hey guys,
im looking to buy a climber. My only question is how much noise do they make? would u scare deer away goin up in the early morning hours before daylight?

I would suggest a summit and you can do it quietly with practice . Not as quick and quiet as a hang on but i do it all the time . i like the versatility and being able to take the stand with me

I own a Summit Viper. I would never hunt it in the morning.. It just makes way to much noise. I guess if you had the right tree and tried taking it as slow as possible it might work. For me its a stand I like to hunt early afternoons... on long sits. It is extremely comfortable, I could fall asleep in mine.

I use the Lone Wolf hand climber. Love it and it is very quiet. One piece cast aluminum platform helps to prevent squaks and creaks. You'll pay for it, but it's money well spent. Plus, I don't own stock in the comany so you're strictly getting my personal opinion on this stand.

It can be done quietly, although a guy told me once that bucks can be 'called in' by the climber. I'ver personally had numerous instances where a buck showed up while I was still climbing or had just gotten up the tree. Curiosity, maybe? Could just be coincidence (i.e. the number of trees I've climbed in the dark compared to the number of times the buck showed up while climbing or very shortly after).

i recently bought a summit ultimate viper SS and it is sweet!!!! it is a little pricey. upper 300's i think but i got one new in the box off ebay for 240. the summit skin makes it nice and quiet and once your in the tree just sit back and relax. the thing sits like a lazy boy. I have actually fallen asleep a couple of times in mine.

Agree and disagree with some of the responses.....

I own a summit viper....and a LW sit and climb. I now climb (and almost always have) 100% of the time.The summit can be set up in the darkness pretty quietly, but it's NOWHERE NEAR as quiet as the LW. I have only been bpwhunting 4 seasons....but I've been up/down with the summit well over 100 times. I've climbed with the LW over 60 times, this season alone.

Go in early....and take your time. I'm getting ready to go to a ittle staging area right off a doe bedding area.....and the key is....take your time and go early. I've had success in the AM"s with both stands.

Like I said....I own both....but if I had to let go of one of them....the summit would be the one I'd get rid of.

I own the summit Goliath, have never tried the LW. 100 % agree here early is good. take your time. Its surprising just how quiet you can be if your not rushing. It also helps you not sweat. I have been going in earlier this season than most years and have not spooked deer yet. Heck i have been having them milling around my tree in the dark after going in early, and being quiet while setting up + you can take a nap until daylight

I don't think you scare anything going up. I don't know how a deer would associate the climbing part with a human unless they actually see you. I think you would scare more walking in then climbing. I use a LW climber (not the sit and stand) and like it a lot.

Aside from getting in early another key to climber happiness is having a routine and doing the steps the same time every time.

Mine:
Harness on at the truck
Unpack stand (bungees)
Bungees around my waist
Hang lower half
Hang upper half
Attach rope between halves
Attach bow to pull up rope
Attach tether rope to harness
Put out scents
Get on stand
Attach tether to tree
Climb

I have a Viper and a 5 year old API. Although the Summit is very comfy and secure it doesn't pack well at all and the bar is a PIA(you have to climb into it and the sit n climb is pretty slow) I rarely use it. I find the straight arms of the API make for easy climbing and are handy for hanging my binos, calls, bow, etc. Packed up- ready to go, my API fits inside a standard "contractors" trash bag that I feel helps keep it from picking up stray smells, the Summit doesn't.

The Lone Wolf doesn't look as comfy as my API

YMMV