Stands and Saddles
Saddles, hang-ons, climbing sticks, platforms, and how to climb quiet and safe.
Climbing Sticks for Saddle Hunting Compared: Budget vs Mid vs Premium
What you get, and what you give up, with climbing sticks at each price level. Official weights and ratings side by side, plus the sticks I climb on.
Hunting Saddles Compared: Budget vs Premium
XOP Mutant, Latitude Method 3, and Tethrd Phantom XP side by side: official weights, ratings, and sizes, plus what I run and why a saddle is the last place to cut corners.
Saddle Hunting Platforms Compared: Budget to Premium
XOP Edge, XOP Invader, and Tethrd Predator V compared by weight, size, and rating, plus what I've learned about foot placement and platform orientation.
Is a Complete Saddle Hunting Kit Worth It? Kit vs Building Your Own
I started with an XOP kit. Here's what saddle kits actually include, what they leave out, and whether they save money over buying the parts one at a time.
Switching From a Hang-On to a Saddle: What Changed My First Season
I went from a Millennium M50 hang-on to an XOP Mutant saddle kit. Foot placement, hanging height, platform orientation, and shot angles: here is what changed.
Saddle Hunting Accessories You Can Buy Cheap (and the Ones You Can't)
Tape, bungee, hooks, hangers, and aiders: the cheap saddle add-ons I use, plus the life-safety gear where cheap is the wrong call.
Saddle Hunting Setup Guide: Every Piece You Need, Budget to Premium
The five parts of a saddle setup, what each one does, what I run, and where to spend or save. Start here, then dig into the detailed comparisons.
How to Silence Climbing Sticks for Saddle Hunting: Cheap Fixes That Work
Bungee cord, Stealth Strips, hockey tape on the carabiners, an aider, and a lot of practice. Here is how I keep my climb quiet without spending much.