I'm getting into saddle hunting this season and being on a budget I couldn't bring myself to spend the money for a commercial saddle and ordered a rock harness and sit drag to use this year. Thanks for your informative video and best of luck this season.
Thanks man....after all....your DIY videos inspired me to start making them in 2017. I had been using the sit/drag to hunt off the ground for a few years and one day I searched for sit/drag mods on youtube and found your channel. I immediately began modifying the sit/drag and started saddle hunting. I am working on my 5th version of this saddle right now. I love the Tethrd Predator and plan on picking one up for my son this year. I tried to make it to Saddlepalooza this year but it didn't work out...maybe next year.
@@budgetbucksoutdoors that's awesome. I moved from the trophyline to the Sitdrag as you know. I loved it, but I hated the rock climbing harness. The foam I ised was nice but HOOOOOTTT in the early season.
Nothing more satisfying that taking deer out of a saddle to you made. So far I have taken bucks with a bow and rifle out of mine this year. Good luck with your season!
Dude just from the pic it looks amazing, I have the ESS only complaint is the stress on the top of mg thighs from the lower panel. Bit more padding would fix that.
Awesome video, I’d like to see a closer up view of the saddle and specifics on construction. I’ll search on your channel and subscribed. Keep em’ coming! Great content
I’m on the list to buy the JX3 hybrid. I’ve tried saddles and I like them however I could not get as comfortable as I wanted. The JX3 hybrid has the fork that keeps you off the tree so you do not need kneepads and it folds up and makes into its own pack. I’m thinking I’m going to use the hybrid and the wild edge steps. You should check it out if you are looking for Max comfort
The JX3 definitely looks like the most comfortable option. It's a little heavy for me at my age to carry in and out of public land. Mine is 2 pounds and is plenty comfortable but I do like the idea of the fork on the JX3 and have been considering adding something like that to mine. I think you will like the wild edge steps. I love mine. Good luck with the new setup!
great saddle, thanks! i am working on a similar setup. do you climb with your lineman's connected to the saddle? im trying to DIY my saddle instead of buying a SitDrag and would like to avoid trusting my life to my own stitching if possible, but my rock harness doesnt have lineman's loops either. i guess i could just connect both sides of the lineman's to the central loop on the rock harness when climbing, then leave my tether clipped into that central loop as backup while my DIY bridge is prussiked into the tether upstream?
I also hunt a forest land but it’s only a state forest and not very big. Some really big oaks on it since they won’t harvest timber on it though and was wondering if y’all have tried the DRT rope climbing method yet.
Never tried DRT method. I am sticking with the wild edge steps this year with aider or three of my lone wolf sticks with an aider. It's about the same weight for each and I get the same height. My sticks are a little quicker but the WE steps pack up in a smaller package.
It is not in the works at this moment. Going to be overwhelmed for a while filming deer season. It would be a huge project. Just don't know if we will have time. Thanks for the interest! Hope you have a great season this year.
@@budgetbucksoutdoors shucks. Was hoping it was already in the works. I guess I'll just make something up then and test it. Best of luck to you this season!
So I purchased a used sewing machine to start making my own saddle and other gear and ready to take on the project of making my own DIY saddle, just like yours. You mention 500D nylon and webbing - looking at Quest Fabrics now to see where I can order this material. I would really like to to see a video from you guys on material selection and walk us through the dimensions and design. Understood it is already made but a video going over the build would be awesome. Any chance we could talk you into that? Thanks for the great video upload.
If I make another saddle(which I most likely will since I am a sewing addict), I will try and film the process and post it for you. Right now you could get some expert advise at the saddlehunter forum. Register with them and check out their DIY section. I posted some of it on there. I bought the 500 D Cordura(realtree) and the realtree fleece from Camo Fabric Depot. I purchased the 2 inch nylon webbing at strapworks(I think I got the one inch for the waistbelt from there also). I basically made a 30 inch wide seat with foam in it. I made a continuous loop of 2 inch nylon webbing attached to the 500 D cordura sewn in with the strongest sewing pattern(which I found on saddlehunter but can't remember what it's called). I didn't use a box stitch for support as it is only rated at 30%, the stitch I used was rated higher, I think something like 75% and was a box with a diagonal design inside. If you look at a standard fall arrest harness it will use this design and I will bet you have one lying around somewhere. I used predator climbing rope for the bridge and tether(6,000 lb rating) and I used rated carabiners. The waist belt is not weight rated but is used to keep the saddle in place. The hardest part will be getting the zipper sewn in so you can take the foam in and out if it gets wet or needs to be replaced. It took me a few times to get it correct but hey...it's just thread, you can always take it out and start over if you mess up. Good luck with your project sir!
@@budgetbucksoutdoors Awesome info, thank you sir. I have never heard of Camo Fabric Depot, so I appreciate letting me know about them. I am a member on SaddleHunter and on there from time to time. Hopefully I will have a design to post to that forum one of these days soon. Thanks again.
Sorry man, I still use the Millenium sometimes if I am going to sit all day during the rut and I don't have to hike far. I am definitely not getting rid of our millennium stands. I will try and get a video of building my next saddle.
We made it . Bought an industrial sewing machine and designed it ourselves. Been hunting out of them for 6 seasons and love them still. They are a bit bulky compared to saddles but extremely comfortable. We kind of thought someone would eventually make something similar but so far no interest. Everyone wants the lightest possible but with my bad back it is perfect with the back support. It makes long sits more bearable. Glad you enjoyed the videos!
@@heflin06 Anytime. I forgot to mention I have a buddy that makes regular saddles that are top of the line but just don't have a back brace. I have hunted with him and watched him test different versions for the last 3 years. He pretty much has it perfected now. You should check out his stuff if you have not seen it yet. Just another option. He also has a carbon fiber treestand coming soon. It was tested with a ton of weight. I will buy one for sure as soon as it comes out. His company is Timber Ninja outdoors if you are interested.
update- my wife got me a Aero hunter Kestrel flex for xmas last year, I used it 3x so far this season and I like it but yours still looks more comfortable -
I could see leaving your linemen’s rope hooked up with those cheesy ropes. With the cargo straps the old system I never felt worried about a strap that’s rated at 5,000lbs tensile strength. Your confidence would be a bit higher if they still offered those. I won’t hunt those climbing ropes but I’m 6’5 300lbs these days. With that being said, I’m a big fat ass, I was in my saddle at 25 feet without a worry in my head. I own 4 saddle been using them since 1998 and killed more deer with a bow out of a saddle then I can count. I was only able to hunt 2 days this year and killed gorgeous 8pt 200lbs on the huff in VA. If you set your saddle up with a Retractable line to put around your bow gun muzzleloaders and use a pouch put 20 tree pegs then your golden that all you need. That will put you 30 feet up in tree and give you 5 steps around the tree and probably extra peg to hang your bow on. If your rap your pegs in tape 100mph tape then they will be silent when taking them out of your molly porch one at a time. If your going to carry anything more you Might as well go back to a climber!!!!
Or continue to do what you’re doing, and feel confident and happy that you’ve never felt the need to leave a comment like this on someone else’s channel... Thank you for taking the time to make this and show us all how you do you thing. It’s awesome man
It's made out of cordura, fleece and foam that I purchased online. It isn't a sit/drag that you can purchase premade. The dimensions are very close to the original sit/drag that everyone did all the mods to years ago. the foam inside makes it much, much more comfortable and eliminates hip pinch.
I made the whole thing out of 500D Nylon and fleece with 2 inch 6,000lb webbing. Used predator rope for the bridge. I tried the sit/drag that is sold commercially and didn't care for it but it gave me a place to start. I think I used Gutterman 40 thread to sew it with. It took me a few practices to get good enough with the sewing machine to make it look professional. I think I made 3 different ones before I got it right. I put foam inside as padding and that works very well.
I don't have it with me right now but if my memory is correct it was 31 inches long and 11 inches wide. I added 1 inch of fabric on each side to compensate for sewing the edges. It's quite a bit larger than my original sit drag and that creates less hip pinch....in fact... I haven't noticed a bit of hip pinch like I did with the original sit drag.
The problem that I have seen with the cost of the saddles is the man hours it takes to make them. I have about 10 hours per saddle making mine for the family. It is super time consuming but at least I get to do something deer hunting related during the off season. Materials cost alone is around $70-$80.
@@budgetbucksoutdoors Low end saddles before all the ropes are only $150 - $200. You build a saddle yourself b/c you want to AND comfort. I hunted out of a saddle this year and it is way better than a tree stand IMO. However, you can't hardly walk to your stand in them, putting them on in the dark is really difficult, when and you are geared up, expect extra time to get it on, make it fit and comfortable.
Hunting out of the saddle about 80% of the time. Still using the stand sometimes on our shorter hikes depending on the tree. Still love the stand and I make no noise getting up with it. Thanks and glad you enjoyed it!
We have another video showing climbing the tree with wild edge steps if you want to see going up the tree. As far as hooking up to the tree you just wrap the tether around the tree and hook it in. Just left it out for the sake of time as the video was already 10 minutes long. Thanks for watching.
I made the saddle with my sewing machine. It has padding inside with a big zipper in the back in case the padding gets wet or it needs replacing. You can find tons of information on making a saddle at saddlehunter.com.
@@budgetbucksoutdoors Thanks for Responding. I can see the advantage for distance, and situations but it's still has too many "moving parts". The commercial saddles are way too Expensive!! Tether must be on "Crack" !
I know alot of people love it, it's just a confidence thing xD. That new stuff is way better trust.
I like your DIY Saddle, it looks very comfortable and safe!!!
Great idea using the lineman strap as a back up. Will be doing the dance from now on.
I'm getting into saddle hunting this season and being on a budget I couldn't bring myself to spend the money for a commercial saddle and ordered a rock harness and sit drag to use this year. Thanks for your informative video and best of luck this season.
That looks comfortable
Slick setup! Love the DIY route!
Thanks man....after all....your DIY videos inspired me to start making them in 2017. I had been using the sit/drag to hunt off the ground for a few years and one day I searched for sit/drag mods on youtube and found your channel. I immediately began modifying the sit/drag and started saddle hunting. I am working on my 5th version of this saddle right now. I love the Tethrd Predator and plan on picking one up for my son this year. I tried to make it to Saddlepalooza this year but it didn't work out...maybe next year.
@@budgetbucksoutdoors that's awesome. I moved from the trophyline to the Sitdrag as you know. I loved it, but I hated the rock climbing harness. The foam I ised was nice but HOOOOOTTT in the early season.
Thumbs up on the mid-afternoon siesta!!!!
I really LOVE the back belt. that's been my biggest issue with saddles in general.
It helps a lot especially being able to adjust it throughout the day.
Awesome video. Thank you
I knew you were a Marine. Before I saw you wearing what looked like the same Danners that I have, now that pack. HA. Semper Fi
Very nice setup and good job on it! I'm making my own saddle and hopefully will be able to use it for this season. 👍
Nothing more satisfying that taking deer out of a saddle to you made. So far I have taken bucks with a bow and rifle out of mine this year. Good luck with your season!
Thank you for sharing your setup!
I got my sit drag and can't wait to use it in September.
Nice job on your saddle! That thing looks super comfy! I found the narrow sit drag was better for me. But that's the beauty of saddle hunting!
Double tether is the way to go.
Dude just from the pic it looks amazing, I have the ESS only complaint is the stress on the top of mg thighs from the lower panel. Bit more padding would fix that.
Awesome video, I’d like to see a closer up view of the saddle and specifics on construction. I’ll search on your channel and subscribed. Keep em’ coming! Great content
Thanks!
Great idea on the second tether
It doesn't really get in the way like most people would think. It makes me feel more confident. Thanks.
man thats a pretty nice DIY rig. You know people are gonna start asking you when your gonna have em for sale…lol. Good huntin to ya!
Thanks and good luck to you this season!
Ounces are pounds and pounds equals pain. Thanks good job very helpful.
I’m on the list to buy the JX3 hybrid. I’ve tried saddles and I like them however I could not get as comfortable as I wanted. The JX3 hybrid has the fork that keeps you off the tree so you do not need kneepads and it folds up and makes into its own pack. I’m thinking I’m going to use the hybrid and the wild edge steps. You should check it out if you are looking for Max comfort
The JX3 definitely looks like the most comfortable option. It's a little heavy for me at my age to carry in and out of public land. Mine is 2 pounds and is plenty comfortable but I do like the idea of the fork on the JX3 and have been considering adding something like that to mine. I think you will like the wild edge steps. I love mine. Good luck with the new setup!
great saddle, thanks! i am working on a similar setup. do you climb with your lineman's connected to the saddle? im trying to DIY my saddle instead of buying a SitDrag and would like to avoid trusting my life to my own stitching if possible, but my rock harness doesnt have lineman's loops either. i guess i could just connect both sides of the lineman's to the central loop on the rock harness when climbing, then leave my tether clipped into that central loop as backup while my DIY bridge is prussiked into the tether upstream?
I know this is an older video but it would be great if y'all produced these things, looks comfortable and practical.
They truly are comfortable but very time consuming.
I also hunt a forest land but it’s only a state forest and not very big. Some really big oaks on it since they won’t harvest timber on it though and was wondering if y’all have tried the DRT rope climbing method yet.
Never tried DRT method. I am sticking with the wild edge steps this year with aider or three of my lone wolf sticks with an aider. It's about the same weight for each and I get the same height. My sticks are a little quicker but the WE steps pack up in a smaller package.
Nice saddle
Any update on whether you are going to come out with a how to and build video. Sweet setup you have there
It is not in the works at this moment. Going to be overwhelmed for a while filming deer season. It would be a huge project. Just don't know if we will have time. Thanks for the interest! Hope you have a great season this year.
@@budgetbucksoutdoors shucks. Was hoping it was already in the works. I guess I'll just make something up then and test it. Best of luck to you this season!
Nice set up. Mine is very similar!
So I purchased a used sewing machine to start making my own saddle and other gear and ready to take on the project of making my own DIY saddle, just like yours. You mention 500D nylon and webbing - looking at Quest Fabrics now to see where I can order this material. I would really like to to see a video from you guys on material selection and walk us through the dimensions and design. Understood it is already made but a video going over the build would be awesome. Any chance we could talk you into that? Thanks for the great video upload.
If I make another saddle(which I most likely will since I am a sewing addict), I will try and film the process and post it for you. Right now you could get some expert advise at the saddlehunter forum. Register with them and check out their DIY section. I posted some of it on there. I bought the 500 D Cordura(realtree) and the realtree fleece from Camo Fabric Depot. I purchased the 2 inch nylon webbing at strapworks(I think I got the one inch for the waistbelt from there also). I basically made a 30 inch wide seat with foam in it. I made a continuous loop of 2 inch nylon webbing attached to the 500 D cordura sewn in with the strongest sewing pattern(which I found on saddlehunter but can't remember what it's called). I didn't use a box stitch for support as it is only rated at 30%, the stitch I used was rated higher, I think something like 75% and was a box with a diagonal design inside. If you look at a standard fall arrest harness it will use this design and I will bet you have one lying around somewhere. I used predator climbing rope for the bridge and tether(6,000 lb rating) and I used rated carabiners. The waist belt is not weight rated but is used to keep the saddle in place. The hardest part will be getting the zipper sewn in so you can take the foam in and out if it gets wet or needs to be replaced. It took me a few times to get it correct but hey...it's just thread, you can always take it out and start over if you mess up. Good luck with your project sir!
@@budgetbucksoutdoors Awesome info, thank you sir. I have never heard of Camo Fabric Depot, so I appreciate letting me know about them. I am a member on SaddleHunter and on there from time to time. Hopefully I will have a design to post to that forum one of these days soon. Thanks again.
Ill take my summit all day over these things
Dang, dude. You sold me on the Millennium stands and now I might have to try a saddle. Sure wish you’d do a close up video of how you designed yours.
Sorry man, I still use the Millenium sometimes if I am going to sit all day during the rut and I don't have to hike far. I am definitely not getting rid of our millennium stands. I will try and get a video of building my next saddle.
Hey guys. Did you make your sit drag and back rest or did you modify a premade product? Great video and love the DVDs too.
We made it . Bought an industrial sewing machine and designed it ourselves. Been hunting out of them for 6 seasons and love them still. They are a bit bulky compared to saddles but extremely comfortable. We kind of thought someone would eventually make something similar but so far no interest. Everyone wants the lightest possible but with my bad back it is perfect with the back support. It makes long sits more bearable. Glad you enjoyed the videos!
@@budgetbucksoutdoors thank you for the info.
@@heflin06 Anytime. I forgot to mention I have a buddy that makes regular saddles that are top of the line but just don't have a back brace. I have hunted with him and watched him test different versions for the last 3 years. He pretty much has it perfected now. You should check out his stuff if you have not seen it yet. Just another option. He also has a carbon fiber treestand coming soon. It was tested with a ton of weight. I will buy one for sure as soon as it comes out. His company is Timber Ninja outdoors if you are interested.
is there a vid showing how you made it? cant afford the mantis and want to give this a try
No video although I might try to do one this year as I need to make one more for a family member.
@@budgetbucksoutdoors Yes please.
update- my wife got me a Aero hunter Kestrel flex for xmas last year, I used it 3x so far this season and I like it but yours still looks more comfortable -
I could see leaving your linemen’s rope hooked up with those cheesy ropes. With the cargo straps the old system I never felt worried about a strap that’s rated at 5,000lbs tensile strength. Your confidence would be a bit higher if they still offered those. I won’t hunt those climbing ropes but I’m 6’5 300lbs these days. With that being said, I’m a big fat ass, I was in my saddle at 25 feet without a worry in my head. I own 4 saddle been using them since 1998 and killed more deer with a bow out of a saddle then I can count. I was only able to hunt 2 days this year and killed gorgeous 8pt 200lbs on the huff in VA. If you set your saddle up with a Retractable line to put around your bow gun muzzleloaders and use a pouch put 20 tree pegs then your golden that all you need. That will put you 30 feet up in tree and give you 5 steps around the tree and probably extra peg to hang your bow on. If your rap your pegs in tape 100mph tape then they will be silent when taking them out of your molly porch one at a time. If your going to carry anything more you Might as well go back to a climber!!!!
Or continue to do what you’re doing, and feel confident and happy that you’ve never felt the need to leave a comment like this on someone else’s channel... Thank you for taking the time to make this and show us all how you do you thing. It’s awesome man
What's the chances I could get you to build me one?
Could you post the link for the sit-drag you used. It looks comfortable.
It is our own design we made from home. Got to have a heavy duty sowing machine though.
It's made out of cordura, fleece and foam that I purchased online. It isn't a sit/drag that you can purchase premade. The dimensions are very close to the original sit/drag that everyone did all the mods to years ago. the foam inside makes it much, much more comfortable and eliminates hip pinch.
I am super interested in building that set up. Is there some where I could see how you built it?
I don't have a video of making it. I will see about getting one up that describes it in closer detail.
That would be great, thanks!
Could you tell me what brand that sit drag is and the back harness or where you bought it from best looking sit drag I’ve seen
I made the whole thing out of 500D Nylon and fleece with 2 inch 6,000lb webbing. Used predator rope for the bridge. I tried the sit/drag that is sold commercially and didn't care for it but it gave me a place to start. I think I used Gutterman 40 thread to sew it with. It took me a few practices to get good enough with the sewing machine to make it look professional. I think I made 3 different ones before I got it right. I put foam inside as padding and that works very well.
@@budgetbucksoutdoors Any chance you would be willing to share the dimensions of the material that you used? Looks roomier than a sit drag.
I don't have it with me right now but if my memory is correct it was 31 inches long and 11 inches wide. I added 1 inch of fabric on each side to compensate for sewing the edges. It's quite a bit larger than my original sit drag and that creates less hip pinch....in fact... I haven't noticed a bit of hip pinch like I did with the original sit drag.
Did you make the back rest also?
yes
Having the price of Mantis and Kestrel in mind I am not surprised when people make their own.
These companies OVERPRICED THEIR PRODUCTS
The problem that I have seen with the cost of the saddles is the man hours it takes to make them. I have about 10 hours per saddle making mine for the family. It is super time consuming but at least I get to do something deer hunting related during the off season. Materials cost alone is around $70-$80.
@@budgetbucksoutdoors
You can be sure that the time they need is a 1/3 of yours
@@budgetbucksoutdoors Low end saddles before all the ropes are only $150 - $200. You build a saddle yourself b/c you want to AND comfort. I hunted out of a saddle this year and it is way better than a tree stand IMO. However, you can't hardly walk to your stand in them, putting them on in the dark is really difficult, when and you are geared up, expect extra time to get it on, make it fit and comfortable.
How much to make me one of those padded saddles?
Good info, thanks. Are you still using the Millinium tree stand or are you going all saddle now? Enjoy your presentations, new sub from Nor Mn.
Hunting out of the saddle about 80% of the time. Still using the stand sometimes on our shorter hikes depending on the tree. Still love the stand and I make no noise getting up with it. Thanks and glad you enjoyed it!
@@budgetbucksoutdoors Thank you and have a great hunting season!
Do you make these saddles for purchase?
No. Just for ourselves because we did not want the ones on the market.
how to much to make one just like yours?
you should market this thing you'll make a bundle
Have any of those for sale?
I wished you would have shown climbing up and setting it into place instead of the jump from bottom of tree to sitting in stand.
We have another video showing climbing the tree with wild edge steps if you want to see going up the tree. As far as hooking up to the tree you just wrap the tether around the tree and hook it in. Just left it out for the sake of time as the video was already 10 minutes long. Thanks for watching.
Where did you get your materials?
Different sites. Amazon, rockywoods, milspec monkey, strapworks and Wawak sewing.
Sell me your SitDrag and back support. Pleeeeeese
New Subscriber. Take a look at my diy bosun seat.
you couldn't break that webbing if you tried. it can hold a small car
You gave no explanation on where you bought or how you made the SADDLE!
I made the saddle with my sewing machine. It has padding inside with a big zipper in the back in case the padding gets wet or it needs replacing. You can find tons of information on making a saddle at saddlehunter.com.
@@budgetbucksoutdoors Thanks for Responding. I can see the advantage for distance, and situations but it's still has too many "moving parts". The commercial saddles are way too Expensive!! Tether must be on "Crack" !