A Full-Size Saddle Hunting Platform Built for Real Terrain
Saddle hunting has moved from a fringe technique to a mainstream mobile setup for whitetail, predator, and public land hunters. The platform is the foundation of that setup. It is what your feet stand on for hours in the dark and the wind, and it is what has to hold when a shot opportunity means shifting weight fast. The Tethrd Predator V Platform XL is a fifth-generation, full-size saddle platform engineered around that reality: rigid, sticky underfoot, quiet to install, and large enough that you can actually move on it. This Product Spotlight covers who it is for, where it shines, and how it fits into a modern mobile hunting system.
Predator V Platform XL Specs at a Glance
- Manufacturer: Tethrd
- Category: saddle hunting platform, full-size XL footprint
- Construction: high-pressure die-cast aluminum with powder-coated finish
- Weight rating: 300 pounds working load, tested past 1,000 pounds
- Standards: exceeds Treestand Manufacturer's Association (TMA) requirements
- Traction: patented tread pattern across the entire deck
- Tree bracket: traction system engineered for improved toe-camming stability
- Adjustability: glove-friendly leveling knob, smooth pivot on nylon bushings
- Attachment points: MOLLE tab for climbing accessories, 1/4-20 thread for scent devices, GoPro mounts, or holders
- Step compatibility: new slotted post accepts 1-inch webbing steps and standard climbing sticks
Rigid Enough to Trust, Big Enough to Hunt From
Compact platforms have a place. But if your setup involves climbing sticks in the pre-dawn dark, rotating your saddle to face a bedding area you did not expect, or sitting an all-day rut hunt, footprint matters. The XL deck gives you enough real estate to plant both feet flat, shift weight from heel to toe, and reset your stance without shuffling. That means steadier shots and fewer noisy foot movements at exactly the moment you cannot afford them.
The die-cast aluminum construction is the other half of the equation. It is stiff enough that the deck does not flex under load, and the powder coat handles rain, sleet, and the abrasion of rough bark over dozens of sits. The 300 pound working load rating covers hunters plus a full pack and cold weather layers with real margin. Testing past 1,000 pounds is proof of how much overhead the design carries.
Why This Platform Keeps Getting Reordered in the Hunting Aisle
Not every platform earns repeat orders. This one does, and the reasons are consistent across returning customers.
Aggressive traction that actually works in wet weather
The patented tread pattern is designed to grip through mud, wet leaves, frost, rain, and light snow. Hunters coming off climbing sticks with damp boots need a deck that bites immediately. This one does, and that peace of mind changes how confidently you move.
An angled front edge that saves your feet on long sits
Most platforms are flat and square. The Predator V XL has a slight angle designed to match a saddle-hunting foot position, which reduces calf and arch fatigue on multi-hour sits. It is a small design choice that pays back after hour three.
A leveling knob you can run with gloves on
Cold hands are a fact of late-season hunts. The oversized adjustment knob is shaped to be turned with heavy gloves, so you can level the platform against a leaning trunk without stripping down to bare fingers in the dark.
Tree bracket that grips before you fully weight it
The bracket traction improves toe-camming, meaning the platform locks against the trunk as you press into it rather than shifting under load. That is the difference between a confident first step off your top stick and a nervous one.
Slotted post for real accessory compatibility
Modern mobile hunters run 1-inch webbing steps, ROPE steps, and various climbing stick systems. The slotted post accepts all of them without adapters or workarounds, which keeps your kit lean.
MOLLE tab and 1/4-20 threaded insert
The MOLLE tab handles hands-free carry on the pack for the walk in. The 1/4-20 threaded insert takes trail cameras, action cameras, and scent dispenser mounts. Both mean fewer strapped-on accessories rattling on the walk in.
Where the Predator V XL Earns Its Keep
Public land all-day rut sits
When you are hiking a mile back to a hot funnel and staying for eight to ten hours, the XL footprint pays for itself in comfort. You can rotate your saddle 180 degrees to face a new lane, plant your feet, and settle in without dancing on a shoebox of a platform.
Mobile hunts on unfamiliar trees
The tree you scouted is not always the tree you sit. A platform that grips reliably on straight trees, leaners, and crooked trunks is essential for hunters who commit late and set up in the last light. The Predator V bracket and leveling system handle that unpredictability without a fight.
Cold-weather late season
December and January sits mean ice, snow, and numb fingers. The glove-friendly knob and aggressive tread pattern were designed for those exact conditions. Fewer bare-hand adjustments means fewer chances to fumble gear from height.
Predator and coyote calling from elevation
Calling from a saddle gives you a scent and visibility advantage plus a rock-steady rifle rest against the tree. The XL deck gives you room to swing 180 degrees when a coyote comes in from the wrong direction, which is the direction they almost always come from.
Bow hunting with a full range of shot angles
Bowhunters live and die by shot geometry. A platform big enough to let you settle into any 180 degree angle without foot repositioning is a real quiet-shot advantage. Steady feet, silent draw.
Is the Predator V Platform XL the Right Saddle Rig for Your Setup?
Here is the honest read. This is a full-size platform. If you are a lightweight ultra-mobile hunter cutting every ounce for a five-mile pack-in, a smaller platform will pack lighter and take up less real estate on the trunk. If your priority is all-day comfort, shot flexibility, and confidence in mixed conditions on ground you will actually hunt, the XL is the right footprint.
It also assumes you already run a saddle system (harness, bridge, tether, ropeman or similar). If you are new to saddle hunting entirely, the platform is one piece of that puzzle and you should pair it with a proper saddle, tether, and lineman's belt. The Predator V XL fits into any well-known saddle system without adapters.
If you hunt from ladder stands or fixed-position hang-ons and are not moving trees between sits, this platform is not aimed at you. It shines in the mobile, tree-agnostic style of hunting where you carry in, set up, hunt, and pack out on the same trip.
Common Questions About the Tethrd Predator V Platform XL
What is the difference between the Predator V and the Predator V XL?
The XL designation refers to the platform footprint. It provides a larger deck for hunters who want more room to move, rotate, and shift stance during long sits. Core hardware, tree bracket, and traction system are consistent across the Predator V line.
How much does the platform weigh?
The Predator V XL is built from die-cast aluminum with a full-size deck, so it sits in the mid-range of saddle platform weight. It is heavier than an ultra-minimalist platform but lighter than steel-framed alternatives. If you are optimizing pack weight, weigh your unit and compare to your kit; the deck size trade-off is real.
What climbing sticks work with this platform?
The slotted post is designed to work with any climbing sticks or ROPE steps that use 1-inch webbing, which covers most modern saddle-oriented systems. Traditional bolt-on ladder sticks or older systems may require accessory adapters, so check compatibility if you run a legacy setup.
How do I care for the platform between hunts?
Wipe the deck and tree bracket clean of bark, sap, and mud after every hunt. Store indoors when possible to preserve the powder coat. Check the nylon bushings and adjustment hardware annually for wear, and re-torque any accessible fasteners at the start of every season.
Is it quiet enough for close-range setups?
The nylon bushings at the pivot points eliminate metal-on-metal creaking, the classic saddle platform giveaway. The tree bracket also seats without the ratcheting noise of cheaper systems. Handle it deliberately and you can settle in silently even at close ranges.
What is the actual weight rating?
The Predator V XL is rated for a 300 pound working load and has been tested past 1,000 pounds. It exceeds TMA standards. Add up hunter weight, layered clothing, pack, and weapon before assuming margin.
A Tip From the Lotz Outdoors Bench
Practice your setup on the ground before you take it up a tree. Strap the platform at knee height, load it, step on and off, run the leveling knob with cold weather gloves, and cycle your climbing sticks through the slotted post. Do it until every motion is automatic. Saddle hunting starts in the dark, cold, and rain, and the platform install is the loudest and most error-prone part of the sit. Twenty minutes at ground level saves an hour of fumbling at height and keeps your entry quiet.
Saddle Hunters Who Should Have This in the Pack
- Public land mobile hunters running one-and-done sits on unfamiliar trees
- All-day rut hunters who need a comfortable, rotate-able footprint
- Late-season cold-weather hunters who value glove-friendly hardware
- Bowhunters who need silent 180 degree shot flexibility
- Predator callers hunting from elevation for wind and visibility advantage
- Hunters transitioning from a hang-on stand to a saddle system who want a proven, full-size platform
- Experienced saddle hunters who have outgrown ultralight micro-platforms and want more deck
The Tethrd Predator V Platform XL at a Glance
The Tethrd Predator V Platform XL is a fifth-generation, full-size saddle hunting platform built from die-cast aluminum, rated for a 300 pound working load and tested past 1,000 pounds. It features a patented traction tread, an angled front edge for comfort, a glove-friendly leveling knob, an improved tree bracket for toe-camming stability, a slotted post compatible with 1-inch webbing steps, a MOLLE tab, and a 1/4-20 threaded insert for cameras and scent tools. It exceeds TMA standards and is designed for mobile saddle hunters running all-day sits, cold weather hunts, bow shooting, and predator calling from elevation.
Add It to Your Saddle Kit
A platform is the foundation of a saddle hunting setup. Comfort, confidence, and shot readiness all track back to the deck under your boots. The Tethrd Predator V Platform XL is the full-size, rigid, high-traction option built for hunters who move a lot, sit a lot, and shoot when it counts.
Shop the Tethrd Predator V Platform XL at Lotz Outdoors and add a deck you can trust to your saddle rig.
