Ok, I spent pretty much all year on the ground during deer season in a ghille suit and stool.
I used various seats and found a guy need needs to get lower that the standard 16" and needs to swivel and it needs a back. I used the ameristep swivel stool exclusively, it's ok but no back all day sits were not fun.
I ran across the shappel 360 all terrian stool, it's got a back and basically the ameristep with a back and a version of the huntmore 360.
Ok for the good part, I cut down the legs and it will allow you to go down to the 11 to 12 inch level, and if in soft dirt even lower.
I could not figure out how to post pics, but could email the mods I made.
You can get the chair online from 45 to 60 bucks. I can know stay put in them awsome ground hunting places.
I would love have the huntmore, but afraid to cut on a 200 dollar chair.
http://www.shappell.com/trailchair.html
love my Huntmore, but that's a good idea. would love to see those mods.
Tagged. Might try one of these.
How do you get, and stay, 11-12" above the ground ? I would never be able to get back up !
ChuckC
Looks like a great item. Especially in a blind, light weight and very portable, fair price.
Very carefully
I would love to see your pictures.
Man I would love to see the pics of that mod.
I'll take a guess, take the adjusting lower legs out, cut the upper tubes for each leg, drill new holes for the snap adjuster to pop into ?
P.S. Good idea !
I have been using and love the tree seat...yeah I sell it, but it is because I love how it works. Both my brother and I toted ours all over the mountains of Montana.
Every time we left camp, we looked for something to leave behind..lighten the load so to speak, but it was never the tree seat.
It uses the tree as a back rest and you can set it as low as you want. Super nice to use a tree to help break up your outline. Had a cow elk look right through me at 15 yards and not spook. Sure it was a cow calf, but still an elk at 15 yards. I came to full draw and decided to take me chances and wait for something bigger.
I have a video on my site showing it in use.
thanks, bigjim
Here's my 2 cents, if there is a tree big enough to break up my outline, I will put a stand in it.
I went to the ground game to hunt places where trees big enough for stands don't exist or even treeless places, is mostly where I hunt.
Chair needs to be able to get lower, swivel and have a back, be light weight, portable and not break the bank, the shappel does that.
I can't figure out to post pic, I would gladly email my pics to soemone
That's a great option for you petite fellas, but won't hold enough for us larger guys :biglaugh:
I take this : (http://i.imgur.com/v7CXyaZ.jpg)
remove the seat from the swivel (leaving the swivel attached to the base which snaps on to bucket) and then using the same screws attach this: (http://i.imgur.com/ZQlFTrW.jpg)
and then add to any 5 gallon bucket. You can stack buckets for more height and I suppose you could cut them down too, but I really don't like to sit any lower than a standard 5 gallon bucket. Not as portable as some for sure, but if there is an area that I hunt frequently, I just take the handle off the bucket (to discourage others from walking away with) and leave it upside down in that area. I can then strap just the seat portion to my pack (have had to get a bit creative because of size / shape, but it can be done) to carry in. and it all costs about $25.00 for the first set up and then $5.00 a bucket thereafter. Works great for me. If you are interested and need any help or additional pics, PM me, but it really is very simple and self explanatory once you have the pieces in hand. The Tornado seat has an actual boat seat swivel and you can access the screws through 4 large holes on the underside of the lid. All that said, I've really been eyeing one of those tree seats big jim sells.
Regarding the Shappell trail chair, I did some research and decided to save my money. Some reviews at Amazon were not too good, and I also got an email from a hunter who used one last season who would not buy again. He was having difficulties with the legs collapsing at the wrong time and serious wear on some moving parts.
I guess I will stick with my Torges home made seat for now.
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d108/lwscott/seat-1.jpg) (http://s34.photobucket.com/user/lwscott/media/seat-1.jpg.html)
That swivel seat looks neat.
I just received the Millennium Tree Seat yesterday and it is super comfortable. You can put is as low as you like too. They say it weighs four pounds, but it sure doesn't feel like it weighs that much. I'm going to try it out in the morning from a natural ground blind. I also dumped the single shoulder strap and installed a set of padded backpacking straps. Seems to tote a lot easier.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y100/foxbo/DSC_0343-438x660_zpsd9db8ae2.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/foxbo/media/DSC_0343-438x660_zpsd9db8ae2.jpg.html)
Now I could probaby grow to like that Millenium. They are not cheap, but what the heck?
Tree seats are great if there's a tree where I need it to be.
I searched and searched .... the Millennium came out with this - http://www.millenniumstands.com/products/ground/g100-blind-chair.
So comfortable it is hard to believe.
I used the Millennium for the first time this morning and it was the most comfortable time I've spent sitting in the woods. I only saw a squirrel, but the 3.5 hours melted away without any squirming around. It is a great seat!
That blind chair looks like what most guys are wanting in a hunting seat. It's got everything and you don't need a pack mule to carry it!
My 5.00 chair in a bag looks better and better
I have to ask, why get down to 11" off the ground? Does this cause shooting problems?
My Shappell chair is scheduled to arrive today. Should solve a lot of issues for me when I want to hunt on the ground. I'll report back in a few days when I've had a chance to use it.
QuoteOriginally posted by dnovo:
I have to ask, why get down to 11" off the ground? Does this cause shooting problems?
Which Chair are you talking about?
I just ordered one also. Thanks for the post Adam.
I'm talking about opening post. Talking about cutting legs off to get down to 11-12"
I had no problems shooting of sitting at 11" or even 8"
to modify the legs this is what i did.
pull the legs out by pushing on the chrome button, cut the leg as close to the chrome button as you can get, its held in from the inside.
drill adjustment holes up higher on the legs than the existing ones, as close to the top as you can get.
I've used a simple folding plastic T stool for many years because I can lean back against a tree if there's one around, lean forward with my elbows on my knees, carry it on my belt to and from my blind and, best of all, its easy to slide one leg over the end of the seat and sit astride the seat while kneeling , resting my rump on the seat, as that kneeling position is my favorite, steadiest position for a shot from a ground blind. Now I find that nobody sells them anymore.
The main reason for this cahir and its mods, are to sit in places for extended periords with no trees to lean against and not a ton of cover, so getting lower to the ground is a must.
QuoteOriginally posted by mangonboat:
I've used a simple folding plastic T stool for many years because I can lean back against a tree if there's one around, lean forward with my elbows on my knees, carry it on my belt to and from my blind..
I remember my Dad having these when I was a kid. Wish I could find one.
homebru
Got my chair late yesterday. Really like the carrying bag and the swivel seat. It's light weight and the back support is pretty good. Not as big as my DB chairs but much more portable and, as I said, the pivot seat seems invaluable in minimizing movement. The adjustable legs are made for uneven terrain. I'll give it a field test this weekend.
Just ordered one too from Shappell. I'll have my daughter Morgan run it through the paces after it comes in and I'll use the double bull chair.
Received mine today and shot out of it too.Works great for me,tried it out on a slope and it was very comfortable and solid.Will try it out on a hunt on Sat.Worth the money so far.Very easy setup and lite to carry.
Ordered Shappell yesterday and got it today (they're in MI too) so fast delivery.
Initial reviews, nylon carrying case is loud when pulling chair out. Also, the pads on the bottom of chair flop around very easily and make metallic noise. I'll try tightening those tonight to see if they move slower. The extension of the legs uses the little round pin that you depress and then pull the leg until it drops in the next hole. This extension system makes a very audible click-unless you hold your thumb over the next hole it's moving to so as to prevent it from 'snapping' in. It did swivel quietly when I sat on it and it is light weight. It set's up very quickly. The lockout feature for the legs and back rests are very slick. This chair would be much nicer if it used Huntmore 360 style of leg extension and a 'cloth' style carrying bag. Also, we'll have to wait and see if seat fabric is loud in Michigan's December late season.
All said, it's 1/4 the price, so it's a lower cost option for sure.
I agree about the noisy canvas carrying bag. However, making a quieter one looks like it would be a simple thing to do, I'll take mine hunting tonight for the first time. Will report back tonite or tomorrow (depends if I get a critter).
Bill, a homemade carry strap could be made too and forgo the case.
Bill & Ray - following this one. I've heard mixed reviews - mainly about durability. Very interested to see what you guys come up with - I've been looking for a good swivel seat that doesn't weigh so much.
That horn in the front looks like a bit of a "nut cracker"...
The 250 pound limit is a deal breaker for me. I'm about 240 and in excellent shape. With my hunting clothes and gear I'm afraid it would break/bend.
Treeline treestands makes a treeseat called the stump. They also make that seat with a back and it's freestanding for blinds.They look pretty nice.
Had a successful sit last nite on my new Shappell chair. A young buck came into the oaks but never got closer than 25 yards only because he insisted on staying on his side of the tree. I had a shooting lane on my side but he just drifted off in a different direction.
The chair worked like a charm. So good I'm getting a second. It is plenty stable and the adjustable legs are a snap to set. The chair is smaller than my Double Bull chairs but plenty comfortable. My back was unscathed. Never had a swivel seat before so this was really neat to use. It was dead quiet when I needed to turn...swivel works great. When the deer showed up there was no shifting around to get into position. When his head went down to feed getting into a good shooting position was simple. As he worked around me I could easily move with him without detection just using my feet to swivel my body in into a comfortable position. It is light weight and easy to carry. We have about a 3/4 to a one mile walk in to our property and I am hunting on the upper end so it's closer to a mile. No problems with carrying the chair. The bag, on the other hand is a different issue. Noisy to carry because it is not soft and scratches loudly as brush hits it. It is canvas-like so noise is an issue. Also getting it into the bag at closing time was way too noisy for me. However, a trip to the fabric dept. should put an end to that. A few minutes on a sewing machine and Laura said she could do a new one in a few minutes. The leg pads on the bottom were a bit clanky but I think some mole skin or velcro should end that issue easily but can also be dealt with my being very careful and is really only a problem getting the seat back in the bag.
Hope this review helps. As I said another one will be ordered today. As for durability, time will tell but the seat has been all I hoped it would be....just needs a new bag and some moleskin on the legs where the pods "clink". For me it is a keeper. Cant beat the price.
I also think big guys may not be so comfortable. I am down to 160#'s so weight is not a factor for me. However, I did wonder if bigger men or women would be as comfortable as I was. What I don't know is if they make a "magnum" size. Easy enough to find out if you need to know.
Go review, it's not the cure all but, it's the best thing I have found.
Money wise, weight wise, swivel wise, and with a back.
I may take the feet off mine and put racket balls on them, cut a slit in the ball and slide it over the feet.
I carry nine in my back pack, I use a badlands 2200, the bats wings have a slot for a tripod, the chair will fit it the that wing in that spot.
Pretty slick, I can carry everything deep into the public land, debone my meat and carry it out with my badlands.
I have used the hand-climber section of my Lone Wolf climber which works great however, I do like the looks of the Shappell Chair, especially because it rotates 360 degrees...which would work great in my ground blind. I'm thinking about getting one...maybe even two.
Forgot to say "Thanks" to Adam for the tip about the Shappell Chair.
Bill, through that bag in the washer with some tennis shoes and see if it softens up.
I received my Shappell chair yesterday and will ue it this evening for the first time. I am looking forward to having it in the blind. Haven't owned a swivel chair until this one.
Haven't been in the woods yet with mine but thanks for the review Bill. It seems spot on with my initial reaction.
Good stuff guys, I've been spending a lot of time roaming the woods and needed just this type of chair. Just ordered the Shappel.
Thx!
Just tried the Millennium chair this weekend and was really impressed. It is super light and dead quiet. Very comfortable. Drawbacks I saw were you can't use a leaning tree and a larger tree that would really break up your outline is out of the question unless you extend the strap. But a 24" diameter tree is doable. I like it as an addition to my set of tools.
Ray: The only thing I haven't figured out yet is how to quiet the pads on the bottom of the legs. I put some velcro on the pad where it hits the leg and it helped but then realized that another "problem" was that the holes for the mounting bolts in the legs themselves were too big for the bolts making them loose and noisy. Wrapping the threads with some dental floss may fix that but I suspect a slightly bigger bolt will do it best even if it means opening up the hole in the pad to accommodate a larger bolt. I think I have decided that using a nylon strap is the way I will go the rest of the season. The carrying bag is easy to duplicate with a softer material but it is really a minor issue.
I ordered the Shappell chair last week and received it this morning. I took it out, extended the legs, and when I sat down, it promptly deposited me on the floor flat on my back. The leg behind me folded just below the swivel. Believe me this isn't built for a heavyweight. Going to return it and buy another Walkstool.
I had my 1st sit in my modified shappel, passed up a dandy 8 at 7 yards.
I did get some noise from mine. I removed the seat tubes and put a thin layer of duct tape on the screws holding the seat tubes on, put them back on, seems to have cure it.
Anyway, had th buck been bigger it would be season over, I had to set in a place with no cover, just the way it was, other than that minimal noise worked like a champ.
I think a guy could do the duct tape thing on the leg tubes too, the legs that extend are a big loose fitting but once pressure is on them that is not an issue.
I tried a thin layer of tape on the but tape was to thick.
I'm super died that chair broke
I'm surprised
I just oredered mine based on these reviews. I still prefer my Hammock seat when I set up a blind with a good tree - however, this seat will provide options of hunting weed fields with no trees. Thanks for bring this seat to light.
I saw this thread the other day and was in need of an additional ground stand so I bought a Shappel seat. It arrived the other day and Its inaugural hunt was last night.
(http://i62.tinypic.com/ajs8j4.jpg)
I agree with others that the bag is very loud but I dumped it and simply stuffed the seat into my backpack for the walk in. The feet pad noise didn't bother me as when you set it on the ground it makes no difference. I liked the feet pads as it has been raining alot here and the ground was pretty wet but those feet pads kept the chair legs from sinking into the dirt very well.
For the price, this seat is made very well with lots of feature of a higher priced seat. I like the leg extension option for raising/lowering seat level and for use on uneven terrain. The seat itself isn't as comfortable as the lazyboy in your man cave but your lazyboy isn't able to be stuffed into your backpack.
I also agree for the larger hunters this seat wouldn't be a good choice as the horn of the seat does ride pretty high in your junk and the seat itself is fairly small. After a few hours my bottom fell asleep but I have never set in a small seat where this hasn't happened. That is just what you get with these small, lightweight portables.
With all that said, I had a buck come through and the swivel was silent and the seat would have done its job if I still had a buck tag and he didn't wind me. Hehe.
(http://i62.tinypic.com/2vd5y4z.jpg)
If you are 180 lbs or less this is a great seat and I would recommend it.
Thanks Adam for posting this.
X2 on the Millennium chair. I bought one a couple of weeks back and it is the most comfortable hunting seat I've ever tried. Super lite, totes easy, sets up quickly, etc. I installed backpack straps on mine. I actually look forward to sitting in it, it's that comfortable.
QuoteOriginally posted by Bill Kissner:
I ordered the Shappell chair last week and received it this morning. I took it out, extended the legs, and when I sat down, it promptly deposited me on the floor flat on my back. The leg behind me folded just below the swivel. Believe me this isn't built for a heavyweight. Going to return it and buy another Walkstool.
Bill, exactly my thoughts. Ordered mine on Sunday and it was on the porch when I came home from work tonight. Opened the box, pulled it out of the bag and promptly planted my butt in it. OUCH! Awful unstable and I thought I'm going to need a cup guarding the goods to sit it this thing. As I was packing it back in the bag to send it back I realized there was a little piece of paper jammed in the bottom of the stuff sack. Instructions! Life is better now that I found out there is a lock for the legs and seat to keep them securely spread out and in place. Much better now and no cup needed.
:biglaugh: :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
Yellow Dog .... I did the exact same thing, we are men and men don't need no stinking instructions. I was not loving my new seat until I began packing all the stuff back in a box and then I found the same little piece of paper :readit: telling me how to lock the legs and seat arms in place. Now I am happier :jumper: :jumper:
I like the silent swivel and will give it the out in the woods test later today.
Im going to be using this chair;
http://www.coleman.com/product/multiple-use-stool/2000003743?contextCategory=10010#.VEALg_ldWHA
no swivel so that is a drawback, but extremely light.
I have a similar stool with no back that I take backpacking its super light. Could be wider though but I think a pad will fix that.
I got the shappel seat, haven't hunted it yet but like the size, weight, and isn't bad for comfort. I typically use a seat cushion, and will with this too. Quieter than many other seats like this. Should be good.
keb thanks for the tip I got this chair last week and was worried about it's light weight and durability but after using it I can tell I will be carrying it a lot. Between it and my hammock seat I think I have it covered. Thanks again
I just got my shappel seat too. I really really like the 360 rotation. All chairs are pretty good, but gotta have that swivel to be 5 stars from a shooting standpoint. Just being able to move a little means a lot.
I got one, like the rotation but that's about all I like about it. It's no where near as comfortable nor as stable as my Waldrop Packseat...which I can comfortably and safely lean back in and take a nap if I wanted to.
Have enjoyed reading through this thread. I would like to hear from Keb, the original poster, how his modifications are working out/holding up and from Bill Carlson and Ray as to what their thoughts are now after having put some more time in on their Shappell chairs. Thanks.
Worked like a champ in spots for me. I took the feet off to allow it to sink in the dirt some.
Kevin: I bought a second one. It's true...you need to lock in the legs or they will collapse. I think they also have a video on their site that shows this. There may be other seats out there that are "better" in some ways but these are light, quiet, have adjustable legs and swivels. I am able to sit still for long periods and on my first sit 3 deer walked by at 10 yards. I weigh in at 160#s so weight bearing issues are not issues for me but for bigger guys this chair probably won't work. For the price and if you aren't a really big man or woman they are really hard to beat. I like my Double Bull blind seats a lot but they are bigger, non adjustable and don't swivel. I keep them in my blinds as movement is not as much of an issue in the blind. But when I want to wear my ghillie or find a new hot spot that isn't set up my Shappel chair goes with me.
I finally got out in the late season and had a chance to try the Shappell seat. I was very pleased. It is light, easy to adjust and sitting in it for three hours plus was comfortable. The swivel works well and it is quiet. I'm not a direction reader so I had to learn about the lock for the seat and feet the hard way but that worked well once I locked everything in and everything worked well in very cold weather, down to 6* some mornings. I weigh about 190 with all my winter gear on and I did have one foot of the stool sink a bit but I adjusted that leg and all was well. Definitely a good seat for the $$
Sounds like something worth trying. Keb, I'm PM'g you with my email in the hopes you can send me some pics of your modifications.
Thanks to all who chimed in.
Based on my experience, no hard seat compares to the tree hammock seat, I modified mine to a two piece fixed leg vs. the standard adjustable one, to reduce weight and make it more packable and quieter when deploying. Setup takes seconds, and is so comfortable you can sleep in it. It allows you to shoot at any angle as well as behind and is dead silent. I carry my umbrella blind with it and have almost total concealment instantly.
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x275/preischmann/P1000122800x600_zpsc6f92cd1.jpg) (http://s180.photobucket.com/user/preischmann/media/P1000122800x600_zpsc6f92cd1.jpg.html)
PBR, living in the warmer temps must keep the material on the hammock seat more silent. In the cold here in Iowa it is horribly loud, both in setting up and when moving to take a shot. I used mine twice and will not be taking it back to the woods, simply cannot move in it without making noise.
I've got the ameristep 360 swivel, found the triangular seat uncomfortable, and the swivel noisy (I weigh 200+).
I also tried a collapsable chair with a back (no swivel and no adjustable legs,a dn the nylon camo material is noisy in the cold northern temps.
I made a torges seat last year and so far on several hunts I love it. no noise, infinitely adjustable, and light weight. think I'm gonna stick with this while ground hunting in the open.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/hickstick/20141128_152913_zps2cb946d3.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/hickstick/media/20141128_152913_zps2cb946d3.jpg.html)
that just leads me to look for a solution for hunting out of a pop up blind. something thats comfortable, with a back, and not noisy.
QuoteOriginally posted by Longbow917:
PBR, living in the warmer temps must keep the material on the hammock seat more silent. In the cold here in Iowa it is horribly loud, both in setting up and when moving to take a shot. I used mine twice and will not be taking it back to the woods, simply cannot move in it without making noise.
Yea I am not finding it noisy, maybe in very cold weather it gets stiffer. For me if that were a problem I would sew in a polar fleece lining. It would still be lighter than anything else and a lot more versatile, packable, and comfortable. I guess it also depends what kind of material you are wearing and how it interacts with the seat material.
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y100/foxbo/g100_0_zps9fd34273.png) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/foxbo/media/g100_0_zps9fd34273.png.html)
I guess you can make any chair work, somewhat, but if you're wanting the most comfortable, easy to setup, and light weight hunting chair on the market, then this is the one. I'm going to start a thread with pics soon showing how I attached the chair to a military molle pack frame for ease of transport. This chair is so comfortable, you don't even know you're in the woods!
QuoteOriginally posted by foxbo:
(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y100/foxbo/g100_0_zps9fd34273.png) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/foxbo/media/g100_0_zps9fd34273.png.html)
I guess you can make any chair work, somewhat, but if you're wanting the most comfortable, easy to setup, and light weight hunting chair on the market, then this is the one. I'm going to start a thread with pics soon showing how I attached the chair to a military molle pack frame for ease of transport. This chair is so comfortable, you don't even know you're in the woods!
Foxbo,
Do the straps interfere with laying your bow on your lap?
Did some follow-up research on the Millennium Chair and what I really like about it is option of the low 13" height at the lowest setting. What I don't like is the big price tag compared to the Shappell chair. I am looking forward to your post showing your use of this chair, Foxbo.
I have two Millennium chairs and they are amazing. I was designing a chair based on their web seat and then they launched this one. Problem solved!
Granted - it is not the smallest or most compact but it really is as comfortable as possible.
I am interested in seeing your thread Foxbo
An easy carry case for the Shappell chair is to cut the log from an old pair of fleece pants and tie a rope around one opening-maybe even tie in the end of a strap. Then tie the other end of the strap around the top, then just sling it over your shoulder. You could also get up with one of the folks that make bow socks and have them make a "sock" for the Shappell chair.
The straps on the Millennium Chair absolutely do not interfere with laying your bow across your lap. You don't even know the straps are there.
I'll try and get around to taking some pics in a couple of days, weather permitting.
This chair is expensive, but everything worth having is expensive.
I'll probably even purchase the shooting stick and adaptor for next year's flintlock season...maybe.
Attaching the chair to the molle frame is basically simple and easy. I just used four nylon zip ties and that's it. It has not slipped since I attached it and is steady as a rock.
The one shoulder strap which comes with the chair will get the job done, but the backpacking straps and frame make the job so much nicer. Plus, you can have your hands free and the chair is out of the way for shooting your bow incase you see a deer on the way in or out of the woods.
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d34/kkmorace/2014-09-10134724_zps2c54da85.jpg) (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/kkmorace/media/2014-09-10134724_zps2c54da85.jpg.html)
Love mine... :thumbsup:
There are two kinds of chairs. The ones that are very comfortable and those that enable you to kill a deer out of. I have found that the comfortable chairs are great for a ground blind where you have cover. But if you are sitting back against a tree you need something that keeps you close to the tree and somewhat concealed. In those cases give me a bucket with a swivel seat or one of the homemade ones shown by some of the TGer's.
I know my Millennium hang on tree stand is the most comfortable tree stand I have hands down. I own and use a lot of other stands.
And for the record I don't have the Millennium chair but I've used my ol Niffty Seat and it has served me well for years and fits my needs perfectly! It always fits exactly where I need to sit up in a ground situation in every situation. Is it lazy boy comfortable? Nope not quite but I've sit in it for hours and fell to sleep. If I required lazy boy comfort I'd stay at home and watch stupid hunting shows on TV which I don't even get anymore.
Tracker12, if you tried the G300, which attaches to a tree, you'd never use that bucket again. I believe Raghorn's pic shows this model. I have one of those too. Same comfort level, you just need a tree. You can set it at any height you like too.
LC, why would you bother to enjoy the comfort of your Millennium hang on stand, but not care for the same comfort level on the ground?
I've had a nifty seat for over twelve years and it is the best thing for still hunting I've ever found. But, if I'm going to be sitting for several hours at a time, I'll take my G100.
Thanks, for the additional info,foxbo. Hoping you can get some pics posted.
I started a new thread pertaining to the Millennium G100 with lots of pics...