A long time ago I bought my first, and only, climbing stand. It was an API Grand Slam and it has served me faithfully for more hunting seasons that I care to count. It's still in excellent shape and is, by far, the most comfortable way to spend 12 hours in a tree. I have absolutely no complaints about this stand and could continue to use it for many more years.
However, it is difficult, if not impossible to shoot my 62" Dryad Orion, or any of my other longbows, in the stand without first standing up. I simply can't spend the whole time standing and it never seems to fail that as soon as I sit down, the deer decide to visit my little corner of the world. I have been, for several seasons, contemplating replacing my faithful, trustworthy, comfortable stand with one that is a little more "friendly" to a bow hunter.
My wife and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary a week or so ago and she told me that, as a gift from her, she'd like me to be able to acquire that new "bow hunting" stand. She gave me $250 in Bass Pro Shop Gift Cards. (Did I mention that I love that girl!) :jumper:
I figure I can spend another $50 to $100 over that if I need to. But I've been looking at climber's that are geared specifically to bow hunters and I'm not sure which one to get. My main concern is an open front so I can shoot easier. I'm also partial to the sit and climb method of my current stand.
The only stand I can find that fits that description is the API Alumi-Tech Star. It has more than what I'm looking for but weighs over 30 pounds!
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/st...003000_425-3-0
I'm just wondering if any of you have any recommendations. What stand do you use for a climber? Does anyone have any experience with this particular stand? Etc...
I was a hardcore climber hunter until I tried the Lone Wolf Appha hang on. I goes on the best tree, not the best tree that will work with a climber, and I have shot out of it sitting many times, though obviously if a deer comes in behind you sitting is not an option.
I believe they started making the seat more comfy, as well as a larger platform.
Otherwise one of the bowhunting mags had some reviews recently, Petersons Bow or Bowhunting. The reviews in mags are always good regardless of whether the product is, but you can get an idea of what it may look like and whether it may fit the bill.
Also for deep in stuff out west I found the tree saddle last year and it is great. Way more comfy than i would ever imagine and though I haven't bloodied it yet, it will get some use in the mtns later this fall. For public land it is hard to beat as with all the climbing steps and such weighs only a few pounds.
Good luck
If you can trade the Bass Pro cards to some buddies, fellow TradGangers, what have you, for cash, visit the Treewalker website and get the SL model for around $280. Then go to the auction site and get a Molle backpack kit for about $30. I did just that last season and I promise you that I have bought the last climber I will ever need.
The SL is advertised as a handclimber, but mine came with the removeable front bar for the sit-and-climb method.
What about this one:
Summit Razor SS Has the same sit and climb feature but is 10 pounds lighter.
Has anyone ever used this one?
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_79361_425003001_425000000_425003000_425-3-1
ol man sit and climb. it has an open front and a weight rating of 400 lbs
http://www.olmanoutdoors.com/stands/climbers
If I ever went back to a climber from my LW Alpha, I would be going to a Lone Wolf hand climber! Awesome stand!
I use a summit viper. I could shoot sitting down with my compound, but can't with my recurve, so I stand and keep the upper part low. If I get the cash to replace it I would go with the razor. I really like the summit system and seat is super comfortable.
QuoteOriginally posted by maineac:
I use a summit viper. I could shoot sitting down with my compound, but can't with my recurve, so I stand and keep the upper part low. If I get the cash to replace it I would go with the razor. I really like the summit system and seat is super comfortable.
Thanks for your input. I'm leaning towards the Viper SS.
I have several Lone Wolf hang ons and a Lone Wolf hand climber. I use them all, depending on the situation(s). The hand climber is light, very quiet and quite sturdy. I find the seat very comfortable as well and often sit that stand dark till dark during the rut.
Viper if the hike is 3/4 mile or less. Guidos Web if further than that. The Guidos web has a built in pouch on the back like a game bag. I store my treestraps, bolts, and woodpecker drill in that. Simply grab the Web, put it on like a backpack and head to the woods.
nocams :coffee:
I would never buy a Viper SS as my go-to trad bowhunting stand.......and I own one (have for 4 years). Great stand. Comfortable. Not the easiest to pack or shoot a trad bow out of (for me).
Best? I'd get the LW hand climber (there's one in the classifieds, right now, for a steal). The LW sit and climb I have works nicely, since I can put the bar out of the way.
I climbed 90+ times, last year alone.
Good luck.
QuoteOriginally posted by tmccall:
QuoteOriginally posted by maineac:
I use a summit viper. I could shoot sitting down with my compound, but can't with my recurve, so I stand and keep the upper part low. If I get the cash to replace it I would go with the razor. I really like the summit system and seat is super comfortable.
Thanks for your input. I'm leaning towards the Viper SS. [/b]
This was a mistake. I'm leaning towards the Razor SS.
The Razor is like the sit and climb Lone Wolf with the climbing bar that rotates out of the way but it costs much less and is a few pounds heavier (weighs 20lbs.)
QuoteOriginally posted by GMMAT:
I would never buy a Viper SS as my go-to trad bowhunting stand.......and I own one (have for 4 years). Great stand. Comfortable. Not the easiest to pack or shoot a trad bow out of (for me).
Best? I'd get the LW hand climber (there's one in the classifieds, right now, for a steal). The LW sit and climb I have works nicely, since I can put the bar out of the way.
I climbed 90+ times, last year alone.
Good luck.
My bad. I meant to say that I was leaning towards the Summit Razor SS which is an open front sit and climb stand. I'm not crazy about the idea of a hand climber.
LW handclimber...hands down
most other stands are hard to shoot out of standing, let alone sitting with a trad bow....
lone wolf sit and climb are handclimber
Several years ago I was really interested in a self climber and called most of the major companies for advice and such. Talked at length with the then owner/designer Andre from Lone Wolf. I liked his no pressure pitch, his guarantee of my satisfaction, the reason he designed his own, the technical and design features, compactness, tree grabbing strap and braces, etc. I ordered his Sit & Climb model and have used it extensively. SUPER stand. I did have problems with shooting my 62" recurve out of it sitting down but with my other 56" models - no problem.
maxwell?
The Lonewolf climbers pack down MUCH smaller and tighter than the Summit stands do.
A guy I hunt with swears by his Summit Razor, and I'll give it to him, that thing is hands down the most comfortable stand I've sat in for the long haul. The downside is that it doesn't pack down very well, and he ends up clanging and dragging half the forest to his stand site. More than once I had to pick branches out of the climber loops so we could continue on.
The LW climber series was not designed for comfort, they were designed for hunting. I've got a tough rear end, and after 4+ hours on the LW stock seat, I'm sore. A simple upgrade like the Gorilla airride seat, or replacing the stock thin Sit-n-Climb seat with the Summit seat works wonders if you're in it for the long haul.
I have a LW Hand climber, and to me it's only fault is that the seat doesn't lift up to give you the full real-estate of the platform. Consequently, be aware of your feet and have a good harness on. You just can't beat a climber that weights 14# and is only 3.5" thick on your back walking in though...
The LW Sit-in-Climb uses the same platform, but seat and bar can be pushed back with your leg as you stand up, giving you the full platform. The cost is a bit more weight for some luxury.
In the end, find which stand suits your hunting style best - if you move or go in deep, get a LW. If you pick your spot and wait it out, get the Summit.
The LW hand climber does fold out of the way if you use it the way they used to recommend to use it....
I don't like the new stands with the straps that connect the top hand climber to the platform. Well I should say I don't care for the straps...stands are fine!
I don't have the straps on mine and use a bungee around the tree hooked to the belt on the back of the tree. With the bungee tight on the tree and hooked to the back of the belt that allows the hand climber to be folded flat down against the tree and out of the way. Giving me the whole platform to stand on....
When I see a deer...as I'm standing up, I just flip the seat up in the same motion...and I have access to the entire platform if needed and it gets the handclimber out of the way of the bottom limb....
Like I said, that's the way they used to recommend.....
The straps on the LW hand climber locks the stand in place as solid as a regular lock-on.I love the way they work and to me the stand is squirrely without them.
Just like with bows there is no perfect stand for everyone.I like the light weight and easy carry of the LW but can not shoot behind the tree with it like I can my old buckshot stands.Nothing climbs as easy as the Buckshots either.I use my old heavier Buckshots if I am not going but several hundred yards and use them in places where it I might leave a stand in an area for a few days.With the longer hunts and one time trips the LW always goes.There could well be better stands out there and I have bought many over the years but these two serve my needs pretty good.
I have found with my summit that can get it tight and quiet, buut it takes some practice and tight binding with the string attached to the top stand. Any climber like the razor or LW sit and stand that as even slight arm rests that the sit part of the top climber attaches to will restrict shots to the side with a longer bow like we shoot. However, they will be much easier to use than a full wrap around like the viper.
I use the same way as Curt...no stabilizer straps and a bungee around the stand strap for the tree...quick/easy to flip up.
Easily the lightest, most compact, easiest to quietly assemble and climb stand going...imo
Loggy Bayou Stalker series. 17#, easy to back pack. Once you lock the folding seat in, it is the most stable stand I have ever used, and I have tried them all. Platform is very nice size. Seat folds back to stand or you can shoot seated with no interference. web page (http://www.loggybayou.com/2006pages/stalkerseries.htm)
Loggy Stalker is my very close second fav...beats LW in the comfort category...I own both.
I like the larger size of the Loggy platform, the folding seat. I can take shots farther behind me than with any seat that doesn't fold against the tree. With the seat straped tight it also strapes the platform tight and will not walk around the tree.... I feel safer in this climbing stand than any I have had..
Well, I am one to try anything new and exciting on the treestand market. I have tried them all and found one stand to be the most packable, sturdy, and comfortable: the Lone Wolf Alpha Hand Climber. I have to admit though; you need a narrow ass to be comfortable in the seat. Most other treestands look like someone put a Lazyboy recliner in a tree.
Guru -
My HC is the new style that connects to the base. I modified mine so that I don't need the straps for the sides, I use the bungee for your feet on the platform to pull down on the seat edge (tied a small rope loop in the aluminum to grab on to) to keep tension on the seat to prevent it from falling down and clanking into the platform.
Can you take a picture of how your's is done? The new manuals don't say how to do this, and I'd really really like all my platform back. :D :D
http://www.cougarclawusa.com/treestands.htm
I have a cougar claw that they don't make any more but this one looks good and is only 17 lbs
Lone wolf handclimber is the finest climber Ive seen. 14 lbs, solid as a rock, quiet, slim, only drawback is price. But I think its money well spent. I dont think Basspro is carrying them tho.
I have some friends that cannot use the hand climber by lone wolf because they are out of shape or too heavy. The sit and climb is a good option for those with physical limitations.
QuoteOriginally posted by wihill:
Guru -
Can you take a picture of how your's is done? The new manuals don't say how to do this, and I'd really really like all my platform back. :D :D
If it ever stops raining I'll get some pix (maybe a video)to show what I mean...
I can guarantee the treelounge climber packs down slimmer than any other stand out there, and it is a comfortable as a hammock. The only downside is that you have to buy the foot platform in order to shoot a longbow.
The LW hand climber can be used as a sit and climb...they sell a strap or you can make shift it. The new ones come with it.
Just another vote I love my LW hand climber also use it just like Guru said and funny enough just got a email from 3R a sponsor here and said it's having a LW sale going on now!
I bought a Razor at the end of last year, after bow season. I haven't hunted out of it yet with a longbow, but it's comfortable. I need to get it out and do some shooting from it. I do have three lock-ons if it proves to be too tight for my longbows.
Razor SS
I'm sending this one back up to the top because I'm really interested in seeing Guru's pics for the LW HC top.
I'd really like to be able to use my full platform.
:D