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Wear it in?

BlackpowderGuy (AJHS)

Active Member
SH Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2022
Messages
150
Hi folks - Just wondering whether the general wisdom is to wear the saddle in {distance of 1 mile or less} or to carry it? My pack is kind of heavy as it is...carrying 4 skeletors, 1 mission platform, kill bag {flashlight, knives, game bags}, 1.5. liter water, pruning shears and folding saw and Ozonics in an Eberlestock X2 bag. Not sure of exact weight but got to be close to 30 lbs. My saddle (Phanton XL), lineman's rope and tether are also north of five pounds, maybe closer to 10. - Going to hunt this early season with that set up, but thinking in the future of downsizing from Mission to LWCG the fix and getting comfortable enough with aiders to downsize from 4 sticks to 3. One sticking definately not an option for this year.

If I wear in the saddle, it is less weight on my bag, I am just wondering whether it is comfortable enough to walk in a mile without chafing or anything.

What is your experience?
 
I only wear my saddle in for short walks and if there’s no briars, etc to tear it up… I don’t recommend one sticking, but that’s your choice. I tried it, gave it up, and the more I see it, it just doesn’t seem safe at all. Best of luck this season!
 
you're gonna have to try it with your saddle and pack and see if it works

i wear my pack waist belt tight and above my hips to keep the weight off my shoulders....if i wear my saddle up there also then it pushes the saddle into me and is uncomfortable but if i slide the saddle down lower then it tends to want to fall (because i have the medical condition called no-azz-at-all). So, I already have my platform bungeed to my pack exterior, so I slide my saddle into a mesh sack from sea to summit and slide that under the bungees also.

Adds a few minutes to my time at the tree, but that's alright.
 
I only wear my saddle in for short walks and if there’s no briars, etc to tear it up… I don’t recommend one sticking, but that’s your choice. I tried it, gave it up, and the more I see it, it just doesn’t seem safe at all. Best of luck this season!
What is not safe about it? I am just curious your thoughts.

I work in the fire department, and I have done a few ropes classes. Only difference I see is having an anchor point high and a safety line. Other then that, we are using a single rope attached to a high point and using mechanical devices (along with our control hand) to repel.

I don't see a difference in me using my tether to the tree with one of the ropeman's for example vs a MadRock device....
 
Wear my saddle in during the warm weather and when it gets cool enough for heavier clothing I throw it all in the X-2. That pack will carry a load very comfortably and it takes only a few minutes to unload and dress for the weather.
 
What is not safe about it? I am just curious your thoughts.

I work in the fire department, and I have done a few ropes classes. Only difference I see is having an anchor point high and a safety line. Other then that, we are using a single rope attached to a high point and using mechanical devices (along with our control hand) to repel.

I don't see a difference in me using my tether to the tree with one of the ropeman's for example vs a MadRock device....

it's hard not to introduce slack in your tether while one stick climbing....falling onto a slacked line can injure you
 
it's hard not to introduce slack in your tether while one stick climbing....falling onto a slacked line can injure you
So couldn't you use the ropeman as climbing the tree, that way if you introduce slack it doesn't "come free" causing that slack?
 
So couldn't you use the ropeman as climbing the tree, that way if you introduce slack it doesn't "come free" causing that slack?

maybe...i'm not a one sticker, just quoting the most common critique of it from a safety angle
 
I always wear the Treehopper recon in. Its light and compact enough that I just cinch it down with the panels overlapped and wear it like a belt. I don’t have any pouches or anything on it.


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I wear mine in cuz it means less noisy fiddle factor when I get to the right tree. im usually setting up as close to bedding as I can get, so I want to be almost completely ready to climb without unpacking a bunch of stuff.
 
Minimalist here. 99% presets, and I would never consider carrying in my Recon. When I get to my tree, I want to be up and prepared asap.
For the life of me, I cannot fathom why guys want to goof around with gear at the bottom of the tree.
Deer often come to the sound of my approach to the tree. Why on earth would I want to waste time putting on my saddle?
Another reason for wearing it in...I know that everything is in order. I have my stuff, it's on my body, and I'm ready to go.
Packing it in also requires a larger pack and the possibility that I forgot something or a strap is twisted, etc.
Nobody is gonna convince me that it's better to pack it in. Wear it.
 
I wear the saddle in. The 40’ of rappel rope in the water bottle pouch tends to make everything sag, so I wear my lineman’s belt over my shoulders behind my neck as suspenders. That holds everything up. I also don’t walk in with the leg buckles connected, otherwise that webbing tends to rub every ste and eventually gets fuzzed from wear. I still connect them but backwards over my butt so my legs and free and clear walking in. This is what works for me walking in 1-2 mi.
 
Wear it in, every time. Cold weather I’ll take it off at the base of tree to add layers. Why pack it when it’s one less thing to carry on your back.
 
I wear it every time. No matter how far I am walking in. I agree with the others. Just one less thing to be able to forget packing in a back pack.
 
I'm the opposite of most but I have (2) saddle bags and prefer that over any kind of pack. My thoughts are that I could drop my pack, forget my pack, etc. but as long as I have my saddle, I know I can climb, hunt and descend.

To that end, I always wear mine in. With a good belt and worn above the hips, it's largely unnoticeable.
 
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