I agree with you Muskrat. I have a Summit Viper and a Goliath.

But, I'm speaking only on one side of this argument as I know nothing about saddle use. Never used one.

How do you climb a tree (without limbs) for saddle use without sticks?

Saddles are just another tool. Like I said in my last post, climbers are heavy and not as convenient for the mobile hunter saddles just fit another niche in the game. It all depends on how you hunt. As for your other question about climbing. Just YouTube it. It's easier to see than write a long paragraph.

I prefer my spurs over everything. Saw these old school guys using them and talking about them and that's what I did originally. Can get 15' up in less then a minute. Only weight like 3lbs and are pretty quiet...but not legal on public so . Apparently they would kill the trees but all the ones I've climbed are still doing good so idk

I'm talking about you can with a ROS setup start on one side of the trees and move to the other side if needed.

We can also lean way out to one side or the other. Lean too hard to one side of a climber and it can dump you.

Ropes. I use the systems that arborists use except on a much smaller scale.

A two tether system is the same as a one stick system except you don't have a stick that can kick out on you and gouge your leg.

I’ve watched some “true” videos of saddle climbers and they’re pouring sweat by the time they get to where they want to be. Not knocking it, but most I know carry sticks and a “stand” for their feet. I’ll stick with a climber and be as comfortable as I am in the recliner in my house.

If u sweat climbing with a saddle u will sweat the same amount with a climber. Its not hard at all. 4 movements and I'm 16 feet up.
Put a deboned deer in your pack, strap climber on and carry a head with horns in one hand and bow in the other. It was my last time carrying that big climber.

And there it is. So, looks to me like I'll continue with the Summit Viper and be happy with what I have. Haven't looked at the Goliath model, may do that during the Packer game this evening since I can't watch it.

I don't consider the Viper to be a heavy back packed climber . . . yet. At 73 now still able to pack it in and get up the tree and get settled in fairly short order.

And I don't have to carry it to far. Most all my stands are accessed by boat. And from the boat to the stand I'd say maximum distance is 50 yards. Some places the boat is tied up alongside the bank under the tree I'm sitting in.

My ideal situation is making camp several hundred yards upstream of the stand. Come in late afternoon with canoe and gear in the boat. Stop at stand site on the way upstream to get the stand out of the boat and readied at the base of the tree. Motor up to campsite, tie boat and canoe up, and make camp. Morning comes it's breakfast quick and slip into the canoe and paddle downstream to stand site. Tie up and quietly sneak into stand. Up the tree and wait for the woods to wake up. Quitting/lunch time fire up the 2 horse Honda and back up to campsite. Paddle back down for evening hunt, motor back up for the evening, back down for a morning stand and back to camp later, break camp and motor back to the landing.

Thanks for the comparisons, much appreciated.

The saddle has taken off because the simplicity and the silence. Many of these saddle hunters are setting up as close as possible to a bucks known bed, sometimes as close as 50 yards from a bedded buck. It's harder to set up in a climber that close to an animal and not get busted. Again. It's just another niche.

Just watched this video.

https://youtu.be/hgh_MW049_0

I like the quietness, but not sure if my knees could handle that. Climbing in the Summits don't affect my knees so I might could do this.

Muskrat,
The Goliath is identical to the Viper except the seat frame is 1.5" wider on the Goliath.

Everything I need to spend all day in a tree on a cold day, I mean EVERYTHING. Pack, extra layers, saddle, ropes, hunting accoutrements, water, snacks, etc, weighs exactly 20 pounds.

And when I get there, I’m equipped to climb ANY tree. A telephone pole straight pine, a gnarly ash, a limby ponderosa pine, I can do em all.

You can’t do that with any climber.

No argument here. I watched that video posted above and it takes me back to basic training in 1970. I'm all done with that.

You fellas with the saddles carry on.

And as far as setting up as close as 50 yards from a bedded buck, well, I just ain't that sneaky.

I prefer my "couch" up in the tree.

Thanks again fellas.

I really, really wanted to like hunting in a saddle. I tried 6 different models/styles. Went back to a lightweight lock on. Much better for me. A summit viper is orders of magnitude more comfortable for me than a saddle. I find being on your feet uncomfortable, I'd rather stand and sit down completely. Hated sitting knees into the tree.

Haha! My wife calls saddles diapers.
Another reason I switched to a saddle was i found myself trying to find a good tree to climb rather than a good spot to hunt. Now I just find a good spot and climb. My private land hunts I still use a ladder stand .

Been a while since I used mine but I bought one back in ‘07 from a company I think fell through before this whole saddle thing blew up. I’ve only climbed with pole climbing spurs as I’m a lineman. As stated before they’re hard to beat for the weight and stealth. I’m sure things have changed in their design but my rig would be you up on an all day sit. Hips would be sore from being squeezed all day. Half day hunt, no problem. For comfort I go with an an ultralight hanger now. Climb up the tree, belt off. Hang the stand and crawl in. Easier on my hips and knees

What I see, so far......

Feet close together entire time on small platform.

Must keep pressure on at least one foot/leg during most of the hunt.

Cannot really stand up to stretch or pee.

Constant pressure on hips.

To completely take pressure off legs requires you to press your knees into the tree (some even use knee pads.)

Can you even get to your man part to pee without unbuckling something important?

Are the above observations an accurate assessment of saddle hunting?

Kinda why I didn't buy one ....yet. We'll see.

No pressure on my hips.
U can pee just like in a climber with a harness on. Maybe easier.
U can sit, stand , lean and turn completely around.
Some platforms are small. Mine I made out of an old climber, just cut it up and made it how I wanted it.
They are more for mobile hunters. If u r gonna hunt next to your truck then a big heavy climber will work. I don't do that and don't hunt along a trail. My old favorite climber was an api bowhunter. So it wasn't comfortable at all.