Lots of negative comments. For some of us who already have things dialed in it's just nice to hear opinions and why. The gear part of saddle hunting is fun because no one has the "best" set up, each and every person can be very different in this regard!
Good set up. I see you’re Tethrd guy. But the latitude tree strap is a much better easier faster strap. I know a lot of guys use sticks. What I’ve found works great and It’s quiet and fast are tree climbing spikes. I fly up any tree get set up in minutes. Then just repel down. I know it’s not for everyone but. It’s the ultimate lightweight setup.
You nailed it! Only thing I do different is I one stick. Less weight and much easier than multiple sticks. I went this way because I had an issue with a stick sliding out on me climbing out of the tree. Thankfully I had another stick hanging from my saddle. Repelling out I don't have to worry about a stick slipping on me.
I have to give my two or three friends who have gotten me into saddle hunting for this coming season all the credit in the world because I’ve basically learned nothing from this video. Good information on the last but thank you to Taylor and Austin-lane and Ben.
Good stuff! I'm going with the Hunter Safety Slap Strap this year. It has the lineman and tether rope, attachments, and Molly strap for hanging gear in an all-in-one setup. I'll wear my XOP saddle into the woods and put my XOP Edge saddle platform (short sits), or Lonewolf Alpha hang-on (long sits) and Muddy Pro climbing sticks with aiders on my TideWe backpack and put accessories inside my backpack. I lock my sticks on my stands with climbing stick hooks. I use hockey tape to silence my equipment. I hang my bow on a hook attached to the molly on the Slap Strap. Simple and cost-effective!
I sent my Ropeman's back for the recall waiting for them to replace and put the Prusics back on in the meantime, I can confirm, They Suck!! even with tenders on them.
@@alexspencer-exercisedataba7375 mine came with one, and I had no idea how important it was until it broke. That little piece of plastic really does work
I personally dislike using an ascender in my tether or my lineman’s rope. I also dislike Prusik knots! The answer is a distel hitch or another knots (there are several) with the aid of a tender. The ropeman on a tether requires weight to be removed to be adjusted to a longer setting and will create a jerky and somewhat uncontrollable speed of change. One handed operation in both directions along with the ability to control the speed and smoothness of lengthening makes a distel hitch or other similar knot much superior to an ascender. Also, having more metal to make noise is annoying. I also place a carved ball of antler bone with a hole drilled thru it (like a large necklace bead) above my hitch cord knot so one hand can easily pull the knot to lengthen my tether with ease. Basically it tends the knot from the top side and gives a larger area for my hand to grab since I use small diameter ropes. Everyone likes different things. My wife loves the ropeman for her lineman’s rope so it is now belongs to her. Fine with me! Try what you can and see what you prefer. Everything has pros and cons.
Currently using a bluewater 20", 6mm eye2eye tied in a schswabish hitch w/ a Carabineer and hand made tender. Only metal is the carabineer. Works MUCH better than my ropeman. Tends up similar to a ropeman, but can break the hitch under load and drop slowly inch by inch. Pleasantly surprised actually....and leave it all in the tether at the end of the hunt.
👎👎HYS strap. Unorganized bulk. I have about 6'-7' 550 cord with alpine butterfly knots (make them big enough for a Hero clip) every 6"-8" (your choice) over that length, and bowline knots at each end. When storing, clip most/all alpine eyes into one side of a #4 s-biner (rated for 75lbs). I've done it in the dark. It's smaller than the palm of my hand when stored and clips to the saddle. Just deploy, wrap around the tree, and hang whatever you want. Very small, organized and deploys big. Easy to make yourself... customizable.
That video is great. This week will be my first time saddle hunting (well, hunting period!). I bought a used TETHRD Saddle Kit but the only extra item included is the Sys Strap. This helps me to know what else I should get. Very well explained.
I like the prusik on my tether for two reasons. 1. No metal to metal contact. 2. I slide it up to hold my tether in place so it don't slide down when I stand up. Linemans, Kong Duck for sure!
I'll second the dislike for the prusik knot. Binds too much. Way TOO MANY other hitches to choose from: distel, schswabish, knut, etc. And they tend better.
For the price of an ascender you can just get a wild line rope lineman rope which takes up far less room in your pack, weighs far less and still has one hand operation
Converting a 20” hawk helium (with 3 step aider) to a one stick has been my favorite saddle hunting upgrade so far. Less bulk to carry in and out, or up and down the tree. Shaves pounds of weight off your kit.
Those Ascenders are Metal on Metal and has a potential to make more noise in the quiet woods. Using a Tender with your Prusik Knot is a One Hand operation
Gear tie.... Attach it to the top of your platform and when at the height you want to hunt have your lineman's line above where you want to hang your platform, twist the gear tie that is attached to the top of your platform to the lineman's rope. Now you don't have to hold on to the platform while you run the strap around the tree. List was spot on JZ. I agree Stealth Strips could be #1. Also the Latitude gear strap is great for putting your backpack at the heights you mention but in an easier fashion.
😂 The title of your video was Must Have gear. Then just about every item you talked about was, “ well, you really don’t need it.” Good list though! Can’t disagree with any items you listed. Maybe a back strap for all day hunts so you can lean back and relax. Kind of like knee pads, you don’t really need it. 😊
I went from a swaibisch hitch with a $.75 rope tender to a $75 Kong Duck last year and it was a major downgrade. Ascender doesn't make my top 20. And rather than a back band, buy a Latitude Method with two panels. Far more comfortable.
😂😂 I went from the kong duck to the schswabish+ tender. Was surprised to find it worked much better. And no metal-metal contact. My wallet wasn't happy tho.
The ascender on your tree tether is much needed but you can save a few bucks and make your linemen’s rope have a built in ascender. Feed the end of your linemen’s rope through the carabiner and it becomes a prusik tender. Allows you to operate it with one hand, it’s silent because no more metal is introduced to the set, and it’s free!
My Friday night's pre drinks are boring now without pinch point and this is coming from an Irish guy who's from a country that doesn't allow bow hunting. I've got to live me life vicariously through you guys. Bring it back!!!
Nothing negative intended, but after saddle and platform, I don't use anything else mentioned. Climb w a Sladder, friction hitches for one hand adj on my lineman's and my tether, which is also my rappel rope. More than one way to skin a cat, but I usually walk far and look to stay light as I can.
What is the price range for complet e saddle setup? I'm not fortunate enough to have somebody give me one and let me try it out for a season so money is an object
Xop has some good budget friendly setups. Like their sticks haven’t tried anything else of theirs honestly. Saddle hunting can be pretty expensive honestly
I started with a used trophyline saddle, a walmart foam butta pad for my knees, 5 wild edge steps (they've doubled in price since 2020), a knaider/swaider and use three of the steps as a ring of steps for about what I paid for my brand new Summit climber a few years before. I was comfortable enough to do a week straight of dark to dark sits.
Im an arm amputee and saddle hunt. The ascender was the best upgrade for me. Im also a rock climber so i have a lot of experience with them which made it a much easier to adjust quickly.
I have the ultimaider compact gears trap 2.0. Highly recommend. If you one stick up and rappel down, you have a quick link that screws shut that allows you to hook your rappel rope around tree faster. And sometimes that nut gets super tight. SO with that being said, ultimaider gearstrap 2.0s bow hanger has a built in wrench in unscrew it easer
I use the pad from my turkey vest instead of knee pads. The back band is great for all day or if you end up in a tree that is leaning towards you a little. I agree with pretty much everything he says in here. I hunt high though. I was over 40' on one hunt last year. I switched to one sticking so I can go as high as I want.
I have everything it takes to saddle hunt but I haven't done it much because I don't like fooling with the climbing sticks. BUT in about another month there is going to be a self-climbing platform coming out that was invented for saddle hunting. It is called the Panther platform and is due to debut in July. IMHO it is the one thing that is really the final piece of the puzzle for saddle hunting. It will only weigh six pounds and completely eliminates the need for sticks. I can't wait!
That's awesome! We'll be sure to check it out. The only issue is getting around tree branches, which we have a lot of. That's where climbing sticks really come in handy.
There are already climbing platforms out. Or you could just use the bottom piece of a climber and have a bigger platform. But like already stated you have to get around the branches still. 🤷♂️
