Hello, How are you? I have been using s saddle for the last few years and love it. I started with a Guido Web (the forefather to your JX3), got a tacti saddle, now a Recon. I feel much more comfortable in a saddle. Feel free to ask anything you like.

Tree ascending will be personal choice. I have used stick ladder, stick sections, strap on steps, but my favorite is wild edge steps.

I tried using climber years ago, but wasn't for me, never liked the limitation of height limited to tree limb, and bulk.

I've been looking at saddles myself. The JX3 is something. It's gotta be the most comfortable saddle, and the one I find the most appealing. But man, it's as heavy as a stand and more expensive than a Lone Wolf climber. I've been studying the "saddle hunter" site about everyday. Hunting gear like this gets me to open my wallet, but a lot of it has truly helped my hunting.

Brassbandit, I have been a part of saddle hunting before it got to be main stream and I will never hunt from a treestand again!! My main issue was that I have had 4 back surgeries and a treestand was not allowing me to stay out for all day hunts but since switching to a tree saddle my main issue is staying awake! Lol Like was mentioned above I have a Guidos Web(& several more saddles including some I have made) and it is almost just like the jx3 & it is the most comfortable way I hunt! There areother options that are almost just as comfortable like the homemade fleece saddle with a rock climbing harness, for safety factor! Some people even find just hunting out of RCH is just as good as some saddles but I am not one of them! In descending order as far as comfort goes (from what I have tried): Guidos Web, fleece saddle with RCH, Recon-Wraptor- Eberhart signature saddle(these are 3 that are just about alike and made from seat belt webbing, basically), Trophyline Tree Saddle, Tree suit, Boson chair style, the two panel style saddle, and the list goes on and on!! But you cannot go wrong with the jx3 unless you are going for less bulk and maneuverability then you might go with one of the other ones! As far as shooting from one all I hunt with is a recurve and I have no trouble shooting from it as long as you keep your tether(which is what attaches you to the tree) lower and not super far above your head! There are many things you are gonna need to figure out for yourself because everyone is different! Just like alot of guys like a ring of steps(ROS) and others prefer a platform and there are times when one is better then the other thats why I have both! As far as climbing goes again everyone is different just like above mentioned wild edge steps personally I can't stand them but he likes them to me I much prefer one sticking, spurs, bolts and a hand drill, and strap on steps! I have had several instances where the wild edge steps never would get solid but some guys really like them but it is hard to beat one sticking with a platform attachment on your stick it is an all in one type deal!! And really I am kind of different to because I got a out of business rope type ladder that straps to tje tree(Arc tree ladder) and cut it in 3 sections and use one section for one sticking and I can put this in a cargo pocket and climb as high as I want to go! So there are soooo many options out there now that we never had earlier in saddle hunting it has exploded here of late so you just need to do some research and figure out what style fits you best and go from there brother!! If you need any questions answered feel free to private message me and I will help you any way I can!! The main thing is be safe and always try things out at ground level before going to hunting heights!$ Always get familiar with your equipment at ground level because it does tamke a little getting used too so stay safe and feel free to ask any questions you have good luck brother and stay safe!!!

Hi Tyler, I started hunting from a saddle this year and I love it. light, fast and quiet to get in a tree. much lighter and less bulk than a climber or hang on. I use a Tethrd Phantom and ropeman ascenders. I use muddy pro sticks because i like the cam lock on them, but hawk heliums or lone wolfs work very well with a rope mod and they are easy to do. i have 4 sticks with aiders, and that can get me higher than i want to go. i actually am thinking of only taking 2 or 3 sticks from now on. I dont use a platform, just because i didnt want to take the extra bulk in, so i use a scout platform by Out On a Limb in combination with a ring of steps.

I was wondering what the JX3 weighs, as that and noisiness in setup were on my mind. Donald Cartledge at jx3outdoors.com says the whole system weighs around 13 pounds.

Morning, Yes the saddle is the quietest "stand" I ever used and most comfortable. That being said, guys I am not a young, fit, athlete. I am 53 years old, 5'7" tall, had both knees replaced and about 48" waist. But I still climb tree's and still love to hunt. I have no issue with being comfy in my tacti saddle or Tree hopper recon saddle at all, even all day. There is no pressure on your tail bone, as there is with a traditional stand, one of the reason's we need to get up and stretch. The "sling" goes under your rump and no pinch. I tell people, go to a park or remember when you was a kid, and sit in a swing. Now did you ever really get uncomfortable (not face down)?

Climbing wise, I have played with the one stick method and like it, but not using it this season. As many of us experienced hunter know, there are all kinds of techniques, but it is a system that works for each person. I have found the wild edge stepps, with an aider, can get 20' and my ring of steps with 9. Works for me as I hunt public a lot.

Any further questions reach out.

Hi Brassbandit, this is my first year using the saddle. I’m 66 years old and would have never thought this would be for me. However, my son started using a Tethrd Mantis last year and he kept telling me the virtues of it compared to a tree stand. After the season he loaned it to me to see if it would suit me. I found it to be lightweight, mobile, easy to use and safe. I purchased Tethrd’s new Phantom saddle and have hunted all season with it. It is so versatile, there is not a tree that I can’t hunt out of, and the shots that can be made that you couldn’t from a tree stand. As Jmorgan also stated, I use Muddy portable sticks, and a Solo Scout portable platform. This setup is light and portable, and I like the fact that no one sees my treestand, climbing sticks/ ladder when I’m not there.

I tried a saddle and wanted it to work but it just doesn’t for me and where/how I hunt.

A combo of fixed stands and a Summit climber have been the best system for me.

Brassbandit check out Instinctive adventures on YouTube. He has a very unique, low tech, light weight, quiet set up you might want to try. Good hunting!

I am with you md5252 except for my Lone Wolf sit and climb instead of a Summit. No tree saddle for me. It appears some folks love them ...Just not for me. As always...be safe !!! Des

Osprey x2

Fad indeed, as has become tent like structures called ground blinds.

Touting your latest "discovery" today only tells us where you are today. To be spry and doing something new is exciting, but as most things, not for everyone. But, I'm sure the hype will continue, much the way fall threads attract the ground blind lovers, and their "told you so", "better way" attitude.

The very act of hunting requires physical ability, which in most cases diminishes with age. Sadly one member of Leatherwall lost his father-in-law to a fall, where he hit his head on a rock and died, while hunting from the ground. How long do you suppose it will take to find a dead or injured hunter in a sling? Never happen? Well stay tuned.

Been using one for 10 years now, im 60, I have the trophy line model, absolutely love it and gave my climber and hang ons away, on the private land I hunt I just leave my climbing stick attached to the tree , on public, I attach the sticks to my backpack and still be setup and hunting within 10 minutes after getting to my spot. No problem shooting my longbow or recurve from it .

I used a Trophyline tree saddle 20 years ago. I have never felt more secure and safer in a tree. Yes, there is a learning curve to them but it is possible to shoot trad gear out of them. For me, the best shot was the "drop shot". (I think that is what it was called). I used climbing sticks and strap on tree steps for my base. I stopped using them after I had some surgery because the straps put pressure on the incision site. Practice a lot with it before you go hunting so you will be comfortable with it.

Brassbandit, good luck in your search for a saddle. There is a lot of info on saddle hunter.com. Maybe you have already found that. I also did a lot of practicing getting comfortable with it in my yard.

Brassbandit- I was using the Tethrd Mantis and Predator Platform. Settled on Hawk Helium sticks to get in.

Overall it was a good system and comfortable but at the end of the day the gains didn’t justify the change. In total, It wasn’t much lighter than my summit and I seemed to have to move around a lot more while on stand to get a shot or just get stuff out of my bag. And even with practice it took me 2-3x as long to get set up or get down.

Maybe I’ll revisit it at some point but for now my tried and true system works better for me. To each their own.

Hunt safe

I hunted from an AeroKestrel for quite a while using the single rope for climbing and a ropeman for descending. It worked great and was light and easy but at the new farm its too much of a pain to find suitable trees.

In my earlier post on this I forgot to mention it's also low cost!!

How do you get up in the tree? If it’s like any other stand then I can’t see an advantage.

Lots of different methods of getting up the tree, been researching this myself, and it's amazing what some people have come up with, easier to google it, I'm on the verge of trying it again, it's came a long way since my first encounter

Sorry been hunting. Saddle is quieter than any stand you can think of. If you go back in thick stuff, cannt beat a saddle. Ascending a tree is easy. As many of you have tried many ways over the years. I have been using wild edge steps for long time. Last few weeks been using the one stick method and rappeling down. Dont know why havent been doing this for decades. For me hunt public land this is the way to go. Note: If you never rappeled, this has special skill you want to research and learn, gravity doesnt suffer mistakes.

You will not be sorry you went that route the JX3 will be with you for a long time and you will not believe how comfortable it is and your hips will thank you! I love my Guidos Web and The JX3 is a much better version!! And one sticking is what I use more often than not it is just easier to carry the stick with my platform attached and add a couple of strap on steps so I can get all the way around the tree! Good luck and stay safe!

This year is the first year of saddle hunting for my older brother (61 yrs old, 6'5" tall and in very good shape), my office salesman clint (50 yrs old, part dwarf, good shape), and myself (52 yrs old, 6'3", 300lbs and in poor shape).

So far, we are all enjoying it and it has been a game changer. On two occasions in Kansas this year I spent an entire day in the saddle. Yes I was ready to get out by the end of the day, but that is always the case with any stand or just ground blind.

I mostly hunt from the ground while in Kansas, so only being in the tree for two days isn't a surprise.

I have spent a dz days in the saddle here at home and I must say that each time gets a little easier. At first, I found it to be uncomfortable but it was poorly adjusted. I kept at it and adjusted a little more each time and find it to be awesome.

I own about a dz of the most comfortable lock on stands in the business (millenniums) and won't be giving them away, but the ease of set up and added safety of the saddle makes it a awesome option.

BigJim

I have a trophyline ambush. I single stick with a cut-down lone wolf with a two-step aider. I use a mission platform or a solo Scout. The top step of my stick is a double step. I am connected to my tether from the ground to hunting height till I Rappel down. If you do not allow Slack into your tether system this is an extremely safe Manor of hunting at height.

I just got the JX3 myself, there is a learning curve. Only got to mess with it for a bout an hour, seems very comfortable, but i think i have to spend some time using , and shooting from it at home, till it's second nature. I think i'm going to like it. Once adjusted, locken on, and take the shoulder straps loose, it's pretty versatile

Stay safe Jim. And thx for elevating the subject of saddle hunting. More may give it a go. Safest method of elevated hunting you could participate in. Done correctly, your ALWAYS attached to the tree.

I watched a young man at our club using a saddle, lots of work, not very convenient. I'll stick with my Loc-On Tree Stands and stack stick ladders any time of day because they are comfortable and quiet. And for quick work I have a Lone Wolf Sit and Climb.

Do not get me wrong, I still like tree stand hunting, and if Loc-On was still making them have another. A Saddle is just another tool in the box. I hunt public land and getting back through some really thick stuff, it is hard to beat slipping in with the saddle, no stand noise and hang ups. As a hunter education instructor, the only other upside I educate people on is, that there is no transition between stick and stand (which accounts for the majority of incidents). You are tethered to the tree the whole time, and instead of using a safety harness with life line, my "stand" (saddle) becomes an aid for me to climb effortless with minimal gear safer. Not trying to sway anyone one way or other, just sharing what I have learned.

Todd, I understand, and if it suits you, then by all means use them. BTW, I can maintain 100% tie off while climbing up ladder, getting on stand from ladder , while on stand and getting off stand to ladder and descending to the ground. Once I’m on the ground and I trip while walking, it’s on me LOL!

I can understand the appeal of a saddle, but when I see them being used with some of those bulky foot platforms, I think why not just pack in a lightweight hang on stand. I guess it’s because you can utilize more kinds of trees with a saddle.

Not to side track the thread but could someone explain to me why people don’t seem to ever use foot spikes like arborist use. I know they’re expensive but I have a pretty hard trek at some of my spots and carrying things like sticks has been a turn off for me. When I was a kid I actually pulled a set out of a burned shed , and duct taped them on and climbed everything I could find around my house. Fun but I don’t know how I’m still living sometimes:)

40+ years for me. 66 now and zero issues. Comfort is a funny thing. I am not comfortable in my recliner some nights. Tolerable is what you are looking for. An adjustment of a 1/2" can change everything. My advise is keep it simple. I have used 3 LW sticks for years and a couple screw ins at the top. I do have a couple Predator platforms that I am trying to get used to. You need very little equipment though you likely will end up owning a lot. Big Jim I am still pondering you in a saddle.

I've been hunting out of saddles since 2007. When I got out of college I purchased a Trophy Line Ambush new. At that time it seemed there were only a few of us even playing with saddles or willing to fight through the conditioning of getting in saddle shape to use one regularly. I started out using Lonewolf climbing sticks and a couple of screw in steps for the platform...then moved on to the Muddy Pro Sticks as they came out about that same time and the double step was enough of a platform for me...I guess if you want to call it that. I don't stand on anything, it's all leaning. Shortly into 2010 I swapped out the OEM tree strap for a piece of climbing rope and prusik for my tether. That saved me alot of weight. I didn't change much in that setup until a year ago...when I purchased an H2 saddle and an artisan metal fabrication top step which adds alot of realestate without adding a whole separate platform to the system.

Halfway through the 2019 season I swapped out my lineman's and tether for 8mm oplux and 6mm accessory line for distel hitches which allowed me to lose an entire saddle bag and added to the ease of adjustment. Then this year I swapped out my tried and true sticks for much lighter Beast sticks which were a HUGE improvement.

My system has been tweaked and I don't foresee any new tweaks for the 2021 season.

I tried using a regular stand last year for the first time in a while and I found that it killed my back and I just couldn't sit still as it was severely uncomfortable. But for my run and gun system, I much prefer the ease and comfort of the saddle and climbing sticks. Though I'm a huge advocate of no using a separate platform.

I use spurs alot as long as it is not public but some public lands will allow it!! It is a very fast and easy way to climb any tree!!

Jim, the young man must oof not known what he was doing. I have done hang and hunts for well over 30 years. I can assure you a saddle with a set of good stick and a platform is easier and more convenient than regular stand hanging and hunting. Shawn

I use a trophyline ambush. I climb with a cut-down down Lone Wolf and a two-step aider, single stick. I use a mission platform or a solo Scout. My stick has a double step on top. I am connected with my tether, which is also my Rappel line, till I want or need to come down. My kit is lighter and more compact then most hang on Stik combinations. And it is definitely lighter than any climber. I could get into any tree, not that I would want to get into every tree. Once you develop your system one sticking is a very efficient, easy method to climb a tree. Unless you incorporate a tether from the ground up, standard climbing methods using a lineman's belt only, never equate to the same level of safety. Why this works for me is because of the places where I like to hike in to. I like that I can descend at a moment's notice from when I'm at height or even as I'm ascending. I can go hands-free to remove my platform or stick and then go to the ground in complete control. I'm 61 and had my share of injuries and this works for me.

I should add that I've walked in and not used my saddle didn't feel I needed to just because I had it with me. The kill I made this year was from only three feet off the ground but it gave me the angle and cover I wanted.

Put me down as another using a Tethrd saddle with a Solo Scout platform from Out On A Limb. I did the versa button/rope mod on my old Hawk Helium sticks as well.

Extremely easy set-up and I feel far more safe in the saddle than I ever have in my portable stands.

I have a couple of platforms from out-on-a-limb and one from tree hopper. I like them for different reasons. they are all small and unbelievably light. Don't even know I am carrying them and they take less than 1 minute to set up. I spent 2 hours standing on the top of a climbing stick.. miserable! Clint has done the same with less issue, but he too likes the platform.

To each their own and to me, my way. I have been setting up stands for many years, so I am familiar. I also have read that guys have difficulty shooting from a saddle, but might suggest that many just have difficulty shooting at animals. I do too on occasion.

BigJim

I use sticks And saddle or sticks and hang on. I have a guidos web and like it. Super comfy. I’m into the new dual steps from lone wolf custom gear w their aiders. Then I’ve been trying no platform because it’s a big double step. But experimenting is key.

30+ yrs ago I was using an Anderson treesling. Shot quite a few deer in that thing. Big difference in what is now available because it didn’t have an adjustable tether.

Now I have a Recon saddle, and the ability to adjust your tether from sitting to leaning makes it very comfortable. Also used to just stand on 2 screw in steps, but my feet could not handle that now. Many more options out there now.

MP

Lots of options for the saddle hunter. I've tried it, and although the JX3 looks nice I can't stand that bridge rope in front of me. I found way to much stuff was involved for me. To each their own. I'll never criticize, or berate anyone's choice. It is after a choice, and another method of getting into the trees. I spend much of my time on the ground with a few stands in the mix. To all who enjoy the saddles--I hope you continue to enjoy the method. Happy hunting to all.

Very nice way to look at things Verdeburl we should all take notes from you!

Glad you guys love em mill sick with my ladders. Or the ground

Again, I have the phantom platform but really I much to use a tiny treestand and still hunt out of the saddle. This gives me the option of sitting if I want, like to eat lunch or just take a break from hanging there. I would think the new LW custom gear .5 stand would be ideal for this although the platform is a bit big. Shawn

just started with a saddle this year. its a lot of fun. i find it super easy to shoot from, it make a very stable shooting base. im using a tetrd mantis. i really like theyre predator platform too. i actually prefer being in a saddle to being in a regular stand. i feel very secure in one. i use sticks to climb mostly. or preset up a tree with screw in steps.

If you have private land you need to look into bolts and a hand drill plus the extra bit for your drill for presets the grade 8 bolts are alot stronger than screw in steps and nobody can poach your presets with bolts cause you can remove the bottom 3 so they can't climb it while you are not there!

Do you guys that use saddles sweat any more when your finally in position as you do when your climbing with a stand? I want to try a saddle but not sure how hot you get during early archery season.

Been using trad gear and saddles for a very long time. PM me if youd like to discuss.

I’ve been using one for 10 years. I have original trophy line. I have strap on ameristeps and have 4 steps for at top on a strap. I did pretty ci up there helium climbing sticks this year. May get some aiders snd try one stick climbing. Also may try a platform. I like the looks of theology line’s platform

Shot my biggest buck there year I started using it. He looked up at my in the tree and I was hanging off like a limb. He knew something wasn't right but didn't bolt but turned off trailing the does trail that had come under me. Got a shot before he made it to the tree line.

I use a saddle and also lockons. I want to point out to guys who use harnesses like HSS that if you are attached to a life line climbing up the tree you may fall as much as 6 ft before your fall is starting to be caught. I use a rock climbing harness and a screamer for life line climbing for this reason. The brakes start within a foot. Less trauma if i did fall.

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