Age is not the issue, physical condition is the issue.

 

As zap says, it's physical condition. Add to that comfort and you have both reasons I will never use one again.
Most of the tree surgeons that still climb trees are under 50. They get smart and teach the younger ones to do the climbing while they run the crew.:wink:

 

Try the JX3 hybrid. That is what I am using now. I could not sit in the minimalist saddle more than about 3 hours. The hybrid is comfortable and you do not need a platform


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It is possible to be well over 50 years of age and be in very good physical condition but it is not a common thing in this country today. It requires a good fitness plan, a very good nutrition plan, consistent hard work 52 weeks a year and it may take a few years to get to your goals. Then you need to do the same thing to maintain. Or you can give up and sit on the couch eating Cheetos complaining about how your old and cannot do stuff you once did.

 

It is possible to be well over 50 years of age and be in very good physical condition but it is not a common thing in this country today.

I agree 100%. My problem is my youth. My drug of choice was a adrenaline. I have some screws in some joints and on top of that I am heavier than I should be. I have been working on the weight but the screws are here to stay.

I don't normally go in a long distance so I may be better off sticking with a stand.

 

Eat all natural foods and your body fat % should get to low teens within 6-12 months depending on where it was when you started. I eat 2500+ for calories daily and dropped 30# since 2/1 without much cardio.

 

Great advice here. ^^^^^

 

saddles are a lot more comfortable than they used to be. Especially with the platform solutions available. Hard to say if you personally would be comfortable in one and, unfortunately, you would have to spend the money to figure out if it's going to work for you. However the resale market is good and the saddles hold their value well so if you didn't like it you'd likely break even on investment.

 

I'm in decent shape but for the life of me can't hunt from one of these. I have a very long torso that would get killed.

 

I'm just a baby at 57, but I've been hunting out of a saddle since the late 80's. My first back injury was at the age of 8. Most stands kill my back. I am most comfortable when hunting from a saddle. Tweaking everthing to fit YOU, until you get comfortable is the key. At this stage of life, I prefer a fleece saddle with a back band. I pull the back band and saddle material up to right below my scapula on top and tucked tightly under my knees at the bottom. It is very comfortable for ME. As a platform, I've mainly used my LW Assassin over the years. But I've also used climbing spikes, tree steps, old stand seats and platforms, ring of steps, 2 WE Stepps, top of my sticks, and standing on a limb. Last year I hunted some out of stirrups made of tubular webbing. As far as comfort, ease of use and best bang for my buck, I am diggin one Primal step with a 3/4" plywood platform. I just started using this platform last year. So far it is my favorite method. It is light, quiet, easy to install and very comfortable to hunt of off. Your climbing method does not have to change. Adding a platform that weighs a fraction of a treestand, then tying yourself in, with a tether takes less work than any other method I am aware of. Other than my spinal injuries I feel pretty healthy. I try to eat right and drink lots of water. My lifestyle probably keeps me in better shape than most people my age. My world is my gym. Being in shape lends itself to our type of hunting. But to me, saddle comfort is more about individual adjustments than anything else.

 

Used to hunt with them, they kill my back now!

 

I am 65 and I use a TR saddle. You are correct in your assumption that a platform helps. There are still some drawbacks but they are manageable. Knee placement is one.
I would give it a go again if you are looking at shorter sits. Very convenient and easy to transport vs. a fixed stand. I use both at various times and circumstances.