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Suggestions to cut weight...?

MAVinWA

New Member
Joined
Feb 3, 2019
Messages
13
Location
SEA-WA, rainbird>Gilbert AZ , NR: AZ, UT, NM, CO.
Modifying my system for less weight, run-n-gun (bow), as I hunt western & NW states. While I mostly spot-n-stalk, will occasionally pattern deer/elk and post up in a good tree when necessary.
Often hiking up to 3 miles from vehicle/camp, gaining elevation, mountain trails & ridgelines, so not wearing my saddle on the hike in.
B4 adding saddle system weight, Pack used are either Kifaru Scout w/6 LBS basic hunt gear or 22-MAG 2nd Gen, carrying 10 LBS hunting gear.
When packed, Kifaru Pouch/Rope-Rappel system stacked & secured onto 1-Stick. Rope Bag/1-Stick is strapped to bottom on either pack.
Saddle is strapped onto Scout or inside 22-MAG packs.

Once at tree, put on saddle, set up gear and up 15' platform height in <15 min and ready to hunt.
Not as high as you eastern gents as western game not educated to look up, scan as those eastern whitetails do...Yet.

IMG 1: Saddle Kestrel Flex & strap bridge with 2 pouches and necessary accessories (lineman belt, bow hoist/rappel rope retriever, gear hangar strap) = 5.95 LBS.
A: thinking about dropping lineman belt/carabiners and just going with rappel/tether rope. Save 1-LB. Install Amsteel rope short bridge backup instead. But was always told to have a lineman's belt. >Input?

IMG 2: Rope Bag only, as folded saddle in picture too:
30' rappel-tether rope, delta link, bridge carabiner, MadRock SafeGuard, 2nd carabiner w/redundant block, = 3.9 LBS
IMG 3: 1-Modified LW Mini-Stick
Added 2019 Artisian Outdoors mini platform top of stick, 2020 added Eastern Woods Outdoors Dbl Step & Ultimaider to bottom of stick = 3.4 LBS.
IMG 4: All packed up in/on Kifaru Scout.

Total weight Saddle System = 13.25 LBS.

Longer sits, closer hunts from camp/vehicle will often bring my 2018 Predator platform too, adding 3-LBS. No buckle strap, converted to Versa Strap.
This brings my saddle system to 16.25 LBS.


2021.Saddle Gear 2.JPG2021.Saddle Gear 3.JPG
2021.Saddle Gear 5.JPG
2021.Saddle Gear 4.JPG
 
Right off the bat, I would say you can lose probably 50% of the weight you’re using in ropes and cordage. 8mm Rescue Tech and 7/64” Amsteel are proven for tether/rappel and gear hangers, respectively. Lash-it or Dynaglide can replace your hoist/pull-down cord, which appears to be paracord?

Friction knots (prussic, Schwabisch, Michoacán, etc) can replace your ropeman.

Michoacán plus a carabiner can replace your Safeguard for rappelling if you are comfortable with a Munter or super Munter.

I would keep a lineman’s belt because it is needed to safely get around branches while climbing and can double as an emergency foot tether if something weird happens and you need to get down with an alternate method. I use an 1/8” Amsteel daisy chain as my LB, but you need to evaluate the safety/effectiveness of this yourself. I didn’t have to pull mine out a single time this season.

If you really want to cut weight, the 1/8” daisy chain can also be used at height as your gear hanger with the addition of some s-hooks/hero clips/cam jam, etc.


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If you are like lots of us, then eating more healthy and more exercise, resulting in weight loss, is likely to result in a bigger overall weight reduction than any tweaking of gear.

I see this a lot with one of my other hobbies, riding dirt bikes. People will buy the latest (usually expensive) titanium doodads for their rides to save an ounce or two, yet are packing an extra 20 lbs around their bellies!

The side benefit of getting fitter is that an extra kilo or two (that's 2.2 lbs per kilo for you "southerners" LOL) in your gear won't be noticed near as much.

If you are a buff peak-athlete with a 6-pack (not the liquid kind) and qualify for the Crossfit Games, then please ignore my post. :tearsofjoy: The rest of us, me included, would get better weight reduction by focusing on the ole' bod rather than the gear.
 
Thanks, will look into the Dynaglide hoist/pull down cord, and the Amsteel daisy chain gear hangar.
Have alternative lineman's belt, LW model from back when. No carabiners just prussics.
Love using the Safeguard, so will keep.

I still have two of those old school LW black ropes with sewn loops on both ends. They are super lightweight


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Here is a thread I posted asking the same thing. There might be something in there that you can use.

 
I just wrote an easy to follow 7 step program...

1. Ditch the backpack altogether
2. Learn to climb a tree with two tethers
3. Buy a Huenco chest rig and ONLY CARRY what you can get to fit into the rig (that would be a tether with bow hanger, foot tether, rangefinder, limb saw, map, compass, eye solution for contacts, extra battery for pocket flashlight, headlamp, backband, and milkweed)
4. Put a Capri Sun in each cargo pocket of your standard service issue woodland camo pants
5. Kiss your wife goodbye for the day
6. Roll out
7. Kill a giant while walking in; before you get to your destination

You're welcome ;)

I'll attach pictures of the chest rig if you're interested.
 
I'm sure you realize your AH Flex isn't an ultralight. For example, you can shed 3/4lb by switching to a Classic 2. Want to trade :tearsofjoy:

With a sewn eye tether, I doubt you need 30ft for a 15ft climbing height. You won't save but a couple oz going shorter, but it will pack a bit smaller.

I prefer the external frame setup, but for what you've got going maybe consider something like 14'r. That'll cut 3lbs.
 
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I just wrote an easy to follow 7 step program...

1. Ditch the backpack altogether
2. Learn to climb a tree with two tethers
3. Buy a Huenco chest rig and ONLY CARRY what you can get to fit into the rig (that would be a tether with bow hanger, foot tether, rangefinder, limb saw, map, compass, eye solution for contacts, extra battery for pocket flashlight, headlamp, backband, and milkweed)
4. Put a Capri Sun in each cargo pocket of your standard service issue woodland camo pants
5. Kiss your wife goodbye for the day
6. Roll out
7. Kill a giant while walking in; before you get to your destination

You're welcome ;)

I'll attach pictures of the chest rig if you're interested.
he kind of said it all .go 2tc or go heavy
 
This little sling pack is a heavy10 pounds with 10 camstrap ameri steps a ring of a steps with a cam ,saddle, linemen and tether.and that's alot Of stuff.thats 11 steel cambuckles and 2 carabiners. its 8 pounds when im whearing the saddle.so I'm not sure what all you need.but it looks like a lot going on,and its all going to get wetScreenshot_20211222-125327_Gallery.jpg
 
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i hate to say it but theres nothing efficiant about 1 sticking.weight saving or packability realy.because you are using 4 systems of climbing .3 to get up and 1 just to get down.compared to 1 system up and down,theres no way around that.it does no good to say double purpose your linemens belt as a gear hanger.and lose the gear hanger.if you can also duoble it as a 2tc .then lose the stick the aider and rappel rope and pouches for them.you have to hang from your tether any way.just 2 tether up and down,for ultra lite .or stand solid on single steps .but to aider climb, stick climb then teather and retreive stick .and repeat only to need to rappel down.thats not posible to make efficiant all the weight you can cut from that system will be less than your rappel rope.if that makes any sence
 
If you are like lots of us, then eating more healthy and more exercise, resulting in weight loss, is likely to result in a bigger overall weight reduction than any tweaking of gear.

I see this a lot with one of my other hobbies, riding dirt bikes. People will buy the latest (usually expensive) titanium doodads for their rides to save an ounce or two, yet are packing an extra 20 lbs around their bellies!

The side benefit of getting fitter is that an extra kilo or two (that's 2.2 lbs per kilo for you "southerners" LOL) in your gear won't be noticed near as much.

If you are a buff peak-athlete with a 6-pack (not the liquid kind) and qualify for the Crossfit Games, then please ignore my post. :tearsofjoy: The rest of us, me included, would get better weight reduction by focusing on the ole' bod rather than the gear.
100%
 
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