Treesaddle...anyone use'm?

[Roger9070]

Overspined, bungee will only help keep it from slipping down the tree. The seat component needs more pressure than a bungee can provide to sink the teeth in deep enough without any other weight on the platform to resist slipping as you push on it from the sides while maneuvering around the tree. If you use a bungee, when it slips and it will, it will effect your ability to move and it will also make some noise as the teeth crunch against the bark as it shifts. In my experience you won't be able to move around the tree with any confidence that the base won't slip without a ratchet strap. Attaching the ratchet can be tricky while perched on such a small platform though.

That said, if you're able to deal with the issues involved in using the climber seat it can work. All things considered it was just too much of a PIA for me. Sticks and a predator platform is just so much less time and hassle to get in and out of the tree. Plus the predator is a superior platform on the tree vs a climber seat.

I think if you really want to use a climber approach, you'd be better off using the platform base instead of the seat. Its big enough to move around on as you need to make those adjustments and then attach the ratchet. Of course its heavier than the seat, but it will be easier, safer and you'll have more real estate to move around on.

I thought about doing a video with mine yesterday to demonstrate what I'm talking about, but had too many other things I needed to do. As luck would have it though I found 2 videos a couple guys did about this very subject. They were published a week or so ago, not many have viewed them yet, but they are very good at showing the issues using the climber seat.

Part 1 is a guy that is very nimble and version 2 someone not so nimble, non flexible was the term he uses, lol. My experience was somewhere between these two with both adjusting the cam on the fly and securing the strap. Both videos they use some kind of strap to secure the climber seat. I can't tell if its a ratchet or cam buckle though. I used a ratchet.

Part 1


Part 2


Around 8:20 into part 2 you can see where he starts pushing from the sides and you can see the stand flex on the tree. In my experience the more you do this the more the teeth cut into the bark and the loser the seat became and would eventually start to slip. If you pushed from farther out on the platform where you have more leverage then that would strain the connection more easily too. Even with ratchet tension to start, it needed an additional click or two as after the teeth sawed deeper into the bark. To be fair in most hunting situations you wouldn't move that much in the tree, so the sawing effect would be less. But it can and does happen requiring additional tightening, which requires more movement and noise.

In terms of noise, I tested the climber seat on old growth pine, oak, hickory, sweetgum and swamp ash. I have all this on my property so it was easy to do. Of those pine was the noisiest by far. In part 2 he states it wasn't noisy. I couldn't tell either way, but the tree he's on looks like some kind of hardwood, so his experience noise wise jives with mine.

Another thing and I think important, I used a 36' climbing rope in SRT configuration (petzl rig, hand ascender with foot aider) as my tether system, which is all rated search and rescue and arborist gear and technique. In part 2 he uses a somewhat precarious method with the tether and his linemans belt to go off the platform to make adjustments. Too risky for me. With SRT system I could easily and safely go off the platform to make the adjustments then ascend back up on the platform to continue. When descending I just went off the platform, disconnected it from the tree, dropped it on the ground and lowered myself down on the climbing line. Very easy and very safe. SRT requires more equipment and it can be noisy if you're not careful, but I'll take safety over noise every time.

Also, using SRT system as my tether I have the option to descend but leave the climbing line and platform in the tree. Then for whatever reason re-ascend on the rope without having to go through all the hassle of climbing with the seat again. Or take everything down and move on.

Deerfly all great points, people have to keep in mind that climbers were meant to be used in certain ways especially the hand climber portion and side pressure is not something they were designed for.  Small platforms that rachet or strap onto the tree is a much better option than a hand climber.  That is one of the reasons I prefer a ring of steps instead of a platform because I know that I would constantly be standing or putting pressure on the outside edge of the stand.  I feel a couple of Wild Edge steps or a platform and a Wild Edge step on each side would be much better than a small platform alone or a ring of steps.

As to the SRT and safety, there is no doubt that using the proper equipment when climbing or descending will ensure a safe ascent and descent, the SRT approach offers even more options than sticks and a lineman's belt.  I am a big proponent of preset locations and mostly use Muddy Pro Sticks when I find a new location or smoking fresh sign and need to quickly switch locations.  This year I plan to experiment with the Wild Edge Steps in  place of my ring of steps for my run and gun steps and even some of my preset locations.

Roger,

[deerfly]

Roger, I have 4 of the Wild Edge steps. Still trying to love them. Only did a few hunts with 2 of them adjacent to the top rung of my top climbing stick. They worked really good once I got them cammed over with the right amount of tension to hold firm. It took resetting them a time or two before I had it right tho. 

I didn't like having to peek around the tree to make sure the cam straps weren't overlapping each other either, which would complicate re-camming them. A little too much going on there for my likes and maybe I just need to use them more so I get them cammed over right the first time around...

I agree the ROS is better for getting around the tree than just the Predator and one or two steps would make a nice compliment to the Predator too. However, I like the simplicity of only the Predator, its just 1 thing to bring up and attach when I get up there and 1 thing to take down regardless of which method I used to climb.

Watching this guy is what got me to try the steps in the first place. He only uses 3 or 4 steps to get pretty high up. The idea of using 8 or 10 of them gives me headache just to think about it. I don't like the knee aider thing some of those other guys are doing either. Anyway, I need to practice this guys 3-4 step technique and could see where the Predator would be a capable addition adjacent to the top step with only about 7-8lbs of metal involved.



Lots of options with these saddles...

[Tajue17]

those wild edge steps,,  they look a lot like Jim Stepps..

[ADP2413]

I need to up my versatility with hang and hunts. Anyone use of treesaddle? Thoughts? Thoughts on shooting shooting a trad bow from one? Model choice?
Thx in advance!

I bought into the saddle crazy early 2017, and I can say it definitely has its advantages and disadvantages when it comes to using traditional gear. I just use it as an option for real far public land spots and for thick close shot opportunity areas. I went back to my lonewolf set up for 99% of my run and gun... everyone is pushing the mantis but check out new tribes kestrel ( non mesh ). Its addictive so get ready to spend if you take the leap lol ....


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[hickstick]

those wild edge steps,,  they look a lot like Jim Stepps..

Ted, they are!    Andy (the owner of Wild Edge) grew up with Jim, and Jim gave him all the tooling/patent docs and such to start the business...they are actually still called Stepp Ladder by Wild Edge.  they are based in CT too.

I used 2 to 3 Stepp Ladder steps as my platform depending on the diameter of the tree.  I love them. rock solid and comfortable.  just ordered a few more so I can do a couple of pre-sets on the farm next fall.

Deerfly, they do take some practice to get the cam over right, and there are also some situations where the tree just wont accommodate them in a certain spot...but you can usually move them a few inches one way or the other and they set right up.   I used them in combo with my Leverage Climbing sticks because I'm faster with those, but would love to ditch the sticks cause they are heavy and long to pack.

[fujimo]

i really liked the idea of the saddles, their compactness and versatility but at the time i did not have spare funds available to buy one.
Then I came across the tree seat, and have built many iterations since then.
i think i have finally settled on a good solid design now.

In comparison, i like the overall package of the saddle- a nice complete, comfy looking unit, but i prefer the lighter weight, and low, (almost zero) cost of the tree seat. I also really like the offset leg of the tree seat, that keeps my knees off the tree- its really comfortable, no need for knee pads etc.
Additionally i like  the fact that i can use it at ground level as a "Torges seat" if need be.
i like the low cost, and that i am able to build it myself- a sucker for punishment maybe...
All the rest appears to be the same to me, the climbing and the setup, the need for foot rests, and the huge versatility in shooting positions.
i still like the seat as an optional tool , but i mostly ground hunt nowadays, just for the increased versatility.
Our Sitka Blacktail really dont pattern. So i may setup and call, and move, maybe 15 to 20 times a day, looking for sign of deer in the area. its a system that works well up here, but may not work anywhere else.

[BD]

I used one for the majority of my hunts for 2 years as I really liked the concept initially. I used 3 different models but they just aren't for me. Very uncomfortable and required excessive movement to shooot to the weak side. Maybe not a big deal if I hunted 20 feet or more but I like to be around 14-16. I really wasn't saving much in terms of weight compared to a smaller lone wolf either.

[kerry]

My reason for using a Kestrel from Aerohunter is that with a saddle, you are not going to loose you balance and fall.

That piece of mind is worth the learning curve. 

At age 24, I never considered this.  At age 54, its the only way I want to spend 4 hrs at 16 ft.

[deerfly]

kerry, IMO the safety increase of a saddle and tether over traditional fall arrest harnesses is the "big deal" with saddles. Weight savings and the ability to have more options to shoot around the tree are secondary. I wish I would have switched to saddles or even rock climbing harness for safety gear years ago.

[Tom1958]

kerry, IMO the safety increase of a saddle and tether over traditional fall arrest harnesses is the "big deal" with saddles. Weight savings and the ability to have more options to shoot around the tree are secondary. I wish I would have switched to saddles or even rock climbing harness for safety gear years ago.

The main thing that got me wanting a saddle was due an issue with falling asleep in the tree.
For some unknown reason, over the last several years, I've had many days that I just couldn't stay awake in the tree. I guess after day in and day out of 11 hours per day in a stand, takes a toll on me. Then, if its a slow day and sunny and warm, I fall asleep. I mean out cold, dream state, snoring and drooling. I knew it was just a matter of time until I fell off the platform and be rudely awakened by the yank of my conventional harness.
So I got a Kestrel. Funny thing...even though I can now snooze safely, I haven't had the  issue since I got the saddle.

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[kerry]

I can nod off in the saddle IF I am seated, with head on bridge, and I use a back band for comfort.  I can slide it around till the back band hits the tree, keeping my knees off tree or I can use knee pads.

[deerfly]

lol, you guys are more adventurous than me dozing in the saddle. That said, I think its probably very safe, but I would still practice at ground level first.

[Tom1958]

lol, you guys are more adventurous than me dozing in the saddle. That said, I think its probably very safe, but I would still practice at ground level first.

Even before I had a saddle, I was completely comfortable in a tree. I had no fear of heights, or climbing, or even hunting all-day sits on some pretty small, homemade platforms with crappy homemade seats.
But after hunting from conventional platforms (like a Screaming Eaglet) WITH a saddle, I can't imagine ever going back to a regular harness. Yeah, I still occasionally hunt from conventional stands, but I do so while wearing a saddle. There's no more worrying about foot placement, or balance. With a conventional harness, I always felt like I needed at least 2 points of contact...either 2 feet, or 1 foot and an elbow against the tree when shifting positions. Or I'd need to shuffle feet while turning. Man, with a saddle I do everything I need to and the feeling of safety is 100%.
I will NEVER hunt again without a saddle. Even ground level hunting...a saddle is a great seat. Just tether to a tree but with feet on the ground. And I can maneuver around a tree easier and quieter (on the ground level) than I can without a saddle. No trying to stand for hours on uneven or sloped ground and getting a sore back.
And I will repeat an earlier point...once you hang a conventional stand with a saddle (while tethered to the tree as opposed to using a lineman belt), you will wonder how you ever did it the old way. I'm still trying to think what possible downsides there is by owning a saddle...I can't come up with any.