Talk me out of a JX3

[CP3]

I can’t talk you out of it because I just got one as well. Ask me again after the season!

 

[neonomad]

Think I’m headed into my fifth season with a JX3. In my opinion the most comfortable stand in the woods is a Summit and second place is the JX3.

Another opinion I have is one of the best things that happened to the JX3 is Tethrd One sticks. Yes with 3 or 4 slightly heavier sticks the whole system got a little heavy for me, especially late season, so I went to one sticking. With the Ones I now see less or no need to single stick.

From about 7 to 11 o’clock angles I shoot as well, usually better, out of the JX3 than I do at the range.

It’s a bit to manage, it takes a little while to figure out a clean safe climb, and your pack etc. There’s some learning curve at first. I’m a little slower with it.

For quick hunts, and the farther I’m hiking, I’m mixing in a Dryad Drey this season, previous couple seasons mixed in a Recon. But no plans to get rid of the JX3 and if I plan to sit somewhere for a good while, maybe take a nap, stare at a rut funnel for 6+ hours etc that’s where it shines, obviously. I stand on the top of my stick with usually four steps on an OCB for more positioning options.

 

[devildog]

If you have full 24inch beast sticks they will fit perfect sideways on the back of the JX3. It is almost like they are made to be carried by the JX3.

 

[Plebe]

Bar none the most comfortable thing in the woods. I was never a big climber guy, but I bet it’s close/surpasses whatever was the best of the best in peak climber days.

Still prefer some Millenniums for comfort. My LW sit & Climb wasn't far behind when dialed in. But the JX3 is good too. It's harder to stand up in the JX3, even on a platform.

 

[Plebe]

If you have full 24inch beast sticks they will fit perfect sideways on the back of the JX3. It is almost like they are made to be carried by the JX3.

If only we knew what length OP's sticks were, lol.

 

[Plebe]

Think I’m headed into my fifth season with a JX3. In my opinion the most comfortable stand in the woods is a Summit and second place is the JX3.

Another opinion I have is one of the best things that happened to the JX3 is Tethrd One sticks. Yes with 3 or 4 slightly heavier sticks the whole system got a little heavy for me, especially late season, so I went to one sticking. With the Ones I now see less or no need to single stick.

From about 7 to 11 o’clock angles I shoot as well, usually better, out of the JX3 than I do at the range.

It’s a bit to manage, it takes a little while to figure out a clean safe climb, and your pack etc. There’s some learning curve at first. I’m a little slower with it.

For quick hunts, and the farther I’m hiking, I’m mixing in a Dryad Drey this season, previous couple seasons mixed in a Recon. But no plans to get rid of the JX3 and if I plan to sit somewhere for a good while, maybe take a nap, stare at a rut funnel for 6+ hours etc that’s where it shines, obviously. I stand on the top of my stick with usually four steps on an OCB for more positioning options.

How do you pack a stack of Tethrd ONE sticks?

 

[Horn]

Look at all this bad boy can do!!

How many people think this is the best tool for all 3 jobs? It's the jx3 of the kitchen. Just sayin'. We're talking out of not into here , btw

 

[Plebe]

View attachment 91879

Look at all this bad boy can do!!

How many people think this is the best tool for all 3 jobs? It's the jx3 of the kitchen. Just sayin'. We're talking out of not into here , btw

I'm maybe a big critical, but I actually respect the JX3. It ain't that thing. I mean, it doesn't make coffee. lol.

I think, gun in hand, it'll hunt for those that shoot even just ok. Archery is just so specific to the decision making and ability.

 

[neonomad]

@Plebe yeah I’ll give the Milennium m100u honorable mention except that if you stand without folding the seat up you are out there suspended in space, almost gives me vertigo. I’m still working the stick configurations, but I could stop right here this works fine, it looks nice and tidy and compact in person but now realize this pic looks horrible. I’d take another pic but everything’s back in the bins. I swear it ain’t bad, and here’s the weight including rappel length tether. edit: shoot u can’t read the scale it’s 21 lbs.

 

[Plebe]

@Plebe yeah I’ll give the Milennium m100u honorable mention except that if you stand without folding the seat up you are out there suspended in space, almost gives me vertigo. I’m still working the stick configurations, but I could stop right here this works fine, it looks nice and tidy and compact in person but now realize this pic looks horrible. I’d take another pic but everything’s back in the bins. I swear it ain’t bad, and here’s the weight including rappel length tether. edit: shoot u can’t read the scale it’s 21 lbs.
View attachment 91884View attachment 91885

Why wouldn't you fold the M100u seat when standing? Idk, that's crazy. Still, you're in space familiar to JX3 distance from the tree if you don't.

I've personally found it harder to stand from a JX3. I have one, btw, and have tried numerous platforms of various sizes with the JX3. Do I need to prove it?

At 21lbs "platform" and climbing method, there's some upside to a LW Sit & Climb, imo, situationally.

Tethrd ONE sticks are advertised as an 8.5"step. x2 thats 17" width. Looks sloppier in your set, but lets call it within the margins.

Packing them that way is away from the body, which means more felt weight. Would slightly heavier sticks closer to the body close the distance?

 

[GeoFish]

Sitting in a saddle (hybrid) is the same profile as sitting in a JX3.

That's why it's a method of last resort.

Comfort in the tree is nice. But I am not climbing a tree to be comfortable. I am climbing a tree to improve my odds of killing a mature buck.

 

[kyler1945]

Why wouldn't you fold the M100u seat when standing? Idk, that's crazy. Still, you're in space familiar to JX3 distance from the tree if you don't.

I've personally found it harder to stand from a JX3. I have one, btw, and have tried numerous platforms of various sizes with the JX3. Do I need to prove it?

At 21lbs "platform" and climbing method, there's some upside to a LW Sit & Climb, imo, situationally.

Tethrd ONE sticks are advertised as an 8.5"step. x2 thats 17" width. Looks sloppier in your set, but lets call it within the margins.

Packing them that way is away from the body, which means more felt weight. Would slightly heavier sticks closer to the body close the distance?

I remove the ground standoffs so that the seat is pulled tight to the back of the frame.

Now, whether I pack inside or outside the seat, the weight is still tight to the frame.

It’s no different from any frame pack in that regard - if you’re packing 12lbs of clothes and 12lbs of sticks, one of them will be 8” away from your back if you stack them.

Hanging sticks from bottom horizontally behind your butt is a good choice on cold days.

 

[Plebe]

I remove the ground standoffs so that the seat is pulled tight to the back of the frame.

Now, whether I pack inside or outside the seat, the weight is still tight to the frame.

It’s no different from any frame pack in that regard - if you’re packing 12lbs of clothes and 12lbs of sticks, one of them will be 8” away from your back if you stack them.

Hanging sticks from bottom horizontally behind your butt is a good choice on cold days.

I’ve done sticks on top and it was a good weight distribution, but the advantage of the @neonomad setup is the sticks aren’t wider than the seat. Less snag factor when that’s an issue. It’s not a bad trade off. As was said, if OP has full length Beast sticks, they kind of nest on the back. It’s be interesting to see if the felt weight difference is discernible as suggested. Could be, idk.

 

[LAKY]

I've been trying to come up with a reason not to use a JX3, and I can't. Every time I think about going back to a minimalistic saddle, I think of the crap that I have to add to it to make it work for me.

 

[Plebe]

That's why it's a method of last resort.

Comfort in the tree is nice. But I am not climbing a tree to be comfortable. I am climbing a tree to improve my odds of killing a mature buck.

The least preferable position for me is sitting on one of those awful seats, I’d rather just stand and not have to get up to shoot. It’s nice to have the seat though as an option for things like tying a boot.

I kind of think the JX3 is for the looking for comfort crowd. Being comfortable on stand is helpful, imo. But there is certainly a give and take to that.

 

[GeoFish]

I have never had a issue with sitting on a tree stand seat, I must have a hard a__, LOL.
If I was uncomfortable I would go with the LWCG mesh seat.

 

[MattMan81]

Have you considered the lock down saddle? I never tried the mantis. But seems the guys that were comfortable were few and far between.
I think any saddle would be a step up.
If your not itchen to pull the trigger yet, wait for a saddle meet up event and try some other stuff out.

 

[neonomad]

@Plebe with a Summit if you stand your knees can push the soft seat back and you can get your butt against the tree if you want, with the m100u there’s more motion required if you want that seat up. That said the coolest preset spot I have is setup with that stand, tucked into some white pines.

In the past yes I’d usually stash the stick stack on top of the JX3, but the Ones are so light I barely feel em out back, and that gets some sharp metal away from the back of my head. Still have a month or so before I have to commit, most October hunts for me prolly going to be Dryad.

I usually have a thin soft pad under me in the JX3, adds warmth and the mesh alone does seem to flatten my rear end on long sits, ha. Sometimes I do open the seat angle up and raise my friction hitch and stand against it, it’s a nice change and I don’t find it particularly inconvenient. A ropeman can be pretty nice on the tether, but I run 8mm so I’m always on the fence w that.

 

[LAKY]

Here's a situation I would maybe opt for something besides the JX3. You're ok with using some type of knee support (knee pads, cushion on tree, etc), and you aren't packing deer out or other heavy items. Those 2 things would have me going back to some type of minimalistic saddle, maybe.

 

[Bigterp]

I think you’d be thrilled with it. Especially being tall - all of the complaints about a lot going on will largely go away fro you, because most of your torso will be above the side straps.

Don’t buy one new. Buy one here or on Faceworld used. Try it and if you don’t like it, you’re out 50 bucks.

The new buckles are a pain in the butt if you ask me. And the new one is a couple pounds heavier than mine.

But you’re a giant. So none of the weight stuff matters. You can carry sticks and all your crap easily.

I’d look hard at my modification thread and see about swapping in a proper shoulder harness and padded waist belt.

If you’re not a tinkerer, the only hold up I think that might bother you is shoulder harness adjustment and torso length adjustment compared to belt.

I’m 6’6” & didn’t have any size height issues with the JX3 that weren’t solved with adjustment. I just really like a traditional saddle more than a treestand feel. That was my only knock, it’s a great trade off if you’re already using a frame pack for white tails. If not then it’s bulkier. But it packed my full-size beast stick’s perfectly & was ridiculously comfortable. I liked it to gun hunt better than bow but that’s personal preference. I owned both models but just never stuck with it……