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.

I knew I saved this meme for a reason. I wish I had something helpful to add to this conversation.

When I was in a lease I would just leave my sticks up. Carry just my platform and bow with me. Move it all if it didn’t play out.

Love my JX3. I use a modified summit open shot to climb with so I can get unlimited height. I'm tinkering with a 2-tether climbing method for smaller trees. I've actually gotten to the point where I prefer the JX3 to a Summit climber. I can make any shot and sit all day.

I also have several other saddles. I prefer the 2-panel saddle I own (Overwatch Transformer) since I sit more than I lean and also I like the ability to hang to the side and adjust my climbing method. If I want to go light, I'll bring the saddle only. For all day rut sits, I'm bringing the JX3. I haven't sat in a box stand or ladder stand in 3 years unless I'm hunting with little-man.

I'm definitely looking at weight savings and mobility. I have 3 sets of climbing sticks now and two hang on stands, a Millennium M100U and a Novix Echo (Lone Wolf). The fall harness i wear now is a HSS Hybrid that weighs about 2.5 lbs, or more than some saddles.

Stick weight - same sticks/climbing method

Rope weight- same, I use a lineman with two carabiners and a tether now.

Platform - here is where the weight and bulk come into play. M100U with block - appx 12.5lbs. Novix Echo 11.5lbs. A platform such as the predator or Treehopper tree suit 2-3lbs.

I think I will save about 10lbs and not be as bulky. I carry my gear on a Horn Hunter Full Curl Lite frame. Between my 3 sets of sticks and 2 stands I usually could get in any tree I wanted. The downside is sometime I hate being in front of the tree.

Of course in the pine woods I'll still use my climber. But I may pull the trigger on a saddle. I like the Treehopper Recon. Mark is a great guy and I have a Treehopper linemans belt that is fantastic.

I hunt strictly public. Usually don't hunt the same place twice in a row. I used to could sit all day, thats what I used my Millennium for, but these days if I've been sitting half a day and haven't seen a hair I'm ready to make something happen. Thanks for all the responses and acting like grown men, with one exception lol.

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Platform - here is where the weight and bulk come into play. M100U with block

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Have you weighed it? Mine is about 17 lbs with the block. My M7 Microlite (advertised at 8.5 lbs) is 12.5 lbs...1 lb more than what the M100U is advertised at.

You using the full setup or the retrofit kit? I was tempted at one point.

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You using the full setup or the retrofit kit? I was tempted at one point.

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Full setup with the linemans loops. I was going to retro it up to my rock climbing harness but didnt feel like dealing with it.