As advertised, fast shipping and everything was included. The saddle is comfortable, the sticks and platform pack up great on a bag
Im just getting into saddle hunting, but this saddle to date is the most comfortable, light weight, and easy to pack rig for the woods.
My intention is to use this rig for Virginia whitetail and Oregon Roosevelt Elk. Bowhunt of course.
Comfort always has a place in the heirarchy, because if you hate the feel, then you will not use it. The lightweight and total packed volume is important for me, especially when im stalking around the Oregon coast in rainforrests all day. I'll ground hunt for most of the day, but there will be those moments when getting up in a tree has its benefits. Adding the capability to loiter on the edge of harsh terrain up in the trees, without having to lug around heavy things is pretty darn cool.
Paired with the venatic saddle.
The first couple times testing the venatic saddle and walking out to a suitable tree, Id get that loaded diaper feeling as the saddle began to sag a bit. No bueno, so I figured some suspenders were in order.
These suspenders seem well made, and the bits of leather are a nice touch.
As for attachment, I played around some ideas for a while. The venatic saddle does not appear to have dedicated mounting points, so I got creative. The slotted buckles did not mesh well with the nylon nor rubber molle. I tried weaving the elastic through the molle loops and hooking the buckle back onto the elastic, but I was not satisfied. Ultimately I attached the rear strap by hooking into the Made In America tag. The front shoulder straps hooked into one each of the mounting straps for the accessory pouch straps on the left and right hips. The venatic accessory pouches use two nylon straps each that weave through the nylon molle of the saddle, so I hooked the suspender buckles onto those nylon straps.
So far, so good. In the future though, Im thinking that suspenders made of nylon with elastic strain relief will be more durable and allow for better load bearing.
Im just getting into saddle hunting, and weighing in at about 280 before gear, I dont feel like im going to break these.
So far, the teeth are biting into smooth and rough bark types just fine. Two steps are paired with some step-aiders to help me net just a bit more overall climbing height.
A bit of spray paint for some custom camo is all you need to blend them into your woods, but some silencing tape may be in order.
Im still figuring out how best to bundle and carry these in the woods, and I think there will be plenty of life and in this product and time for me to learn.
Absolutely love it, since I got mine I won’t touch a regular deer stand again, I can literally go anywhere and get into tight spaces with it