Mike, give me a call sometime and I will go into detail on what I know. I’ve been using one for two years now.

Here is what it boils down to. A saddle is 1000x times better in the portion of your hunt from the truck to being settled in a tree. Actually hunting out of it, a comfortable climber is better than a saddle, and a lonewolf lock-on is about equal to a saddle. That being said, I have not used a climber in the last two season, even though many times I’m only walking a few hundred yards from the truck.

I put off going to a saddle for a long time because it made no sense from a weight perspective by the time you added up 4 sticks, a platform, and the saddle. I was already using a x stand that weighed 12 pounds, so I would actually be gaining weight.

When I did start using a saddle, I got climbing spurs. With saddle, platform, and spurs, my setup weighs 9#s. With all of my hunting gear, it’s about like wearing a turkey vest as far as weight and compactness.

The only climbing methods I would consider are spurs, ultimate 1 stick, or lone wolf hand climber. From a weight/speed/compactness standpoint, those are the only ones that make sense to me.

Spurs are extremely fast, you can climb any tree that will hold your weight, very compact, quiet, and light. But most public land you can’t use them. The lonewolf hand climber is a really good option, and probably the best weight to speed combination, but your tree choices are more limited. 1 sticking is allows for more versatility on tree selection than the hand climber, but it’s the least compact, most labor intensive of the 3 I mentioned.

As far as saddle brands go. I have an H2. I’ve tried a tethrd mantis and phantom, a kestrel flex, and a cruzr xc. If I was to pick a new saddle today I would get a cruzr xc or a lattitude method. Tethrd are the least comfortable of the saddles I’ve tried.

I’ve watched a bunch of videos on it and read a bunch in the saddle hunter forums, and I just don’t see it. I could be wrong, but it looks like a hassle.

I’m not saying I wouldn’t we willing to try it once, but it would take a lot of convincing.

No deer is worth that to me

Ladder stands are as crazy as I’ll get.

How is this for us bigger boys? 6'2"/265lbs

I have just recently got into the saddle hunting myself and I have been extremely happy with it so far. ( I was skeptical at first becuase I did not know how 258# would hang from the treestand diaper, but I am glad I explored it) What I have noticed form the comfort aspect of it, is that you can literally adjust it all morning for your desired comfort/needs at that time. I have not sat in mine all day yet, but from 4-6 hours is a breeze. I think Broadhead makes a great point in one of his responses when he talks about the ability to swing around. This makes slow mornings a little more enjoyable. I think a saddle opens up WAY more shot oportunities than a traditional stand if needed as well.

I do think there is a time and place for it. I will still use a traditonal lock on on any given day, but if I am running and gunning, I will be in a saddle over a climber.

I am currently running the tetherd Phantom, and using hawk hellium sticks. I enjoy using the top stick as a resting place, but I believe a platform would be a game changer.

Coosa from the picture you posted it looks like when you draw your bow the string would hit the ropes that hold you up.

Do these work even for bigger guys? (6'2" 240)

I'm 6' 3" 270# and I've been using one for about 2.5 seasons. I use the Mantis now with a battle belt. I have major hip pinch and have tried a few different ones. I just sold the Method because it was worse on me. As far as climbing goes, I HATE dealing with sticks unless I have to. I have 3 Hawk sticks that I cut down to 24". With a 5 step aider, I can get to 24' no problem. I use the sticks when I'm hunting the Midwest or striking out into the unknown. If I know there are gonna be straight trees where I'm going, I use a Summit Open Shot top as a climbing method. It weighs less than 3 sticks and I can be in a tree in no time. I tested it in the yard for using it as a platform and climbing method all in one. I was able to put side pressure on it and it not kick out but I haven't hunted with it like that yet. I plan to put some expanded aluminum on and some eye bolts where I can run a strap around the tree and tighten it up. Then I know for sure it won't ever kick out. That top I have weighs around 6 lbs.

Not at all, the bridge (rope that the tree tether is attached to) is connected to the saddle right at your belt line and angles up and away from you. Never had it even touch my bow string.

I had some bad hip pinch in mine but then I changed it to a much longer adjustable bridge, hip pinch is completely gone now.

These guys have covered it well in detail. I have been in one for a few years and yes there is a learning curve but when you figure out how everything works and find what works for you I can just about promise you won’t go back to anything else unles certain situations arise. Climbers and lock ons have there place and I still use occasionally but for me 95% of the time it’s the saddle.
I use kestrel, 3 helium sticks/ spurs when leagal and predator as a platform. All is on my pack / slim package all together.

Give it a shot and give it some time. And if it’s not for you you won’t have a hard time selling on Saddle hunter forum or other social media platforms

I'll say this as well. The first few times I hunted from a saddle it took me FOREVER to get up the tree and set up. But as time went on and I got my routine tweaked I became faster and faster. now I have an exact list of steps that I know I need to do in order when I get to a tree and I can fly through them and be set up in no time.

The real question is "can i piss while saddled in"?

I've been looking into going the saddle route for the last 3 years, but haven't pulled the trigger on one yet. My biggest thing for wanting to go to one is hunting public land a lot, when you find a perfect spot but the climber won't git on the tree or the tree has a ton of limbs, so a climber limits where I can climb, and I looked but going to a lock on with sticks and it won't be any lighter then my climbing setup for all day sits, my summit ultimate viper,rifle,backpack for all day sits is pushing 30lbs and isn't very fun to pack in after 1.5 miles, I've put the mole pack frame in my climber to help with positioning the load and its a vast improvement over the factory back pack straps. My thinking was a saddle would let me get into any tree I need to that will hold my heavy self regardless of tree diameter, where the climber won't go because the tree is to big, or a good location with a crooked tree or a tree with limbs. Was looking at going with a aero hunter saddle and hawk sticks should bring my overall weight down a good bit plus open up locations and trees I was not able to climb before. I climb almost every sit on public and private land. From what I've notice ladder stands deer seem to check them by looking up at them when they walk by

Yeah I can get into some pretty limby trees with mine

Thanks again guy's. The spurs are gonna be a no go as the places are state and federal public. I will need to use sticks or a hand climber some of y'all mention. I am trying to visually figure out how y'all use a hand climber. Is there a YouTube video showing someone using this method? The timber is plenty big and straight in these areas so finding a suitable tree will not be an issue.

[quote=Coosa1]

Yeah I can get into some pretty limby trees with mine



How do you do this without unhooking. Are you going between a linemans belt and back to the main top connection? Seen some youTube videos but I don't see how they get in limb trees.

I girth hitch the loop end of my tether to one of my saddle linemans loops and use it as a secondary linemans belt by clipping it on the other loop. That way I can alternate between two linemans belts when going over limbs.

New to the forums here, so hope you don't mind a newbie weighing in! I'm in my first full season as a saddle hunter. I started late last deer season with some DIY configurations that were ok at best, so I bought the Tethrd Phantom during the offseason. I've used it almost exclusively this year, outside of a couple of lock on sits. I'm still tweaking my gear and process, but I am all in. All I can speak from is my experience, but I the first thing I can tell you is that I was not very efficient at the beginning and began to question if it was worth it. My guess is a lot of folks do that and likely never fight through it to get to the good part. I made noise and I'm sure looked like an idiot hanging from the tree, trying to get sticks hung, platform set etc. If you're a mobile hunter like me, you've probably been hunting out of climbers forever, so you have that process down. You've climbed hundreds of trees the same way, every time and it's just familiar to you. All that said, to say there will be a learning curve, but if you're willing to learn and keep at it, you'll probably find it's a really awesome way to hunt. I've made some pretty quick progress this year, and no longer debate over climber or saddle. Personally I'm not super sensitive to weight, so my set up is 4 x 20" Helium sticks, each with cable aiders attached. I have a DIY platform at the moment, but plan to get one of the larger production platforms for next year. Again, not really worried about weight, and I believe the extra foot room will give you more mobility around the tree when the shot calls for it. With that set up, I can get to 22 feet or so (I'm only 5'9" with boots on!) and I can do it relatively quickly. I've got a Tethrd HYS strap for my gear once I get in the tree, not unlike what some of the pictures here have shown. With that thing, I can be set up and ready to go super fast. I've been impressed with the comfort too. I've had some pretty long sits this year, and can't complain about being uncomfortable. I do recommend one of the back/recliner straps if you do plan on long sits...game changer.

I'll quit rambling, but to try and summarize, I'm totally digging it. Again, weight aside, the packability is unquestionable...much easier to navigate through the woods with than a climber. The flexibility and options you have with the trees you can climb, is undeniably better than with a climber. The range of motion allows so many more shot opportunities than a standard harness and stand. It's safer because if you're doing it right, you're pretty much tied off the entire time, up and down. Like I said, it's my preferred method now on both public and private land. If you're a mobile hunter and are willing to put in the time to learn your process, you'll probably come away with the same thoughts. Tons of good info online that has helped me as well. I've leaned on saddlehunter.com a lot and still find hacks that I can apply to get better and better. Feel free to message me if you have any specific questions.

Sounds good.. thanks!