RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

That seat looks way nicers than the one I have.

Fran I have no issue with putting one together;) I use a cinch strap I added to mix.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

I love mine ....

http://www.loggybayou.com/2006pages/stalkerseries.htm

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Quick, you used it one time and then say your buddy had a gazillion straps and cords tying the stand together........there is your answer. All 3 Lone Wolfs I owned folded and unfolded easily and the last one I owned was an '07 model. If the slide braces were a little tight its because the locknut within the knobs are too tight. A little turn with a wrench will give them a little more space and it will fold/unfold much easier.;) Also I always used the supplied 3 hooked bungi cord and used 2 of my own crossways....never had a problem packing and unpacking the stand.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Yes. It is new for this year, and I did see it at the ATA show. Not impressed at all. While I didn't sit on it, just poking around on it reveals it's not the softest cusion in the world. It's rigid enough that I would suspect all those bumps would be like sitting on rocks, for lack of better terminology. No, it's obviously not as hard as a rock, but it's much more rigid than I expected it to be.

A buddy of mine, who hunts more than you and I put together, bought one last year. He hunted w/ it 2 times and sold it. He said it wasn't very comfortable and......um......what was the other thing.....?? Uhhhhhhh.....something about setting it up, I can't remember what it was....I'll ask ....

Oh, and....we talked to them at the ATA. I hope the company isn't like the dude we talked to. He was an absolute jerk.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Check out the Loggy Bayou climbers. I personally dont use a climber, but I sure love their hang ons. If I were to buy a climber I would look into them.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

No I don't have that seat but I do have both the sit n climb and the hand climber.. Long sits... the sit n climb is better. I'm not a real sitter so I like the hand climber top, swiveled out of the way it makes a nice shelf for items (binocs range finder etc)

I've never slept in a stand..I have a bed thats designed for that. I want stealth, quietness, ease of operation and a secure feeling. I get all those in my Lone Wolf!

But seriously Scott, if you like your stand so well, get some Ultimatecamo tape (availablesoon)and tape her up and use it for a couple more years!

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

I do not sleep in my stand either.... Well, I have dozed off a couple times but never sleep....

I am not going to sell the summit.... If the new stand isn't as comfortable as it I will use the Summit for all day sits and the other for morning and evening sits...

I have tried the camo tape bit and it didn't last.. I bought some camo 3D tape and it came off within a months time of moderate use.

This is the stand I pmed you about before asking about your powder coating... Great stand, not so great finish...

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RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Scott:

I also have the platform of my Summit treated with Rhino Liner material. It's quiet....helps with traction.....but it does probably add a little weight.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

That is a good idea... Was this the DIY roll on stuff in the gallon cans or from an actual shop that does the liner?

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

I took it in to the RL shop (they spray all of our co. truck beds for us).

He sand blasted (I assume that's how he treated it) and then sprayed it. It's still on there and it was done 2.5 seasons ago (I did it when the stand was new).

I think he charged me $30.....maybe $35.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Still would like to know if anyone else has saw this new seat on the sit and climb?

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

It's just spray paint, though it's the same color. Summit stands go through a booth where the aluminum is heated to somewhere around 300 degrees, and then powder coated electonically... Then a guy at a work station uses a spray paint can to touch up inside corners or any place he sees that he feels needs a touch-up. It was pretty neat to see. :)

Coug's right about the Lone Wolf, too. Back that little nut off a bit, and that plastic knob is SO much easier to work with which allows you to raise and lower those support arms. Use it a few times, and it's a piece of cake, and you'll definitely appreciate the ability to pack it flat. I told Scott on IM a couple nights ago that I never missed the capability for the stand to fold flat -- until I started using a Lone Wolf and realized what I'd been missing. ;)

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Check out a Equalizer.I love mine the leveling feature and light weight construction is great.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Yes, two things.

First of all, I know you're not a metal fabricator or anything... but they make this thing called a "Cut-off" wheel. You can mount it to an angle grinder a bench grinder... whatever. You can even get on and put it on the rotary tool that you use to engrave china sets for your wife. If you bring your happy self to oklahoma... I'll even do it for you.:D

Second, I'd get your other stand dipped... in the coating that Bowtech used for the finish on their new bows.;)

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

I would have mine repainted before I dropped that kind of coin on a viper and then take a grinder to it :D

If I go the DUCT' tape route... I would like to collaborate with you.... I don't want to show any poor craftsmanship :D

Not looking good on the West Virginia CHROME on my gear though ;)
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RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Just a heads up for those who might consider it... the Viper frame is made differently than the Cobra frame, so merely cutting off the front bar isn't as simple as it may first appear. The Cobra is engineered to have an open front and the design is "built in"; it's not on the Viper, and could very possibly weaken the top frame to the point where you wouldn't want to trust your life with it.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Very true Greg, I've done this before and added some bracing if it's required.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Ok, call me what you will.....but....if you want an open front climber......Why not just BUY it that way???

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Well, one scenario is that people buy a Viper for someone (like their Dad) who thinks he wants a climber... then decides it's too much work to pack, unpack, set up, climb with (and sure as heck won't wear a harness!)... so their son buys it off them since he talked him into it in the first place.

Now the son is a hard-core bowhunter to the max, and sold all his deer rifles the year after he began bowhunting (about two decades ago or so)... So he wants an open front. He considers doing what Dubbya described above, but has just enough foresight to contact a guy he is just beginning to know a bit who is part of the founding family at Summit. Thankfully, the guy at Summit tells him what I relayed in my post above.

Like I said... Just one scenario. ;)

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

STRICTLY for the sake of conversation, right Greg? ;):D

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Just an example. ;)

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Another scenario......."Different Strokes for different folks".:D

Greg/MO was the recipient when I found the LW stand to be a total pain in my ass.

(I sold it to him)

One's not "better" (LW vs. Summit)......it's all in what each person is looking for.....or is willing to put up with.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Still looking for opinions on the seat.... [8D]

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

What I hear of people doing, Scott.....is taking the Summit seat and putting it on their LW. If you already have the Summit seat......it's worth considering.;)

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

I do not want to take my Summit apart... I did look at the prices for a summit replacement seat and they are $40 + shippingon Summits website.... I think it was Greg I was talking to about this the other day?

However, The seat on the LW looks pretty decent in the photo.... Would just like to hear some opinions on it from anyone who has any experience with it. I would rather not modify the stand if I don't have to....


I am still not even sold on the fact that I will buy the LW... Still weighing my options. It does however look so far that the LW is the leader in my eyes.

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RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Wish I could see the new seat in person. Still if you want to use the hand climber model and its a good option, but more than likely you will want to add a pad to the stock seat for comfort. No side braces in the way(though the Lone Wolf sitnclimb braces are not in the way nearly as much as most brands), just like sitting in a hangon after climbing. Personally I like to sit while I bring the platform up, I am not getting any younger.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Coug

Can you explain to me how you adjust the traction belts on this stand? I can't tell from the photo...

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

I have a Summit Cobra I would like to part with.
Kind of like this and only used 3x.
PM if someone wants her. $60 OBO

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Before you buy any stand make sure you checkout the Equalizer treestand. Best stand I ever had. The leveling crank on the stand and seat are the best. How many times did you set your stand up then climbed to the hight you wanted to hunt. Then your stand is not on level or set right. With the Equalizer you can ajust to level or if you want a little inclind all you do is crank up or down to the level you want. The seat is the same way and it is real nice for a all day sit. Go to their web site and they will send you a CD on the stand! Great stand!!! I also have a Lone Wolf good stand for on the move hunting, I have the old style seat . That new seat looks nice, I think I will check one out. The Lone Wolf is a very good stand!

Hatchet Jack

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Buy a SUMMIT VIPER, you can't go wrong. Other than my Mathews Switchback XT, my SUMMIT VIPER is the probably the best investment I have ever made in my 30+ years of hunting.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Its very easy and silent to adjust the traction belts. Each side has a camlock device. The cam is made to fit inside the "teeth" of the traction belts. You simply open up the cam, slide the belt for adjustment, lock the cam down(push it in), and you are set. The cams each have a small rope for opening the cam up if its very cold or you have gloves on. Older stands they made had cams that were very hard to open when it was cold, but they fixed it. Each belt has a non-removable arrow on it as a reminder showing the maximum length the belt should be safely used at. Longer traction belts are available, but I've never needed them myself. Greg/Mo told me he can adjust the traction belt for leveling if needed, while he is up the tree. I've never really tried it and not sure I am agile enough to do it.

I hope you can try one out first to be honest before spending that kind of coin. Thats what I did several years ago before Lone Wolf became as popular as they are now. I went to the only shop I knew carrying them and the shopowners's wife showed me how to use her handclimbing model. I figured if this 120 lb. lady hunter could use one I could too.[8D]

Someone mentioned the Equalizer......its a great stand for people wanting a permanent bar in the front. I owned one of these as well, but sold it in an idiot moment[&:] because I found out it was built in Taiwan........it is a great stand and the leveling feature really does work! But like you I prefer a stand with an open front.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

I just got home from Gander Mtn, I ended up buying a Lone Wolf Sit and Climb.... I would like to thank everyone who took time to post their thoughts and experiences....

All of the first hand experiences really helps one narrow down a bunch of choices into what they feel will be right for them....

Again thanks to all.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Good choice! I'm thinking about buying that new seat, looks a lot more comfortable than tha old one. Let us know how you like it.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Mine doesn't have the new seat either.... I guess it won't hit the shops until after May 1st.... If I find this seat uncomfortable I will modify thestand one way or another with a new seat.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Scott I said it before but when I bought my sit and climb at that same Gander Mtn.. They rang it up as a hang-on. She said "$169 please"..I said "excuse me"..she said "that'll be $169".. I said are "you sure?" she said "yep"..I said "ok here ya go." That was a few years ago now..but still makes me smile. I think they were $330-ish even then.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Morning Bob

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Hiya Tony...nice avatar

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Honestly I have never seen the movies.

Someone was working on my avatar a week or two ago.:eek: