PLEASE TELL ME ABOUT YOUR CLIMBER. I NEED TO CHOOSE ONE . THANKS FOR THE HELP
I have a summitt and it climbs good , but I hate climbing stands ,they just aren't for me.
Love my lone wolf hand climber, solid, silent, real light, but also real expensive. I can go up about any tree I feel like from 8" or so and up. Expensive but if you figure out the price per year for the time your going to use it its deffinitly worth it in my opinion. I love a good climber. They keep you mobile and are great for 1/2 day hunts.
The past 6 yrs my lone wolf alpha climber has served me very well.
I've got two and I try not to use them. One is an API grand something. It is comfy but it's heavy and clunky.
I bought a cheap gorrilla from Walmart 3 or 4 years ago. If/when I use a climber, that is the one I use. It's light and folds up nicely to pack. It has a mesh seat similar to Ol' Man but costs a fraction of the Ol' Man.
I have had an Ol'Man, a Loggy Bayou and recently I bought a Lone Wolf hand climber. The LW is the nicest by far and wish I bought one years ago. Expensive yes, but worth it. I hunt heavily hunted public land in PA and hang-on's are not an option unless you like either finding someone in your stand or the stand missing.
I have a lone wolf climber, works great. Packs flat very durable never seen one bad review on lone wolf climbers. If I had to buy a climber today it would be the sit-n-climb lone wolf. They look to be a bit more comfy.
I have two climbers that I hunt out of all the time: a Summit (Goliath) and Ol Man (Grand Ole Man). I believe both these stands are the biggest models the companies offer (I'm a big guy and like to have lots of room).
On the positive side, both stands are easy to get used to, both are pretty quiet when climbing and both are rock-solid when you get to your desired height.
On the negative side, both stands are heavy (20# or more).
The Summit is a bit easier to operate because of the "dog-knotted" cable used to fasten to the tree as opposed to the way you have to drop a key through a cable on the Ol' Man.
I find the Ol' Man a bit more comfortable for extended sits, but both stands are very very comfortable.
95% of my bowhunting is done out of a climber, so I've gone up and down trees in both of these stands countless times.
I have an original Summit and it is the best I've owned. Years ago my friend bought one of the very first Summits and I liked it so much I bought one too. I have 3 other stands but I love my vintage summit and I believe I paid $108 for it.Very quiet and comfortable for me.
I also like the simple lock on types too. You can but 2 or 3 of them for what you pay for a new climbing stand these days. Add a set of climbing sticks and you are good to go.
I got a great deal on a Lone Wolf sit-n-climb a few years ago and haven't looked back since. It's the best climber out there IMHO, well worth the price.
Ditto what RAU said. I find the sit and climbs too slow but you can add a strap to the hand climber Day Dreamer.
Another Lone Wolf user and I like it for all the reasons stated above.
I bought a Summit Viper first and it's very comfortable. It was also slow to climb with and noisy (to me). I still have it, but it hangs in the garage.
I then got a Lone Wolf hand climber. Fast and quiet. Easy to carry and pack away. My only criticism is the seat is small and hard. I added some foam for cushion, but about 3 hours is all I can stand.
I have a Summit, an API and a Lone Wolf. If I had to pick one it would be the Wolf.
I just got an Equalizer 21.5 and love it already! I like the leveling function, foot straps, and seat frame wraps around. I put Lone Wolf stabilizing straps on instead of the OEM. I put on Ol Man mesh seat instead of OEM. Very quiet and fairly light stand. I had both kinds of Lone Wolf stands: the hand climber and sit-n-stand. The Equalizer aint cheap though. It is downright solid in a tree and comfortable. The OEM seat is extremely comfortable, I just did not want something else to move and place. You have to put the seat where you want once you get up to hunting height. The Lone Wolf hand climber is also the seat so it does not move out of the way once you are in place. I did not care for that. I like to stand up and lean against the tree from time to time. My vote would be for the Equalizer: Quiet, solid, and can be leveled while climbing.
I've got a Summit Python. I've taken the front rail/climbing bar off to make it more open. If I plan on sitting somewhere all day, I really, REALLY try to find a tree I can put that climber in. VERY comfy ;) .
My nephew just bought a summit his first stand he climbed my API and went and bought a summit he loves the thing he's raving on it says it climbs effortlessly
Another vote for the LW handclimber for all the reasons already stated.They "are" pricey but that's soon forgotten about after you've used it a few times...and their built to last.Wish I had one 20 years sooner.
I have a Summit Bushmaster-open front hand climber. It weighs 17#, and my only gripe is that I got it before they made the newer model that folds flat.
I have taken countless shots at game with that stand. It climbs easily enough, really grabs a tree.
I have never used a Lone Wolf, so I cant compare. If I were to buy a new one, I would seriously consider Summit and LW first.
I have a Summit Viper that I've used since 2003. I consider it one of the best purchases I've made.
I have a summit bushmaster. VERY comfortable, as in I could sleep in it. When Its time to get another I'll probably get the summit openshot, however I'd like to try a lonewolf too.
Summit viper ss here. I had an api but it was too heavy and uncomfortable. I can sit in my summit all day.
Tree walker, comfortable,quiet and light weight.
Love my LW hand climber. Best part is I bought it new for only $50 when a local sports shop had a clearance sale.
Love my lone wolf. The alpha sit n climb is awesome. Also have the hand climber. Been using it because of the weight and shooting clearance, but later when it's time to sit most of the day I'll be back in the sit n climb, much more comfortable.
We just bought another Summit climber and am very pleased with it.
The one we just got is the Open Shot Deluxe.
It is mostly for my fourteen yr old son to use.
We spent some time with it this afternoon. It is only fifteen pounds, and has a smaller profile than the Bushmaster(s) that we have.
For the extra money, I hope the Lone Wolf climbers are better.(never tried a Lone Wolf) But I must say, this new Summit is going to be a favorite for us.
It takes a little more physical effort to climb with the open front, but it is worth it. Even my eleven yr old was able to get it to work for him, and you are strapped to the tree for reasonable safety the whole time.
i have a lone wolf alpha and loved everything except the seat, put a summit seat on it and now this thing absolutely rocks!!!
I might be selling it because I am tempted by the bigger seat on the new wide lone wolf alpha climber, so might do a small upgrade to the bigger model
I've also heard that you can replace the seat on the Lone Wolf Sit'n'Climb tops with an Ol'Man net seat and make it even more comfortable and convenient. I have one of the old school nylon canvas seats on mine and it works well.
I have a Tall Timber that weighs only about 12-14 lbs. I can adjust it to level as I climb, it has a threaded cable and knob to allow adjusting to level.
I hunt mostly from the ground the past few years, but I always take the climber along on the trips in case I find a perfect spot.
Lone wolf, expensive but worth it- light, easy set up, quick set up, quiet climbing.
J
I have both a Summit and an API. The API is larger, heavier by about 3 pounds but more comfortable. Summit is quieter to set up, lighter to carry. Both are solid, fairly priced.