The Hawk Helium Hammock Hunting Saddle. It seems to have come out of nowhere. They aren’t doing a ton of promotion behind it, and I find people asking more questions than are finding answers. Not many youtubers or articles reviewing it, not even that much on Hawk’s website. So, here goes. I bought one and the long and short of it is, I love it!
Let me first give you my credentials as a saddle hunter, I have none. I literally have nothing to compare it to. So continue reading keeping that in mind. I did my first hunt out of it yesterday after a couple practice sessions and I really enjoyed it. Yes there are things to get used to. Foot fatigue, hip pinch, knees scraping on bark, but those things come with every saddle hunt. Honestly, none of it is even that bad.
The Hawk Helium Hammock, comes in a neat little box about the size of a shoe box boots would come in, and it has everything you need. Other saddle markers I looked up make you buy their products piece by piece. Some do sell kits, but this is just one button, and you have almost everything you need for less money. The saddle already has an amsteel bridge, which is an upgrade on several competitors. Also, with an insulated seat cushion, which is removable. I haven’t tried that guy yet. Still to hot in Tennessee. It comes with a drop pouch, a lineman’s belt, a tether rope, and the micro adjuster clip. It also has a back rest strap, that I have also yet to try. The only thing you don’t have in this kit is a platform and sticks. I bought mine from Midway USA on sale for $249.99 ($329.99 msrp). I built my own kit on a major competitor’s website and it took $425.94 to get what was in the Hawk kit.
This Hawk saddle is very user friendly and with even a tiny bit of knowledge of harnesses, can be put together an ready to use in a few minutes. It’s comfortable, quiet, and again a great band for your buck. I’ve seen a lot of people disparaging Hawk as a company for moving some of their manufacturing overseas and I get that. Sometimes though you just have to look at the best product you can get for the money you can afford. The only negatives I’ve found so far, are simply negatives that come with being unfamiliar with saddle hunting.This Hawk saddle is very user friendly and with even a tiny bit of knowledge of harnesses, can be put together an ready to use in a few minutes. It’s comfortable, quiet, and again a great band for your buck. I’ve seen a lot of people disparaging Hawk as a company for moving some of their manufacturing overseas and I get that. Sometimes though you just have to look at the best product you can get for the money you can afford. The only negatives I’ve found so far, are simply negatives that come with being unfamiliar with saddle hunting.
Saddle hunting isn’t going to replace stand hunting for most folks. Its just another tool in the toolbox. The biggest take away for me so far this season is practice. Do not under any circumstance try this for the first time on opening morning in the dark. I have practiced and hunted out of it in the afternoon, but I couldn’t do it quietly in the dark the dark for a million dollars.
I’m learning every time I use it. It’s never dull and my opinion is still forming. As for now, I dig it! So stay tuned!
This is not an endorsed post. Just a dude telling you what he thinks.
A Day in the Field 