Why a saddle over a climber for being mobile, but most of all being comfortable

[Jasper2]

Sometimes it's not about comfort. Many of us just like to look cool wearing our camouflage diapers and walking around trees like we're in a matrix movie. And let's not forget the "flag pose", saddles are the only way that most of us can perform this feat!

In all seriousness, I disagree with notion that climbers are more comfortable. We are all different but I've used many of the climbers on the market and that's just not the case for me, I seem to always have tail bone issues when sitting on my rump for extended periods. In fact, I'm so comfortable in my saddle that I've replaced my safety harness with my saddle. Even when hunting private land lock ons that are up all season, I saddle up for the comfort and near 360 degree shooting.

 

[floathunter3]

Sometimes it's not about comfort. Many of us just like to look cool wearing our camouflage diapers and walking around trees like we're in a matrix movie. And let's not forget the "flag pose", saddles are the only way that most of us can perform this feat!

In all seriousness, I disagree with notion that climbers are more comfortable. We are all different but I've used many of the climbers on the market and that's just not the case for me, I seem to always have tail bone issues when sitting on my rump for extended periods. In fact, I'm so comfortable in my saddle that I've replaced my safety harness with my saddle. Even when hunting private land lock ons that are up all season, I saddle up for the comfort and near 360 degree shooting.

I've done the same thing. Climbed into one of my old tree stands and set up my platform above it so I could hunt out of my saddle.

 

[DaveH]

I'm working on 67 and am happy to see there are other geezers saddle hunting, too. Looks like everyone has pointed out most of the benefits of saddle hunting so no need to repeat. From my perspective, I hunt mostly public land and can't think of a more flexible method of hunting from a tree.

 

[g2outdoors]

This thread makes me happy.

I'm perhaps the biggest saddle hunting cheerleader on the planet, and in my opinion there's still a place for those climbers.

If I had a spot that had telephone pole trees, with no limbs, with bark that wasn't loud to climb, with plenty of background cover, where I didn't have to walk very far, or through any thick areas, and it was freezing cold, and I wanted to use my heater body suit, and I needed to sit all day...i might consider my climber.

Probably not though

Sent from my Galaxy S8.

 

[TonyGreenway]

I still have my summit climber but it's riding on thin ice right now. One wrong look and I'm taking pictures of it.

 

[boyne bowhunter]

I'm 56 and believe that my Summit climber, clothes, gear, etc totaled to somewhere near 40-45lbs. Where I hunt I typically walk anywhere from a 1/4 mile to a mile one way, up and down hills. That sounds like a lot of weight to carry but to be honest I didn't move away from the climber because of the weight, it packs pretty well. The main reason I moved to saddle hunting for the stealth. There were times I felt like I might as well have been walking through the woods banging the trees with a metal pole as the waist high saplings rattled off the summit frame.

The additional benefit of saddle hunting is that it opens up more tree possibilities, trees with branches, multi-trunk trees where the trunks split too high to get into with the climber, small trees, etc. I also feel like my profile in the tree is less noticeable in the saddle. With the climber I felt like my profile was that of a power pole transformer sitting on the side of a tree and deer would pick up on me at times. In the saddle your profile angles away from the tree and sort of blends in with the normal flow of the branches.

As far as comfort goes it is really hard to beat my Summit 180 but my Kestrel is pretty close. The thing with the Kestrel is I can change positions subtly and it really helps long term comfort in the tree. Slight angle changes on the tether, leaning, sitting, rolling slightly to one side or the other all play into staying comfortable.

One of the downsides is climbing method. With the climber its an easy process. With the saddle you have to find one that works well for your needs. That was the hardest part of the conversion for me. I didn't want to simply go to a set of climbing sticks because I felt like I would be trading one noise maker for another. I now have several climbing methods I feel comfortable with. It only takes a little searching and some practice to get proficient.

I still have my Summit and use it when it gets really cold out but I prefer my Kestrel for the majority of my sits.

 

[eyedoc]

I am by far most comfortable in my Summit Viper treestand. For the rut and all day sits I still grab my Summit. For half day sits I grab my Kestrel. Just depends how I am feeling that day.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[redsquirrel]

I'm 56 and believe that my Summit climber, clothes, gear, etc totaled to somewhere near 40-45lbs. Where I hunt I typically walk anywhere from a 1/4 mile to a mile one way, up and down hills. That sounds like a lot of weight to carry but to be honest I didn't move away from the climber because of the weight, it packs pretty well. The main reason I moved to saddle hunting for the stealth. There were times I felt like I might as well have been walking through the woods banging the trees with a metal pole as the waist high saplings rattled off the summit frame.

The additional benefit of saddle hunting is that it opens up more tree possibilities, trees with branches, multi-trunk trees where the trunks split too high to get into with the climber, small trees, etc. I also feel like my profile in the tree is less noticeable in the saddle. With the climber I felt like my profile was that of a power pole transformer sitting on the side of a tree and deer would pick up on me at times. In the saddle your profile angles away from the tree and sort of blends in with the normal flow of the branches.

As far as comfort goes it is really hard to beat my Summit 180 but my Kestrel is pretty close. The thing with the Kestrel is I can change positions subtly and it really helps long term comfort in the tree. Slight angle changes on the tether, leaning, sitting, rolling slightly to one side or the other all play into staying comfortable.

One of the downsides is climbing method. With the climber its an easy process. With the saddle you have to find one that works well for your needs. That was the hardest part of the conversion for me. I didn't want to simply go to a set of climbing sticks because I felt like I would be trading one noise maker for another. I now have several climbing methods I feel comfortable with. It only takes a little searching and some practice to get proficient.

I still have my Summit and use it when it gets really cold out but I prefer my Kestrel for the majority of my sits.

This guy just gets it.

 

[jryser]

I started saddle hunting many years ago with the TL (there are a few of us die hards but the Mantis and Predator combo are going to be huge steps up this year!).

Now that I’ve found the best climbing method for me I’m blown away with not just the portability, but the ability to hunt trees no lock on or climber could take me.

The ease of moving through the woods with no bulk on my back is a must - I have physical limitations that make me have to hunt smart for a body that is not the greatest. I can travel farther, more comfortably, and equally important have all day sits easily.

I have had more than my fair share of naps in my saddle - only to wake up to an unsuspecting deer nearby that didn’t pick me off bx my best shot angle had me exposed.

My climbers are long gone / I have gone from 10 to 2 lock-ons (one is for filming), and the 4 ladders I have left remain bx I’m lazy.

The saddle is a public land game changer as you will see several times over the Deer Tour that The Hunting Public is on!!

Thanks Redsquirrel for dealing with some of the issues on the site this past week. I got the great “forbidden” message and he took care of it. I felt a little off kilter for a day or two.

 

[IkemanTX]

No way any saddle is more comfortable than a nice climber. It is VERY rare for me to use anything other than a saddle but I'll never get rid of my ultralight Summit climber.

Tell that to my C7 and L1 vertebrae. Any seat style stand, no matter how comfortable, becomes a torture device to me after a couple hours.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bowtech12]

This will be my first year in a saddle

I’ve hunted out of climbers for 2 decades. The past 3 years I huntedvout if sticks and loc on

This spring I got the kestrel and have practicing ever since

I’ve lighted my bulk carrying weight by 17 lbs plus I’m not carrying a fridge on my back anymore

 

[Bogle]

All of them have their place. However, 90% of the time I don't know the exact tree I will set up in and may move once I get in based on sign. Therefore, I usually take the saddle.

 

[Country]

P

HA! For the record I'm 74, and the primary reason that I went to a saddle was the safety factor. My lock-on set up with rock climbing harness was light and very portable.

Please don't hurt me, sir. I'm sorry if I ever wronged you.

 

[huck72412]

Tell that to my C7 and L1 vertebrae. Any seat style stand, no matter how comfortable, becomes a torture device to me after a couple hours.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well, there's always that one exception

 

[blakeman]

Thanks again to everyone who have answered my thread it's been very helpful
Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jgetch]

All of them have their place. However, 90% of the time I don't know the exact tree I will set up in and may move once I get in based on sign. Therefore, I usually take the saddle.

This is a great point and probably one that’s under appreciated to a certain extent. Before I used a saddle once I got into a tree that was where I sat for the hunt pretty much no matter what. The thought alone of clanging down with my climber or unhooking my loc on and resetting on another tree would convince me otherwise. The past two seasons in a saddle I probably relocated on 50% of my hunts once I realized I was a bit out of position and that was using sticks the first year and then the one stick system last year. This year with the k/s I’m willing to bet my rate increases yet again because of the ease of climbing now. The ability to climb and comfortably sit in just about any tree in the woods combined with very quickly being able to relocate is almost cheating compared to the traditional options when hunting large travel corridors where either, being forced to set up in a tree that’s not in the right position because your stand is limited to what it can climb, or having both the ability and ease of operation to move 10-20yrds into a better position can and is often the difference between filling tags and seeing deer but not having shooting opportunities. I can remember standing where I thought the deer would be and looking for the “right” tree to set up in and saying “ I’d like to be in that one but the only one my stand can sit is that crappy spot over there”. I almost never find a situation anymore where I can’t set up in the best tree for that spot.

 

[Bogle]

Agreed. There are a few bowhunting situations where I do prefer my loc on to my saddle ( had one last night) but not many. I also think being able to have the tree between my self and the deer is huge. Lastly, I think by being able to rotate around the tree allows you to turn a broadside shot or a slight frontal shot into a good broadside shot or a good quartering away shot.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[Roop]

I'm 52 & have a few years pruning trees via single rope and can't believe I didn't think of hunting out of my saddle before.

I got tired of only hunting telephone pole trees with my Summit climber so this season I will be using my Miller Butterfly harness with the seat strap. If I can work all day in it, hanging out & hunting out of it will be a piece of cake.





I'm waiting on my WE Steps but made my knaider & aider the other day out of 2 Wesspur slings to avoid any sewing.

Wesspur slings


The WE Steps open a whole new world of trees for you - they will be a lot more quiet than any climber or my noisy grunting hip-thrust single rope climb.

Good luck!

 

[redsquirrel]

I'm 52 & have a few years pruning trees via single rope and can't believe I didn't think of hunting out of my saddle before.

I got tired of only hunting telephone pole trees with my Summit climber so this season I will be using my Miller Butterfly harness with the seat strap. If I can work all day in it, hanging out & hunting out of it will be a piece of cake.

View attachment 6200



I'm waiting on my WE Steps but made my knaider & aider the other day out of 2 Wesspur slings to avoid any sewing.

Wesspur slings


The WE Steps open a whole new world of trees for you - they will be a lot more quiet than any climber or my noisy grunting hip-thrust single rope climb.

Good luck!

Welcome to the site!