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What's next for manufactured saddles?

If a company produces a platform that has a climbing band like the LW handclimber and a post like a predator, that will be killer. Two birds with one stone. Loggy bayou did it with their treestand in the early 90s. It could be used as a hang on without the band or a climber with the band installed.
Personally i only use my LWHC on limbless trees, otherwise i prefer my sticks/ steps and ameristep ROS.
 
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I think a fully adjustable saddle would be a big hit. Maybe some sort of adjustable webbing "ring" with a center that has 6-8 adjustment straps. Maybe even a series of grommets in 6 locations with a weave of some sort that can be tightened/loosened to adjust for comfort.
 
I think a fully adjustable saddle would be a big hit. Maybe some sort of adjustable webbing "ring" with a center that has 6-8 adjustment straps. Maybe even a series of grommets in 6 locations with a weave of some sort that can be tightened/loosened to adjust for comfort.

Sounds like the original Aero Evo. Problem with that type of saddle is it gets very “strappy” with all the adjustment straps.


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If someone could invent a rated, elastic webbing, it could replicate the comfort of a fleece saddle. I suspect sooner we'll see a commercial fleece saddle reinforced with webbing, but that has no advantage. The webbing will just be a pressure point.
I think you could add webbing to a fleece saddle without creating pressure points like in a current saddle. The webbing would just have to be attached loosely and just at the maximum stretch point of the fleece. It is too custom though for a manufacturer to accomplish and would be a diy mod.

Ultimately I think you would still be better off with RCH though.

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How about this for starters....

Incorporate wi-fi and wireless charging. I’m getting tired of no signal and my phone going dead while I’m trying to hunt. Netflix would be a plus.

A back door for “emergencies”. Just gotta make sure you don’t land in the wrong spot when repelling.

A motorized wench for srt climbing with an ABS braking system for descending. Also must run totally silent.
 
I'll make the perfect saddle.
This saddle will be in the form of a rock climbing harness all mesh. It will have no bridge. Tether will be connected to the saddle just like the CRH with a ring. My back band will hold your head as well for a sleep position. My saddle will have leg bands too and recline like a lazy boy. My harness will allow you to spread your legs around the tree without any pinch by thigh or hips. My harness will allow no hip pinch at all too. My harness will allow you to attach the tether to your back side if you decide to face away from the tree. Along with my saddle I will have telescopic carbon sticks if you choose to extend them. The sticks will have a platform on there with different varies of adjustment to your style. 2 sticks will get you 20 ft and weighs less than 3 pounds. They will be 20 inches for each stick. In addition to the kit I will have climber. Small platform foot climber and a upper body climber which will allow you to attach your tether around it with out ever have to undue as you ascend. And for the guys that want a saddle pant I'll make one too. Lol now who wants in? Theres more once I go in business the quantum stuff comes out
 
I think saddles are great. There are more than enough options out there for everyone to find something that works for them.

It's the climbing that's the limiting factor. I have something I'm working on but have gotten a little stuck. Meeting with an engineer at a family members company this week. I want something ultralight, packable into a semi large fanny pack(whole system saddle, ropes, etc), will double as a platform when at hunting height (maybe with the addition of a squirrel step or 2). Really shouldn't be that hard to figure out. Shouldn't be but proving to be a tough nut. I think what I've got will work. Just gotta get it right. I want the whole system to be somewhere around 6lbs.

I know, I know......every newbie (like me) that comes by probably starts off looking at saddle hunting thinking they can "revolutionize" the method. I'm sure its tiresome. I just love the hunting method, see the potential and (if we can get the climbing method worked out to be less of an expensive pain in the butt) think saddle hunting can fill a big need for a broader range of hunters.

Sadly, there are less and less hunters every year. Less and less private lands available for hunting too. Hunting public lands is far more difficult than having a lease or private property where you can have static stands year after year and get to know the property well (saddle hunting can work for those folks too....your favorite stand isnt always downwind).

I think saddle hunting is part of the answer to breaking down pain in the butt barriers for the next generation of hunters. And that's important. The less numbers, the less voice, the less we are accommodated. Not only that but hunting and outdoor activities are an important part of our culture. I would hate to see it go the way of the dodo and in the future hunting is reserved only for rich land owners while the peasants beat the bushes for 6pence a day. We are about 3 grandma's away from that reality in old europe.
 
I'm thinking 2020 will see more platforms hit the market. I wouldn't be surprised if every big tree stand manufacturer has a platform at some point soon.

What I really want is a better way to pack all my gear into the woods. I use an old army assault pack which works but there is much room for improvement. I'd also like a chest rig that won't pinch in my bridge and can be used as a bino harness with incorporated holster for sidearm.
 
I’d like to see saddlehunters focus on what they can do for the planet, as a group, than what our golden geese can crank out to satisfy our desire to have all the toys!

From the golden geese - more specific and dynamic testing of all gear currently being offered. Less money and time spent on making an incremental change to what’s available now, and more spent on avoiding one person from losing life or limb. Every single day the odds go up one of us is coming home in a bag. Whether it’s due to equipment failure or user error, a concerted effort to look after their customers would go a long way in my mind.

I think tree stand manufacturers need to follow this advice as well.


................................................................................All climbing methods, platforms, saddle designs, and/or use of materials possibly mentioned in the post above are not peer reviewed for safety, and should only be used as an example of my own method. Do your own research and testing before becoming confident in any DIY solution to support your life.
-IkemanTx
 
I’d like to see saddlehunters focus on what they can do for the planet, as a group, than what our golden geese can crank out to satisfy our desire to have all the toys!

From the golden geese - more specific and dynamic testing of all gear currently being offered. Less money and time spent on making an incremental change to what’s available now, and more spent on avoiding one person from losing life or limb. Every single day the odds go up one of us is coming home in a bag. Whether it’s due to equipment failure or user error, a concerted effort to look after their customers would go a long way in my mind.

The safety aspect of it all. I know the possibility of some joe buying some thrown together stuff and falling is just around the corner. It really is a diy concept that needs some training aspect incorporated. Maybe one of you guys could put a manual together on ropes and hardware. A do and don’t list with illustrations. Safety
I really enjoy reading on the forum, looking forward to my first saddle soon.
 
The only thing that would be better then the jx3 is a jx3 with heated seat and back rest. We'll call it the jx3 Denali or Jx3 platinum

If you put a thin foam pad on the seat - and I do, it’s as warm as you could ever want, I think heated would be too much. I haven’t put one on the backrest but no reason you couldn’t. The future is now.
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I guess I am just really happy with what I am currently running. I absolutely am 100% satisfied and comfortable with what is currently available (or will be shortly). I will always tweak things and try new things but really I like my current system. i am more into improvements in some of the other gear like bikes, kayaks, cameras, etc.... my saddle gear is good but it will be interesting to see what people come up with.
 
I agree that the biggest area with room for improvement is climbing methods. As stated above, a lwhc with a predator style post would be awesome.

I hunt with a couple guys that use summit climbers. When we all gear up and I have a kite and a lwhc they look at me like "are you hunting on the ground" haha

My biggest gripe is with my winter layering system. My layers are by far the bulkiest part of my system.
 
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