I remember about 5-6 years ago everyone on aldeer just about turned their nose up at saddlehunting. Glad to see it’s finally getting some recognition.
First, it isn’t more comfortable than everything else and it ain’t the end all be all, but it has a lot of pros. For public land the reduction in gear bulk and noise is the biggest sell for me. In my opinion sitting still in anything for 4+ hours isn’t extremely comfortable. That said saddles can be comfortable if you take the time to adjust/learn them. The same goes for climbing methods. At first you’ll think it’s hogwash and just wear you out to one stick climb or 2tether climb but once you get the movements down it’ll be as simple as a climber. As far as what you need you can spend as little or as much as you want. If you’re young and/or decent shape any climbing method you choose will work.
Whatever you do don’t pay full price or even close to full price for used gear. The saddle market is over saturated and gear can be had for cheap.
Saddle: your choice (single, two panel, pleat)
Rope: your choice (make your own or premade tether/lineman 8-11.4mm)
Climbing method: your choice (steps, sticks, one stick, climber bottom, 2tether, rope climb)
Platform: your choice(hang on hybrid, endless options fix, tethrd, latitude, Cruzr, trophyline, ROS (ring of steps), bolts)
There’s a lot of ways to skin the saddlecat depending on what type of set up you want and your goals. How are you hunting and what sacrifices are you wanting to make. There’s a middle ground between comfort, weight, and bulk and it’s probably somewhere around a 10x12” platform and a one stick. Are you rifle, crossbow, compound, or traditional bow hunting the most? Private or public?
If you’re thinking about it for private I would be looking at preset bolts and dryad drey (big hammok for your butt)
TLDR: yea there’s a lot of junk to parse through and I’m not sure I made it any better haha
