Hawk Helium Hammock Lightweight Packable Comfortable Camo Hunting Tree Saddle with Removable Padded Seat

Great product, only issue is with the tether rope, frays easier otherwise great

I put this system through a bit of abuse over my vacation. I've spent a lot of time up in the air in better and worse equipment. If you're trying to get into saddle hunting and want safe equipment at a lower price, this is a good option. Heck, the sketchy stuff I've seen people get away with (especially the old timers) make this look like silly overkill on quality and safety. There are absolutely higher quality products. However, If your a dad on a budget trying to use a sit and drag backed up with a cheap harness and some ropes you bought at lowes, this is definitely an upgrade. Addendum, the sticks really are very good quality, the engineers just screwed up on the nesting buttons. Remember Jurassic Park and never completely trust equipment no matter who made it.

Everything seems to be good quality and is holding up so far. It’s comfortable. Sturdy. Except the bag they give you with it. The material is very thin and ripped the first time using it. Its useless now. The back strap is ok. Not much extra added comfort and kind of in the way when you have it on. They shouldve upped the quality on the bag and put two in the package instead of the back strap imo. Overall good product for the money.

The settle harness itself seems to be in good shape. The packaging was pretty beat up when it delivered. However the first time I tried to use the stuff sack, it tore instantly. By tore instantly I mean that when I put my hand in it to open up the cavity inside, it ripped halfway around. I really was not being forceful with this thing and it tore extremely easily. And one of the ropes already had loops and frays in it. The harness 4/5 stars, the rope 2/5, the stuff sack 0/5 stars

This product is exactly what you need to be ready to go tree saddle hunting. I had zero experience and was able to figure this whole set up out after watching a few YouTube videos. Hunted multiple times with hawk helium sticks and a ring of steps to stand on with absolutely no issues. A few times out and most people with get the hang of it! Great product and for substantially less money than the brands all over the internet.

This package got my foot in the door of saddle hunting. It’s not the most comfortable or the lightest but it is perfect as a first saddle package. If you’re on the fence, just get it. I am so happy I finally decided to go ahead and buy it!

This product broke immediately during initial inspection and testing (as instructed in the owners manual) and was returned. However, it is my sincere belief that it should be destroyed, and the product line removed from the market. I am a former union ironworker and rigger. I also have experience with nautical rigging. First, the metal snaps fixing the insulating layer to the hammock. One of these came apart and was easily sharp enough to cut nylon rope or webbing. A failure like this could have bitter, tragic consequences should a small shard of metal like that encounter a rated climbing rope under load - the load being you. Second, the carabiners. This is a climbing harness intended for use in trees. The standard for life support when scurrying up a tree is the triple locking carabiner. The carabiners used by Hawk are screw gate carabiners. Screw gate carabiners are evidently great on rock walls and in climbing gyms, but have no place in tree work as they have demonstrated a readiness to spin out - unscrew themselves, shift orientation to a side load, and can end up letting go of the line they’re supposed to be holding when the gate fails. Third, the hardware managing the webbing. Mine was sharp, cheap, and installed in such a way as to prevent replacement. Ropes don’t like sharp things. Ropes like smooth, rounded things. This was a budget move by Hawk, and screams disrespect and disregard for the lives of their customers. Can these things be corrected? Absolutely! A good sewing shop with UHMWPE thread can easily help you upgrade your hardware. A descent triple locking 25kn carabiner is only about $30, and three is all you need to replace the three that come with this saddle. Remove the metal snaps and try some polycarbonate options. Of course by the time all this is done the price of the saddle is around 150% of the current price - and much better saddles can be found in that higher bracket. Your life is important. You have people who love you, and a world to impact with the contributions you will make moving forward. I know a cheap option looks great, but do not discount your life, or the lives of those around you who love you and put up with your shenanigans. You’re worth spending a little more if it brings you home safe. As Benjamin Franklin once observed “the bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten.”

The saddle itself, and the carabiners are perfectly fine. But the bridge is weak and frays with use, and the ropes are not even safe. They begin to fall apart after 1 season. I used mine for 2 seasons, maybe 12 hunts, and the ropes and bridge looked like crap, fraying and splitting out. Then, I was using it to hang an owl box in my yard, and the main tether rope came apart completely, it completely broke. This shook me a bit, I had been hanging on that 100% during the season. Very dangerous.

This is my first tree saddle so I don’t have much to compare it too but it’s reasonably comfortable feels very strong I even had a small fall and at 240 pounds didn’t seem to affect it at all the back rest band and the insulated pad are a really nice touch, I would strongly recommend getting 30-40 feet of climbing rope and a self braking descender like a grigri as it makes the whole system much safer when used with your lineman and really nice for getting out the tree cause you just repel down pulling your platform and sticks off as you go there’s a few good videos about it on YouTube

My first saddle. Easy to learn. Quick setup. No issues with it supporting my 220 lbs frame with gear.

I have used this product about four times in the field now and can safely say that for anyone interested in trying saddle hunting, this is a great entry level product. The material lacks structure and the belt slides a little under the weight of the carabiners and gear bag while climbing. I'm not sure if that's a problem with other saddles as well, but based on pictures from more expensive units it looks like the fit and lighter weight are what you end up paying for. I also found this saddle sort of pinches the hips after 4 or 5 hours in the tree but I was able to find comfort by shifting my weight and using the upper back support strap.

The stitching connecting lineman's loops and bridge loops started separating on left side and was fraying in other spots. I didn't feel safe

He loves it! Works fantastic!