• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

Tree Stand vs Tree Saddle Debate - First Purchase

huntrwilliams said:
Oh yeah for sure, this is just an easy comparison. Simple set up that anyone starting out could use.

A lot of people don’t factor in the safety equipment needed when comparing tree stands to saddles. For
Me I’m basically swapping the same weight of harness for the saddle and you’re left actually comparing the platform to the stand.

Food for thought for people trying to decide.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...


Agreed.

Also, what is usually not factored in is the weight of the transport system. With a hang on and sticks or climber, a couple bungees or tether and lb, can attach clothes and gear in pockets, and molle waist and shoulder straps attached to stand make for a comfortable ride. Saddles, on the other hand, require some type of backpack.

Ceteris paribus ...
My anecdotal experience is that saddle saves about 5 lbs compared to a hang on. Lone wolf alpha II w/ molle and 2 bungees compared to a 4 lb platform and a pack.

But saddle shines with less bulk for sure.

I, for one, am waiting to see what the specs on the Dan Infalt hang on will be. That will lower the weight gap between hang on and saddle. And maybe the stand can do double duty of platform and hang on.
 
Ontariofarmer said:
I thought a climber was great until I used a saddle.
Click to expand...
20+ years of mobile hunting from a climber and I can't remember the last time mine left the wall of the back garage other than for my daughter to sit in during rifle season. Literally loved my climbers, but not even contemplating using them anymore.
 
Well, I stand what I said. My opinion is that given a short budget, and using my mentality and experience, the fastest and cheapest way to build a setup to is a climber.
Now, there is not a single piece of gear that will fit everyones specific scenario/style or what have you. Saddles come dang close to that but still, some fellas just dont adapt to change well. No one is steering anyone away from a saddle, but not everyone can just "buy once, cry once". I wish I had saddles hanging in the garage like I do other things so I could help fellas out, but i dont. Best thing i can do is offer some advice on getting into elevated hunting based off of my experience, that's all I got. I'm very much a cheerleader for saddles and associated gear, heck I even hosted a saddle meet at my dern house because I think the community needs to grow, but that is all secondary to hunting, period. So that said, for the time being, I still reccomend this fella a climber. And I'm even willing to give @Doug2020 one if it help him out.

On that, all recommendations posted here are good, that said @Doug2020, get what you can afford! What ever it is, I can promise you this it wont be the last time you buy gear, especially when you get into a saddle...
 
I’d look into lone wolf assault or a Chippewa hang on. You can buy multiple preset straps you put high up a tree At various locations. You can buy cheap ladders that connect like one giant stick. Install The ladder and a safety rope at each location. Arrive with your safety harness on, use lineman’s belt, clip onto the safety rope. Climb up, throw the hang on To the preexisting strap you’ve left there, pull up your bow and you’re good. Eventually after a few seasons you might sell some stuff but it will quick, quiet, Safe, and it will get you in the woods and up a tree. You’ll have access to multiple locations which you will wisely pick for wind directions, varying terrain, etc...

That being said...I have 3 lone wolf sticks I’m putting up for sale for $100 if you go that route I’d be happy to sell but shipping Might be expensive. Anyone else want them?
 
Thanks for all the replies, it is very helpful getting a variety of opinions and I have to say people are very generous here with offers to help me out, it is very appreciated.

To answer some common questions I am seeing here:

-I plan to hunt for a solid 3 weeks come opener and then every weekend so hunting time will be plentiful
-I have always hunted from the ground or in permanent tree palace structures with a roof and room for 4 people if we wanted
-This year will be my first year with a compound and the main reason I want to get elevated (past years have been firearm or crossbow)
-Hunt location is thick bush, I did some more scouting and a climber isn't going to work in the majority of places, lots of branches and hardly any trees that will accommodate one
-being public land its a hike in and a hike out in heavy stuff which is why I am looking for compact and light setups (debating just leaving a ground blind out there but it goes against my interest in getting elevated)
-Budget is $400 which goes by very very fast in Canadian money
-Experience climbing is zero, I have done a lot of working from heights but never in a tree setup

If I can find a saddle for a deal that would be my pick however based on my budget and supply in Canada I am more likely going to end up in a hang on stand. I do see a value in having multiple tools in the shed so if I cannot make a saddle work this year its not like buying a hangon is a complete waste, it will still be used and also can be sold if I really need to.
 
Doug2020 said:
Thanks for all the replies, it is very helpful getting a variety of opinions and I have to say people are very generous here with offers to help me out, it is very appreciated.

To answer some common questions I am seeing here:

-I plan to hunt for a solid 3 weeks come opener and then every weekend so hunting time will be plentiful
-I have always hunted from the ground or in permanent tree palace structures with a roof and room for 4 people if we wanted
-This year will be my first year with a compound and the main reason I want to get elevated (past years have been firearm or crossbow)
-Hunt location is thick bush, I did some more scouting and a climber isn't going to work in the majority of places, lots of branches and hardly any trees that will accommodate one
-being public land its a hike in and a hike out in heavy stuff which is why I am looking for compact and light setups (debating just leaving a ground blind out there but it goes against my interest in getting elevated)
-Budget is $400 which goes by very very fast in Canadian money
-Experience climbing is zero, I have done a lot of working from heights but never in a tree setup

If I can find a saddle for a deal that would be my pick however based on my budget and supply in Canada I am more likely going to end up in a hang on stand. I do see a value in having multiple tools in the shed so if I cannot make a saddle work this year its not like buying a hangon is a complete waste, it will still be used and also can be sold if I really need to.
Click to expand...
If you get a hang on you still have to climb the tree somehow so you are really only looking at the difference in a hang on stand vs a saddle. Saddle wins in comfort and carry weight, so the real question is price. A cheap hang on stand will get you through the season, but it will be heavy and uncomfortable. Then you will buy a saddle anyway.
 
Doug2020 said:
Thanks for all the replies, it is very helpful getting a variety of opinions and I have to say people are very generous here with offers to help me out, it is very appreciated.

To answer some common questions I am seeing here:

-I plan to hunt for a solid 3 weeks come opener and then every weekend so hunting time will be plentiful
-I have always hunted from the ground or in permanent tree palace structures with a roof and room for 4 people if we wanted
-This year will be my first year with a compound and the main reason I want to get elevated (past years have been firearm or crossbow)
-Hunt location is thick bush, I did some more scouting and a climber isn't going to work in the majority of places, lots of branches and hardly any trees that will accommodate one
-being public land its a hike in and a hike out in heavy stuff which is why I am looking for compact and light setups (debating just leaving a ground blind out there but it goes against my interest in getting elevated)
-Budget is $400 which goes by very very fast in Canadian money
-Experience climbing is zero, I have done a lot of working from heights but never in a tree setup

If I can find a saddle for a deal that would be my pick however based on my budget and supply in Canada I am more likely going to end up in a hang on stand. I do see a value in having multiple tools in the shed so if I cannot make a saddle work this year its not like buying a hangon is a complete waste, it will still be used and also can be sold if I really need to.
Click to expand...
I assume that you don't already own a safety harness, if so, you need one of those so you nay as well put the harness money toward a saddle.
A used saddle or new Recon, and a set of sticks should be within your $400 budget.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk
 
Doug2020 said:
Thanks for all the replies, it is very helpful getting a variety of opinions and I have to say people are very generous here with offers to help me out, it is very appreciated.

To answer some common questions I am seeing here:

-I plan to hunt for a solid 3 weeks come opener and then every weekend so hunting time will be plentiful
-I have always hunted from the ground or in permanent tree palace structures with a roof and room for 4 people if we wanted
-This year will be my first year with a compound and the main reason I want to get elevated (past years have been firearm or crossbow)
-Hunt location is thick bush, I did some more scouting and a climber isn't going to work in the majority of places, lots of branches and hardly any trees that will accommodate one
-being public land its a hike in and a hike out in heavy stuff which is why I am looking for compact and light setups (debating just leaving a ground blind out there but it goes against my interest in getting elevated)
-Budget is $400 which goes by very very fast in Canadian money
-Experience climbing is zero, I have done a lot of working from heights but never in a tree setup

If I can find a saddle for a deal that would be my pick however based on my budget and supply in Canada I am more likely going to end up in a hang on stand. I do see a value in having multiple tools in the shed so if I cannot make a saddle work this year its not like buying a hangon is a complete waste, it will still be used and also can be sold if I really need to.
Click to expand...

3 solid weeks, hiking in, setting up, tearing down, dragging big buck. That sounds like higher physical demand.

I would highly recommend getting your sticks and harness (good point about using a saddle as harness) ASAP. And start “training” your muscles with what is required and put together a process / sequence you will follow. The sooner, the better.

Good luck and share your success pics with us.
 
boyne bowhunter said:
20+ years of mobile hunting from a climber and I can't remember the last time mine left the wall of the back garage other than for my daughter to sit in during rifle season. Literally loved my climbers, but not even contemplating using them anymore.
Click to expand...

Same. I started in a 10' ladder stand as a kid. When I got a climber, I was like...wow, how did I ever kill anything from that ladder?

Now as I am one-sticking up and rappelling down quiet as a mouse, all I can think is...wow, how did I ever kill anything from that clunky climber?
 
sojourner said:
3 solid weeks, hiking in, setting up, tearing down, dragging big buck. That sounds like higher physical demand.
Click to expand...

Well the hike in, setting up and tearing down is for sure, the buck will be a bonus haha!


I'll keep my eye open for used saddles in Canada but would also jump on the opportunity for a used XOP or lonewolf hang on and tree climbing sticks in Canada.
 
Buy a recon - $150 US Learn to one stick and if you can afford it learn to rappel . I have one unmodified hawk helium I could spare. Get some HSS rope cheap.
Not a perfect system but less than $400 Canadian.
Bolts and a tree hopper drill and a recon would be less than $400.
Not ideal either. No platform or ring of steps.

Bolts and tree hopper drill on would be less than $400 too.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
 
Last edited:
Ontariofarmer said:
Buy a recon - $150 US Learn to one stick and if you can afford it learn to rappel . I have one unmodified hawk helium I could spare. Get some HSS rope cheap.
Not a perfect system but less than $400 Canadian.
Bolts and a tree hopper drill and a recon would be less than $400.
Not ideal either. No platform or ring of steps.

Bolts and cheap hand on would be less than $400 too.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
Click to expand...
If you can use bolts do it. 4 bolts make a great ros. 16 bolts, treehopper mini drill, recon sling, and a tether/linesman and you're good. You can definitely do it for under 400 .
 
16 bolts. $16 can. A drill $90 can. A recon. $200. Can
HSS rope and prussic and carabiners. Cheap.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top