The Saddle Hunting Setup That Earned a Permanent Spot at Lotz Outdoors
Saddle hunting has gone from a fringe technique used by a handful of mobile bowhunters to one of the fastest-growing approaches in whitetail country. The reason is simple: a tree saddle and a lightweight platform let you slip into a fresh tree, climb quickly, settle in quietly, and hunt where the deer actually are on any given day. The XOP Invader and Mondo Combo brings the two essential pieces of that system together, and it has quietly become one of our most requested mobile hunting setups at Lotz Outdoors.
This article looks at why that combo earns its weight in the pack: how it changes the way you hunt, who it fits best, and what to expect when you put it to work in the woods.
What You're Looking At
- Brand: XOP (Xtreme Outdoor Products)
- System type: Saddle harness plus standing platform
- Total system weight: approximately 6.7 lbs
- Primary use: Mobile, run-and-gun bowhunting and rifle hunting from a tree
- Included pieces: Invader Platform, Mondo Saddle Harness, bridge, tether, lineman's belt, three aluminum twist-lock carabiners, three prusiks
- Best fit: Hunters chasing public-land deer, hill-country whitetails, or anyone tired of dragging fixed stands
Mobile Setup, Tree-Stand Comfort, Without the Bulk
If you have ever hauled a hang-on stand and four sticks a half mile through cedar swamps, you already understand the value here. A traditional treestand setup is heavy, noisy when it scrapes against bark, and slow to deploy. A climber is faster but locks you out of half the trees you actually want to hunt. The Invader and Mondo Combo splits the difference. The whole system rides on your back like a small daypack, deploys in minutes, and adapts to crooked, branchy, or oddly angled trees that a climber would refuse.
The other quiet benefit is shot mobility. Sitting in a saddle, you can lean off the tree and shoot a full 360 degrees around the trunk without standing up. For bowhunters who have ever had a buck step in behind them while glued to a treestand seat, that one feature alone justifies the setup.
Why This Saddle System Earns a Spot in Our Mobile Kit
A few things stand out once you start using the Invader and Mondo together day after day.
The platform is wider than it looks
The Invader gives you a surprisingly generous standing surface for a one-piece platform. You can shift your feet, twist your hips toward a quartering shot, or stand for hours without your calves cramping. That matters more during all-day November sits than any spec sheet can convey.
The saddle is built for long sits
The Mondo uses a wider seat panel with structured padding around the leg openings. It distributes pressure across the back of the thighs rather than pinching at one point. Hunters who have used skinny first-generation saddles for ten or twelve hour sits will notice the upgrade within the first hour.
Everything you need is in the box
Bridge, tether, lineman's belt, three carabiners, and three prusiks come with the combo. You do not have to chase down a half dozen accessories from different brands to get on the tree. That alone shortens the learning curve for new saddle hunters by weeks.
The hardware feels overbuilt
The carabiners are aluminum twist-locks rather than the wire-gate types you sometimes see bundled with budget setups. They are easier to operate with gloves, and they do not snag on brush during the walk in.
Where the Invader and Mondo Earn Their Keep
Public-land hunts that demand mobility
On heavily pressured public ground, deer patterns shift in days, not weeks. If you cannot move trees on short notice, you cannot stay on the deer. A 6.7-pound saddle setup means you can scout in the morning and hunt a new tree by afternoon without making a second truck run.
Big timber and crooked hardwoods
White oaks, hickories, and old beech trees often have the gnarled trunks and low limbs that frustrate climbers. The Invader's tooth pattern and pivoting design bite into irregular bark, and the saddle setup means you can wrap around limb wood that would block a standard stand.
Mountain and hill-country whitetails
Hunters in the Appalachians, the Ozarks, and the western edges of the whitetail range deal with steep, broken terrain where carrying a stand uphill is brutal. A saddle setup turns those long climbs into manageable hikes and lets you set up exactly where the bench, saddle, or ridge end naturally funnels deer.
Run-and-gun rut hunts
During the rut, the best stand is often the one that catches a cruising buck on an unexpected ridge crossing or doe bedding area. With this combo you can react in real time, climb in 10 to 15 minutes, and be ready before the next chase comes through.
Quick afternoon sits close to the truck
Not every hunt is an all-day commitment. The Invader and Mondo also work great for those one-hour-before-dark sits on a food source, when you want to be invisible without breaking down a permanent stand.
Is the XOP Invader and Mondo Combo the Right Setup for You?
This system is built for hunters who want one mobile setup that handles most situations rather than a quiver of specialized stands. If most of your sits are from a permanent ladder on the back forty, a saddle setup is probably more than you need. If you hunt new ground regularly, hunt public land, hunt the rut hard, or want to reduce how much weight you carry into the woods, this combo is squarely aimed at you.
It is also a strong choice for first-time saddle hunters who want a single package rather than building a system piece by piece. The included bridge, tether, lineman's belt, carabiners, and prusiks remove most of the guesswork. You still want to spend time learning the system in the backyard before you take it into the tree, but the equipment side of the learning curve is handled the moment the box arrives.
Common Questions About the Invader and Mondo Combo
Do I need climbing sticks to use this setup?
Yes. The Invader is a standing platform, not a climber, so you need a set of climbing sticks (or a one-stick method with an aider) to reach hunting height. XOP, Wild Edge, and several other brands offer compatible stick sets we stock at Lotz Outdoors.
Is a saddle harder to learn than a treestand?
There is a learning curve, mostly around tether length, bridge adjustment, and finding your most comfortable lean angle. Most hunters feel dialed in after two or three sessions in the backyard. Once it clicks, many never go back to a hang-on.
Can I rifle hunt from this setup, or is it bow only?
It works for both. Rifle hunters appreciate the 360-degree shot window the saddle allows. The platform gives you a stable foot base to brace against when you need a steady rest off shooting sticks or a bipod.
What is the weight rating?
The Mondo Saddle and Invader Platform are each rated for 300 pounds, in line with most quality saddle gear on the market. Always confirm the latest manufacturer specs in the included documentation before your first hunt.
How long does it take to set up in the tree?
Once you have practiced, expect roughly 8 to 12 minutes from the base of the tree to fully clipped in and ready to hunt, depending on tree height and how many sticks you use.
Will the platform fit a wide range of tree diameters?
Yes. The Invader is designed to work on tree trunks ranging from roughly 8 to 22 inches in diameter, which covers nearly every huntable hardwood you will encounter in the eastern United States.
Does the system come with a carry bag?
The saddle and platform are designed so the platform can clip directly to most modern saddle hunting packs. Many hunters pair this combo with a dedicated saddle pack to keep their sticks, platform, and gear organized in one rig.
A Tip From the Lotz Outdoors Bench
Before you take this setup into a real hunt, spend at least one full session sitting in it from a low tree (or a high garage rafter) at home. Wear the exact clothing layers you plan to hunt in. Practice drawing your bow at every angle around the trunk, including the strong-side, weak-side, and behind-the-tree shots. Adjust the tether length so your hips sit just below the bridge attachment, then write that measurement on the strap with a paint pen. Once you know your sweet spot, every future climb is faster and more comfortable. This one habit separates hunters who love their saddle from hunters who tolerate it.
Hunters Who Should Have This in the Pack
- Public-land bowhunters who need to stay mobile across multiple parcels in a season.
- Mountain and hill-country hunters covering long miles on steep ground.
- Run-and-gun rut hunters who want to be on the deer instead of on yesterday's sign.
- First-time saddle hunters who want a complete system rather than a parts list.
- Experienced treestand hunters who are tired of the weight, noise, and tree-shape limits of hang-ons and climbers.
- Hunters with a long walk in who want every ounce in the pack to be earning its place.
The Invader and Mondo Combo at a Glance
The XOP Invader and Mondo Combo is a complete saddle hunting system that pairs the lightweight Invader standing platform with the comfortable Mondo saddle harness. The whole rig weighs roughly 6.7 pounds and includes the bridge, tether, lineman's belt, three aluminum twist-lock carabiners, and three prusiks needed to climb and hunt. It is designed for mobile bowhunters and rifle hunters who change trees often, hunt public land, or work steep country where carrying a traditional treestand is impractical. It supports a 300-pound weight rating, fits trees roughly 8 to 22 inches in diameter, and gives the hunter a full 360-degree shot window around the trunk. It is best suited to whitetail hunting from late October through January but works any time of year that you want a quick, quiet, mobile setup.
Add the Invader and Mondo to Your Mobile Hunting Kit
Saddle hunting is not for everyone, but if your style of hunting demands flexibility, the XOP Invader and Mondo Combo is one of the cleanest entry points into the discipline available today. You get a complete system, well-built hardware, and a setup that will follow you across every season and every parcel you hunt. If you are ready to leave the heavy stands behind and start hunting where the deer actually are, this is the combo to look at.
See the XOP Invader and Mondo Combo at Lotz Outdoors and start building the mobile setup your hunt deserves.
