Most hunters get into saddle hunting thinking it’s plug-and-play—strap in, climb up, kill deer. Then the season hits, and they realize they’re uncomfortable, shifting constantly, and cutting hunts short. The problem isn’t the saddle—it’s not understanding how to use it. Once you learn what each component actually does and how to adjust it for your body, saddle hunting becomes one of the most comfortable and adaptable ways to hunt from a tree.
The Truth: Saddle Hunting Isn’t Plug-and-Play
When I first got into saddle hunting, I was all in. I had visions of shooting bucks from every angle, slipping through the woods lighter, hunting smarter… all that. And to be fair, it was awesome. But when the season actually rolled around? I realized something pretty quickly… I had spent all my time learning how to shoot my bow from a saddle, figuring out the best way to climb, and dialing in a system for organizing my gear. My mistake was taking zero time figuring out how to get comfortable. That part? I just assumed would take care of itself. It doesn’t.
Why Most Guys Are Uncomfortable in a Saddle
Here’s the biggest mistake I see: Guys treat saddle hunting like it’s plug-and-play. They watch a couple of videos, copy the person’s setup, and expect it to just work. Then when it doesn’t they think, “Maybe this just isn’t for me.” That’s not the problem. The problem is that they don’t understand what their saddle hunting equipment actually does.
What Changed Everything for Me
My “aha” moment was realizing that not every two body types are the same. What works for one guy might feel terrible for another. And most of the advice online? It’s not wrong, it’s just specific to the person giving it. What actually changed things for me was spending time in the tree, learning what each component of my kit did, and taking time to understand why I was uncomfortable. Once I understood that, I could fix it.
Your setup matters more than you think. Start with a baseline for your gear. If you are in a seated position, your baseline to figure out what works for you would be that your thighs are on a 45 degree angle when your knees are in the tree. From there, you can mess around with having them at a steeper angle or going closer to 90 degrees. For me 45 degrees just works. Next, if you are climbing a leaning tree, do your best to setup your platform on the high side of the tree. If you set up on the side of the leaning tree, gravity will pull you in the direction of the lean which leads to a buildup of pressure on one side of your body. When you are on the top side of the tree, the pressure on your body is distributed more evenly.
Adjusting your platform. Most guys think of their platform as just a thing they stand on. That’s it. But the angle of your platform directly affects foot fatigue. When I first got into saddle hunting, I just ran my platform so that it was running parallel to the ground. Over time my feet would start to feel the pressure from the balls of my feet to my ankles. What I learned was that if I adjusted the angle of the platform so that it was lower and less of a 90 degree angle, I could sit and lean for much longer before the pressure started to build up. What I recommend is that you start out with the platform running parallel to the ground and get a sense of what feels good or what doesn’t. Spend some time leaning away from the tree and sitting with your knees into the tree. If it feels great, awesome, that is your “setting”, but if it starts to feel “off” or uncomfortable, try opening up the angle of the platform with the adjustment knob on the platform post.
Tether Height Changes Everything. You’ll hear a lot of guys say “Set your tether between nose and forehead height.” Cool. That’s a starting point. But here’s what I found, adjusting the height of my tether directly affected where I was experiencing pressure build up on my saddle. With my tether ran high, I felt more pressure in the bottom of my saddle. If I ran it lower, the pressure would be more towards the top of my saddle. The solution wasn’t really a “one height fixes all” kind of thing, it was the realization that I had the option to manipulate my tether height to get more comfortable in the tree. For me, running a low tether around diaphragm height allowed me to pivot my hips better for certain shots and really even out the pressure buildup in my saddle. That meant I didn’t need to keep tweaking the height of my tether while in the tree.
Bridge Length = Hip Pinch Control. For my first season I just thought of my bridge as the thing that my tether hooks up to that keeps me connected to the tree. Man was I wrong. After a few hours into my sits, I would start to experience what we call hip pinch. The pressure that would build up on my hips would create hot spots of soreness and I found myself constantly shifting around to find a comfortable position. At the time I was running a shorter bridge. What I found was that if I expanded my bridge, it would relieve that hip pinch because it increased the angle that my bridge made when it was connected to my tether. This was a game changer. Finally I was able to sit still for hours.
Kneepads VS Knushion - the age old debate. If you are someone that finds themselves sitting in the saddle with their knees into the tree, know this, tree bark is not comfortable. Lucky for you we have your solution. Our Knushion XT is a thick foam pad that connects to the tree and acts as a cushioned barrier between your knees and the bark of the tree. This is what I prefer to tote around the woods with me because it is super lightweight. Sure, it takes up a little bit more room on my pack but for me it is worth it.The second solution is kneepads. A lot of saddle hunters prefer these because they just strap them on at the truck and off they go. They also provide comfort if you need to go around the tree and bury one knee into the tree for an awkward shot. For me, when I am about to take a shot my adrenaline is pumping so high that I could be kneeling on legos and not notice so for me this is a non-issue. My advice? Start with what you are drawn to and if it doesn’t work out the way you thought, switch it up. And if you are dead set on kneepads, we have an awesome set available on our website that are built specifically for saddle hunting.
So, is saddle hunting comfortable? Here’s the reality, you’re sitting in a tree… trying not to move… for hours. I could be in my recliner in front of the tv and if you told me I had to sit still for 4-6 hours, something is going to get sore. The awesome thing about saddle hunting is that it gives you solutions to get more comfortable. With other methods of elevated hunting you can sit, or you can stand. That’s it. But with saddle hunting, you have near-endless adjustment options to keep you in the tree longer without your body hating you, and that ability to adjust on the fly is exactly what you need if you are looking for success in the Deer Woods.
Watch our Saddle 101 series on YouTube. If you’re looking for tips and tricks on all things saddle hunting. Head over to our Youtube channel. We have a full library of everything you need to become as efficient as possible with your gear ahead of next season. Still can’t get the answers you’re looking for? Hit us up on our social media platforms or email us at hello@tethrd.com and we will get you squared away.
My final thoughts? Here’s the truth. Most guys who say saddle hunting is uncomfortable just never took the time to learn their gear. Once you do? Saddle hunting will be the most adaptable and comfortable way you to hunt from a tree.
