For mobile hunters, deciding whether to pack or wear a hunting saddle can completely shape your experience in the field, especially if you spend your season roaming public land. It’s a choice that comes down to comfort, quick access, stealth, and how fast you can get set up once you reach your tree. Let’s sort out the real-world benefits and headaches of each option, and share new innovations that might tip the scales for you this season.

• Packing your hunting saddle in your backpack increases mobility and comfort during long hikes but requires more time and potentially creates noise when setting up at your tree

• Wearing your saddle while hiking gives you immediate setup capability but can feel bulky, restrict movement, and create discomfort over extended distances

• The BullPath Praxis saddle's traverse mode offers a middle-ground solution by allowing you to wear the folded saddle at your waist without engaging leg straps, combining hiking comfort with quick setup

• Your hunting terrain, distance traveled, gear load, and personal preferences should ultimately determine whether packing or wearing your saddle makes the most sense for your hunting style

When it comes to saddle hunting, how you carry your saddle—packed away or worn in—is a central decision. It influences your movement in the woods, your interaction with your gear, and how efficiently you can set up at your tree.

Packing your hunting saddle simply means stowing it in or on your backpack until you reach your hunting spot. This keeps your body free of extra bulk while you hike, which pays off when battling through thick branches, hiking steep slopes, or toting extra gear like climbing sticks, frame packs, or a bow. 

Wearing your saddle in gives you instant access when you reach your tree, cutting out the noise and effort of digging through your hunting pack. Plus, your hunting saddle is already in place for when you reach the tree you want to hunt out of.

On public land whitetail hunts or backcountry scouting, these differences really stand out. Packing your saddle often means using part of your main compartment or clipping it on with compression straps, possibly alongside a platform, climbing sticks, or other essentials. This approach is handy for staying stealthy as you are much more mobile and nimble rather than wearing a saddle.

Wearing your hunting saddle from the start, especially with traditional models, can sometimes get in the way—leg straps might get uncomfortable over long hikes, or you might feel restricted, especially with heavier winter clothing. Yet, it means your gear is always right where it needs to be and ready to use as soon as you find the right tree.

The best choice depends on your comfort, terrain, gear load, and how fast you want to be up and hunting. There’s no single answer. Some hunters swear by packing, others by wearing. Knowing these tradeoffs can help you dial in what fits your mobile hunting style best.

Packing your hunting saddle is a go-to method for many mobile hunters tackling rugged country or hauling lots of gear. Getting clear on the pros and cons of this approach helps you fine-tune your saddle hunting strategy and avoid surprises when you hit the woods.

Packing a saddle makes sense when you need maximum mobility and fewer hang-ups. Tucking your saddle away in your backpack keeps it clear from thorns, branches, and brush, helping you slip through dense cover or scale steep hills without gear snagging or catching. This is especially handy on pressured public land or early in the whitetail season when staying silent and unseen matters most.

With your saddle packed away, you’re also free to layer up for changing weather or pull on a rain jacket without wrestling with extra straps. Carrying a day pack, crossbow, or more climbing sticks? Storing your saddle keeps it out of the way—it’s less weight on your waist and less physical fatigue, especially on longer hikes. 

There are some drawbacks to packing your hunting saddle. Packing versus wearing a hunting saddle means you’ll need to stop and gear up at the base of your tree, which adds time, movement, and potential noise. On public land, that small bit of extra commotion can give away your position or cost you a close whitetail encounter. There’s also a chance you could leave an important bit of gear in your pack, or fumble in low light as you set up to climb.

Here’s a quick look at the trade-offs when you pack your hunting saddle:

• Pros:

  • Increased mobility for hikes through brush and rough terrain

  • Keeps outerwear clean and snag-free—no hanging straps or buckles

  • Lets you adjust clothing layers easily for changing conditions

  • Easier on your body over long distances with full gear

• Cons:

  • Slower and noisier setup at the tree as you dig out and put on your saddle

  • More movement and noise can hurt your stealth, especially on pressured land

  • Possible to forget critical saddle items or fumble around in the dark

Weighing these points can help you decide if packing a hunting saddle fits your hunting grounds, your gear load, and your need for a fast, stealthy setup once you reach your tree.

Wearing your hunting saddle as you hike to your spot is a tried-and-true approach for many mobile hunters who value speed and an immediate setup. This method brings some big advantages, but there are also notable downsides—especially if you’re trekking public land or heading out for a longer walk.

Wearing your saddle saves precious time at the tree. No more rummaging through your backpack or making extra noise, which is a real win for whitetail hunters trying to keep a low profile. Most bowhunters and saddle hunters enjoy the straightforward process: get to the tree, clip in, and climb.

But traditional saddles can feel bulky or clunky when you’re on the move, especially if the leg straps are fastened. On long hikes, this can lead to rubbing, reduced stride, or frustration as you fight through brush or dodge branches. Layering up for cold weather can make things even trickier—your saddle might interfere with jackets, rain gear, or your backpack, leading to a lot of mid-hike adjustments.

When wearing your hunting saddle makes sense:

• If quick setup matters more than hiking comfort, like on shorter walks to your stand

• In dense woods where staying quiet and moving minimally near your tree is key

• For those using lightweight gear on familiar or managed land

When the drawbacks stand out:

• Extended hikes through tough or uneven terrain, where leg straps get in the way

• When frequent adjustments to extra layers or packs slow you down

• Early season, warm-weather hunts, where wearing extra material becomes uncomfortable

Think about the landscape, walking distance, outerwear, and your personal comfort before deciding if you should wear or pack your hunting saddle. The trade-off between mobility and instant access is real—if wearing a saddle adds discomfort, bulk, or heat during your hike, you may have to balance stealth against how good you feel on the move. Many hunters stick to wearing for speed and efficiency, but comfort and ease through the woods can’t be ignored on those long approaches.

Traverse mode is changing the game for mobile saddle hunters, and the BullPath Praxis saddle leads the way with this smart design. The key issue most hunters face is whether to pack their hunting saddle in or wear it on the hike—each option comes with trade-offs around comfort, mobility, and setup speed. Traverse mode offers a fresh solution that brings together the best of both worlds.

With the Praxis saddle, traverse mode lets you fold the saddle in half and wear it comfortably around your waist without engaging the leg straps. This means you can cover ground freely, with your legs completely unencumbered—so you get all the benefits of packing your saddle, without using up precious space in your main compartment or risking that moment of making excessive noise at the tree.

When you reach your tree, the saddle is waiting—no digging through your backpack, spreading scent, or rustling through gear that could spook deer. You simply fasten the leg straps and you’re ready to climb. Setup becomes quick, quiet, and clean, with no wasted motion and nothing left behind.

For hunters who cover a lot of ground on public land or those who chase whitetail in tangled woods, the Praxis saddle’s traverse mode strips away the extra bulk, noise, and hassle. By skipping the discomfort of full saddle mode with leg straps on during the hike and keeping your gear ready at the hip, Praxis delivers real-world comfort and efficiency for anyone who values staying mobile and stealthy. It’s an approach built for how hunters actually move in the field.

If you want to wear your saddle into the woods but hate wearing leg straps when walking, buy the Praxis saddle from Bullpath and utilize the traverse mode. Traverse mode allows you to wear the saddle, but you can flip the saddle in half and store the leg straps within itself. This allows you to walk completely free while wearing your saddle to your designated hunting spot.