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XOP Renegade saddle

As a first time saddle hunter I purchased this with the Edge platform based on the reasonable startup cost. I have added 1 inch webbing and added dump pouches from Amazon. Took a few times trying it out to figure out that some of the straps are not needed to wear as a saddle. Overall i feel pretty confident in its construction and feel very safe in my practice runs.
 

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Here is a video of this "novel concoction"


Marketing:
The price point is stunning considering it includes a tether and a linesman. I see that as a good thing no matter where it was manufactured because it means that more folks will be able to afford it.

The 'versatility factor' of being 2-in-1, does not impress me in the sense that as as a saddle hunter I only care about a well designed saddle, but I can see the appeal to a consumer segment. Good too.

It's also interesting how they pitch this as a win-win for them, which are basically hanging and climbing stand manufacturers (saddle competitors). LOL.

The design... meh. But I've not tried it, so... take what follows with a grain of salt.
a) If I can see correctly, the linesman loops double as bridge loops and there is no belt. So, what happens if someone wants to run a bridge and a linesman belt at the same time? I can imagine a mess of ropes, but that may be just prejudice on my part.

b) How will the (non-elastic) shoulder straps play when someone wants to sit in the saddle? will there be all sort of tension? Note: it's a different idea to use an elastic suspender.

c) In the best case scenario it is just another single panel saddle and this together with b) automatically screams "riding up" in my mind. But again, I may be wrong.

Operations (as suggested in the video):

Doubling the linesman belt as bridge may look like a great idea, but... the hunter will have to disconnect and fumble with it up high in a tree to do this. I see a disaster in the making right there.

Also, this idea of having a loop in the tag end of the ropes to double clip in the carbineer looks a bit messy.Are those ropes too "stiff" to be daisy chained?

Anyways, if it will get more folks into hunting (from a tree stand or from a saddle or from wherever), fine with me.
 
Scottydont222 said:
As a first time saddle hunter I purchased this with the Edge platform based on the reasonable startup cost. I have added 1 inch webbing and added dump pouches from Amazon. Took a few times trying it out to figure out that some of the straps are not needed to wear as a saddle. Overall i feel pretty confident in its construction and feel very safe in my practice runs.
Click to expand...

Please do share your on-the-field experience. How comfortable it is for walking in, climbing up, hanging from the tree, etc.
 
As far as a light weight, versatile, minimalist set up I am not sure what more you could want, especially if you treestand hunt and would like to saddle hunt some too. The only thing that I saw that was concerning was, "the knots come loose from the factory". Trusting your consumers to ensure the knot is dressed properly with enough tag end seems like a recipe for someone getting hurt to me. Secondly, I am not a fan of the overhand knot on the prussic. I think a few more cents of cord to make a nice double fisherman's knot would have been the way to go, but I have seen other companies do the same.
 
JPS said:
Please do share your on-the-field experience. How comfortable it is for walking in, climbing up, hanging from the tree, etc.
Click to expand...
Sat roughly 30 hours last week in my setup. Shoulder straps hold the saddle on the hips nicely. Had to take some of the tension out once at hunting height and tethered in. I found myself doubling my bridge as a lineman's belt. Didn't really use the 3rd rope at all. I don't have another saddle to compare to as far as comfort but after 30 hours I'm feeling pretty good. I think it is much more comfortable then any tree stand I have hunted out of. It does seem to ride up a little bit throughout the sit but a quick adjustment and I was good to go.
 
I just picked one of these up to try a saddle hunt. The price was a big factor since its gets me in the game and if its not for me then its a tree stand harness. Any thoughts on using this with a climbing harness like the Black Diamond BOD to get past the bridge issue? Kind of conjures up images of the gimp from pulp fiction with all those straps!
 
Scottydont222 said:
Sat roughly 30 hours last week in my setup. Shoulder straps hold the saddle on the hips nicely. Had to take some of the tension out once at hunting height and tethered in. I found myself doubling my bridge as a lineman's belt. Didn't really use the 3rd rope at all. I don't have another saddle to compare to as far as comfort but after 30 hours I'm feeling pretty good. I think it is much more comfortable then any tree stand I have hunted out of. It does seem to ride up a little bit throughout the sit but a quick adjustment and I was good to go.
Click to expand...
When you transition the rope from lanyard to bridge, do you use any other backup to stay connected to the tree?
 
JPS said:
When you transition the rope from lanyard to bridge, do you use any other backup to stay connected to the tree?
Click to expand...
I did not use anything else to stay connected( I realize the safety issue there) but I was being lazy. I chose to hunt trees that I could wrap my arms all the way around so it was pretty easy to hold on. also i chose to do this to eliminate having two carabiners on my loops. its a little bulky and quite annoying. I think i would like to make a permanent bridge too eliminate a carabiner and just use lineman and tether together to climb/transition.
 
Scottydont222 said:
I did not use anything else to stay connected( I realize the safety issue there) but I was being lazy. I chose to hunt trees that I could wrap my arms all the way around so it was pretty easy to hold on. also i chose to do this to eliminate having two carabiners on my loops. its a little bulky and quite annoying. I think i would like to make a permanent bridge too eliminate a carabiner and just use lineman and tether together to climb/transition.
Click to expand...
My XOP saddle came today. A permanent bridge is a good idea and easy since its comes with 3 tethers/linemans belts.
 
Jturkey605 said:
My XOP saddle came today. A permanent bridge is a good idea and easy since its comes with 3 tethers/linemans belts.
[/QUOTE
Im thinking i might just tie the prusick to the loop on one side and ditch the carabiner for the bridge. I would recommend that you watch XOP's instruction video on youtube. Cody explains it pretty well.
Click to expand...
 
Sat in the XOP Renegade saddle for my first hunt last sunday for 4 hours. I used the hawk helium 30" stick with the HSP platform to one stick up to 15 ft. I chose a tree with a slight lean (rookie mistake) so I was fighting gravity for the whole time as I climbed up on the side and was being pulled to the right the whole time. I should've got down and readjusted but I didn't want to make noise so I stuck it out. All in all, not bad. I found myself changing positions every 30 mins or so and ultimately would have enjoyed a level set and a little more platform space with better traction. Oh... I saw nothing but squirrels and a stick bug.
 
Boy the price point is tough to beat. I’m glad to hear y’all having success with them. I almost bought one, just because. I think I want to try a 2 panel next time that would have a lot bigger of a seat, like those fleece seats. I’m good for this season and need to quit buying stuff…….really want an Ebike for my public land ventures
 
Jturkey605 said:
Sat in the XOP Renegade saddle for my first hunt last sunday for 4 hours. I used the hawk helium 30" stick with the HSP platform to one stick up to 15 ft. I chose a tree with a slight lean (rookie mistake) so I was fighting gravity for the whole time as I climbed up on the side and was being pulled to the right the whole time. I should've got down and readjusted but I didn't want to make noise so I stuck it out. All in all, not bad. I found myself changing positions every 30 mins or so and ultimately would have enjoyed a level set and a little more platform space with better traction. Oh... I saw nothing but squirrels and a stick bug.
Click to expand...
Instead of trying to adjust everything, try sliding your tether hitch over. Maybe tough with just the HSP, but even using just the side of it and a knee against the tree may have been more comfy. I have been playing with my tether position quite a bit and since I lean I guess, I like the tether hitch as high as I can get it. Gives me more slack trying to get further around the tree it seems as well.
 
I bought two of these for my two sons to get I to saddle hunting. Neither of them are using them. They both argue it is an ATOMIC WEDGIE all in one convenient package. I wished I had bought only one...
 
I purchased the renegade and used it this season exclusively. I modified mine quite a bit by cutting the shoulder straps off and the safty harness style straps as well. Making it a bare bones saddle. I absolutely love it. I’m coming from a trophy line and found it noticeably lighter, and less bulky.

when I missed it I had to add a waist since that I made out of the excess straps I cut off. And I made the bridge short and no longer adjustable….but I may change that back to adjustable…idk just yet. A great value and super effective saddle at ANY price point. DM me if you want any pics or additional info.
 
mball1684 said:
I purchased the renegade and used it this season exclusively. I modified mine quite a bit by cutting the shoulder straps off and the safty harness style straps as well. Making it a bare bones saddle. I absolutely love it. I’m coming from a trophy line and found it noticeably lighter, and less bulky.

when I missed it I had to add a waist since that I made out of the excess straps I cut off. And I made the bridge short and no longer adjustable….but I may change that back to adjustable…idk just yet. A great value and super effective saddle at ANY price point. DM me if you want any pics or additional info.
Click to expand...
I would like to see pictures please.
 
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