"The trick is to snap the foot portion into the climbing/top part when you're backpacking it. Keeps it real quiet... "
Mine was silent backpacking..the noise was putting it together..The Viper is fixed..The bullet Backpacker is not .it foldsto 4 inches so there is some assembly.whe you get to the tree..The 2 main braces would bump the bottom of the platform.when getting it ready. .Now...it's quiet.
Note the black knob..that unscrews and the center of your brace fits snuggly over a 5 /16 inch bolt..then you screw the knob back on. That center piece is taped too