After conducting this Sitka Tool Belt review I found that, although it’s not perfect, it is the most well-thought-out fanny pack I have ever used. It’s fairly quiet and very comfortable, and the pockets and compartments are placed in all the right areas to easily access gear, demonstrating a clear dedication to meeting the needs of hunters.

Further, the attention to detail and subtle nuances that aid in seamless hunting functionality are what sets this fanny pack apart from other hunting fanny packs on the market.

Surprisingly, Sitka Gear does not provide much information about the Tool Belt. This review will give you the information you need to confidently decide if the Tool Belt is right for you.

This post contains Amazon and other affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Of course, you are not obligated to use my links, but it does help fund these posts in hopes of bringing more value to you.

How I Tested The Sitka Tool Belt

I bought the Tool Belt for deer hunting because I needed something to hold my saddle hunting gear in easy reach while I climbed the tree. I’ve been using the Tool Belt in front of me while I climbed instead of on my back. This has worked very well for climbing trees quietly and seamlessly. So far I’ve used it a handful of times while deer hunting and have been very impressed. Below I share my experiences, thoughts, pros, and cons.

Credibility

If you’re wondering why I am qualified to write this article, you can head on over to my About Page to learn more about who I am.

Quick Bullet Point Review Overview

Pros

• Build Quality
• Comfortable
• Storage
• Well-Thought-Out Pockets, Dividers, and Zippers
• Dual-Access Design
• Stealthiness

Cons

• Waterproof or Water-Resistant?
• Fabric Noise
• Warranty

Pros of the Sitka Tool Belt Fanny Pack

Build Quality

As you would expect from Sitka Gear the Tool Belt feels premium. That said, I do think more time is needed to determine the durability of the pack.

I carry my Tool Belt in my backpack until I plan to climb a tree. I also keep my climbing sticks in my backpack and the two rub against each other. Although I do think the Tool Belt could last years without getting damaged against the brush, it’s still up in the air whether metal contact will cause a tear in the fabric.

If you’re using this fanny pack in a more conventional way I don’t foresee any durability issues fabric-wise. However, many small bungees are great for securing items in pockets but I could see those eventually breaking if caught on a stick.

Comfortable

As you can see from the photo below, there is nice plush cushioning all the way around the waist of the fanny pack. This makes it very comfortable, especially for long hikes when you have a good bit of weight in the pack. 

Although plush and bulky-looking you don’t really notice the bulk when it’s against your waist and it’s surprisingly lightweight. So the padding does not add a lot of unnecessary weight. In my opinion, it’s worth the little extra weight for the comfort benefits you get.

The Tool Belt also comes with backpack straps, so if you’re planning to carry it for long distances and/or have fairly heavy gear in it, then that would come in handy. Personally, I took the backpack straps off for more streamlined use. That said, I put mine inside backpack for transport so I do not need them.

Storage

The Tool Belt has 600 cubic inches of storage capacity. For me, this seems to be the perfect size for everything I would need for hunting. Even for other types of hunting, I think this is a good size. Too much bigger and it starts to make more sense to carry a backpack.

For saddle hunting, I’ve successfully organized all my essential gear in the Tool Belt. Below, I’ve listed the specific gear I use, which fits perfectly into the Tool Belt. Additionally, I’ve included before and after photos of the Tool Belt to provide a visual representation of how it looks when empty and when filled with the mentioned gear.

The tool belt holds the following saddle hunting gear in easy reach while I climb:

• Bullman Outdoors Apex Ring of Steps
• EWO OCB Buckle & Strap
• Saddle Harness
• Dryad Drey Saddle Hammock
• Extra Lineman Belt
• Tether
• Climbing Stick Straps
• Bow and Gear Hangers
• Tree Trimmers

Well-Thought-Out Pockets, Dividers, and Zippers

The Tool Belt offers various pocket sizes, making it easy to organize specific gear for efficient use. It includes both zippered and elastic pockets, serving as dividers for dedicated gear storage. Sitka did an excellent job providing ample storage options while still leaving plenty of room in the main pouch for larger items.

Dual-Access Design

One of the standout features of the Tool Belt is its dual-access design, allowing access to the main pouch from both the front and back. This is particularly advantageous when wearing it on your waist, as it enables easy access to your gear without the risk of items spilling out.

This feature has been a game changer for me when climbing trees while saddle hunting. It allows me to access gear with minimal movement and noise, ensuring nothing falls out from the front.

Additionally, if you prefer to access the Tool Belt from the front like a conventional fanny pack, you have that option as well. I find this to be a great alternative when the Tool Belt is not worn around my waist.

If you’re looking for the best fanny pack for saddle hunting, the Sitka Tool Belt is the best for this reason alone.

Sitka Tool Belt Stealthiness

Bungee Cords

The company appears to have gone to lengths to quiet the Tool Belt as much as possible by eliminating as much metal and noisy material on the exterior of the fanny pack. You can see this by the multiple bungee cords, including the T-bungee holding the main pocket of the bag closed.

Although there are some zippers, in a lot of cases the bungees have reduced the amount of zipping distance needed, reducing noise.

Magnet

The rear main access pocket uses a magnet to keep the pocket shut when you’re regularly using it. This is something I’ve absolutely loved for climbing trees and need to constantly be in the bag pulling new gear out and want to ensure the remaining gear does not fall out.

When you’re done using this pocket you can zip it and bungee it closed so you’re not relying on just the magnet to keep gear in the bag.

Cons to Consider Before Buying

Bungee Cord Cinch and Fragility

One stand-out con about this fanny pack is that the dump pouch bungee cord does not completely seal, so gear could fall out. It might be enough cinch for a water bottle, but I use mine for gear. I only put gear in these dump pouches that I believe won’t fall out, like my saddle hammock and ropes.

Additionally, time will tell how the dump pouch bungee cords hold up. They feel fragile and like they could get caught on something and break.

Fabric Noise

The fabric of the Tool Belt is pretty quiet but it’s not silent by any means. It has a shell-like feel to it, but its soft, so it makes a little noise when sticks scratch against it. I am content with how quiet it is so I wouldn’t let the noise discourage you from buying it. I do wish I was a little more quiet though.

Water-Resistant?

Based on the shell-like feel of the pack it seems like it could withstand some light rain without seeping through. I’m fairly confident in that, however, I do think it would seep eventually. That said, I can’t find any evidence anywhere that this pack is water-resistant or waterproof. At the time of this review, very little information is given on the Sitka website about the Tool Belt.

No Lifetime Warranty

Something else to consider is that there is no Lifetime Warranty for the Sitka Tool Belt which isn’t the end of the world. Sitka is also known for creating excellent quality products. That said, it’s always nice to have that lifetime warranty like some other companies in the hunting industry.

Although they do not offer a lifetime warranty, they do offer “repairs at a reasonable cost”.

Sitka Tool Belt Price

The price of this Sitka Tool Belt varies depending on the time of year. You can check the current price on Amazon here. Normally, it is about 240$, that said I bought mine during the off-season when it was on sale for 180$. I recommend checking prices during the off-season to see if you can get a deal like this because who doesn’t want to save 60$? That’s 25% off!

Sitka Tool Belt vs Badlands Monster

I conducted a field-tested review of the Badlands Monster too. Below I share some of the similarities and differences of the two fanny packs based on my reviews.

Brand and Reputation:

Sitka Gear: Sitka is known for its high-quality hunting and outdoor gear. They are respected for their focus on attention to detail and therefore great performance.

Badlands Gear: Badlands is another reputable brand in the outdoor and hunting industry. They are known for their rugged and durable products which include an unconditional lifetime warranty.

Capacity and Size:

Sitka Tool Belt: Sitka Tool Belt is a smaller, streamlined, and minimalist design. It holds 600 cubic inches of storage and for carrying essential tools and equipment.

Badlands Monster Fanny Pack: The Badlands Monster Fanny Pack offers 1100 cubic inches of storage, almost 2x more than the Sitka Tool belt. This means more storage space for gear and accessories. However, this comes at a cost of bulkiness.

Organization:

Both offer many pockets for different tools and gear. The Badlands Monster has more space while the Sitka Tool Belt is more efficient with the smaller space by having more pockets that are better by being well-thought-out.

Comfort and Fit:

Both fanny pack designs are comfortable and fit well. They both have great padding, do a great job at distributing weight, and have attachable shoulder straps that can be added for improved support. The sleeker design of the Tool Belts gives it a slight advantage in my opinion.

Material and Durability:

Both brands are known for producing durable and high-quality outdoor gear. However, Badlands prides itself on its tough custom-made fabric with reinforced stitching and fabric in high-wear areas. They also offer a lifetime warranty to back up their durability claims. Badlands has the advantage here.

Water-Resistance:

The Badlands takes the cake here again, it has a C6 DWR coating on it that makes it water-resistant. There is no mention of the Sitka Tool Belt being waterproof or water-resistant that I could find. Based on my experience with the Tool Belt though, it does seem to repel water a bit because it is made out of what I would compare to a soft shell material.

Price:

The Sitka Tool Belt (240$) is more expensive than the Badlands Monster (180$). That said, I got mine on clearance for the same price as the Badlands Monster. You may find sales after the hunting season is over for both so keep your eye out.

Questions & Community

If you have more questions about the Sitka Tool Belt or questions in general you can ask them on Facebook. You may also find answers to your questions on my YouTube Channel.

This Dryad Drey review looks at comfort, noise, portability, mobility, adjustability, scent control, and build quality. The Drey is a not-so-well-known hunting saddle and it’s not like conventional saddles. This saddle uses a hammock as the saddle seat that is adjustable for serious comfort. I compared the Drey Hammock to 4 other top-selling saddles, you can find the other reviews linked below:

The other 4 saddles I reviewed included:

• Tethrd ESS Review
• Cruzr XC Review
• JX3 Hybrid Review
• New Tribe Aero Hunter Review

How I Tested The Dryad Drey

I bought the Dryad Drey with my own money to test it out.

I had about one month to get to test the saddle in my backyard. In this time I found both pros and cons of the Drey. There are a few different options to choose from on the Dryad website. The exact gear I bought was the Hybrid Saddle/Treestand Hunting Kit which includes:

• 1 Killdeer Harness
• 1 Full full-sized hammock
• 1 Hitch

I also bought an 8mm tether from them with 2 carabiners attached which are needed to hunt out of this saddle but is not included in the kit (which is good for those who want to create their own tether).

Dryad Drey Review Criteria

The biggest factors I was looking for in the test included:

• How Long I Felt Comfortable For
  • Back Support
  • Hip-Pinch
  • Knee Fatigue
  • Comfortable Enough to Nap?
• Noise
• Portability (to and from the stand)
• Mobility (in the stand)
• Adjustability
• Scent Control
• Build Quality

Dryad Drey Hammock Saddle Review

How The Drey Hammock System Works

The Drey system works by using a minimalistic harness (I bought the Killdeer harness) that is the main line of safety and security. This harness is what you will attach your lineman belt and your tree tether to.

The tree tether for the Drey is unique in that you’ll have two carabiners on it.

Once you get to hunting height and are ready to start hunting you will deploy the hammock. You will connect the hammock to a second carabiner located on your tree tether. This allows you to slowly release your full weight from your harness into your hammock.

The carabiner that is located on your harness remains attached but with no tension. This remains connected for safety. If the hammock were to ever fail you’ll still be safe.

How Long I Felt Comfortable For

Back Support

After testing all 5 saddles, it was clear that the Drey was a top contender. Out of the 5 saddles, it ranked 2 in comfort behind the JX3 Hybrid.

It was an extremely comfortable saddle, the main reason the JX3 Hybrid beat the Drey in comfort is that the JX3 removes all pressure from your knees with the metal frame against the tree. With the Drey, your knees will get sore if you don’t wear knee pads (like other saddles).

I also think the JX3 has slightly better comfort adjustability compared to the Drey.

That said, they are both extremely comfortable. The Drey can be deployed as a full-body cocoon that gives you excellent back support which is just as comfortable as the JX3. The only downside is that you’re not as mobile when you’re in the cocoon compared to the JX3.

Even Weight Distribution

The hammock fabric evenly distributes your weight so there are no pressure points that cause hip pinch or that will cause your legs to fall asleep. This is one of the best features of this saddle and is what allows you to use it for a long period of time without moving or getting uncomfortable.

I sat in this saddle for an hour without moving and felt completely fine to keep going. Usually, after about an hour I can tell what could be an issue for those longer 8-10 hour sits.

From what I can tell an all-day sit would be easy in this saddle. You’ll likely need to adjust but you’re not going to be fidgeting around with the Drey every 20-30 minutes trying to get it comfortable. You’ll be able to go for hours without moving.

Hip-Pinch

Hip-pinch was basically non-existent thanks to the hammock design. The hammock has no webbing that can press into your hips making it so comfy compared to many other saddles on the market.

Adjustable Straps and Tabs

There are some adjustments that can be made to the hammock. The first is the quick adjustable straps on the top of the hammock when it is deployed.

I found that this did not offer much added comfort though because it adds too much pressure along the tightened area. I prefer to leave this strap alone and keep it completely untightened.

There are also adjustable tabs at the bottom of the hammock, located near your knee area. These tabs help you to lengthen or shorten the hammock by rolling it back onto itself or by unrolling the hammock to lengthen.

These tabs are helpful for increasing comfort and I used them to get the hammock positioned on my body exactly how I wanted it. When I had to make adjustments I used the tabs to make those small adjustments.

Leaning vs. Sitting & Knee Fatigue

Leaning was very comfortable. There were no pinch points or the feeling that the hammock was going to cut off circulation. I got the feeling I could lean in this hammock all day without any problems.

Personally, I’m a sitter. I found sitting to be extraordinarily comfortable when your knees are placed against the tree. However, it takes some adjustments to make it comfortable if you’re trying to straddle the tree with your legs (legs on both sides of the tree). I found that the hammock likes to push your legs into the tree which can be uncomfortable.

I’ve found that pulling the hammock from under your legs back to your butt greatly reduces the leg stress. However, then you have less support from the hammock under your legs. I found it to still be quite comfortable like this though. That said, you might want to consider knee pads.

Comfortable Enough to Nap?

The Dryad Drey hammock is so comfortable you can easily nap in it. I’m 6’3″ and I have just enough fabric where I can put the hammock behind my head to create a headrest. This makes it even more comfortable than the JX3 Hybrid in this regard. That said, the headrest comfort is only marginal because you need to sort of balance your head on the taught portion of the saddle.

However, the support is top-notch everywhere else.

Noise

One downside to the Drey hammock is that it makes a slight noise when moving and when sticks graze it. On a silent day, it could be something that you need to consider when moving in the saddle.

When you’re using the saddle in a more conventional way when the saddle fabric is more bunched up it’s quiet. It’s mostly the areas of the hammock that are more taught that create noise.

Portability

This saddle may have the best comfort-to-compactness ratio of any saddle on the market. The compactness makes it easily portable for long distances. This makes it an excellent choice for mobile hunters.

Mobility

Mobility once in the saddle is just like any other saddle when it is being used like a conventional saddle.

However, when you’re in the cocoon mobility is restricted because your arms are inside the cocoon. This makes it hard to grab your bow quietly in a fast-paced scenario.

Adjustability

The hammock offers quite good adjustability. For example, as mentioned it is versatile in how you can wear it.

Additionally, there are little straps that can be tightened or loosened at the top of the hammock. Once deployed, you can adjust these straps for a little bit more comfort.

I’m hoping that in future iterations the Drey will be more adjustable throughout the saddle and not just this area at the top.

Cleaning & Scent Control

Cleaning this saddle is simple. To clean it I would just put the Killdeer harness and hammock in a bucket of scent-free detergent and let it air dry periodically.

It seems like it would dry faster than a conventional saddle because the fabric is so thin and breathable.

Build Quality

The Dryad Drey hammock system seems to be made very well from what I can tell. That said, the hammock fabric is thin and time will tell how well it will hold up to hunting abuse.

Luckily, if you do tear your hammock it is much cheaper to replace than a conventional saddle (it’s like half the price).

The Killdeer harness seems to be built durable with heavy-duty webbing and threading and expect that to last a very long time.

Dryad Drey Review Final Thoughts

Out of the 5 top-selling saddles I tested I chose to keep the Dryad Drey hammock system.

I was looking for the ultimate lightweight system that would give me similar comfort to the JX3 Hybrid that I’ve used for the last few seasons. I absolutely love the JX3 Hybrid because of the comfort and it has allowed me to stay on stand a lot longer. However, the weight and bulk of the JX3 made it difficult to get into some of my hunting areas effectively.

The Dryad Drey with its comfortable seat and back support at a fraction of the bulk and weight made it the right choice for me.

Hopefully, this Dryad Drey hammock review helped you decide if the Drey is right for you.

Check out my other saddle reviews here:

• CRUZR XC Saddle Review
• JX3 Hybrid Saddle Review
• Tethrd ESS Saddle Review
• New Tribe Aero Hunter Saddle Review

This Cruzr XC review looks at comfort, noise, portability, mobility, adjustability, scent control, and build quality. The CRUZR XC has a reputation for being one of the most comfortable hunting saddles on the market, if not the most comfortable. I also compared the Cruzr XC to 4 other top-selling saddles, you can find those reviews linked below:

The other 4 saddles I reviewed included:

• Dryad Drey Hammock Saddle Review
• Tethrd ESS Review
• JX3 Hybrid Review
• New Tribe Aero Hunter Review

How I Tested The CRUZR XC

I bought the CRUZR XC with my own money to test it out.

I had about one month to get to test the saddle in my backyard. In this time I found both pros and cons of the Cruzr XC. The review criteria are listed below.

CRUZR XC Review Criteria

The biggest factors I was looking for in the test included:

• How Long I Felt Comfortable For
  • Hip-Pinch
  • Back Strain
  • Knee Fatigue
  • Comfortable Enough to Take a Nap
• Noise
• Portability (to and from the stand)
• Mobility (in the stand)
• Adjustability
• Scent Control
• Build Quality

CRUZR XC Saddle Review

How Long I Felt Comfortable For

Back Support

After testing all 5 saddles, it was clear that the Cruzr XC was a top contender. Out of the 5 saddles, it ranked 3 in comfort behind the JX3 Hybrid and Dryad Drey hammock.

It was an extremely comfortable saddle, the only reason the Drey beat it is that the Drey has back support. If it wasn’t for the back support, the Cruzr XC would have been ranked #2. That said, as far as conventional saddles go, the Cruzr XC is the most comfortable saddle I’ve ever used.

So, if back support isn’t important to you then the Cruzr XC would be a more comfortable choice. Also, you can add back support to the Cruzr XC but I don’t think it would be as comfortable as the built-in hammock back support.

Even Weight Distribution

I was also happy to find out that the webbing on either side of the mesh seat does not take the brunt of your weight. Instead, your weight is evenly distributed into the mesh area of the saddle. This means that your leg circulation does not get cut off like on many other saddles. This is one of the best features of this saddle and is what allows you to use it for a long period of time without moving or getting uncomfortable.

I sat in this saddle for an hour without moving and felt completely fine to keep going. Usually, after about an hour I can feel what could be an issue for those longer 8-10 hour sits.

From what I can tell after sitting in the saddle for an hour is that an all-day sit would be comfortable. In those 8 hours, you’ll probably need to adjust but you’re not going to be fidgeting around with the saddle every 20-30 minutes trying to get it comfortable. You’ll be able to go for hours without moving.

Hip-Pinch

Hip-pinch was minimal thanks to the mesh design. The elimination of the hip pinch is a feature I was most impressed with. For a single-panel saddle to have such little hip pinch to the point where it wasn’t really noticeable is a huge win for the Cruzr XC.

Adjustable Bridge Position (Comfort Channels)

The adjustable bridge rope on the bridge loops played a vital role in the additional comfort of this saddle (see photo below).  This feature tilts your pelvis and this tilt is key. For example, if you’re saddle is tilted too far back your abs need to do a lot of work to keep you from tipping over backwards. But if you rotate forward it reduces ab strain and your muscles can relax.

Back Strain

Back strain was present because there is no back support (as with most saddles). However, I have my own back support band and I tried it with the XC and found that helped immensely to alleviate back strain. With back support, this saddle is hard to beat in comfort and is an excellent saddle for all-day hunts.

Knee fatigue was experienced in this saddle (like most saddles) and knee pads would be useful. However, because of the adjustable bridge loop, you can tilt your pelvis so that most of your weight is in the saddle and not forward into your knees against the tree. This helps take some pressure off your knees.

Single-Panel with Pleat Extensions

One of the best features of this saddle when it comes to comfort is its pleats that allow the saddle to be lengthened or shortened depending on your preferences. When you want to make the saddle smaller the pleats fold in on themselves and when you want to extend the saddle to make a bigger seat you pull the pleats apart.

I found extending the pleats was extra useful when sitting because the larger seat helped distribute my weight better and made sitting more enjoyable. This pleat system is one of the main reasons this single-panel saddle is so comfortable

Leaning vs Sitting

Both leaning and sitting were very comfortable in the Cruzr XC I had no issues with either. The bridge adjustments (comfort channels) combined with the extending pleats make this saddle comfortable for leaners or sitters. I am a sitter and this saddle was the most comfortable single-panel saddle for sitting I’ve used by far.

Noise

The Cruzr XC was a very quiet saddle and had the best comfort-to-noise ratio. Some of the more comfortable saddles like the Dryad Drey and JX3 Hybrid were more comfortable but weren’t quite as stealthy as the Cruzr XC.

There is basically nothing to make noise of the XC because it is completely fabric except for the buckles for leg and waist straps (which all saddles have).

Portability, Mobility, Adjustability

One of the best qualities of this saddle is its compactness. The minimalistic design makes it low-profile and a great option for portability and mobility because it can pack up small. Mobile hunters will really like this saddle for getting into remote places easily and quietly.

As mentioned, the saddle is very adjustable with the adjustable bridge position (comfort channels) and the pleat extensions.

The compact design combined with the simple yet effective adjustability of this saddle makes it one of the best saddles on the market.

Scent Control

Since this saddle is minimalistic it doesn’t hold a lot of scent compared to other saddles that have more fabric surface area.

The design also makes it easy to clean in a tub of scent-free detergent and won’t take long to dry.

Build Quality

I was impressed with the overall build quality of the Cruzr XC. The straps are strong and secure and the stitching is excellent. I only used the XC for about 30 days so I haven’t used it through an entire season but I have a good feeling it will last for many years based on the quality of the stitching and fabric.

Final Thoughts

The Cruzr XC is one of my favorite saddles at the time of this review. In my experience, there is not a more comfortable conventional saddle on the market (double-panel or single-panel).

It’s minimalistic, lightweight, comfortable, and easy to use, making it an excellent option for mobile hunters that are looking for more comfort.

Hopefully, this Cruzr XC review was helped you decide if the Cruzr XC is right for you. If you’re looking for even more comfort, the JX3 Hybrid and Dryad Drey Hybrid are fantastic as well. I’ve reviewed these saddles too, you can find those reviews below:

• Dryad Drey Hammock Saddle Review
• JX3 Hybrid Review
• New Tribe Aero Hunter Review
• Tethrd ESS Saddle Review

This Tethrd ESS saddle review is 1 of 5 saddles I bought to determine which saddle is the best for hunting. The criteria I used to rank this saddle (and the others) were comfort, noise, portability, mobility, adjustability, and scent control.

The other 4 saddles I reviewed included:

• Dryad Drey Hammock Saddle Review
• Cruzr XC Review
• JX3 Hybrid Review
• New Tribe Aero Hunter Review

How I Tested The Tethrd ESS

I bought the Tethrd ESS with my own money to test out.

I had about one month to get to test the saddle in my backyard. In this time I found both pros and cons of the Tethrd ESS. The review criteria are listed below.

Tethrd ESS Review Criteria

The biggest factors I was looking for in the test included:

• How Long I Felt Comfortable For
  • Hip-Pinch
  • Back Strain
  • Knee Fatigue
  • Comfortable Enough to Take a Nap
• Noise
• Portability (to and from the stand)
• Mobility (in the stand)
• Adjustability
• Scent Control
• Build Quality

Tethrd ESS Saddle Review

How Long I Felt Comfortable For

After testing all 5 saddles, it was clear that the Tethrd ESS was not a very comfortable saddle. Out of the 5 saddles, I ranked it #4 in comfort.

I was comfortable for maybe 45 minutes before the soreness and pinching started to become noticeable.

After researching different ways to use this saddle and trying them all I couldn’t get the saddle to be comfortable. I figured the two-panel system would allow for better comfort but after testing it wasn’t as good as I expected.

Hip-pinch, back strain, and knee fatigue were experienced in this saddle and it was not comfortable enough to take a nap in, even with back support.

Double-Panels

Moving the double panels helped slightly to increase comfort because when I got sore spots I could adjust their locations. However, I had to do it often so I was moving around a lot.

Although the straps are large and are weight-bearing I found that they did not work as well as the mesh on the Cruzer XC for distributing weight. The ESS straps were cutting off blood flow in my legs and hips. I opened the bridge up a lot to reduce the hip pinch and it helped a little.

When I tried moving one set of panels to support my lower back, it was much too tight and was choking my kidneys so that was basically a non-option.

I think comfort channels on the bridge would help people at least rotate their pelvis in a way that would increase comfort and reduce stress to a degree.

For these reasons, there was a lot of fiddle factor when trying to get comfortable and stay comfortable.

Leaning vs Sitting

Leaning in this saddle was probably the most comfortable. When it came to sitting, which I like the most, I had too much pressure on my legs and hips. There was no way to position the panels to make them comfortable for long-term sitting.

After wearing the ESS for a while I decided to put the XC back on to see if I was just getting fatigued or if the XC was actually more comfortable. It was clear that I was able to feel immediate relief once I put the Cruzr XC on.

Noise

The bridge loops are two big metal d-rings that help bring your hips to an equilibrium/level when shooting at angles. However, they are located in front of you so they bump into things like climbing sticks and buckles when moving and they are noisy.

Although the metal d-rings are an interesting concept, I think they should be replaced with a fabric bridge that has comfort channels. It may help both comfort and noise to a degree.

Portability, Mobility, Adjustability

One of the best qualities of this saddle is that it is made using just a few seatbelt-sized straps. The minimalistic design makes it low-profile and a great option for portability and mobility because it can pack up small.

There is adjustability with the bridge length and the double-panel system, but as I mentioned comfort was not ideal even with these adjustments.

Scent Control

Since this saddle is minimalistic it doesn’t hold a lot of scent compared to other saddles that have more fabric surface area.

The design also makes it easy to clean in a tub of scent-free detergent and won’t take long to dry.

Build Quality

I was impressed with the overall build quality of the Tethrd ESS. The straps are strong and secure and the stitching is excellent. Granted, I only used the ESS for about 30 days so I haven’t used it through a whole season but I get the feeling that this saddle would last a long time.

Final Thoughts

Although the Tethrd ESS is not the most comfortable saddle, the minimalistic design is something to consider if you’re looking for something very easy to pack in and out if you’re willing to sacrifice comfort.

Though, if I’m being honest, in my opinion, there are other saddles I have reviewed (linked below) that are just about as minimalistic and are more comfortable.

Hopefully, you found this Tethrd ESS saddle review helpful. If you’re interested in reviews of the other saddles, you can find them here:

• Dryad Drey Hammock Saddle Review
• Cruzr XC Saddle Review
• JX3 Hybrid Saddle Review
• New Tribe Aero Hunter Saddle Review