I'm fit and consider myself "strong"....working with heavy tools and moving heavy weld projects, stooping, bending, outta position welds etc keeps u in good shape. Climbers and hang on stands suck to carry IMO because u get caught in all the vines and bushes more than the weight of the stand. Having that extra drag thru the woods and stooping extra far to hopefully clear the branch wears u out fast. Switching to a saddle was good but switching to mini sticks that I didn't have to worry about snagging and eventually losing sticks all together I feel I can hike all day long. The swamp and coastal marshes I like to hunt are really difficult to walk thru no matter who u are or what ur carrying. Could I have reached that distant island with my hang on? Sure I could.....but there is always that voice in the back of ur mind saying "u gonna have to lug this heavy thing back later in the dark thru the marsh that was low tide walking out but will be high tide coming back..then I second guess and hunt an easier spot. With the really light equipment I'm more gung-ho to head in deeper.
With a little skill and patience u can make all the expensive equipment yourself and save lots of money or be patient and look to the classified. It's ok if ur saddle setup doesn't have the latest ultralite whiz bang gizmos but having a streamline, easy to carry, hunt system makes my time in the woods more enjoyable and I can hunt more and.... fidget, adjust, strap, lash, gear tie, clip, fruit roll up.....less.