The Hammock Seat

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#6651

I’ve tried several other types of seats, but they always seem too heavy/bulky/awkward when being carried, for my purposes. And while sitting on the ground on a piece of foam works (and I did it for many years), I like being able to sit a little higher when hunting – for more view, more bow clearance when shooting and more comfort for longer sits. The Hammock Seat easily straps to the outside of my pack unobtrusively, and sets up/breaks down in a flash if I need to move to another spot.

I don’t have a photo of myself using the seat, so here’s the stock pic to give an idea of how it works:

It’s simply a long strap for anchoring to a tree, a small hammock and a single metal post (2-piece). It weighs < 2lbs. and it's super comfortable to sit in. You can easily adjust the height by simply moving the strap up or down on the tree. And you can swivel close to 180? when needed for a shot. Here is the seat packed up in the included stuff sack, with a shooting glove for scale:

For the size/weight, plus the comfort, simplicity and versatility, I’m sold. Made by Fanatic Outdoors.

[Doc Nock]

#53404

I saw that reviewed on another site. One friend I know has one or had one, and found it hard to get out of while sitting to shoot, if not able to shoot while in it?

Have you tried that movement…getting up out of it?

I surely would love to find something better than a Nifty Seat that is heavy and makes body parts go numb sitting on it. I love how it swivels on it’s single point of insertion to the ground! But it is a bear to sit on extended time!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#53419

Doc –

Can’t say that’s been my experience at all! I find it really comfortable to sit in for long periods, and fairly easy to get out of. In general, the lower you hang the seat, the more effort that is required to get out of it (as with any low seating option), but if you hang it higher, it’s just a matter of standing up and you’re out of it, in my experience.

As far as not being able to shoot while seated in it, I can’t understand that. It’s no different in my experience than shooting while seated in any other seat, with more lateral mobility without having to reposition.

But in the end, comfort is a highly personal thing!

[Doc Nock]

#53428

Thanks, Bruce!

I rather wondered about the negative input and specifically it being difficult to get out of. Being somewhat tall and long legged, I like a 22″ seat minimum for seat height on tree stands…so I can easily stand…that has increased somewhat with age and bad knees…

I’ll have to google them and see prices…

Thanks!

[Etter1]

#55827

I have a compound buddy that bought one this year and brought it to the mtns to bear hunt with me. I will be buying one before next bear season. These things are pretty……… pretty………pretty good!

[shirikahn]

#55934

has anyone used the Big Jim’s seat? I’m interested in that one…just wondered if someone had any experience with it.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#55953

etter1 wrote: I have a compound buddy that bought one this year and brought it to the mtns to bear hunt with me. I will be buying one before next bear season. These things are pretty……… pretty………pretty good!

Yeah – the biggest problem I have is not falling asleep in it. 😀

shirikahn wrote: has anyone used the Big Jim’s seat? I’m interested in that one…just wondered if someone had any experience with it.

I have Big Jim’s seat as well. I like it. It’s nice and simple, easy to reloate, and comfortable enough. But where the hammock seat wins for me is in how small it packs down and how light it is, and I also find it more comfortable. Still, Big Jim’s is a good option, esp. if you’re not going to hike far with it.

[handirifle]

#56119

If this is the site http://thehammockseat.com/forms/FanaticOutdoors/FanaticOutdoors.php I can see what the metal rod is for. I was wondering before. Does that rod ever get cozy with you, if you know what I mean? The pics on the web look like it comes up in a very uncomfortable spot.

[handirifle]

#56124

OK I watched the videos, I see now, makes better sense. Looks like a good setup to me.

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#56142

handirifle wrote: If this is the site http://thehammockseat.com/forms/FanaticOutdoors/FanaticOutdoors.php I can see what the metal rod is for. I was wondering before. Does that rod ever get cozy with you, if you know what I mean? The pics on the web look like it comes up in a very uncomfortable spot.

Yeah, I had the same concern when I first saw it. But I haven’t found it to be an issue at all, as long as I’m somewhat strategic about getting in and out of it.:D

[ChumpMcgee]

#10281

WOW! This is exactly what I have been looking for! Talk about convenience and perfect for ground hunters! Is it to late to add this to my Christmas list?

[Col Mike]

#10651

Shhh–I believe I saw one when carrying in the mail yesterday:D We will see.

[David Fudala]

#18658

I’ve used this seat for 2 seasons now and it is as advertised in my opinion. Excellent for throwing in the pack and having a comfortable place to sit always available. Like all new gear ya gotta play around with it and learn its strengths and weaknesses but overall I’ve been very happy with it. I did replace the plastic buckle with a pair of steel d-rings for better durability, especially when the weather gets cold. That plastic tends to get brittle.

[Col Mike]

#19739

Yes under the tree the other day (or what passes for a tree in our small place used to be on our boat that we lived on so only about 2 feet in height)Tried it in the backyard wood/range really something well worth the price and much better then my piece of foam. Looking forward to a lot of nice naps–oh and some hunting–starts again 6 Jan.:D

Mike

[ChumpMcgee]

#30258

Santa got it on his list and delivered it on Christmas morning! I was shocked and cannot wait to try this puppy out!

[grumpy]

#30722

I keep thinking there must be some way to turn one of these into a tree stand. Anybody here crazy enough to try it?

oops, wrong question. We all know there is someone crazy enough, just a question of who is going to be first…

[handirifle]

#30830

I have a new question on this seat. Assuming you are on a moderate to steep slope (most of the time around here), I would use it on the downhill side. But can you make it hang so the strap goes down at an angle allowing your feet to touch the ground? If it has to be level, some of our slopes are so steep the seat would be 3ft above ground on the downhill side and my stubby legs would be dangling.

[grumpy]

#31742

At that point it is really close to being a tree stand. lol

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#31821

handirifle wrote: I have a new question on this seat. Assuming you are on a moderate to steep slope (most of the time around here), I would use it on the downhill side. But can you make it hang so the strap goes down at an angle allowing your feet to touch the ground? If it has to be level, some of our slopes are so steep the seat would be 3ft above ground on the downhill side and my stubby legs would be dangling.

You can definitely hang the strap so it goes down at an angle, and the hammock will accommodate some slope, but I haven’t tried it out on a really steep incline. The bigger limiting factor might be the length of the support post.

[handirifle]

#32069

OK thanks

[Patrick]

#21492

Based on recommendations here, I bought one. It arrived today, and the first thing I noticed was how incredibly noisy the material is! 😯

[David Fudala]

#21500

It breaks in and softens rather quickly Patrick. And you really don’t slide around in it much. I haven’t had any trouble with noise in it yet.

[Patrick]

#21522

That’s a relief! I figured there had to be something I was missing. Either that or you guys just don’t need to get as close as I do. 😆

[David Fudala]

#21529

The only advice about the seat I have is, get an air travel pillow! You will fall asleep in it… ALOT!:?

[Brennan Herr]

#21570

Well I love my hammock seat as well but it came apart at the bottom where the webbing is attached to the post. I ordered some repelling webbing and codora nylon and made a new one. The fabric is about a foot bigger then the original so it comes above the head on the tree. The sides can come up around the shoulders as well if wanted. I have used it in the yard but not hunting yet. Here is the a pic from my first test.

[Stephen Graf]

#21978

That’s a beauty! Good Job on the sewing!

I am curious as to whether you contacted the manufacturer about repair/replacement?

I’ve been wondering how long mine will last…

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#22096

Well done, Brennan. Love mine as well, but I’ve been pondering maybe someday replacing the fabric with some nylon mesh that would be both lighter and quieter than the original fabric.

[Brennan Herr]

#22169

Thanks fellas. But I have to confess. I had an old Italian seamstress do the needle work. Took her 10 minutes and she did a great job. She said before she atarted doing clothes she worked in a drapery shop in Italy for 20 years. The fabric is a little heavier then the original but not much. I ended having the webbing (bluewater tublar nylon)wrap around the post to give me two holding points on each end. Seems to have really firmed up the attachment. I will post some daylight and closeup pics soon.

[Etter1]

#22254

I carried one of these for this first time at bear camp this year. It was awesome. I texted all of my buddies that were coming up that if they came without one they would regret it. Best hunting purchase I’ve made in years.

I do most of my deer hunting from a tree but this thing is going with me to Blackbeard Island this year. Lots of opportunities to hunt from the ground out there.

[grumpy]

#22530

I’m willing to bet someone has tried to use it as a tree stand and is too embarrassed to tell us about it,,, or is still in the hospital. 😆

[David Fudala]

#22839

I’m guessing they got stuck and can’t get out of the tree! Hey Etter! Maybe that’s what happened to Petersen after he set us off!?!?

[Patrick]

#25751

I used mine for the first time last evening, and it worked great! I wouldn’t say that the material breaks in though. It seems to me that although the material is very loud, when you are sitting in it, it moves with you so there’s no noise.

[Brennan Herr]

#26070

Couple pics of the webbing and of my hunt today.

[Stephen Graf]

#26493

Be that a hickory tree all ablaze?

[Brennan Herr]

#26626

Hickory it is.

[ChumpMcgee]

#26663

I will put in my 2 cents on my thoughts of this product.

First off I will never go hunting and not have this with me it is perfect for hunting on the ground! Easy set up and take down and you can relocate on the fly. It is comfortable and easy to see 360 degrees without making a sound.

I am having the issue of metal on metal contact with I cam extending the stand and it is making a lovely SSSSKKKRRREEEEKKK every time I set it up. I want to put some sort of oil on it but then I am worried about the whole scent free thing. Any thoughts on what I could use? What I ended up doing with it last weekend was leaving the stand extended so I do not have to worry about extending it.

The hammock material is thick and can be alittle noisy when setting up (noisy like when you move your arms in a winter coat, a whooshy sound, but nothing to bad)

I have set it up around different diameter trees too roughly a 24 inch tree down to a 6 inch tree. I will say the bigger the tree the more comfortable the seat is due to the fact that you can spread the material out further and it will not scrunch up along the sides. I have been attaching it to 8-10 diameter trees for most of the season and have had zero problems with it.

It is very fast to set up, it took some trial and error at first to figure out what height to put the strap around the tree but with alittle set up and practice in the backyard you can figure out the height you want before you hit the woods.

Once the hammock seat is set up it is 100% awesome! Very comfortable and you can spend hours sitting in this seat and not even feel the need to have to adjust or anything. You can look behind you with very little movement with just a slight lean to look around the tree you are hiding behind. You can set up on a hill side if you need to as well. I currently have one of my blinds set up on a hill and once you get into place with this you don’t even realize that you are sitting on a hill its fantastic!

Pros – its awesome

Cons – slightly noisy

Yes I would recommend it to a friend 🙂

[Patrick]

#27014

T-roy wrote: Pros – its awesome

Cons – slightly noisy

Yes I would recommend it to a friend 🙂

Couldn’t agree more! I used mine this morning, and it definitely assisted in allowing me to maneuver in order to be able to get into position, quietly, to get the shot.

[Stephen Smiley]

#28809

Just ordered one. Cant wait to give it a try.

[grumpy]

#29140

I would suggest you use paraffin (candle)or a silicon spray to lubricate it. That is what I used on aluminum ladders for decades.

[Randy Gresham]

#33155

The Hammock seat is great and they have great customer service. My dog got ahold of mine and chewed the plastic buckle off before I knew she had it. I emailed Fanatic Outdoors about buying a new strap and they replied to send them my address and they would have one on the way free of charge. Don’t find that kind of customer service very often.

[Patrick]

#42296

Saturday morning, I found the Hammock Seat’s kryptonite: A hard rain. I sat there thinking it was rather odd that my lower back and rear end were getting cold. In all my years of hunting, I had never experienced that before. Even my wallet was soaked. I’m not sure if the rain ran down the tree and into the seat, or if it simply rained on the back uncovered part of the seat. Based on how it looked to me, I’m thinking it was the later. Still wouldn’t trade it for any other seat though!

[ChumpMcgee]

#42302

Patrick wrote: Saturday morning, I found the Hammock Seat’s kryptonite: A hard rain. I sat there thinking it was rather odd that my lower back and rear end were getting cold. In all my years of hunting, I had never experienced that before. Even my wallet was soaked. I’m not sure if the rain down the tree and into the seat, or if it simply rained on the back uncovered part of the seat. Based on how it looked to me, I’m thinking it was the later. Still wouldn’t trade it for any other seat though!

I think you are right! I can’t say that I have used it in the rain but could see that happening! That fabric would catch and hold rain water….I have seen the umbrellas that people use for tree stands. That would help solve the solution but you would also be adding more unfamiliar products into the woods!

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#42422

Maybe throw a couple grommets as drain holes in the lowest part of the seat?

[grumpy]

#42466

Was the “rainwater” yellow?

[Patrick]

#42495

Smithhammer wrote: Maybe throw a couple grommets as drain holes in the lowest part of the seat?

I don’t think that’d work. It’s not that it collects in the bottom. It’s absorbed into my clothes before it gets there.

grumpy wrote: Was the “rainwater” yellow?

I did have a hot doe run by with two bucks hot on her trail at close range. Maybe it wasn’t rain water after all. 😯

[Patrick]

#48892

Even works in a corn field…right?

[Charles Ek]

#49792

Patrick wrote: Even works in a corn field…right?

Absolutely. Just as long as you’re a Wallenda.

[Patrick]

#49893

eidsvolling wrote: Absolutely. Just as long as you’re a Wallenda.

😆 I had to look that up.

[grumpy]

#55903

So did I… Thought it was some kind of insect.

[Etter1]

#63673

Dude walked across Talullah Gorge on a high wire and did two head stands on the way!!

[Author]

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