Summits are great stands but I prefer the Lone Wolf Alpha SitnClimb stand. Its light, quiet, safe and easy to use.

I am going to stay with Summit stands for the rest of my life. Someone posted a thread on the forum that asked if the bar on the Summit Viper got in the way of shooting a deer with a bow. I said something like, "No, as a matter of fact the bar actually helps me. I would not feel very safe 20' up in a tree without some kind of extra support. But then again, the Viper is rock solid." I got an email from Summit that asked for my address. They said they would send me a free hat, a free hunting video, and a Summit Stands magazine. I gave them the information and I received my gift. They sent me that email once before, but I thought it was fake and I deleted it. Summit did a good job and just earned a lifetime customer.

Kind of nice to be appreciated by a company even after you've already bought their product isn't it?

Order a stand from Summit and you open the box, watch the video, put on the harness that comes with it and you are ready to "go to work".

I like it a lot better than "brand X". Buy a stand, then find you needed a $50 hand climber to use it. Get 20 feet up a sycamore and learn the hard way you need on of these $20 spike option things if you don't want to break your neck.

Now that's what I'm talking about.

The range of tree is a BIG draw back to most climbers. This concideration should be right up there with comfort. IMO

I have used several climbers over the past few years, including Summit, API and Lone Wolf. After buying, selling and trading stands to find what I liked best I came back to the Summit Viper.

The guys at Summit read these message boards and it is obvious that they are always looking at ways to improve their stands. They are definately a first rate company.

I myself like Northstarr treestands I have a bigstarr and now a Stealth Hunter Climber It uses a rubber belt for climbing and is rocksoild sturdy and most importantly Quiet !

They fixed the only legitamate draw back I've ever heard this year with that little curve. The cable rattled a little if you didn't pack it up tight in the tubes to carry. I'd like to try one of those new ones to see what they are like. Not a real big deal even on my old one though. I just make sure it is all the way in when packed up to carry and it doesn't rattle.

I really like my API Bowhunter, but i havnt been able to find it anywhere on sale for the last two years. I havnt really tried anything else, but this one has not let me down.

Summit IMO is the most comfortable, safe and secure climbing stand line bar none. I have used them since the Sabre days and won't trust my life and hunting enjoyment to another brand.
I own a Cobra XLS and a Goliath top to go with my climbing platform and they will do anything I want them to gun or bow. Don't overlook their fixed stand stuff either! Bucksteps, climbing sticks , ladders and stands. Same quality and ease of use.

Great stands and great people running the company.

Same here, Zak!!! [8D] The guys at Summit are top notch and really treat their customers well. I spoke with them both by phone and email before and am blown away with the quality of their stands and their customer service!

I'm not bashing anyone or any type of stand or anything... you know what i mean... But, like, I have checked out API, Ol Man, Loggy Bayou, etc... and IMHO, the most nicest, most comfortable, most lightest (and yet strongest) stand I have tried out is a Summit Viper X4. Like Zak said, they give you a video, the Seat 'o the pants harness, and everything you can think of in the big box. I got contacted by Summit (I think the Woller family frequents this forum - incognito, obviously...) and asked for my name/address/email/etc... and they too sent me a hat and a hunting video as a token of thanks. How can you top that for customer service?

Butch A.