 4 saddles to platforms, Lonewolf sticks , Helium sticks., Muddy pro sticks, Novix mini sticks and Wild Edge steps and a ring of Ameristeps . I like to try different things.
 
Aero hunter Flex
Tethrd Phantom
Back to Flex combined with my LW Assault and plan to continue to use the treestand with a saddle going forward but using the LWCG .5 once i pull the trigger.

Gives me the benefits of both a treestand and saddle with the .5 being the same weight as my Mission platform i used this year. That’ll be my setup going forward.
 
Guidos Web, Trophyline, Aero Hunter, Kestrel, Recon, JX3 and now my own combo of Tengu/Petzl Podium. All had some advantages but I was always trying to add attributes of a rec saddle ( for my climbing style). Now I have best of both worlds- easy to climb and very comfortable to sit. I have a central connection instead of a bridge and don't have any shot limitations.
 
Flex and no reason to look for anything else although I use a sit-drag and RCH for tree trimming and the sit-drag when I just want to sit in the woods. Also have a sit-drag in my permanent ground blind.
 
Im staying with my first saddle, trophyline ambush pro. Its overbuilt and a little on the heavy side but I like it, and feel safe in it. It took a few hunts to get to the point of being comfortable. Mostly learning the right tether height. May do a different pouch setup. Still toying with different climbing methods. For now, its a set treehopper bolt steps/hand drill and just ordered a set of xop mini sticks. In the near future they will have my own design custom platform in place of the upper step on the top stick. This will keep my stick/platform combo well under $200 and 12-13 pounds total counting the saddle/ropes. I also have a ridge runner platform that is used with the bolt steps and with a few preset trees on private land I was able to use permanent rebar steps drove into the trees. The preset trees were done before I knew about the hand drill. This is where im at after one season of saddle hunting.
 
Started 2018 with a SitDrag and RCH

Finished 2018 with a Kestrel

2019 Kestrel

Started 2020 with a Kestrel then bought a kite. Then I bought a Flex. Swapped the kite I bought with a buddy of mine for his kite because his had the PITA belt and leg buckle setup and I now had 2 extras. Tried the Flex and liked it and have stayed in it since trying it. Comfort is slightly better than the Kestrel, but it’s lighter and more packable. I’ve climbed with the kite in the yard and really like it as well, but damn man, those “buckles” suck. I’ll be replacing those and probably use the kite early season.......
 
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