Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

Anyone have any experience in directly comparing these two personally?

I'm thinking at least that Cougar Mag may have, but I wanted to throw it out to the general populace as well; I'd love to hear your feedback on which one you'd choose over the other -- and why.

RE: Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

Yes I have both Tops. I like the hand climber for Stealth..easier packing,and shorter sits. I like the Sit and Climb for longer sits (more comfortable). They are both good.

The hand climber requires one to be in (at a minimum) decent shape with good strength. You muscle your way up.

The sit and climb is easier to climb, probably for the masses. I will use the sit and climb at least, at first, due to my Injury, it will require less exertion.

I'd be hapy to address any other questions but basically thats it in a nut shell.

If I could only pick one..I use the hand climber 85% of the time. (injury not withstanding)

RE: Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

Greg I have used both.

I agree with GR8.

I will say Ideal is to have both top sections to take with you. I like the ease of sit n climb, but like the openess of the hand climber. I may just order the hand climber section and carry it with me. I can always use it to set stuff on;)

RE: Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

Greag, Exactly what GR8 said to the T, I only use the sit and climb because I broke my back 20 years ago and I can sit all day in the sit and climb.. Walt

RE: Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

Awesome! Thanks for the input guys!

I know what you mean about having both sets of tops... On my Summit climber, I've got both the Viper top and the Cobra top... and I've found I hardly ever take my Viper top along. Even though it's an easier climb, I can't handle that bar being there -- even if it's just mental.

The one thing that did look attractive on the LW though is that the bar can be folded out of the way... Germ, you say you like the openness of the hand climber, but wouldn't the sit and climb offer that same openness once the bar was rotated back and under the seat? What am I missing here?

RE: Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

It's the shots behind you that will get you.

Example if I had the hand climber seat this past weekend, my team might have 140+ points on the board.

I push the bar back, but 2 out 3 bucks I killed have been behind me, or I had to shoot facing the tree. There is not very much room with the sit n climb IMO

RE: Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

I don't follow you either Germ..My bar (the part you sit on when climbing) Just hangs under my seat when I'm up.

It just sits there like a swing underneath the seat. It would move if I justbrushed against it.

RE: Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

It's shot behind you on the angle, now I have longer bow and that might be my issue. I would rather have it open.

It's the bar on the angle that you screw in. I tried to shoot behind me for practice and I wacked my cam[:@]

RE: Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

So the bars that you're talking about is the support bars holding the seat up, not the bar that you sit and climb with?

RE: Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

I've used both, but own and prefer the alpha climber. Mainly becuase of packing ability and setup.

RE: Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

They're both Alpha climbers, Bobco... I assume you're meaning the hand climber?

RE: Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

Yes.

RE: Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

Ok yes I see your point..not the climbing bar.

RE: Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

I have used both to, i have a sit and climb right now, my bow is short so its not to big of an issue. I did like the openess of the hand climber, you could shoot from the sitting position also with the open front, and i have!;)

RE: Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

I have hunted out of both and I bought the sit and climb. I agree with what has been said so far. The only thing I would add is that I wrapped the front rail on the sit and climb with foam pipe insulation and then with camo vinyl. It makes it much more comfortable to use and more quiet to pack/unpack.

RE: Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

What I have found with the sit & climb isn't the shot behind you it's when you need to shoot left or right while sitting!!! For the shots behind you just leave the seat section just a tad lower and your bow wont hit it. But the side bars are an issue if you get caught sitting and have to shoot anything but out front of you.. Walt

RE: Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

Yep, Walt... I just figured out that Germ was talking about shooting froma seated position and trying to turn and shoot behind him. I can definitely see how the sit and climb could hinder that action... It took a while to register with me, as I can't tell you the last time I shot a deer sitting down. :)

RE: Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

I have a hand climber I use for bow hunting. I would also like to have one of the old style set and climb tops. Does anyone know how to get one or have one for sell. I want the old style so I can set higher than the newer S&C.

RE: Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

GR8, that isreally the only negative thing with the sit and climb. I'm always tightening that thing.[:@]Once tight though, it will stay up and out of the way. I have two of these bad boys. They don't come more quiet.;)

RE: Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

Got a similar stand. I leave it down by the base and just stand. It's never in he way and I'm always ready.

I don't think I would ever have the sit and climb. Just too much for me. I checked one out. The clamp for the belt was very positive, however it also was very stiff. Seemed a bit troublesome. The stand also has colors that really stand out. Would need different straps. Even the belts look like the sun could play games with them and speaking of them, it also comes with small belts. Largerones are avalable at 30 bucks more.[:@]The larger ones take you to your summits range which I think is minimum.

Still has many things I think are the cats a$$.

RE: Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

It's just like my stand and the instruction causion against tightening it so tight that you crush the bars. I inserted nylon bushing in the tubes replace the washers and bolts and tighten it down as much as I want. I can keep it much stiffer. One of the problems is the bolt/nut is not supposed to turn when you swing the bar, it does and the nut loosens. Needs to be better.

RE: Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

I took a strap used to hook your safty vest to a tree and put it on the front of my hand climber - takes the place of the "sit" bar on the sit and climb.
Turns the hand climber into a sit and climb and you have the light weight and openness of the hand climber. I always hook up my vest on the ground and stay attached to the tree the whole time as well.


Steve

RE: Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

Greg,
My buddy has the hand climber and I have the sit and climb as well as the hang on. My favorite is the hang on because I can get into anything I need to. I'm usually not too fussy about comfort, but theafternoonI sat in his hand climber was not a fond one for me personally. I couldn't wait to get down!!!! If you look closely at the way the seat on the hand climber is set up, the padding you sit on is almost directly against the tree. I felt like I was sitting on the edge of the seat all afternoon, and when I stood up, I couldn't get tight against the tree because the seat was in the way.

After that I bought the sit and climb, there are some clearance issues with the side supports and swinging around for a shot behind you. They can be overcome by, 1)leaving the seat as low as possible and still comfortable; 2) anticipating and being in a standing position when shooting - i dont shoot a bow while seated and don't think it's even feasible from the sit and climb. You can lean against the treeand stay tight to it because the seat is just a padded sling style seat that silently folds up behind you when you stand up.

I've found the hang on to be much more comfortable than the sit and climb because the main "backbone" of the stand puts the seat pad off the tree approx 1 1/2" - 2". The seat also folds up behind you when you stand up so you can lean against the tree and stay in tight. The general configuration of the hang-onalso lets you swing out, around, and whatever without having any clearance issues.

Hope this was helpful, if something wasn't clear in my description please ask me to clarify. I love this company's products, and think you will too.

RE: Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

Greg, I am positive that most any brand of sitnclimb climbing stand have braces or bars that may be in the way, some more than others. For instance I once tried a new Summit Cobra XLS a few years ago. Though of course it was a hand climbing stand, I could not stand the fact that I would have a hard time shooting because of the side braces.

Though I love stands with the open front and no sides, I simply despised trying to climb with the Lone Wolf hand climber. I had both tops with my first Lone Wolf climber and it became clear that I climbed much easier, felt safer, and using the sitnclimb top was not nearly as physically demanding. I can shoot from my LW Sitnclimb while sitting by reaching over the sides and the sides are not nearly as restrictive as many other brands. One question........have you tried either LW out? I hope you have or can. Though I love the Wolf stands, you will find the LW seat not as comfy as your Summit seat, though the new two panel seat on the Sitnclimb is just fine with me. But though I am 6'' tall, I only weigh 155 lbs.

RE: Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

Greg, I've got a Lone Wolf Alpha Hang On and a set of four LW climbing sticks among my growing assortment of tree stands; while I think in many ways it's the "cat's meow", it's still a bit bulky to carry and pack in all at once.

Obviously, I don't have too many complaints about my Summit climber (with both the Cobra XLS and Viper XLS tops), but I've just always been smitten by the Lone Wolfs, and have been thinking about getting one of the climbers. I really like the fact that the hand climber folds to 2.5" flat, but don't know if that slim profile is worth giving up the comfort of my Cobra...

I can't tell you the last time I took a sitting shot, so I'm not really sure how much that would come into play anyway. I can't imagine shooting to the rear of a Sit and Climb being too much worse than shooting the rear of my Cobra XLS.

RE: Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

Trust me, you can shoot easier to the rear or to the side with the LW Sitnclimb than with your Cobra.

RE: Lone wolf climbers: sit & climb vs. hand climber
 

I have the cobra and a similar stand to the LF. Depending on the bow and how high you leave the seat, you will have a problem. Easily discovered in practise.