There is a lot of debate with the climber crowd on the best fall restraint system.....a full body harness or rock climbing harness. I have safely used an RC harness with a sewn eye tether and a Qsafe with my climber or fixed stand setups for many years. With a climber, you simply attach the Qsafe as soon as you step on the platform and move it up every level change as you ascend. Then position it to your liking during the hunt and reverse.

A significant question is how one gets themself free after a fall and hanging from their harness of choice. That is where a device such as a Treestand Wingman enters the picture, as it lets the hunter down to the ground in a controlled manner. It is attached below the Qsafe and then tethered in so the hunter is protected from suspension trauma. Do a search and you will find deep and highly opinionated views of these topics....this is just the gist of it.

Saddle hunters typically use a linemans to ascend, then switch over to a tether that attaches to their saddle bridge during the hunt. Since taking up saddle hunting, my climber has been collecting dust in the basement and I have sold most of my fixed stands. YMMV....

 

The saddle looks really interesting, in my 50’s so bit less adventurous than I once was.

 

I sold my lock ons after this season because I am not as "adventurous" at 59 as I was when younger. Risk vs reward in hanging them and taking them down just lost its appeal. I kept my climber. I use a HSS Ultralight Harness and a XOP Linemans rope around the tree from bottom to top, while hunting as the tree stap, and on the way down. It's a pretty quick way to safely be in the tree.

If I wouldn't have to carry the damn things so far I would just use ladder stands. Might anyway next year.

 

I sold my lock ons after this season because I am not as "adventurous" at 59 as I was when younger. Risk vs reward in hanging them and taking them down just lost its appeal. I kept my climber. I use a HSS Ultralight Harness and a XOP Linemans rope around the tree from bottom to top, while hunting as the tree stap, and on the way down. It's a pretty quick way to safely be in the tree.

If I wouldn't have to carry the damn things so far I would just use ladder stands. Might anyway next year.

Same feeling about hang-ons and sticks. Too much adventure!

 

I think the most important thing is to just pick one you like, that fits. I've thought about using rock climbing systems for years, but I've still never bought one. I mostly hunt in climbers. So far, I've been happy wearing Summit harnesses and the HSS Bowhunter (now called X-1 Bow-hunter)


So far, I've never fallen in any harnesses though. I might have a different perspective if I had. I always climb with a rope around the tree, from ground to final stand height with a prussic knot attached to my harness via a big carabiner. This works with climbers and most sticks. If I have a limb in the way, climbing with sticks, I use 2 ropes, so that I'm never detached from the tree, ever!

 

I’ve never fallen either and that’s often the elephant in the room when discussing types of harnesses suitable for treestand hunting. Any harness is “safe” if you never take a fall. I too stay hooked to the tree at all times now and it is not a problem in any way to do so.

 

It would seem you could use a linemen/tether set up to climb and as safety in a climber or am I missing something?

 

do you use a lineman set up like trthrd? What is best these days?

Look no further.

SE7EN™ Micro Tether Rope

Minimize bulk and streamline your saddle setup with one of the industry’s strongest, yet smallest, Tether Rope systems. With proprietary DuraBraid™ rope construction, SE7EN™ was specifically designed to deliver maximum strength AND deliver better use-performance, all in a micro-sized package...

huntarsenal.com

 

Look no further.

SE7EN™ Micro Tether Rope

Minimize bulk and streamline your saddle setup with one of the industry’s strongest, yet smallest, Tether Rope systems. With proprietary DuraBraid™ rope construction, SE7EN™ was specifically designed to deliver maximum strength AND deliver better use-performance, all in a micro-sized package...

huntarsenal.com

Is that useable with a climber and lock on stand as well?

 

Are you able to pee while in a saddle?

 

Good question I hadn't thought of... Do saddles have flies?

 

Watch a video of someone wearing a saddle or hunting from a saddle to get an accurate idea of how they fit. It cradles your rear end, with leg straps and a waist belt/rope. There is nothing in the way of getting to your fly if you need to relieve yourself while on stand. While most lean or sit while saddle hunting, you can also simply stand on the platform like a fixed treestand and 'let it fly' if that is what you need to do.

Same with adding upper layers. There is a bit more to it than putting on clothing on the ground, but a little practice at ground level lets you figure out the nuances. If you had bibs to add in cold weather, that is something you would need to descend temporarily to the ground to accomplish. Otherwise you would need to take your saddle off at height.....like you would with an RC harness as well.....which is clearly not recommended. Maybe guys in a full body harness can slip bibs on over the harness, but I know they also talk about having to unhook or cut holes in their garments to deal with straps and such.

If you are starting to get interested in saddle hunting, join Saddle Hunter and see who is in your area. If a newbie reached out to me and asked if I would let them try one of my saddles at ground level and get a basic lesson.....I wouldn't bat an eye and welcome them to this side of aerial hunting.

 

Primarily a tree stand hunter and climb sticks while using a lineman’s belt then transition to whichever tether I felt like putting in the tree. I’m a big fan of wild line ropes featherlight lineman’s for the purpose. As far as the harness the HSS ultralight has worked really well for me.

 

You don't want to fall out of a tree.... Trust me or not but I know.

I wouldn't want to fall out of a tree with climbing sticks attached to it.... That's probably gonna hurt depending upon stick location and where your connected.

Think about where you're hunting takes place, who you're with and how far away assistance is.

You don't need 10 firefighters showing up getting lost in a remote patch of bush they don't know.

If you do fall make sure you can self rescue if at all possible. If over 55 say and of average weight and condition for that age get everything you reasonably can to self rescue and not get hurt.

The older you are the more it's gonna hurt.

Good luck and shoot straight y'all and play safe your life may depend upon it.

 

I am 52 and in shape. Do 14ers, back country, MTB bike here in Colorado. Less adventurous means I sometimes walk rock gardens I used to ride. Risk,rewards.

I was thinking a saddle set up in conjunction with a small loc on, so I could sit from time to time might be the ticket. Will join the web site and see if anyone here in CO has one to show me the “ropes”.
thanks.

 

I use a Lwcg .5 with a medium seat just for that.
The foam seat flips over for a knee pad for saddle hunting which is far more comfortable than strapping a pad to the tree or knee pads because you don't have the curvature of the tree. Plus it's less crap you have to carry.
I personally use it as a regular stand 90% of the time but I have the option when needed. There's not a more versatile stand.