Do you need knee protection for saddle hunting?
Yes, most saddle hunters will want some form of knee protection.
There are a few things that can ruin a saddle hunt. Bad wind. A noisy climb. And knees that feel like you’ve been kneeling on a pile of Legos for three hours. If you’ve spent any time saddle hunting, you’ve probably figured out that when you’re in the sitting position, your knees end up becoming a pretty important contact point with the tree. Without some kind of knee protection, you'll realize quick just how important knee comfort really is. So which is right for you? Most saddle hunters answer that question one of two ways: wearable knee pads or a tree-mounted cushion. Both work. Both are comfortable. And which one you end up liking usually has less to do with “which is better” and more to do with how you like to hunt.
Some hunters prefer wearing Tethrd Knee Pads. Knee pads move with you, which means wherever you shift, lean, or pivot around the tree, your knee protection goes with you. They were built specifically for saddle hunters with triple-layer padding, raised hexagonal gripping lugs, and a rubberized gripping surface that keeps your knees from sliding down the tree.
They’re simple, tough, and always ready. Some hunters like wearing their setup on the walk in so once they hit the tree they’re good to go. Others pack them in and put them on at the base of the tree. Either way works. The important thing is your knees have a little backup when the bark starts letting its presence be known.
Other hunters prefer something like the Knushion XT. Instead of wearing anything, the cushion attaches directly to the tree using elastic cord and metal hooks that grab the bark. It weighs almost nothing, takes about two seconds to hang, and gives you a big comfortable pad to lean your knees against while you sit.
The foam is extremely comfortable, and the concave wings wrap around the tree to help keep your knees from sliding off. In other words, it turns a rough oak tree into something that feels a lot less like medieval torture equipment.
The difference between the two is pretty simple. With knee pads, the cushion moves with you. With a tree pad, the cushion stays on the tree. Neither option limits mobility. Plenty of mobile hunters use both systems. It really just comes down to how you like your setup organized.
Some hunters like wearing their gear and having knee protection everywhere they go. Others would rather clip a pad onto the tree and keep the walk in a little lighter.
And when the moment finally comes and a deer slips through the timber? Your adrenaline will be so high you could probably kneel on a handful of roofing nails and not notice. But for the other 99% of the hunt, your knees will absolutely appreciate the help.
Either way, one thing becomes pretty obvious after a few saddle hunts: your knees will absolutely vote on the decision. And if you ignore them long enough… they will vote loudly.
