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Ultra Light Saddle ideas?

Totally agree guys, it appears as though it would be super simple to convert that into a very simple saddle. Those web straps adjust too, so you could get them down near your hips. Or if you didn't want a bridge style, you can clip right to those two eyes, no mods of any kind.

The way I pictured doing it was hooking up a rope bridge without any hardware. One side could be a figure 8 follow through with a fisherman safety. The other side could be the same or even a prusik or blakes so the bridge is adjustable (I have no experience with a blakes so not certain on that), but I'd probably just stick with a fixed length bridge personally. If necessary you could use "rings" to attach the webbing to the bridge. Then you could use a webbing loop with sewn eyes as the bridge if you prefer a web bridge.


I'm not sure if the D rings are for weight bearing on those seats, I think they are only "tool holders"....If they aren't capable, you could easily wear a full body harness like RR does for extra safety and a linemans belt, or a rock climbing harness for a linemans belt, or what I planned on doing which is using a Treehopper linemans belt.

I also thought about attaching the seat to the treehopper with some bungee cordage. That would hold it up against your butt as you walked in, climb, or if you took pressure off the seat to adjust drape. Basically "suspenders" but they only go up to the waist belt.

RR, I saw your swing seat saddle, I thought it was awesome. It's probably what I'll end up making with an old harness instead of this. The two are very similar (minus the harness if not desired for this seat). You'rs must be really comfortable right? It looks comfy.

I found similar work seats like the one I posted above for as low as about $89 too. I can't remember where, but I almost bought it. I thought I saved it in my favorites but I don't see it.

If I find the link, I'll let you guys know. Even $89 is $89 more than I should spend on hunting projects right now, so I didn't bother, but if someone can bring this idea to fruition I would be happier than a puppy with two peckers. I want to know if it's as comfortable as I imagine it to be.

I was even thinking of adding an extendable "whale tail" (using the bottom of an aluminum crutch). It would be retractable so it doesn't interfere with climbing or if you want to sit differently.

The way I see it, it's kind of like the best of all the different saddle designs combined.

Let me know if any of you guys try it.
 
Its not bad at all matty. Still i wanna come up with a solid seat like that work seat. The belt type swing still wears on youe hips after a while. A solid seat woyld do away with all of that. I think i am gonna go with a sturdy gorilla g30 type harness. Incorporate that into a turkey or bowhunters vest and use the sturdy type work seat. Maybe have the seat dangling from the lower back area from stretch cords for walking. Get all set up in tree and pull it down and sit on it.
 
I like the way you think. We must share a brain. LOL

I use a turkey vest with some modifications. It's better than any other method I've tried, backpacks, fanny packs, sling packs, etc. I have pockets for everything and know exactly where everything is, no digging through packs pouches and pockets wondering where something is. Each item has it's own space. I love my "deer" vest.

Some vest modifications I did that you might want to try:

- I made it to where it has my retractable bow rope hoist inside the vest, this way the rope pulls down through the bottom of the vest and the plastic body of the hoist can't make noise on anything because it's inside completely encapsulated in the fabric.

- I also attached my 3L water bladder inside the back (I remove it in the Winter if it's really cold because sometimes the tube freezes if you sit for a while).

- Made a retractable lanyard for my rangefinder that can easily unbuckle from the vest if I don't need the rangefinder.

- Attached a small bungee cord that clips to my wind checker so I can pull it out and check the wind and never drop/lose it.

- retractable, quick detach cord for my limb saw (similar to the one I made for the rangefinder)

- My rattle bag and grunt call also attach to the same exact type of retractable cord.

In case you can't tell, I used to drop and lose stuff like a punch-drunk clown stumbling through the woods. So now I make sure most of it is tethered to me. lol It makes hunting "easier" because I spend less time reorganizing gear or looking for stuff.

I also use a Gorilla G harness when I use stands (I think it's the G30 or Gtac maybe....I don't recall)....Anywho, great harness. Very light, very comfy, very quick to put on and take off and zero tangle issues. Mine had heavy carabiners, but just drive out the little pin they use to hold it in place and put lighter ones on. I like that it doesn't have a waist belt.

Any chance you can do a write up on how you made your harness/sling seat? Or even just show more pictures? Good to know that because it's not rigid it still squeezes the hips a bit.

I was thinking about finding some plastic or aluminum that would not bend under my fat arse and building one of these work chairs. Could use plywood too, but it would be pretty heavy compared to the other materials. A little cushion, a little fabric, some web straps and VIOLA! Maybe an after season project, (but I have so many idiotic projects already) lol
 
Yeah i will take more pics of mine. Mine is just one of these seats wrapped in old cammo wader section with padding in it. Its bolted to leg straps of my spider harness just below my ars. Got a adjustable lanyard wich i put around a branch and buckle to other side of seat. Done! I do bring a strap with me incase i cant find a branch at hight i wanna hunt. Then i put strap around tree then lanyard through it. Some good vest mods there. I throw my bow over my back so o dont use a rope but i like the ideas.
 

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Look good. Alot better then 200. Thats what i want a stiff seat that doesnt squeeze the hips.
 
I've plans for an ultralight saddle idea. Does anyone know how to go about finding someone to do industrial sewing? I need some webbing sewed and I like it to have the exact quality and craftsmanship as similar to the Trophyline Tree Saddle and such.
 
Find a sail maker or an awning/industrial canvas producer. Should be able to find several willing to work with you over the internet. Maybe contact strapworks.com and see what they have to offer. They sew several different straps themselves so they at least have the know how and machines. A local or online search for industrial sewing should turn up what you're looking for.
 
I just did a quick search for sewing contractors that came up with several options for places willing to sew industrial products.
 
Google sewing contractors in your area that's what I did and picked out the ones that can sew canvas, went to each one in person with my project..Some businesses mostly the larger ones would not do it for it w as not a big run or the liabilities of making one. I did find a few that would and picked out the best one based on samples of their sewing which I payed a ill bit for sample sewing. Around me the going rate is about $80-$110 per hour. To give you an idea just for the seat which is a Anderson sling will cost me about $80 and I am cutting all the straps to length and they will just sew the seat.
 
Ambush32 said:
Google sewing contractors in your area that's what I did and picked out the ones that can sew canvas, went to each one in person with my project..Some businesses mostly the larger ones would not do it for it w as not a big run or the liabilities of making one. I did find a few that would and picked out the best one based on samples of their sewing which I payed a ill bit for sample sewing. Around me the going rate is about $80-$110 per hour. To give you an idea just for the seat which is a Anderson sling will cost me about $80 and I am cutting all the straps to length and they will just sew the seat.
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Really? You had one made? Hhhmmm, I think I'll do the same, except, you know, make it to my preference.
I'm altering my LW Sniper tree sling to make it some what like the Anderson tree sling. I think Lone Wolf was on to something with the adjustable bridge, but I guess there wasn't much of a demand for more innovation. I found an old picture of the Anderson tree sling and that's what kind of what sparked my creativity.
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Justsomedude - Love that handle

Concerning my set-up which is called by some friends an "Ebersling"

First off I would never ever suggest anyone copy this unit as it would never be able to pass any liability insurance tests because it would never pass the 5 point hitch safety system (both shoulders, waist and both legs) test which is pretty much required by TMA (Treestand Manufacturers Association). With that said there is nothing remotely close to being as comfortable, versatile, lightweight, or adjustable as this unit which I designed and had made.

The lead strap is cut from a Treesaddle lead strap and is about 1/3 the length of the saddle strap. The adjustment buckle is also taken from a Trophyline saddle lead strap. The seat portion which is adjustable in depth is from an old Anderson Treesling. None of these items are made anymore.

The difficult thing was designing how to make the lead permanently fixed to the bridge strap and have the instant drape adjustment capabilities incorporated into the lead strap. The bridge was rather simple as it is about a 23 inch strap connected to each side of the sling seat (there are rubber coated rings on either side of the sling seat which the bridge connects to). The cool thing about the sling seat is that it's instantly adjustable as far as the depth of the seat goes. The seat straps can be overlapped to just cover your butt or separated far enough to slide one side up for back support and have the other under your butt. I typically have them overlapped a bit so neither side is above my waistline which gives me tons of upper body mobility as far as twisting around to shoot behind me.

This unit weighs about a pound and a half and rolls up the size of a softball and takes up minimal space in my pack. I never wear it to me tree but rather put it on at the base of the tree. I had all the stitching done at a canvas shop as it takes a heavy duty machine to sew through the doubled over strap.

I can hunt a flat wall if I could climb it as I don't drape the lead around the tree but rather hook it to the tree in front of me. Tree diameters mean absolutely nothing nor does leaning trees.

Hope this helps.
 
Love my modified sale also..... All I hunt from 90% of the time. Do have a question for justsomeDude..... Are you not using a tree strap that goes around the tree? I haven't got that brave yet :)
 
DaveT1963 said:
Love my modified sale also..... All I hunt from 90% of the time. Do have a question for justsomeDude..... Are you not using a tree strap that goes around the tree? I haven't got that brave yet :)
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Looks like Eberhart has his worked out to not wrap around the tree. This has to use a screw in step or T screw, would be interested in getting some more details. I dont think I would trust a screw in step, but I have some long T screws that would work. Im uncertain of the advantages of not going around the tree, is it just weight?
 
More than likely it's so he can hunt huge trees that would be impossible to get a strap around. I'm guessing here, but I've seen his pictures when he's in giant cottonwood trees where the screw in method would be the only option.
 
If I were screwing into the tree to use a saddle it would be an ibolt
 
redsquirrel said:
I'm pretty sure John uses a T screw.
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That's what I'm thinking, but must have a big washer on it? Our state laws indicate a T screw as supplied from a tree stand manufacturer is permissible on public land. I'm thinking this makes Johns set up legal here. It just seems like it would limit amount you can go around the tree. Since we can't use screw in steps on public land, any tree i can get my stick rope around I can get my tether around. One of Johns dvd's shows him propping a big pine, but he only showed a lineman belt in the DVD. Wonder if he used the T screw method on that tree?
 
kenn1320 said:
redsquirrel said:
I'm pretty sure John uses a T screw.
Click to expand...

That's what I'm thinking, but must have a big washer on it? Our state laws indicate a T screw as supplied from a tree stand manufacturer is permissible on public land. I'm thinking this makes Johns set up legal here. It just seems like it would limit amount you can go around the tree. Since we can't use screw in steps on public land, any tree i can get my stick rope around I can get my tether around. One of Johns dvd's shows him propping a big pine, but he only showed a lineman belt in the DVD. Wonder if he used the T screw method on that tree?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure, but if you ask him I'm sure he'll tell you.
 
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