New Saddle Hunters 2021

I am 61 y/o and 250 lbs, started saddle hunting this year and love it, I am borrowing a saddle to be sure I want to continue. The saddle is too small for me but still comfortable, I am sure it will be much better with the correct size. I can hunt trees that would be impossible for a climber. Also very quiet and quick (after the learning curve) I would highly recommend, especially if hunting Midwest as there are often few options to there

I got one this year and I really like it. I am 40 and 215 pounds. Go to saddlehunter.com and peruse the forum if you really want to get some good responses.

Pros:

To me it is much more comfortable than any stand with a fixed seat and even some climbers with crummy sling seats. I can sit for as long as I want in it. It takes the first couple hunts to get used to it. I have sat 6-7 hours in it several times this season.

You can get into pretty much any tree skinny, fat, crooked, big limbs. This why I got one. I was sick of not being able to get into the trees I wanted.

The setup is light and carries even lighter. I can walk for hours with it on my backpack and it doesn't bother me. My climber is only 3 pound heavier and it is a bear to carry through the woods for a long period because of the way the weight is distributed.

It makes you feel very safe. You don't ever get that worried you are going to fall feeling, like in other stands.

Cons:

More expensive than I thought to get the system going.

Changing clothes in the saddle is the biggest con. You can't add or take off pants. You can change upper garments but it is a bit tricky.

Setup time is much more than in a climber.

This is my fourth season in a saddle. You have to tinker for to find the comfort. Every season I change things to get as much comfort as I can. This season I added knee pads and a back band. This allows me to sit with no discomfort at all when I am tired of leaning. Small changes make huge differences in comfort. I would say there is nothing as comfortable as my summit Goliath. Unless you have a JX3, which I have one (not my primary go to). That thing is legit.

But what I give up in comfort, I gain so much more in pack ability, weight savings, and more tree options. As someone who only hunts public and has a few permission spots, those things are worth the sacrifice.

I would agree with you, that I do find myself moving more in the tree than you would in the climber. But I think that’s because you have the ability to move, vs sitting motionless. I’ve killed nearly a dozen deer out of the saaddle. So the movement hasn’t hindered my hunting.

Pic of my public buck with JX3 last year.

Who is using these for hunting places where mobility is NOT crucial, like accessible private land? For those folks, what are you leaving in the tree? Just sticks? Platform, too?

I want to give them a try, but I’m hesitant to spend the premium when the light weight and portability isn’t really a problem for me. All they’d offer me is ability to use trees that aren’t conducive to climbers (I think). Is that true?

If i’m in pines or strait hardwoods it’s really hard for me to get away from my lone wolf sit and climb BUT….. in places where there are no strait trees, I go to my saddle. Only advice i can give is get a two piece saddle! The single piece saddles are horrible IMO.

Hunt public land here in Missouri when I can’t get home to hunt North La. it’s a game changer. Started out with a guido and loved it. I bought the JX3 this year . Guy bought out Guido and made some real improvements . You can chaeck it out on line. It’s carried like a backpack and I have the hawk helium steps. It’s not cheap but I’ve never sat in a more comfortable stand. Safe and not hard to get used to. It’s not as light as some of the traditional saddles but I’m 60 and like the comfort. I’m 6’1” and 215 . My brothers and nephews still use the guido , which you can’t get néw any longer obviously. I love that I can move around and hunt hot sign and food sources. They just upped the price . You can get a military discount if you email John the owner. He is very responsive.

Lightweight when you have to backpack your stuff to a tree. Get the right sized one and you’ll be just as comfortable if not more than a tree stand.