New probably $700-$800

 

Which of the two do you have experience with? If you have tried a saddle and know what goes into hunting in that manner, then a visit to the Saddle Hunter website will benefit with some expert advice. Reactions are mixed on AT....some have tried it and loved it....others have tried it and gone back to stand hunting. Many report buying and selling at least a few different saddles to get one that is comfortable, along with the ropes and one-sticking and such. For the good stuff, i would guess $800-1k would get you outfitted well.

I'm experienced with some lighter stands, but not the most recent gear because as the weight goes down, the price gos up. I hunted a few years with a Millennium M7 microlite stand and LW sticks, then upgraded the sticks to Tethrd Skeletors with a self-made aider. But that is mid-grade for the folks who want Beast Gear or LWCG .5 sized stands and ultra-light sticks.....around the same $900-1k range for the setup. If you shop smart and buy good used, you can shave out some but the folks reselling that know the demand and it is still pricey used.

No one is going to be able to tell you precisely what is going to fit your body type and preferences, even if they are similar physically sized as you. I didn't have any issues with my M7 stand, but others felt it was too small....even though they enjoyed the weight savings. The weight has to be taken off somewhere, even though some of the companies fudge their numbers such as weighing sticks without the attachment straps.

 

I don't have experience with either from a hunting standpoint. I do have experience with full body harnesses,double lanyards for climbing bridge super structures and towers daily. I'm mainly looking to have a light enough opinion to have around if the opportunity arises to need to get up in the air. I'm a spot and stalk guy but hunt some areas that just can't be hunted effectively.

 

What’s a light treestand to you? For the lightest stands your cost will jump way up. My sticks and platform are right at 8# for a saddle set up. 12.5# with an old Lone Wolf Assault.

 

I have no idea. I'm not going to pack either on my 5 or 10 mile days.

 

I think you can definitely do the stand cheaper. Just got into the saddle thing this year. This is a rough break down of what I spent. Right over $1000 with tax and shipping. Can pick up the small Novix lock on for $300 right now. That and sticks and you essentially cut the bill in half. Go to the Lone wolf and you are still cheaper than the saddle.

Saddle
Cruzr XC $260
Platform $180
Ropes $120
Sticks $220
Pouches $40
Aiders $50
Gear hanger $30
Recliner $30
Knee cushion $20

Lock on
Novix $300
Sticks $220

 

There is a lot of room to save money here.
Ropes are about $60 from Wild Line or make your own.
3 pouches for $15 on on Amazon
Aiders are about $1 a foot DIY.
HME gear hanger is about $7
Knee pad is $6
Sticks can be found for about $100.

Learn to tie some knots and do some things on your own. No real need to buy everything from one company. Some items are not always necessary. Aiders, knee pad and back band aren’t essential.

 

Saddle hunting is one thing I wouldn't worry about cost...you need comfort! Go try out as many set-ups as you can and buy the most comfiest option...regardless where it's made.

 

Don't round too many corners, if you don't have to.

A new saddle from a good maker (not Hawk) is going to be $250 to $350. Your ropes will vary based upon if you make them yourself or not. You'll need climbing ropes and carabiners and will have $50 to $150 in that.

Platforms and sticks are not life support (if you climb properly) and there is more variety. A lot of what you pay for is light weight. There are a lot of cheaper platforms and sticks that are fine.

For getting started, I'd get these

Mini Double-Step Climbing Sticks (Legacy)

The Novix Mini Double-Step Climbing Sticks have all the original features but are packed into a 17’’ stick for quick, quiet deployment.

www.novixoutdoors.com

and use 1 step aiders

and then this for a platform

Predator Platform - Tethrd

The Predator Platform redefined hunting from an elevated position. It's the perfect complement to any Tethrd Saddle hunting setup. The Predator allows you to shoot 360 degrees around any tree, with maximum comfort and ease. It does that without unnecessary weight and bulk. We're biased...but we...

tethrdnation.com

People gasp at this because they don't take into account the price of the safety harness, safety tether, and lineman's lanyard they should be using anyways. The sticks are a wash because you have to use those regardless. It's funny that they want something they sit in to be $50. You shouldn't trust a $50 item that requires hand sewing on the level of a saddle and climbing rated materials. The platforms are kind of high, being the same or more than a full sized stand. However, the full sized stands have the benefits of support cables, which makes them easier to design with the required strength.

 

I like the loc on windwalker being made by treehopper. It weighs 6 pounds and you can get the backpack that it fits in. You can put your stuff in the pockets of the backpack and it has straps on it to put a set of sticks


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I’ve been mobile hunting my entire bow hunting career. About 25 years. I’ve used climbers and hang ons for all but the last few. I started using a saddle while still incorporating stands and have been saddle exclusive the last two. It will be that way for the foreseeable future. From ease of carry, setup, and how safe I feel from the ground up, to being a better fit for the way and places I hunt, make it a perfect setup for me. It takes some use to figure out how to set everything up properly for maximum comfort but when you do, it’s really enjoyable. I’ve done several all day sits and can’t complain. I really like being able to keep the tree between me and the deer. Best of luck in your search.

 

I also really like having the bow hanging right at your fingertips on the left side of the tree. Makes it very easy to hang the bow securely and get to it with almost no movement. Lastly, saddle hunting is much easier on my lower back than sitting all day. You can actually lean back and do the stretches they prescribe for sciatica while you are on stand.

 

I would strongly advise trying a saddle first. I went all in on saddles and made it two years only hunting saddles and gave it up. It is just not comfortable to me at all and tried various saddles and platforms. I all grew tired of all the junk you have to fiddle with to make it all work. I went back to hunting off the ground or running up a tree with my lightweight climber or lock on. Tons of people love the saddles, but I absolutely hated it.

 

Regarding your question about a hang-on stand, I got one several years ago and regretted it. A royal pain to climb and hang! Wish I had bought a climbing stand or ladder stand. JMO.

 

I would wait a few months on a stand. There are some nice stands coming out, maybe…. There is always a LWCG that is solid.
Saddles are nice and can be very light especially with a climbing background. Each have pros and cons and you have to look at what fits you the best. But, for me, if I have to pick one it my saddle.