RE: Bought a tree-stand: you must be kidding?
BowhuntrRick,
The Summit Viper XLS is all STEEL. Obviously it's going be heavy, bulky, and bang ang clang when you walk with it.
The Summit X4 (and now this year X5 series) stands are all high strength aircraft aluminum and extremely rugged, strong, and the most important factor - LIGHTWEIGHT! Heck, my Summit Viper X4 probably weights at most 22 pounds. Unlike the steel model climbers that would weigh about 47 pounds. [:'(]
Climbers have their place and are a must on high traveled public land areas, so you can get far in and deep off the trails.