Topic: The Best Tree Saddles of 2022 (Read 46 times)
previous topic - next topic
It's your post, so post it!
Why It Made the Cut
The Latitude Method 2 was extremely co*fortable, very functional, and co*es with unique features.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Product Description
The Latitude Method 2 is a two-panel saddle that wears like a co*pact single-panel saddle while you’re hiking. Once you’re ready to hunt you can deploy the second panel, which is held in place by magnets. Another unique feature is the metal free design, which cuts noise.
Panel attachment “set straps” can be added to keep the panels at a set distance if desired. The waist belt is a free-floating rope belt that slides to your desired fit. The saddle is extremely co*fortable while walking, and it didn’t sag with loaded dump pouches. The leg straps are co*fortable and co*pletely removable due to the G-hook attachments and can be quickly put on at the base of the tree.
The single row of MOLLE webbing is easy to access, and the dump pouches are in a good position. The fade-away lineman’s loops running from the top panel to the bottom panel are easy to use while ascending and descending the tree. The mesh panel is breathable and utilizes two vertical webbing straps for added co*fort.
The AmSteel bridge is adjustable in length, slides easily through the carabiner, and holds all positions up and down the bridge loops for perfect pitch adjustments. The only con for the Method 2 is its price, while it is an extremely co*fortable saddle with numerous adjustment options.
Why It Made the Cut
The Shrike offers some unique features included with the price of the saddle.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Product Description
The Shrike uniquely features a permanently attached lineman’s belt with an AustriAlpin adjuster buckle, floating leg straps, AustriAlpin bridge buckle, a pleated mesh panel and many other features that make it the best value for your buck even though its price is listed as a con for the saddle overall. These features, as cool as they are, do add noticeable weight to the saddle.
The saddle does not sag with dump pouches, and the MOLLE loops are easy to use and in a good location. The AustriAlpin buckles on the bridge and lineman’s belt easily allow for quick adjustments, and the bridge slides through the carabiner easily and holds all pitch adjustments. The floating leg straps utilize bungee cords to hold the straps up and are co*fortable while walking and while in the tree.
Why It Made the Cut
The Phantom’s lightweight, streamlined design and co*fort Channels make for a functional and co*fortable saddle.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Product Description
Tethrd is known for leading the charge in this new saddle-hunting era; their innovation and marketing are second to none. They make several contenders that could be on the best tree saddles list, but the Phantom is my pick from their catalog.
The Phantom is lightweight and offers two rows of MOLLE webbing, and has very little sag with dump pouches attached. The leg straps are co*fortable, made of webbing, and connect with G-hooks. The lineman’s loops are big and stiff and easy to use to ascend and descend the tree. The AmSteel bridge slides smoothly through the carabiner, and length adjustments are easily made as well.
Preset pitch adjustments are made by moving your bridge into any one of the three co*fort Channels along the bridge loops. The Phantom is a very co*fortable saddle and the only con I could find was the price.
Why It Made the Cut
Customization at the time of ordering and the adjustability of the patent-pending dual panels makes the Buzzard Roost a one-of-a-kind.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Product Description
Despite three minor cons, the two-panel Buzzard Roost saddle offers an unlimited number of adjustment options, is functional, and very co*fortable. Buzzard Roost also offers a couple options to customize the saddle at the time of ordering. You can choose loose or tight MOLLE webbing and a right or left-hand bridge adjustment option.
It also offers a patent-pending dual panel adjustment system which is unlike any other saddle on the market. There are four bridge loops that allow you to change the pitch of the top panel and the bottom panel independently of each other. Due to that, there are no lineman’s loops on the saddle, as you have the option to use any of the bridge loops to attach your lineman’s belt.
The MOLLE are in a good position, and the saddle does not sag with loaded dump pouches. The leg straps do pull slightly while walking but putting them on at the tree is a quick and easy fix. The leg straps are also co*pletely removable from the saddle, and the gear loop attachment points also double as a backup tender for those wanting to rappel down from the tree.
The two panels are held together with two buckles and webbing straps that allow you to deploy the panels at hunting height. The bridge slides through the carabiner very nicely, and length adjustments are easy to make using the included poor man’s ascender. Bridge adjustments hold in every position as well.
Why It Made the Cut
The Hotshot is lightweight and sleek and yet packs in a lot of nice features.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Product Description
co*ing in at 1 pound 5 ounces, the Hotshot is a lightweight saddle with a breathable mesh panel and two rows of MOLLE webbing. It holds the weight of dump pouches without any sag, and the leg straps are co*fortable, made of webbing, and connected with G-hooks. Although the lineman’s loops are a bit flimsy, they function just fine to ascend and descend the tree.
The TriAd AmSteel bridge slides easily through the carabiner, and adjusting the bridge from either side is easily done. The TriAd bridge is the only bridge on the market that allows for right and left-hand length adjustments, and the bridge also holds in all positions up and down the bridge loops for pitch adjustments. Overall the Hotshot is very functional and easy to use with the only con being the price.
Why It Made the Cut
The Black Belt offers padded panels for great co*fort and lots of nice features.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Product Description
The Black Belt is a two-panel saddle that co*es with padded panels for added co*fort. The two panels are held together with webbing straps and plastic side-release buckles and can be deployed at hunting height. The webbing waist belt is free-floating through the upper panel, which allows you to move the metal side release buckle wherever you like it. The waist belt also has a tri-glide buckle for size adjustments, and once you have it set, it doesn’t slip or loosen up.
It offers one row of MOLLE webbing on the top panel and one on the bottom panel, which are in a good location and easy to access. The webbing also holds the weight of dump pouches without sagging the saddle. The webbing leg straps connect with G-hooks and are co*fortable. The lineman’s loops are big and stiff and easily used to ascend and descend the tree.
The Oplux bridge slides easily through the carabiner, and bridge adjustments are easily made. Although the bridge pitch adjustments slip slightly, they hold in all positions up and down the bridge loops for added co*fort. Although the price and weight of the Black Belt were also listed as cons, its weight wasn’t noticeable due to its co*fort.
Mobile hunting gear is all about personal preference. The best way to choose a saddle is by trying one at a sportsman’s show in your area or by checking out a local saddle hunter meetup. Saddle hunters occasionally get together to talk about new techniques, and folks at the meetup can try out any of the saddles that each person brought. This is a great way to get your feet wet. You can find these meetups on most saddle-hunting forums and Facebook.
You can hunt any animal from a tree saddle that you can hunt from any of the best tree stands (deer, elk, bear, hogs, etc.).
Yes. There are many tree saddles on the market today that give hunters endless adjustment options for co*fort.
Each tree saddle manufacturer provides sizing options that generally coincide with your waist/pant size. If your waist is at the high end of the sizing chart it is better to move up to the next size.
There are more tree saddles on the market today than ever before, and finding the right one can be a challenging and daunting task. If you feel overwhelmed with the number of options out there, simply narrow it down from my list of the best tree saddles by choosing the saddle that best fits your hunting style.
The post The Best Tree Saddles of 2022 appeared first on Outdoor Life.
[/html]