Climbing Stands
10-01-2008, 10:35 PM
#11
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Isle, MN
Posts: 1,469
RE: Climbing Stands
i just got a viper ultra for $179 on saturday. it's a great stand. incredibly comfortable, very quiet. and it seems a lot safer then my old climber. they've now bumped the price back up to $229 though. you pretty much can't go wrong with summit climbers. only thing i didn't care for was the instructions. i ended up throwing them away and putting it together based on the picture on the box. total nit pick though. i love the stand.
10-01-2008, 10:38 PM
#12
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: PA
Posts: 9,085
RE: Climbing Stands
i own a viper SS...this will be my 3rd season with it...
i LOVE it...wouldnt have it any other way....it will likely be a longggg time before i give into something else...and it will take a dandy to get me to change...
like Matt said, a little bulky, heavy and can be noisy to setup....but i pack mine differently(i think) than Summit shows...and strap them together tight...no noise walking...not overly heavy or bulky to me...setting up it can clank alot if you dont practice and find "your method" i have a way of doing it and can make pretty much no noise...but its taken some practice and getting used to...
i love the comfort...and love the front bar....climbing is easier with it...the sense of saftey...and i love to lay my bow across it...arrow nocked...ready to go...the comfort....amazing....ive been known to SLEEP a bit
there was actually one day i got off work at 4 and was beat...home at the time was a ZOO....i went "hunting" after work...took my bow...just incase...went to a spot i never hunted and was just testing the waters....hit the top of the tree and hit the snooze button...i woke up WAY WAY after sunset...only because i was getting cold lol....yes, its that comfortable...ive even hung my bow up and leaned forward and slept on the front rail....(i slept alot that one year...worked 16-24hrs a week and went to school full time...it was tough...i would sleep anytime it wasnt "peak" hours days i was tired...wasnt EVERY day...but i enjoy a snooze in the woods every now and again...probably more than most people...but thats what i enjoy...
i LOVE it...wouldnt have it any other way....it will likely be a longggg time before i give into something else...and it will take a dandy to get me to change...
like Matt said, a little bulky, heavy and can be noisy to setup....but i pack mine differently(i think) than Summit shows...and strap them together tight...no noise walking...not overly heavy or bulky to me...setting up it can clank alot if you dont practice and find "your method" i have a way of doing it and can make pretty much no noise...but its taken some practice and getting used to...
i love the comfort...and love the front bar....climbing is easier with it...the sense of saftey...and i love to lay my bow across it...arrow nocked...ready to go...the comfort....amazing....ive been known to SLEEP a bit
there was actually one day i got off work at 4 and was beat...home at the time was a ZOO....i went "hunting" after work...took my bow...just incase...went to a spot i never hunted and was just testing the waters....hit the top of the tree and hit the snooze button...i woke up WAY WAY after sunset...only because i was getting cold lol....yes, its that comfortable...ive even hung my bow up and leaned forward and slept on the front rail....(i slept alot that one year...worked 16-24hrs a week and went to school full time...it was tough...i would sleep anytime it wasnt "peak" hours days i was tired...wasnt EVERY day...but i enjoy a snooze in the woods every now and again...probably more than most people...but thats what i enjoy...
10-02-2008, 06:15 AM
#13
Fork Horn
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Clinton County, IL
Posts: 191
RE: Climbing Stands
I have a Summit Ultra Viper SS. I love the stand. I picked it over the API that my dad had because of the nice setup on the Summit. The cable system with the locks works flawlessly. It is very quiet unpacking/packing and carrying it through the woods. I think the way it packs up is very nice because it is quick and quiet and allows for speedy setup. I would never recommend anything over a Summit.
10-02-2008, 06:21 AM
#14
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Ohio
Posts: 7,876
RE: Climbing Stands
Got'a know what you want in one. One thing I found frustrating before owning one that does,was the lack of adjustability during the climb.
I don't think that summit is adjustable and it's just too darnbig for me. No desire to haul a mini lazyboy on my back. Just get me up an assortment of tree sizes, saftley and quietly without killing me on the trip in or out. A stand with a seat to let me rest for shortperiods because I stand a lot, glassing the area most of the timeand I'm good for the most part. There are other issues to be worked on.
I don't think that summit is adjustable and it's just too darnbig for me. No desire to haul a mini lazyboy on my back. Just get me up an assortment of tree sizes, saftley and quietly without killing me on the trip in or out. A stand with a seat to let me rest for shortperiods because I stand a lot, glassing the area most of the timeand I'm good for the most part. There are other issues to be worked on.
10-02-2008, 07:31 AM
#16
Typical Buck
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Northwest Missouri
Posts: 830
RE: Climbing Stands
ORIGINAL: mauser06
i own a viper SS...this will be my 3rd season with it...
i LOVE it...wouldnt have it any other way....it will likely be a longggg time before i give into something else...and it will take a dandy to get me to change...
like Matt said, a little bulky, heavy and can be noisy to setup....but i pack mine differently(i think) than Summit shows...and strap them together tight...no noise walking...not overly heavy or bulky to me...setting up it can clank alot if you dont practice and find "your method" i have a way of doing it and can make pretty much no noise...but its taken some practice and getting used to...
i love the comfort...and love the front bar....climbing is easier with it...the sense of saftey...and i love to lay my bow across it...arrow nocked...ready to go...the comfort....amazing....ive been known to SLEEP a bit there was actually one day i got off work at 4 and was beat...home at the time was a ZOO....i went "hunting" after work...took my bow...just incase...went to a spot i never hunted and was just testing the waters....hit the top of the tree and hit the snooze button...i woke up WAY WAY after sunset...only because i was getting cold lol....yes, its that comfortable...ive even hung my bow up and leaned forward and slept on the front rail....(i slept alot that one year...worked 16-24hrs a week and went to school full time...it was tough...i would sleep anytime it wasnt "peak" hours days i was tired...wasnt EVERY day...but i enjoy a snooze in the woods every now and again...probably more than most people...but thats what i enjoy...
i own a viper SS...this will be my 3rd season with it...
i LOVE it...wouldnt have it any other way....it will likely be a longggg time before i give into something else...and it will take a dandy to get me to change...
like Matt said, a little bulky, heavy and can be noisy to setup....but i pack mine differently(i think) than Summit shows...and strap them together tight...no noise walking...not overly heavy or bulky to me...setting up it can clank alot if you dont practice and find "your method" i have a way of doing it and can make pretty much no noise...but its taken some practice and getting used to...
i love the comfort...and love the front bar....climbing is easier with it...the sense of saftey...and i love to lay my bow across it...arrow nocked...ready to go...the comfort....amazing....ive been known to SLEEP a bit
there was actually one day i got off work at 4 and was beat...home at the time was a ZOO....i went "hunting" after work...took my bow...just incase...went to a spot i never hunted and was just testing the waters....hit the top of the tree and hit the snooze button...i woke up WAY WAY after sunset...only because i was getting cold lol....yes, its that comfortable...ive even hung my bow up and leaned forward and slept on the front rail....(i slept alot that one year...worked 16-24hrs a week and went to school full time...it was tough...i would sleep anytime it wasnt "peak" hours days i was tired...wasnt EVERY day...but i enjoy a snooze in the woods every now and again...probably more than most people...but thats what i enjoy...
10-02-2008, 08:05 AM
#18
Typical Buck
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 800
RE: Climbing Stands
I personally have a Summit viper SS and love it. I can sit all day comfortable and hunt. Its light weight and quiet. I can get it on and off the tree in no time a all. I recommend it.
10-02-2008, 08:17 AM
#19
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Oct 1998
Location: Hughesville, PA USA
Posts: 18,322
RE: Climbing Stands
Summit makes a great stand although I opted to sell mine for what I consider a better one, the Ol'man line of climbers. One main reason I sold the Summit is the sling seat which puts you below the bar on the seat section. It's way too high for bowhunting when you have any shots under the stand. Very comfortable but the Ol'man is too if not more. The Ol'man net seat is one of the most comfortable I've ever used. The open face ones are great, less security but offer all around shooting. This is another reason I love the Ol'man, the bar is low as the seast is flush with it and when standing it's at my knees, I use it to lean on when shooting at certain distances and I also love to prop my feet up on the bar. One main reason I sold the Summit as well, it's more difficult to climb with it than the Ol'man. My exwife hunted and she was small, she couldn't use the Summit but could use the Ol'man. That says alot.
Anyway, Summit, great stand and everyone that has one loves it, there are better but you won't ever be disappointed with it.
Anyway, Summit, great stand and everyone that has one loves it, there are better but you won't ever be disappointed with it.
10-02-2008, 08:19 AM
#20
Spike
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: New York
Posts: 75
RE: Climbing Stands
i have a summit viper classic i bought not to long ago from a yardsale. Being my first treestand i thought it would take a little getting used to but its great. Easy to get set up, very very comfortable(i could see myself falling asleep in it also...but dont worry i always have my harness on) and overall feels very solid. I've been in a few other tree stands that i just didnt feel too safe in but the viper is awsome. The only problem that i have with mine is that it is a little heavy. Someone educate me if you know the difference but is the classic steel while the other models are aluminum? I believe the specs say the classic is 26 lbs.
either way i cant go wrong i paid $40 for a tree stand that i dont think had every been in a tree before i bought it. The black strips were not even installed on the platform when i recieved it
either way i cant go wrong i paid $40 for a tree stand that i dont think had every been in a tree before i bought it. The black strips were not even installed on the platform when i recieved it