The WalMart where I live have Ameristep climbing stands for $150.00.It weighs 23 pounds and has a backrest and padded side rails.
I've never had a climber and don't have alot of money to spend.I've been thinking of buying one for about a month now.Please give me your thoughts.Thanks

I don't have any personal experience with their stands but I do use their blinds. I've not heard anything bad about their stands. If I were in the market I'd consider buying one at that price. You could also pickup a classic Summit Viper in the same price range. Though I believe the Viper is a little heavier.

I don't buy crap from Wal-Mart if I don't have to. I am a union member and they are not only anti worker, but they are also anti small business. On the other hand, if it is a good deal and you cannot find another for about the same price. Well, you know the answer.

I use to have a viper for sale but I decided not to buy it. The viper only weights 14 pounds. Very light. One of the reasons I didn't sell other than a price issue was the fact that I don't know of any summits stands that weigh as light as the classic viper.

Your money ,I like the buckshot myself

What does a Union have to do with buying an Ameristep Treestand? I know they don't support Unions, I work there, but you can find some good deals and some not so good deals.

I bought the Ameristep Climbing sticks, but I don't think I would buy the stand, I am not sure about its quality, I would save the dough for something like a Lone Wolf, or Summit.

I wouldn't buy anything at Wal-Mart. Or even step in one for that matter. But thats a whole other story....

The Ameristep climber tree stand?!? No man, no... Just say NO! [:@][&:]

I bought that horrible P.O.S. death trap a few years ago when I needed a tree stand and didn't know any better. It weighed a ton, clanged andbanged and made such noise, I started hating it.

Then, I had my first and last dangerous encounter with it 20' up in a tree.... Let's just say Thank God for safety harnesses and ropes!!!! I was sitting there, minding my own business not doing anything, and for some unknown reason, the whole entire bottom platform decided to go, "Eeeeeeeeeeee" down the tree!!!!! [&:][] The only thing that stopped it from going all the way to the bottom was the safety cord that attached both platforms!!!

I immediately got rid of it, sold it off, and then checked out the Summit Viper series tree stands and got a nice lightweight Viper X4 climber before last year's seasonand feel in love with it. Summit stands are the best IMHO, and can hold securely (even with me at 215 lbs) to the tree.

Ameristep climber at Wal-Mart.... Run... Run away...

I have a Hunter's View climber similar to the Ameristeps , and it does ok except for one of thosethrilling separations that ButchA mentioned . I'm pretty sure that the same company makes both brands . If the model that you're considering has climbing bars instead of cables be sure to sharpen the teeth of the bars with a file or grinderbefore using it for better bite ,and adjust them to the trunk properly before ascending.

what the guy is saying about walmart is that they are putting the small business out of business. walmart fails in so many areas for their associates. health care, wages, and quality of work place. that's all that he is saying. they really dont care about the associate. try to bring a union into one of them anyway, unions are not the cure all either, but they do help in contract talks and support better wages and in most cases, better benefits....

now, walmart does have a few nice items for the outdoorsman