Personally, I'd take a hang on over a climber any day.  I bought a Lone Wolf Alpha hand climber last year after Christmas but sold it by spring.  It was a good stand as climbers go but frankly, climbing trees are too scarce and when you do find one, the stand felt sloppy on the tree once it was up.  For weight and packability it's one of the best I've ever used but again, I'll take a quality hang on with some sort of ladder set up over a climber.  My Non Typical Patriot with a set of Rapid Rails is just about perfect for me.  If you are interested, I wrote a review in the Product Review forum called "First impression of Lone Wolf hand climber".

Lenny and I say one wolf foresure

Don't buy just yet. Lone wolf is coming out with all new products in January.

Bought a lone wolf hand climber this year through Tradgang. Never owned a climber before, so it took a few climbs to get used to it. Now I love it!  Solid as a rock. With plenty of room to shoot trad gear. Still like my hang on stands, but this added a little versatility to my arsenal.

I've been up in my LW hand climber upwards of 250X, now.  It takes 20 or so climbs to get a "system" down.  But, once you do, you'll learn why it's as popular as it is.  It frankly P'd me off the 1st several times I used it, though.


Also...don't buy this stand if you're a "sitter".  I'm a stand-er when I bowhunt.


Good luck.

I really like my API magnum bowhunter

Lone Wolf

I have a lone wolf also and it works well. But I think that I am somewhat challenged in getting up a tree timely and quietly. No matter how much I try, climbers are just too noisy for me.

Ole man Vision for me.Coupled with ARROW30's advice it has proven functional and comfortable!

Summit Open Shot

Summit Goliath   .....best climbing stand ever built!

I have a summitt 180. Borderline for my weight class but the rail is close enough that I have no problems shooting over it in any direction.

API Most comfortable stand I ever owned.

Lone Wolf hand climber for me.  

The Equalizer treestand.  I have used several and I find this one to be the best climber. Quiet, Lightweight, secure and comfortable. As with all climbers, make sure your top piece is a little lower. This treestand is not well know, but worth it in my opinion. Also, I will sometimes cock my top piece a little to one side to make extra clearance depending on the situation. There will be a lot of opinions on this one, and most of them will be right, it just depends on what you prefer.

Lone wolf is the best hands down

I've got a Lone Wolf - sit and climb.

Right here in Kokomo. I'll be home from the 23d to the 30th if you'd like to try it out...

PM sent...

I can shoot my 64" longbow out of my Summit Viper easily. I just drop the top down low and then I dont have to worry about clearance. And I cans till sit pretty easy.

I like the stands with the rails because I pad those rails with armor flex and then when I'm sitting in the stand I lay my bow across the rails and its right there all ready to go!  

also the rails give me some security that I can nap and not fall out,,, and those rails are a gift from god when climbing where i can sit and climb or use my forarms.   I have a Lone wolf handclimber that litterly destroys my upper body when I climb with it,, I've used it twice early last season and rather use my gorilla or oleman now

Thanks guys.  I appreciate  all the opinions.  Too bad you cannot try a stand before you buy one.