Well after going to my stand on somewhat private ground this morning (opening day) My two stands were gone. I was there sunday afternoon with my wife so it had to be that evening. I also hunt some state land up north but haven't had anything stolen over a five or say day hunt. So I am going to buy a climber. I'm leaning towards the Lone wolf Hand climber. I have only been up a tree one time with a climber so this will be new to me. I have hang-on stands but usually lock them on and leave them as I get sweaty just hanging them, so the climber just makes sense to me.
Don't overlook the Summit stands altogether. They are very comfortable for long sits.
Yes they are a little heavier than the LW. They are also a little cheaper. LW are a great stand though.
Whatever you buy practice with it in the daylight and get comfy with it before you try and put it to use.
bretto
I'll say this, I'm not a LW fan, only for the fact that it can be tough for a bigger guy to use. I've been partial to the Summit and have been using it for about 10 years. I used a LW for a season. It was quiet and gripped the tree nicely, but it felt awkward to use, I felt like I had get right up against the tree. trying to use the climber was tough for me, because I couldn't get my arms close enough together to use it. That's just one mans opinion.
I for one wouldn't trade my summit for 3 lone wolf stands. I know several others that feel the same way. That being said, I also wouldn't overlook hunting from the ground. A lot more mobile and if your on stand and repeatedly watch deer move on another ridge, you just sneak over and set up. Best of luck this fall
I love the Lone Wolf climbers for a variety of reasons, but have also heard lots of praise for the Summits as well.
I always have a cable lock for the stand if I'm leaving it for a few hours or overnight, but creeps determined to steal will find a way.
Another vote here for the Summit.
I got the Bushmaster a couple years ago and really like it. It doesn't fold flat like a Lone Wolf and is a couple pounds heavier, but it was also about $100 cheaper and has more room.
My all-time favorite climber is the Loggy Bayou. I don't think it's still made but you can still find them on the auction site from time to time. I don't like the climbers with any kind of bar that wraps around me.
I have had both the Summit and the Lone Wolf. I still have the Lone Wolf, the sit and climb model, and to me it is much better than the Summit. It is big enough and very comfortable in the sit and climb version, and allows for ample shooting opportunities. It is also dead solid and quiet.
David
When I sat in the trees it was a Lone Wolf under me. Cast aluminum is super quiet and the stand is a joy to carry. Around 14# and when folded up measures about 4" thick. Making a shot with it on your back is highly doable. Mine also was a hand climber.
If I had a brain freeze and decided to hunt out of the trees again it would be another Lone Wolf.
Good Shooting,
Craig
Terry,look them over good at a sporting goods store if you can. Lone Wolf's are very well made. So are Summit's. I bought a Summit before the Lone Wolf sit/climb came out. I still have that Summit. Comfort is king to me. I can stay all day in my Summit. Damn thiefs. Terry,they CUT DOWN a friend of mines tree to steal his stand. rat'
I've lost 2 hang on's to thieves last year and I had em cable locked !!! I've kinda been thinking if going back to a climber or doing more ground hunting. Just getting tired of all the BS that goes with tree stand hunting public land
Summits are nice and probably more comfortable too.
BUT!! They are not as stealth. Meaning they are bigger on your back . Most don't fold up flat like a lone wolf. Just look at pics of a summit on someone's back as opposed to to lone wolf sit and climb and at 14.5 lbs. very light . Most summits have a bar around the seat section limiting bow limb clearance. With the LW sit and climb is more trad friendly you have. almost 360 degrees around the tree with nothing to interfere with your bow. I personally love my lone wolf I've had it since 2002. It's also very quiet especially when the mercury drops below 0 . I don't hunt any of my hang ons or built stands late season they are too noisy in the extreme cold. My LW is dead quiet because of the cast platform there's no weld or joints to creek or pop when you need to shift your weight.
It's been a stalwart piece of gear for me.
Another thing I can recommend that works well with my LW is the leech pack by Game Plan Gear.
Happy shopping
I have a Summit Bushmaster, with a GamePlan Gear tree stand harness, and I think it's great....I just wish it folded flat. I would like to try a LW. One stand that looks good to me is the API Marksman. It folds flat and is lightweight.
Don't overlook a lightweight lock on and lightweight climbing sticks. My brother just bought a 10lb lock on with 4 climbing sticks that weigh 10lbs total....his setup weighs 20lbs and is more versatile then a climber.
Love my Lone Wolf hand climber
Take a look at Treewalker, I've used several different stands over the years and it's the only one I use.
I just got a new Summit Viper, used it first time Saturday afternoon. Very comfortable and solid when in the tree. I've been using an Old Man for probably 15 years; not really anything wrong with it i just wanted something new and maybe a little more comfy. Plus, my wife asked me what I wanted for my birthday...
Ok, take a look on **** or craigslist and find an older Loggy Bayou climber. It's just like sitting in a lock on. no rails, no bars, just like a lock on. Give them a look before you decide solely based on current market products.
BAB
I have an original Loggy Bayou I would part with cheap.
Dan in KS
I have a couple summits and one lone wolf. They both have positives and negatives.
Comfort: summit
price: summit
ease of climber: summit
packability: lone wolf
weight: lone wolf but my bushmaster is almost as light
quietness: lone wolf my summit is quiet but every once and awhile ill get a poping sound depends on the trees u climb
I feel safer in my summits just in case you fall asleep I have side bars on my summits. I like the platforms on lone wolf better. The foot stirups are awesome on the summit easy to climb. I ran into a problem with my lone wolf if you wear thicker boots when it gets cold out my boots didnt fit in the foot bar of the lone wolf so if you have big feet keep that in mind. just my opinion i only hunt in my climbers so i use them about 50 times a year.
LW's are great---I have the assault which is the very small hand climber---weighs very little and packs quick easy and flat. Dead quiet in the tree. Added the climbing strap and can sit down as I climb---good idea in case the bottom would slip from your feet as you now have both hands to maneuver it back up to you. Before I used lone wolfs I could tell you a lot about a lot of other climbers--summits, loggys, timber tall, brand x because I went through them trying to find the perfect stand--now my search is over and I had to find another hobby other than treestand shopping. Get the LW and you won't be disappointed.
Look at the open shot by summit it is made for bow hunters you can shoot setting down there is nothing in the way and the seat fold up and makes a pad aginst the tree if you want to stand up is also light weight
Do yourself a favor.....BUY A SUMMIT!!!!
I have the LW hand climber and love it. I have owned other climbers and it is still my favorite, especially after adding the strap to use it as a sit and climb (I think they come with them). That being said, it I had to do it over again, I would buy 3 or 4 LW sticks and the LW Alpha or a new XOP tree stand and sticks (which the ran by the original owner and creator of LW), instead of a climber. A lot of advantages to not having to find a tree with no branches (or cutting your way up) as high as you want to climb.
Take a look at Cougar Claw treestands, made in the the USA. I got the super sport model this year and love it. I added some third hand stabilizer straps and I feel it's about the perfect climber.
QuoteOriginally posted by Gooserbat:
Take a look at Treewalker, I've used several different stands over the years and it's the only one I use.
I agree, I have had a bunch of stands, but I really like my Treewalker. and they are made in the USA! By the way, I have a summit now as well, but I much prefer my Treewalker.
IMO The Lone Wolf sit and climb stand is easier to use than the LW hand climber. The only problem is shooting with a longbow from the sides of the stand with the sit and climb...The seat gets in the way.
Ron
Treewalker for me as well. Received my second one in the mail two nights ago.
Look at the open shot by summit it is made for bow hunters you can shoot setting down there is nothing in the way and the seat fold up and makes a pad aginst the tree if you want to stand up is also light weight
I use a bunch of loc ons and climbers, but like Lone Wolf Hand Climber best. Just ordered one of the XOP Hand Climbers and XOP loc on and steps..lots cheaper than Lone Wolf and suppose to be the same thing.
Terry,
When I am exploring I have a Lone Wolf Assault hang on with sticks...do you use a linemans belt to hang your stands? I have it set up to go up ONCE then pull up the bow.
If I am going in a long way for a short sit; Lone Wolf hand climber.
It I am going in somewhere to sit ALL day; Summit Python. I really, really try to find a tree for that Summit if it is going to be a long sit...they are SO comfortable.
The Summit climber I had was a little bulky to carry, but great for an all day sit.
Should have kept it :(
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For you guys having a tough time of climbing with the Lone Wolf Hand Climber, you need to attach a strap to make it a sit n climb style stand. The strap makes a world of difference and the climbing is easy. I tried a Summit once, but returned it after the first outing.
I also have the sit n climb portion for my LW hand climber. I use it for gun hunting. The Hand Climber is better suited to the traditional bow as the seat can be folded up and out of the way.
Summits are NOISY! Especially when temps dip down below 20*.
I struggle a bit with the LW and the belts folding under as I ascend. The LW is quiet, silent in fact. The Summits climb more efficiently by I cant tank the noise.
I am looking at a flip top LW, the design looks to be perfect for stick bow hunters.
I love my lone wolf hand climber . I think it's the perfect climber especially if you've gotta pack in a ways. Another benefit is you can just pack the seat portion in with the traction belt over your shoulder like a shoulder bag and have the ultimate light weigh ground hunting tree seat!
I use a Loggy base (cable model) with a Lone Wolf hand climber top.
Love the summit, tried a lw and didn't care for it . Guess its a personal thing, Terry if you want to borrow mine to try let me know, wish I was closer I would just bring it by I won't be using it for another week or so, knee still pretty tight. Todd
LW hand climber for me, I wouldn't trade it for nothin!
Ed, I did the same thing by attaching a strap but I like your design better. It looks like I will be going to the hardware store tomorrow. Tim in NC
Ol' Man is my fav. very comfortable and super stable in the stand.
If you're using a LW hand climber without the strap, you're missing out. I sit on the strap, lay my arms on top of the seat as I sort of grasp the side of the tree. Makes for easy up and down.
Tim, good luck at the hardware store. I used the torque nuts and washers on both sides of the bolt. I also doubled the strap material where the bolts go thru. I used a 16 penny nail held in a pair of vice grip pliers to make the holes. I heated the nail to a red glow and it slides thru the nylon as easy a butter. Just slide it in and back out. The hole will be the correct size.
Terry, never been a fan of climbers. Seems like you spend more time hunting for the right tree instead of hunting. And then when you find that tree is it really where you want to set up? A lightweight hang on with climbing sticks is the way to go. Carry a couple of extra rope on steps with you and there's not a tree you can't set up in. And it's the RIGHT tree. A Loc-on Limit with a set of sticks that's been my set up for the last 20 years.
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Went to lowes store tonight to get the hardware. Had the nylon strap from an old safety belt. I also bought two small rope cleats. I am going to attach the cleats on one side of the stand and wrap my pull up rope around the cleats. I have done this in the past with other climbing stands.
Mike, how is that to pack is it heavy. I tried it one time with combo by sweat my but off just packing it. How heavy is it?
I have the summit open shot and it's awesomene. Got it with a rebate aND on sale at a big chain store for cheap. It's fast on a tree and easy to climb with...bonus if you still use hang on you can use this to climb up and stand on while hanging stand...love my summit
I haven't herd anyone mention API. I have an API Bowhunter climber. It's awesome, rock solid, no creeks or squeaks, or anything.
It's a great climber. One of best out there.
In my own opinion.
I am no tree stand hunting expert but I use the The Wide Sit & Climb Combo II Climbing Stand by Lone Wolf. I love it easy to use and if you follow all the due's and don't you will be safe.
Terry, just threw it on the scale. Pack, stand, three 36" climbing sticks, safety gear, haul line and four rope-on steps comes in at 20.5 pounds. Everything you need for a comfortable day in a tree. Quiet and fast to put up.