Here's the pic of my added foot footwork

I wish the platform was maybe a foot longer. Sitting down in a normal position my feet hang half way over the edge of the foot platform. Not a huge deal, just something I noticed
By the foot rest, it helps greatly.

That's awesome, NYBH!!! Glad to hear you're happy with the Summit Viper!

It truely is a fantastic climber and unbelievably comfortable. I love mine and hunt 90% of the time out of it!

Butch A.

NYBowhunter...I too have used theViperX5 for the 1st time last weekend. Once you get a bite in the tree you sure have a bite! I'm a bit suprised there isn't more length to the platform. My old API was a couple of inchs shorter but I was able to stand on more of the platform. With the Viper the seat(Even when pushed up) gets a bit in the way. Not a big deal though. I'm 5'9 maybe 5'10 so you taller guys feet mustdangle off the end. I guess the foot rest would help. IT IS the most comfortable stand I've sat in!
IF you pull down on the backpack strap tag ends it pulls the Viper higher and away from your footsteps (I had the same problem). My problem is that at home it worked and in the woodsfor some reason the straps kept getting twisted and wasn't able to pull on the straps. I think I'm going to have to buy the better deluxe straps.

I timed myself just out of curiousity. It took me 16 minutes by the time I arrived at the base of the tree.NYBowhunter

Not bad...mine was about the same time. I can probably do all of that in under7 minutes now. When I have it locked to a tree it's about 2 minutes.
A.I really liked the homemade foot straps ..Very clever idea.
B.I also like the idea about carrying climbing hooks for those fat bottomed trees. We have those in Florida .They are called cypress trees. They are built like a 1/2 of an hour glass.
C. For you guys wondering about toting a back pack. Well when I carry my stand I leave my back pack at home. Instead I wear loose pants with lots of pockets.

congrats on the new stand it takes me about 15 min to unpack and be ready to hunt also . I like the web straps idea i'm going to have to put that on mine also

Rickmur, I like those straps you added. I think I am going to try it.

One word of caution I can see with putting on those straps. If you live in areas where the temps range from 80 degrees on opening day to the single digits during the winter, make sure you make those straps big enough for your insulated boots. Otherwise, your boots might not fit. [&:]

For those that asked about carrying a back pack and the stand at the same time. I have a Viper X4 w/ the footrest. I feed the seat through the foot slats... then pull it to the edge of the foot platform.. I place my backpack between the seat back pad and the foot slats.. I then take the seat bungies up and over and hook them to the foot slats. This holds my backpack very securely and I haven't had an issue w/ it at all. I do fold my footrest up out of the way 1st.. then after the backpack is in place.. I fold the footrest back down over the backpack.

Let me bring this back to the top....

I just got a Summit (lefty model) bow holder that mounts on a Summit treestand. It took a while to fiddle with it and try various positions, and also a certain spot where it will still allow the two stands to mesh together.

If you look close at the below photo, you'll see the Summit bowholder mounted on the right hand arm rest, just below the padding. It is pretty neatand really seems tohold my Reflex Highlander secure and stable.

Details:
* Tree is a small split pine tree right next to my house (obviously) and used for playing around with the treestand.
* Arrow (Beman ICS Hunter 340) is resting on an NAP Quiktune 1000 prong rest.
* Summit saddlebags on the arm rests also help keep bow quiet so it doesn't accidently bang into the stand.
* I had to turn my quiver (Alpine Archery 3 arrow soft-loc) upside-down so the arrow(s) won't biff into the treestand, or my leg.

Lastly, I like the non-skid strips that someone earlier posted up. They look cool on the bottom platform. I might want to consider doing that too!

Butch A.

Ditch the climber all together and get a set of Lone Wolf or Gorilla aluminum climbing sticks and a Lone Wolf Alpha hangon stand for 2-3 hr hunts and the New Millenium hangon for extended ,long hour hunts. Climbers are too tree specific and this setup is what I have found to be the best after bowhunting for 30 yrs. I had a Summit Viper and I sold it. This setup here is much better IMO.

Im with ya HCH,I do have my climber still but hunt my Chippawa wedge loc's and stackin sticks.