What I'd Actually Gift a Saddle Hunter

Every piece of gear below is something I own and hunt with. That's the only rule I used to build this list. These aren't the only good options out there, and at every price there are plenty of other popular picks. These are just the ones I'd hand a buddy without thinking twice.

The whole list at a glance

Prices were checked on Amazon on October 17, 2026. They move around a lot during the holidays, so check the listing before you buy.

Stocking stuffers, under $25

This is where I'd spend if I were buying for a saddle hunter I didn't know that well. It's cheap, and almost nobody has too much of it.

Camo hockey tape

I wrap all my carabiners and any other metal touch points in Renfrew patterned hockey tape. Mine is the 1 inch camo roll. Metal on metal is the noise that gives you away on a cold morning, and this is the cheapest fix there is.

A roll goes a long way, so it's a good add-on to any bigger gift. More on that in my quiet climb setup.

Stealth Strips

My sticks are wrapped in Stealth Strips in Strata camo. It's a peel and stick fabric that covers bare aluminum so a boot or carabiner doesn't ring it.

Bungee shock cord

I cut pieces of bungee shock cord and put them on each stick so they don't clank together. You don't need a big marine spool for this. A short, cheap roll like this Huouo 25 ft bungee shock cord in 1/4 inch black is plenty for a set of sticks, with some left over.

Windfloaters

I check the wind with Windfloaters. They're light fibers you let go of to see where the wind and thermals are carrying your scent. Every bowhunter should have something like this in a pocket, and they're about the price of a fast food lunch. If they're into the scent side of things, I wrote up my whole scent control setup on a budget.

Scent-free soap and detergent

I wash my hunting clothes in Dead Down Wind laundry detergent and use the same brand's body wash and shampoo before a hunt. Both get used up every season, so they make good gifts even for someone who already has some. Grab both for under $40 total.

A rope aider

I climb with a ZIVOXIA climbing stick aider. It's a short rope ladder that hangs off a stick and gives you an extra step or two, and a rope step doesn't clank when your boot finds it. It packs small and costs about the same as a roll of silencing tape.

A drag strap

When it's time to get a deer out, I use a Vecacosic deer drag strap and harness. It's simple and cheap, and it's the kind of thing a lot of guys don't buy for themselves until they're dragging one by the antlers. Pair it with something from my field dressing kit list.

Permethrin

Sawyer SP657 permethrin is an early season must for me. You treat your clothes with it, not your skin, so follow the label. It's a good gift that a lot of hunters haven't tried yet.

Hand warmers

I always carry hand warmers, and I use HotHands. I'm a serial over-packer, and they're one of the things I'd never leave behind. A bulk box like the HotHands 40 pair pack gets used up every season, so it's never a wasted gift.

Middle gifts, $25 to $75

These are for the guy you hunt with, or anyone you know is already set up in a saddle.

A retractable bow hoist

I use a Doyle's Huntin Hoist to pull up my bow and pack once I'm at height. It's a retractable hoist, so there's no loose rope to tangle while you're getting set up in the dark. A plain hoist rope works too, but this is one of those upgrades people like once they have it.

A grunt call

The call I carry is the Illusion Extinguisher, an adjustable 10 in 1 grunt tube that does buck, doe, and fawn sounds. With the rut coming on, it's good timing. I wrote up when and how to call if they're new to it.

A bino chest pack

My binos ride in a MOXULE chest pack with a rangefinder pouch. In a saddle you want your optics on your chest, not buried in a pack hanging off the tree. It's a good one for someone who's still carrying binos around their neck on a strap.

Big gifts, $100 and up

These are for someone who's really into it, or for a group gift from the family.

Climbing sticks

I climb on a 4 pack of Hawk Helium Gen 2 sticks. With my full setup I end up around 20 to 25 feet of shooting height. Hawk's Gen 2 product page puts each stick at 20 inches and 2.5 pounds, rated to 300 pounds.

Sticks hold your weight, so make sure they're new, buy from a real seller, and that whoever gets them reads the instructions and practices low first. If they already have sticks, skip this one. Nobody needs two sets. My climbing sticks comparison has other options at every price.

A cellular trail camera

I'm obsessed with my Tactacam Reveal Pro 4.0. A cell cam sends pictures to your phone, so you can see what's moving without walking in and leaving scent all over your spot.

One thing to know before you buy it as a gift: it needs a data plan. Tactacam's plans start at $5 a month for 250 photos, and unlimited is $13 a month or $120 a year. Plans can be paused in the off season. If you want the gift to be complete, cover the first year of the plan too. My cellular trail camera comparison has cheaper and pricier options.

A full saddle system

The XOP Complete Tree Saddle Hunting System is what I started saddle hunting on. It came with the Mutant saddle, the platform, rope, and pretty much everything I needed. It's a great way in for someone who's been talking about trying a saddle. Before you buy it, run through the checklist in the next section.

How to gift a saddle the right way

You can absolutely gift a saddle. You just have to read the specs first. A saddle is what holds you in the tree, so it's worth five minutes of checking before you check out.

Waist size. Saddles are sized by waist, and the ranges are different from brand to brand. XOP's Mutant, the saddle in the XOP Complete, comes in Medium for a 28 to 38 inch waist and XL for 38 to 48 inches. Late season layers add more than you'd think, so size for what they'll wear in December, not in a t-shirt.

Weight rating. Check that the rating covers them with all their gear on. XOP lists the Mutant at 350 pounds, recommended for users from 100 to 350 pounds.

Platform and bridge. Make sure it works with what they climb and stand on. If they already have a platform, sticks, or a favorite bridge, check that the new saddle plays nice with them. A complete kit like the XOP solves this, since the saddle, platform, and rope are made to go together.

Buy it new. Never gift a used saddle or tether. Life-safety gear should come new, with the instructions, so the person using it knows its history.

Not sure on size? Ask a hunting buddy of theirs, or include a gift receipt so they can swap sizes. Before anyone hunts from a new saddle, they should read the manufacturer's instructions and practice low. My hunting saddle comparison has specs for other popular saddles, and I keep my safety notes in saddle hunting safety.

Quick tips before you buy

• Ask what they already have. Hunters double up on gear all the time. Small consumables like tape, warmers, and permethrin are safe even if they already own some.
• Order early. Popular items go in and out of stock in December, and a few of these were already showing low stock when I checked.
• Pair a big gift with a small one. Sticks plus a roll of hockey tape and some shock cord, or a cell cam plus a year of data, makes the gift ready to use.
• Go cheap on the add-ons, not on what holds your weight. "Buy once, cry once" is how I look at sticks and saddles. Silencing tape and hand warmers are where you can save.

For the full list of what I carry into the woods, see my saddle hunting gear checklist.

Sources

• Amazon product listings linked above, prices checked October 17, 2026.
• XOP Outdoors, Mutant saddle harness: waist sizing, weight rating, recommended user weight, included items.
• Hawk Hunting, Helium 20 climbing stick 4 pack, Gen 2: length, weight, rating.
• Tactacam, REVEAL app and data plans: plan prices and pausing.
• Treestand Manufacturers Association, Treestand Safety Guidelines: full-body harness and practice before use.
• First-hand notes on what I use, from my own gear list.