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Switched back to a reliable seat

Scott F

Scott F

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2015
Messages
766
Location
Tampa, Florida
A while back I posted a DIY thread about an Anderson Tree Sling replica that I made. It was a fun project and was relatively easy to make. It stowed into a small package (primary concern) and was easy to use when hunting, although I only used it once.
My problem with it was - it is a hip squeezer! Yes I adjusted my bridge length and fussed with the angle of my knees to put more/less pressure on my butt and more/less on my feet. I just didn't like the squeeze. I had a previous long phone conversation with John Eberhart and I tried to have the sling 'sit' on different parts of my backside to see where I could make it comfortable to sit on as he recommended, it just never stopped the squeeze.

I ended up going back to my hard-based seat that I built in '09 out of a piece of plywood with the modification this year being that I used a single piece of 1" tubular webbing. It solves all of my problems. For a bridge, I use a 24" piece of the same climbing grade tubular nylon and I use a rope/prussic lead.

This thing is crazy comfortable and I don't feel the need to move around at all when I am on stand. I just sit there in comfort. I guess it is sort-of, kind-of like a GW replica without the backpack portion.

I shot a doe yesterday morning (my first in Virginia, first at Quantico) from this stand. If there is a more comfortable stand out there (for me), I'd have to see it to believe it. I can post pictures later if there is an interest. It is basically the same type of seat that 'Onehair' posted on the Leatherwall some years ago, but mine does not have the middle extender that keeps you off of the tree. Despite this, I still don't use knee pads.

Just some rambling...
 
I'll try to get some pictures of it tomorrow, although thinking about it for a while, it may look better in the dark!
What I found out by using a single length of the tubular nylon vs the nylon webbing that I originally used is that I can wear it as a backpack as I approach my hunting location. It was actually comfortable this way.
...now if I can figure out how to strap my LW sticks to it I'll really be happy. Love the sticks but they are a PITA to carry sometimes.
 
I think I went through exactly what you did and talked to John E as well and really wanted that to work for its light weight but the squeeze killed me too. I wedged a seat from my lone wolf alpha and it worked good and thought about doing something permanent but just decided to buy a Guiido Web. I figured with the seat and Anderson sling I would only be a couple lbs lighter. How much does it weigh w the seat?
 
That sounds really interesting. I'd like to see it. I've used everything I could think of as a saddle and I'm still not really satisfied. I used regular bow hunter harness for treestand , rock climbing and arborist saddle, even one I made, but the seat is always the problem. It's either pinching, or if it's comfy - it's too bulky.I mainly use the aero evolution because of the comfort, but I'd certainly like to make or find something as comfy with less bunching up on walks to and from the tree, And less bulky.
 
Yea we'd definitely love to see pics! We are always looking for new ideas and inspirations! :D
 
Not to steal anyone's thunder - but has anyone tried to cut a seat out of one of the plastic butcher blocks? Seems to me that the right thickness would be strong and light weight - a lot lighter then plywood?
 
Love to see a pic. Also how many sticks do you carry & are they full length (32"+) or mini (20"-)? I most likely can solve your packing problem especially if you wear the stand as a backpack.
 
I use (3) sticks with an additional strap step on two of them. Last night I sewed up some better strap steps and one of them (will be the lowest stick) now sports a two-strap step.

I've gotten the base of my stand's seat up to 20 feet using these 3 sticks with two strap steps hanging off of them and I am 6' tall. The newest two-step strap was just because I was inspired to make one from one of yesterday's posts this site. [I just call it justification for buying the Singer Model 15 treadle machine - all sorts of things to stitch up now.]

I'll try to get some pictures uploaded today if I can get someone to take my picture.
It will be an action photo from inside my house! (If I only had a telephone pole in my garage like you have...that thing is cool)
I should muster the courage to do a video someday because it may be difficult to explain in pictures/words; I'll do my best.
 
I started a new topic titles "Swing seat with pictures".
Hope that it helps some folks visualize what I was trying to explain earlier in this post.
 
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