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Which saddle to get

W

Wayne

New Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2014
Messages
25
I decided to upgrade from my old Trophyline tree saddle and trying to decide which one.
i'm 5'8" 245lb and working on losing weight so I need a saddle that will work now and in the future.
I have 44" waist Tried to reach out to Tethrd with no response. Any suggestions
 
I would tell you either Company makes a great saddle, as I own both. The Mantis is more of a minimalist. As lite as you can get. The Kestrel you cannot fall out of even if if you end up side down. Heavier but safer. The legs straps on the kestrel are certified. Both are very comfortable.

Though if you end up side down you are not climbing correctly. Lol.


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I have huge thighs from weight lifting and football - do any have better adjustments for legs
 
I have no experience with Tethrd. The service I have received from New Tribe is excellent. Currently I am hunting from a Kite and have been very pleased with the quality and adjustability of the saddle. The Kestrel has a great reputation but is the heavier of the two saddles. I believe you would be well served by either saddle.
 
Actually it was olympic style lifting and after college it just messed up my back.
I did not see any girls on the lifting circuit lol
 
Has anyone weight the kite and compared it to the kestrel? Just curious what the difference is.
 
I have both. The kestrel is great and may be overbuilt. The mantis is lighter and is definitely a minimalist saddle. I do notice a difference walking in with them. You do not even know the mantis is on your butt. Not true with the kestrel. That said I think for my body - the size 2 kestrel is more comfortable than the mantis size large. I wondered if a mantis extra large would have been better. I know when I switched from a size 1 kestrel to a size 2 kestrel I was more comfortable. I am 5 foot 10 and 200 pounds and a 36 inch jean size on the waist. No butt.

So much of all this is personal preference and body type.
 
Ontariofarmer said:
I have both. The kestrel is great and may be overbuilt. The mantis is lighter and is definitely a minimalist saddle. I do notice a difference walking in with them. You do not even know the mantis is on your butt. Not true with the kestrel. That said I think for my body - the size 2 kestrel is more comfortable than the mantis size large. I wondered if a mantis extra large would have been better. I know when I switched from a size 1 kestrel to a size 2 kestrel I was more comfortable. I am 5 foot 10 and 200 pounds and a 36 inch jean size on the waist. No butt.

So much of all this is personal preference and body type.
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I'm the same size as you. I ordered a Kestrel #1 then changed it to a #2. I'm glad I changed it.
 
I would try the sit drag first. Not a big investment, and it will give you an idea of what you are looking for. You may find out that you don't like saddle hunting but I highly doubt it.
 
noxninja said:
I would try the sit drag first. Not a big investment, and it will give you an idea of what you are looking for. You may find out that you don't like saddle hunting but I highly doubt it.
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Or a fleece saddle but if you have some coin and are not yet confident on the whole concept of DIY then buy a saddle IMO

The ropes are great from Tethrd and really a sit drag with a decent rock climbing harness is about half the cost of a purchased saddle. Maybe you can find someone near you to visit and try a saddle.
 
I have a Trophyline and like using but I was thinking the "new" saddle would be that much better.
The real struggle I have is with climbing the tree - still trying figure out what is the easiest and lightest.
At 56 years old and needing to lose weight it can be a real task.
 
Deltahuntr said:
New Tribes website says the Kestrel by itself weighs 2.14lbs and the Kite weighs 1.8lbs.
Click to expand...

That’s not quite true....
It’s 2 lb 14 oz for the Kestrel and 1 lb 8 oz for the Kite which works out to be 2.875 and 1.5 lbs respectively.
 
I own a Kestrel and have zero complaints, although I have made a few mods. I switched the bridge to fixed Amsteel and I use Ropeman 1 instead of the supplied prussik. I've walked many miles in it and I cannot tell I'm even wearing it.
My buddy just recieved his Mantis and his number 1 complaint is the leg strap hook-up while wearing heavier clothes. The upper loop is hard for him to reach and locate while wearing cold weather layers.
I've never tried his Mantis so I cant say 1st hand how it would be for me. But I can say that I love my Kestrel...1,000 times better than my old Trophy Line.
 
Allegheny Tom said:
I own a Kestrel and have zero complaints, although I have made a few mods. I switched the bridge to fixed Amsteel and I use Ropeman 1 instead of the supplied prussik. I've walked many miles in it and I cannot tell I'm even wearing it.
My buddy just recieved his Mantis and his number 1 complaint is the leg strap hook-up while wearing heavier clothes. The upper loop is hard for him to reach and locate while wearing cold weather layers.
I've never tried his Mantis so I cant say 1st hand how it would be for me. But I can say that I love my Kestrel...1,000 times better than my old Trophy Line.
Click to expand...
Had a mantis and a kestral(still have the kestral,and love it) only complaint with the kestral is the linemans belt hook ups,I think there a little far back. Had the same problem with the mantis leg straps, I wear my Saddle in straps came unhooked, then tough to hook asst the tree
 
IndyHunter said:
That’s not quite true....
It’s 2 lb 14 oz for the Kestrel and 1 lb 8 oz for the Kite which works out to be 2.875 and 1.5 lbs respectively.
Click to expand...
If you switch to an amsteel bridge the kestrel weight will drop to 2 pounds 8 oz
 
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