I Hunted Whitetail Deer With a Stand for Years, but This Amazing Tree Saddle Is the Best Choice for Mobile Hunters

Men’s Journal aims to feature only the best products and services.  If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.

Like most folks here in Georgia, I do most of my deer hunting on public land. And, as any public land hunter will tell you, that comes with some major trade offs. On the one hand, for the cost of a basic hunting license, you get access to thousands upon thousands of acres all over the state. You’ve also got more or less free rein on where and how you hunt, you’re allowed up to 12 deer a year, and archery season stays open from mid-September all the way through the end of January.

On the other hand, there’s the ever-present inconvenience of other human beings. That means the most promising spots are well known and over-pressured, there always seems to be some late riser stomping around during prime time, and any gear you leave in the woods is likely to be stolen, whether that’s a cheap trail cam or an entire deer stand.

My strategy for last year was hauling a cheap stand far enough into my favorite WMA to feel safe leaving it there for a few weeks at a time. So I loaded a pack up with 40 pounds of steel stand and sticks, hiked a few miles in, and staked my claim in the middle of a half dozen white oaks.

Fast forward to January 31st, and I’ve lost count of the number of hours I’ve spent in that stand. What I didn’t lose count of, however, was the number of deer I took out of it, because that number is the easiest one to remember: zero. Hauling that noisy 40-pound bundle of metal back out in the dead of winter with nothing to show for it, I made myself a promise: Next year, I’m doing things differently. Next year, I’m hunting out of a tree saddle.

As luck would have it, the folks at Latitude Outdoors out of Grand Rapids, Michigan, rolled out their all-new The Method 3 tree saddle just in time for peak scouting season this year. On paper, it seemed like everything a guy could ask for: comfortable, quiet, lightweight, and impossibly convenient. After a few months of living with the Method 3, I can already tell you: there’s no going back. Here’s why.

What It Is

The Method 3 is the latest tree saddle from the specialists at Latitude, a convertible two-panel saddle that the brand says is their most comfortable, versatile, and effortless design to date. The folks at Latitude pioneered the two-panel saddle with the original Method back in 2020, and they’ve continued to refine and improve the design ever since.

Saddle hunting is the ideal solution for public land because it solves two of the biggest needs that come with the territory: the ability to move fast and light, and the ability to take everything with you when you leave. Nearly everything you need is contained in the saddle itself. No more clunky metal stand to haul around, and no more safety harness to fiddle with: The Method 3 combines both stand and harness into a single piece of gear, yet weighs just over two pounds, leg straps included.

The Method 3 also solves another important issue for mobile hunters in that it’s completely silent to operate and deploy. One of the major upgrades Latitude built into the Method 3 is an entirely metal-free design. With the exception of three small concealed G-hooks (more on those below), every inch of the Method 3 is made from either heavy-duty nylon, mesh, or rope.

The saddle also removes one of the most frustrating aspects of hunting from a stand, which is that giant blind spot behind you, the tree. Because you hang freely off and away from the tree rather than being anchored with your back to it, you’re free to pivot in any direction you please, giving you a 360-degree view and a lot more shooting lanes to work with.

Lastly, Latitude is aiming to settle the single-panel versus two-panel debate once and for all with the Method 3. Some hunters swear by the comfort and adjustability of a two-panel tree saddle, while others say they take too much fiddling with to dial in properly. The Method 3 solves this with a “set it and forget” design that locks in the wearer’s desired panel gap, but also instantly retracts into a single-panel design by simply pulling a pair of drawstrings.

Latitude Method 3 Overall Impressions

I’ve spent the last two months scouting with the Latitude Method 3 in preparation for Georgia’s whitetail deer season, which starts up in a few weeks. As such, I’ve hiked a few dozen miles, climbed a few dozen trees, and dropped a few hundred onX waypoints, all with a Method 3 around my waist.

The first and most important impression I picked up on is that the Method 3 is, in fact, all-day comfortable. I did plenty of research before pulling the trigger on this tree saddle, which included reading endless horror stories about pinched hips, loud buckles, and constant adjustments from other two-piece alternatives. I haven’t spent any amount of time in the Method 2 (or any other two-panel saddle, for that matter), but I can confidently tell you this: none of those issues apply here.

Comfort is the most important aspect of any tree saddle, because if you’re not comfortable enough for a full day’s sit, you’re just gonna leave it at home anyways. The Method 3 excels in this department for a few reasons. For starters, Latitude has updated the Method 3 with a fully padded interior. Where once there was little more than a few nylon straps connected by a mesh panel, the Method is now stacked wall-to-wall with light and breathable foam.

Latitude also managed to work in some added structure and support by backing that padding with a solid panel of fabric, which better distributes weight to eliminate any possible pressure points. I’ve done a few eight-hour stretches in the Method 3 and have yet to experience the dreaded “hip-pinch” I’ve heard so much about.

As for the whole “fiddle factor” that’s traditionally plagued two-panel designs, the Method 3 functions exactly as advertised. When I first got the saddle, I spent an afternoon in the back yard dialing in my desired fit for the perfect hang. I’m happy to report that I haven’t touched it since.

The single most impressive aspect I’ve found with the Method 3, however, is just how incredibly easy it makes hunting on public land. I don’t need to set up a semi-permanent tree stand in a good spot, nor do I need to haul one in and out every day. The entire setup, saddle, sticks, platform, gear hangers, and pack, weighs just 15 pounds. It also goes up insanely fast. On average, I go from the base of the tree to fully deployed, bow in hand, in under 10 minutes.

The Method 3 setup is also compact enough to make hiking through thick brush snag-free, and nothing shifts, rattles, or clangs around as I move through the woods. I also appreciate that Latitude included enough attachment points on the saddle itself for both sticks and a platform, so everything I need to get up the tree is easily within arm’s reach.

Key Features

The Method 3 is Latitude’s most feature-rich tree saddle to date. Some of those features are carried over from the Method 2, while others are entirely new innovations from the brand. The single biggest upgrade here is Latitude’s new drawstring cinch system. Gone are the fiddly nylon straps and noisy buckles of the previous model, and in their place is something much simpler, quieter, and more effective.

The cinch system couldn’t be easier: One small rope, roughly the diameter of your average paracord, is attached to either hip of the saddle to connect the top and bottom panels. You set the rope length to dial in the ideal gap between the two panels, then lock each side in place with a toggle spring cord lock.

Of course, ropes aren’t the only thing keeping the two panels together when you’re hiking to and from the truck. For that, Latitude employs a continuous band of magnets around the length of each panel, which lock the two together anytime the strings are retracted. The magnetic belt design isn’t new for Latitude, but because many owners complained that the previous three-magnet system on the Method 2 was fiddly and difficult to use single-handed, they’ve added additional connection points across the length of the seat.

Once that’s done, every time you drop the bottom panel of the saddle, it falls right where you left it. When it’s time to retract the bottom panel and climb down the tree, simply give each rope a tug using the loops on either end, and the saddle slides back up, locking into place. 

Before we stray too far from the topic of these finger loops, another standout feature of the Method 3 is that Latitude incorporated adjustable cinches into the ends of both drawstrings, which serve as an integrated pair of gear hangers. Specifically, they give you a convenient place to secure a pair of climbing sticks as you go up and down the tree, making it easier than ever to carry everything you need on your person.

Additional storage capacity is provided by a series of molle loops around the top panel. I used these to attach a dump pouch on either hip of the Method 3, one of which gave me a place to stash my lineman’s rope, tree tether, and platform strap, while the other became a convenient spot to stick a grunt call and a bleat can.

And then there are all the features that went into making this thing as silent as possible. The buckle-free rope belt, for example, is carried over from the Method 2, and relies entirely on an adjustable, load-rated climbing knot to keep the saddle secure on your hips while walking. The same goes for Latitude’s “Butter Bridge” rope bridge, which is made from a Vapor Line-wrapped Amsteel rope that slides effortlessly through the carabiner of your tree tether for smooth, silent movement around the platform.

Another new feature is the Method 3’s updated leg strap system, which retains the metal G-hooks of the previous version, but stashes them safely between two panels of fabric to prevent any metal-on-metal contact. There’s nothing worse than blowing the day’s hunt first thing in the morning with an accidental “clang” on your way up the tree, something that cost me at least one hunt last season.

Pros

• Light, compact, and convenient
• Effortlessly mobile
• All-day comfortable
• Silent operation
• Rapid set-up and takedown

Cons

• Expensive
• A few ounces heavier than the previous version
• Accessories sold separately
• You’re gonna want knee pads

Final Verdict

A few months of scouting with The Method 3 has left me champing at the bit for the season ahead. A good tree saddle won’t solve every issue that comes with hunting on public land, but getting into the woods faster, lighter, and quieter than ever before puts me a big step ahead in filling some tags this year.While my experience with The Method 3 has been overwhelmingly positive so far, this tree saddle does come with a few caveats worth mentioning.

First, this thing is expensive. A new Method 3 will set you back $300, and while that’s less expensive than some of the flagship stuff from brands like Timber Ninja or Tethrd, it’s still a serious chunk of change. That’s not such a heavy lift if you’ve already got good ropes, sticks, and a platform, but if you’re just getting into saddle hunting, it’s not the most cost-effective way to start. Add in the fact that you’ll likely want a few accessories like dump pouches and knee pads to dial in your kit, and the bottom line creeps up fast.

Speaking of knee pads, I’ll also add that as is the case with any saddle, sitting down in The Method 3 is only comfortable if you’ve got something soft between your knees and the tree. If you want to try your hand at standing or straddling a tree all day, be my guest, but personally, I’d go ahead and factor a good set of kneepads into the cost.

Minor knit-picks aside, I’m glad I started with The Method 3 because I already know I’m going into the season with everything I need to be successful. At the end of the day, the cost is more than fair for a saddle that does everything I want it to, and if it helps put some extra distance between me and every other hunter at my local spot this year, the juice is worth the squeeze. 

Why You Should Trust Me

When you’re raised in a cabin in the mountains of North Georgia, playing in the woods comes as naturally as breathing. I’ve always been an outdoor kid at heart, so it only makes sense that I’ve spent the last several years testing and reviewing everything from fly-fishing gear to backpacking tents. When I’m not chasing game, you can find me writing for publications like Men’s Journal, Men’s Health, and GearJunkie, or moonlighting as a motorcycle journalist, because you can never have enough hobbies.

Related: We Vigorously Tested the Latest and Greatest Gear to Bring You the 2025 Men's Journal Outdoor Awards