I use the Summit Goliath and I am 350 pounds. The stand is awesome, completelysilent when climbing and taking the cables out is not noisy either. THere certainly are ways to make noise with them, but witha little caution, they are quiet. This is the first climber I have ever used, and I am very happy with it. As fas as time getting set up, it kinda depends on the person. I just put the side bags on and that has sped me up a little because everything I need is right in there, so no more backpack to mess with. Speed of climb is completely variable with the person doing the climbing. I am a fairly fast climber, mostly because I'm tall, so I can take a big swipe with each move. I use the climber as a genuine sit + climb, meaning the top section only goes as high as my butt. Another guy I know Can get about 4 feet per swipe because he is like an orangutan when he climbs, hanging from the top section then pulling his body up through the top and then bringing his legs all the way up, so his ascent is really fast. With 4/5 swipes he can be ready to hunt. I would recommend doing a little practice pre-season, or at least before you try and do it in the dark. SUmmit I would say are the best made, if for no other reason than they are welded so there are no parts to rattle. Also, for the people that say they dig in too far, with all the weight I put on it, I haven't had mine get stuck yet. Also, wouldn't rather have digging in be the problem, as opposed to not gripping?