Going to be purchasing my first climber, from what I have read the viper x5 is the one to get. Any negative feedback from it?

Nope. If you FORCE me to say something negative, it would be the stand grabs the tree TOO well. Sometimes it's tough when descending, but hey......isn't that what it's suppose to do? Great stand. I love mine.

Yeah, get a good night sleep before you hunt out of it or you're going to miss a lot.

I really like the Viper, but I also like the Ameristep Non Typical Lite. I looked both over closely last season before buying, and felt the Ameristep was more comfortable to sit in and was also $50 cheaper. You can't go wrong either way, but both are of similar design and both deserve a good look before you decide.

Good stand. I prefer Lone Wolf but to each his own.

Have one and love it. You will enjoy it.

I have a Viper and it is the most comfortable stand I own and I own a lot. I would also check out Excaliber 43's post in hunting gear review here and check out that video on Equalizer treestands. They really impress me.

One and only thing I would suggest is to make sure you like a fixed bar in front of you while in your stand bow hunting. I have the Viper x4(which is exactly the same) and I thought I wouldn't mind the fixed bar in front. I kind of dislike it and wished I bought a climber where you could remove that climbing bar some how. For gun hunting it's great...for bow hunting-not so much and it's just in the way. But that's a personal preference type thing.

Good luck

Xtec...funny you say that, I've heard other people say the same. It's not been a problem for me at all, but what is it about the bar there you don't like? Just curious.

No problem for me either. I like having it there and I have never cussed it.