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TX5 review

Ontariofarmer

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 25, 2015
Messages
5,249
Really Matthew Tompkins is the Carroll Shelby of saddle making.
Customization is his game. Like Shelby he is a designer always looking to make things better. Like Shelby he likely does not charge enough for the customization.
He showed me some things he’s designing and he is an innovator.
He only makes 10 per month and unless you know what you want it will be hard to decide what to order.
5c7df6ecaecb53f519c4808ee46b2766.jpg



I guess I will compare it to the Cruzr XC

1. Weight. About 2.25 pounds. He can easily make it lighter.
2. Material. Whatever you want. I chose wolf skin. I think the stretch in a mesh like the Cruzr or this wolf skin adds to saddle comfort compared to cordura.
3. Bridge is Oplux. I am sure I prefer an Oplux adjustable bridge over amsteel. It adjusts easier.
4. Lineman’s loops. Matthew can make them bigger. I took his standard ones. Perfect. I like the size of the Cruzr loops and the visibility but they are floppy while the TX5 are stiff, and always open.
624a3b04e1a19433760bc17cb097a621.jpg

5. The pleat. The TX5 has an military grade elastic for a pleat.
The pleat will stay closed if you want it to. Maybe a bit better than the Cruzr.
6. Comfort. I am between a size 2 and 3 Cruzr. The size three I have is huge but adds to the comfort. It’s dimensions are
16 by 29 closed and 19 by 29 inches open

The TX3 is 13 by 25.5 closed and 16 by 25.5 open. I find the Tx 5 comfort is only equal to the Cruzr if I place it in the exactly perfect spot on my butt, maybe that means it is size perfect.
I expect the fiddle factor would decrease if I had a larger saddle which I could have ordered but the floppy feeling would increase.

7. The belt. The Tx5 can come with whatever webbing you want. The webbing I have is heavier and stiffer than the Cruzr. The result - I really think when I load my saddle down it is not going to fall off my butt. The Cruzr will need suspenders. This will need to be confirmed.
I should have ordered lighter weight webbing on the lower butt area of the saddle. Heavy is not necessary there but is great in the belt area. The belt adjusts easily from both sides.

8. Molle loops. I like the two rows of loops on the Cruzr and how some are opened and close.
I like the loops even better on the Tx5. Those loops on the leg are fantastic. Why? You can see what is in the pouch on the leg. Not true on your back Molle pouches.

9. The TX5 has unique stiff gear or equipment loops that take something like a Doyle’s hoist easily.
be6e357f9b1cead980cb91c00c55e5af.jpg


I love those stiff open equipment loops, they are great and will be as useful as the two types of loops on a Cruzr. The open equipment loops on the TX 5 are fantastic.

10. Leg buckles . You can get what you want. I wish I had got lighter leg buckles.
. The Crüzr’s are perfect. I should have ordered something lighter.
The methods leg buckles look great too
Matthew has many available options I chose the wrong one unless you want super strong.
Certainly the buckles I have on the Tx5 are stronger than the Cruzr. Astri alpine weight rated buckles.
The leg straps adjust easily.

11. The method has a Astria alpine belay loop buckle for rappelling or as a secondary attachment. A TX5 can come with that or even better Matthew can add a sewn loop to the waist belt so you have no metal noise. I wish I had known about it. I would have ordered my saddle with it.
44228e282ab1a6568b065f35eef7402f.jpg


Overall a great saddle but you need to know what you want.

12. Looks. The TX 5 is like a mustang shelby, good looks that are hard to beat, maybe won’t win at LeManns though.

13. The stitching is equal to the very best saddles available

14. His back band is unique and is the best I have used because of the way it attaches to the tether.

What would I change.
A. Smaller leg buckles
B. A sewn belay loop
C. Lighter webbing on the lower saddle
D. Slighter bigger saddle but not as big as a Cruzr Size 3

They say you have to build a barn several times to get it perfect.
Likely true with a saddle.

The @Tx5 saddles are worth watching for innovation. For a first time saddle buyer a Cruzr is great. If you want something personalized, unique and made for you go to the custom saddle builder from Texas.







Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro[/USER]
 
Last edited:
Great review, you coukd covered all the bases! You also covered well my standard warning about his saddles when folks have asked - because they are truly custom and to your specs, you can't blame Matthew if you get the wrong size or miss a feature, he will give you what you ask for in an a superb quality package.
 
Awesome review! Thank you. Been thinking of going the TX5 route, but wanna get my thoughts together on what I want. I didn't realize he would go that deep into customization. That is awesome. I carry alot of weight on my belt (bolts) , so being able to have him include that extra weight carrying capacity into the saddle would be great.
 
Awesome review am going to order one ASAP for next year or maybe if lucky late season this year.
 
A little birdie told me production was ramping up and that everyone is greatly appreciated!
It’s been a CRAZY year, but patience is definitely key.
Yes you can hunt from another saddle, but why would you want to


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Really Matthew Tompkins is the Carroll Shelby of saddle making.
Customization is his game. Like Shelby he is a designer always looking to make things better. Like Shelby he likely does not charge enough for the customization.
He showed me some things he’s designing and he is an innovator.
He only makes 10 per month and unless you know what you want it will be hard to decide what to order.
5c7df6ecaecb53f519c4808ee46b2766.jpg



I guess I will compare it to the Cruzr XC

1. Weight. About 2.25 pounds. He can easily make it lighter.
2. Material. Whatever you want. I chose wolf skin. I think the stretch in a mesh like the Cruzr or this wolf skin adds to saddle comfort compared to cordura.
3. Bridge is Oplux. I am sure I prefer an Oplux adjustable bridge over amsteel. It adjusts easier.
4. Lineman’s loops. Matthew can make them bigger. I took his standard ones. Perfect. I like the size of the Cruzr loops and the visibility but they are floppy while the TX5 are stiff, and always open.
624a3b04e1a19433760bc17cb097a621.jpg

5. The pleat. The TX5 has an military grade elastic for a pleat.
The pleat will stay closed if you want it to. Maybe a bit better than the Cruzr.
6. Comfort. I am between a size 2 and 3 Cruzr. The size three I have is huge but adds to the comfort. It’s dimensions are
16 by 29 closed and 19 by 29 inches open

The TX3 is 13 by 25.5 closed and 16 by 25.5 open. I find the Tx 5 comfort is only equal to the Cruzr if I place it in the exactly perfect spot on my butt, maybe that means it is size perfect.
I expect the fiddle factor would decrease if I had a larger saddle which I could have ordered but the floppy feeling would increase.

7. The belt. The Tx5 can come with whatever webbing you want. The webbing I have is heavier and stiffer than the Cruzr. The result - I really think when I load my saddle down it is not going to fall off my butt. The Cruzr will need suspenders. This will need to be confirmed.
I should have ordered lighter weight webbing on the lower butt area of the saddle. Heavy is not necessary there but is great in the belt area. The belt adjusts easily from both sides.

8. Molle loops. I like the two rows of loops on the Cruzr and how some are opened and close.
I like the loops even better on the Tx5. Those loops on the leg are fantastic. Why? You can see what is in the pouch on the leg. Not true on your back Molle pouches.

9. The TX5 has unique stiff gear or equipment loops that take something like a Doyle’s hoist easily.
be6e357f9b1cead980cb91c00c55e5af.jpg


I love those stiff open equipment loops, they are great and will be as useful as the two types of loops on a Cruzr. The open equipment loops on the TX 5 are fantastic.

10. Leg buckles . You can get what you want. I wish I had got lighter leg buckles.
. The Crüzr’s are perfect. I should have ordered something lighter.
The methods leg buckles look great too
Matthew has many available options I chose the wrong one unless you want super strong.
Certainly the buckles I have on the Tx5 are stronger than the Cruzr. Astri alpine weight rated buckles.
The leg straps adjust easily.

11. The method has a Astria alpine belay loop buckle for rappelling or as a secondary attachment. A TX5 can come with that or even better Matthew can add a sewn loop to the waist belt so you have no metal noise. I wish I had known about it. I would have ordered my saddle with it.
44228e282ab1a6568b065f35eef7402f.jpg


Overall a great saddle but you need to know what you want.

12. Looks. The TX 5 is like a mustang shelby, good looks that are hard to beat, maybe won’t win at LeManns though.

13. The stitching is equal to the very best saddles available

14. His back band is unique and is the best I have used because of the way it attaches to the tether.

What would I change.
A. Smaller leg buckles
B. A sewn belay loop
C. Lighter webbing on the lower saddle
D. Slighter bigger saddle but not as big as a Cruzr Size 3

They say you have to build a barn several times to get it perfect.
Likely true with a saddle.

The @Tx5 saddles are worth watching for innovation. For a first time saddle buyer a Cruzr is great. If you want something personalized, unique and made for you go to the custom saddle builder from Texas.







Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro[/USER]
@Ontariofarmer - Any thoughts in regard to the TX5 Lonestar vs Reaper - HPR feature- stretch vs pleted? Thanks in advance!

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk
 
HPR is really good. I prefer the stretch vs. the pleat, but that is a personal preference. Matt is a really good guy. I have 2 TX5's. You can't go wrong with any of his saddles.
 
@Ontariofarmer - Any thoughts in regard to the TX5 Lonestar vs Reaper - HPR feature- stretch vs pleted? Thanks in advance!

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

Just saw this. No opinion since I have not tried both.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
 
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