Help me buy a new climber...
 

Ok, So I have a Summit Cobra XLS climber.... The finish on it is in very bad condition, the paint has been chipping and peeling pretty bad for a couple years now and I am tired of touching it up......

I have loved this stands comfort over the yearsbut I see Summit no longer offers a true open front stand any more. If I can't find something I like as much as this I guess I could get it dipped or sandblasted and repainted....

Price really isn't that important because if it is a stand I like I will keep it for years to come as I did this one.

My must haves.....

20 pounds or less.
Very comfortable seat.
Open front (no bar).
No pins on the cables.
Silent setup and take down.

Suggestions?

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

I've had the lone wolf hand climber for 3yrs and love it! I did get an extra cushion for the seat as it's not the most comfortable but hte cushion helps a lot. It folds flat for easy carry and only weigh 13- 14lbs. Its great for long hikes in on public land.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Did you look at this one, Scott??

http://www.summitstands.com/catalog.aspx?catid=openshot

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

*Lone Wolf is your answer to all the criteria you want, except for adding or carrying a seat pad to the existing seat.

You won't find any climbing stand quieter than the LW. Even Greg/MO is now using a Lone Wolf handclimbing stand.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Or even better, this one.

http://www.summitstands.com/catalog.aspx?catid=broadhead

Yeah, it's 1 pound over the limit..but hey....

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Scott

Lone Wolf Sit N Climb

No parts that come off
Open Front
Easy to setup and climb
Quiet

Comfort is not the best, but for hunting it does the job for me.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

It is to stripped down.... It has a cheapo seat.... Thanks for the link though. My current stand is identical to a Viper but the bar doesn't wrap around the front. I want to maintain that comfort level.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Cougs I bought the hand climber unit extra for short sits. I find it does the Job. If I am sitting all day I take the sit n climb.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

http://www.treewalkertreestands.com/

I also am looking into getting a new stand also. I seen this treestand at the harrisburg pa show and fell in love with it! I am not sure how comfortable they really are but they sell an optional "chill" seat that looks like it would be great!

They are light, the cable system seems nice and it locks together for carry out without any ropes, straps, etc....! The only downfall is the price tag, but it is right around the same price as most others!

I really do believe this will be the treestand that I wil be carrying with me this year!!

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Nice, but I don't want the moving parts....

More info on the Lone Wolfs would be nice... If you guys don't mind.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

My Ameristep Non Typical Lite fits that description exactly. It has a folding drop away bar that you have to sit on when climbing, and can fold up over your lap (I do when I nap), or can fold under you where it stays put and out of the way as if it wasn't there. If you really don't want it there at all (I can't see why anyone would since it folds out of the way) you can simply unbolt it.

It's as comfortable as the Summit's I've hunted out of, I think has at least as good of a cable system (maybe a bit quieter?), and the locking straps on the top piece that you cinch down when in place make that top section feel like it's lagged to the tree. And it only weights 20.5 lbs.

Ameristep now sells this same stand under the name of the Non Typical Hitman. It's the same exact thing, and sells for roughly $200-$225. I've got a 14lb Warren and Sweat that's about 10 years old and still in good shape that I use for the really long hikes, but other than this the Ameristep is what I use when not in a fixed stand or blind.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

If you decide to go with the LW Scott.....that's cool. But I was wondering which "moving parts" you were worried about. I have the bullet backpacker and it has no more moving parts than my viper. It CAN be folded down flat....but it isn't a requirement. In reality......the bullet and the viper are the same.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Buckeye, I've owned 3 Lone Wolf Sitnclimbs over the years. Loved them all. Sold my last one during the season to justify buying a LW Assault hangon with sticks. I will be adding a
Lone Wolf climber before season I hope. The only bugaboo I have with their traction belt is I have a tendancy to start out at a steep angle so that I can go as high as possible. Sometimes that makes getting started up the tree a little tough, but that is also what makes those traction belts so great............they are extremely quiet, strong, and grip the tree better than any climber I ever tried. Greg/Mo told me he he has developed a way to adjust the belt on the platform of his LW hand climber, for climbing while on the way up. I've not been able to do that. The sitnclimb is easy to use and that front bar for climbing can be folded down while on stand making it an open front.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

The pivot arms and where you lock it in place.... Just seem like they would be probable locations for unwanted noise. I have no experience with that stand however.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

YEah...I can understand that......but I've never moved mine. It's been locked since I got it. Like I said.....it CAN be folded down.....but doesn't need to be.

Good luck.

I bought the LW alpha.....and sold it after hunting from it, twice. I found it terribly uncomfortable (comparatively). Lots love it, though....

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Jeff does the Bullet still have the pin that needs to be put in place when you unfold it?

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

I've had my Summit Cobra Xl for 8 years now, and the pain is just starting to come off, but only at the teeth. I love mine, and wouldnt go another route as far as comfort. I agree with Mobow on this one. If I were to get another stand I would get the broadhead backpacker. I know you said it might add extra noise but I really doubt it. Plus I wish my summit was more packable, even tho it's only 17lbs.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Scott, i have two neighbors with the same climber as you, they love the open face also, good luck with your decision, but like you sain it can always be sand blasted and re painted, i think it takes a special paint for aluminum, regular camo spray paint dosent bond to aluminum very well.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Nope. There's a threaded bolt that locks it into place.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

That is what I meant, sorry.

The bullet is a nice stand, only thing I do not like is that bolt. I hate climbers that have parts that are not attached.

As for comfort the summits are top dog, and I have used them.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Oh I almost forgot! Summit sells paint for touch ups on their website. I dont know if it is just spraypaint or what they actually use on the stands, but it kind of expensive for just spray paint so i hope it isnt.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

If you want a Summit with an open frontwhy dont you look at a Summit Bushmaster?

No moving parts, comfortable, easy to use. I had one but liked the sit and climb style of the Viper more so I sold the Bushmaster. I like the bar in front and it doesn't interfere with the shot.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Or better yet get some neoprene backed tape and tape up the Cobra you already have. Then you wont be able to see the scratches and it will be quieter.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Gary:

Even if you did decide to fold it down flat....the nut IS attached.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

DUCT TAPE IS THE ANSWER. What was your question again?

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

THe last one I looked at it was attached by a rope, did they change it? I don't know since I have not looked at one in awhile.

The LW has zero attached parts.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Gary....it's attached by a cable.

Do I think it would ever come loose.....even if I DID intend to fold it down flat?

No.

Again.....good luck Scott.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Ok thx, Now I know:)

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Yea duct tape is the answer. Duct tape and cable ties are two of the best things ever invented.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Scott - one of my good buddies just bought a new Lone Wolf Alpha - so curiosity got the best of me and I borrowed it one day last season to try out.

Let me preface what I'm about to say by saying that my friend doesn't hunt all that much.He's one of these fellas whoinsists on buying $20K intop-end gear, and hunting 2x per year.:eek: That's a story for another time... Anyway...

So, I'm out there with this virgin treestand - and he's got it packed in the most screwed up way ever...

First of all, it's heavier than I expected. And he had the shoulder straps set way too far apart, so it kept falling off my shoulders, which also had me aggravated. So, after I finally got it to the tree and untied all the knots in the nylon webbing that he had it tied together with, it was time to "unflatten" it.

Now, I'm not sure if you can pack this thing up without flattening it or not - but god I hope so. Because it's a real mother to "unflatten." You had to pop this latch and slide the truss into place - and the damn thing just didn't want to go. I cussed and wrestled with it for a few minutes and finally got it - but I wasn't pleased with having to "unflatten" the bloody thing.

Once it was all folded out into 3-d, it was easy to hang. The band is awesome, and doesn't sag or snag up on rough bark (black cherry). It bites in really solid and is quite comfy. It doesn't want to slip at all.

The front rail can either be up or down - never gets in the way.

Everything comes down nicely - but again, I ran into trouble trying to get it back flat and tie the climber to the base. If it were up to me, I'd never fold it flat (if possible).

My final analysis: Heavier than expected. Total pain in the ass to use the "fold flat" feature. If you can pack it up without folding it flat, it will save you time and heartache. Climbs/grips/holds awesome. It might take a little trial and error to come up with an easy, repeatable way to secure the seat to the base for packing in/out, but I'm sure you can come up with something. This guy had a thousand ropes/knots/bungee cords holding it together, and it took me 15 minutes to untangle everything and put it back the way he had it.

The achilles heel of the Lone Wolf is the "flattening" mechanism. I dunno if you caneasily pack it up without "flattening" the two pieces? If so, that's Cash Money. I don't know why in the hell anyone would ever want to fight with that "flattening" contraption every time. I will admit that I said some really bad things to that treestand. Those statements are between me and God at this point. LOL [8D]

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Quick the latches are screws in mine, LOL Did lone wolf change this? Mine is2 years old.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

This was a plastic thing that you pulled on. If I remember right, it was like a plastic knob that screwed and/or pulled.I called that thing every name in the book. [>:]Even once I got it "unlatched" - it wouldn't slide smoothly down the aluminum tube - it kept catching and grabbing everytime it got on any kind of a bind.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Why are you young healthy studs so worried about a pound or two here or there???? 20 or less, 21.. or even 22. Hell, don't wear the underwear that day. I'd look at weight only as a reference. I know you don't walk in any further with a stand on your back than this 64 year old fart. Slow and steady Grasshopper. Really, get to the functionality more than a weight. Most are close. Right now I own API, Equalizer and Buckshot climbers. I have owned, Loggy, Baker and one other I forget the name of.I've Used a Summit andTree Lounge. For shear comfort and versatility... my climber of choice to use is the Equalizer. It weighs more than 20 pounds. I'm a big boy, an extra pound or two doesn't matter.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Yes there is a trick to them, and I did also when I first got it.:D

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

We kill bigger deer than you did:D Buckeye is not shooting dinks[8D]

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

So Gary - does the top and bottom "fit together" if you don't "flatten" both pieces?

I fussed around with it for a few seconds, but it was dark and I just wanted to get out - so I threw in the towel and battled the "flatteners" one last time - flattened both pieces and tied it back up with his 3,824 bungee cords and ropes. [8D]

So I'm guessing the "latch" is one of those things that you get acquainted with and learn a "special technique? Kinda like blowing the dust out of your nintendo - only the OWNER of said nintendo can get it to work . . . a personalacquired skill . . . [&:]

What about in the hot/cold? Does the latch/aluminum tubing behave any differently? What about greasing it?

I ask this b/c I thought those were the only weak points on that whole stand design. If I could get past that, I'd strongly consider buying one for myself. I thoughtthe stand itselfwas pretty comfy, but the seat kept sliding out from under my ass (and I had to keep re-adjusting). However, I think that was b/c he didn't have the straps adjusted properly.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

And how far did you have to drag said monster deer.:D It's a learned method. You carry your bow and stand about 50 yards and lay them down. You then go back and drag the deer 50 yards past your stand and bow. You then walk back and get the bow and stand and carry them to the deer. Drag the deer 50 and on and on and on... or some variation there of. My longest drag started at about 10 AM and was done about 4. But that's just a deer. Now a bear, well heck, that can take a life time in 24 hours. Driving through a field to pick up a deer isn't quite the same as having to tote them off a mountain in the Adirondacks. If they're too big... you cut them up or bone them out. Done it all ways and never let the weight of a stand control my hunting.

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

Is this the seat you guys have on you LW? I believe the web page says it is new for this year? If not has anyone saw this new seat at theATA show or anything?

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

If I have to explain it to you, you just wouldn't understand :D;)

RE: Help me buy a new climber...
 

I could get some good sleep in that one.