for you guys with climbers
 

this is my first year bow hunting i diddnt want to buy a treestand this season due to the amount of money i have already spent but after several outings i came to the conclusion one is needed.i hunt public land so i am considering a climber. which climbers do you recommend and why. i would like a climber that is suitable for both bow and gun hunting.thank you for your help

I bowhunt exclusivly from a climber, even if I had my own land I would still use a climber, but they require some practice before hunting w/ them, because most people find them awkward at 1st. I have 2 climbers. 1 is an API "bowhunter" that I bought in 2000 and got alot of use out of. Last year I bought a summit "cabelas exclusive" model w/ a gun rest for 150$. The summit is a little more comfy due to the thicker seat cusion and it attatches to to tree a bit easier, due to the lack of clip pins found on the API, but... I went back to the ol API, because even though it doesnt have as thick a cusion, and takes about 20 seconds longer to set up , It climbs the tree much quicker and easier, and it also packs alot flatter which is nice. the summit also tend to get jammed together which is annoying as hell, and it definatly makes more noise, even though I covered both stands w/ foam tape. both stands are around 20lbs. I also have a HSS vest which I HIGHLY recommend.

I absolutely love my API, which I've had for about 13 years. I've yet to see a climber that bites a tree like that thing. I have a Summit that I use for a loaner, but I don't trust the locking system like I do the API. It's hard to argue with a pin through the link of a chain for secure lock-up.

Regardless of what you get, be sure to use a safety harness.

if you hunt long hrs take a look at the tree lounge. its a little heavy but very comfortable. you can def fakk asleep in it!!! had mine for bout 15yrs. you can easily shoot 360 degrees

i have a loggy bayou and its awesome for bow hunting and gun hunting with a removable front bar, comfy and not the lightest but not bad at all

things you need to keep in mind when buying a stand is what you are going to be using it for. you need comfort for long day sits but many of the most comfortable stands tend to be very heavy so considered how far back in your taking your stand and how much weight/comfort best suits you

my first climber was for comfort and way to heavy i never use it anymore wish i knew then what i know now would have saved me some $$ and sweat in the long run

i use a summit viper...

its a bit heavy and bulkier than some...but, i love it...the front bar is a must for me IMO...makes climbing easier and also gives me ALOT more comfort and eases the mind...

comfortable...easy to pack and easy to setup quietly...

if your much over 200lbs id go with the goliath though..im 215 or so and if im bundled up in cold weather gear, its a little tight..comfortable and not crammed..but the extra room that i THINK the goliath has would be worth it if your a much over 200lbs..check into it i THINK the goliath has a bigger seat portion..could be wrong though..

ive been using mine for 4 years...i dont plan on changing anytime soon...only thing i added was a front bag..i like to keep the essentials in it..screw in pegs for the quiver and pack, my calls, my tie off rope, binocs etc..so its all handy when i need it..im not real big on having my gear hanging and having to reach and move around to get it...i also rest my bow across the front rail so its right there ready to roll

Lone Wolf Sit and Climb wide model. This Stand is quiet to setup, folds down very flay on your back for quiet packing it in and out, it has a cast aluminum platform, good adjustability on the traction belts, very sturdy, I changed out the seat for a mesh seat to make it lighter and faster to setup. Expect to pay a little over $400 for the wide model and $50 less for the standard width model. A Summit would be my next choice.

API Bowhunter gets two thumbs up for me :) bought mine a few years ago from the bass pro shop and have never had a single problem with it. Climbs fast an easy. Packs down nice and tight. No its not the lightest on the market but its not the heaviest either. Was a good buy for me

Summit viper A++++

thanx for all the advice i will take everything you guyus said into consideration. i spoke to a guy a few days ago who loves his equalizer stand, you guys know anything about them?

I use a Summit 180 Max (larger stand for bigger guys), have done so for 6 years. They are good but can make some noise. I've searched around and have not found a better one yet that won't break they bank though.

A Tree Saddle might be worth considering as well. I'm going to be getting the Lone Wolf Climbing Sticks for mine next year. I find it's much more versatile than a climber. The saddle certainly isn't for everyone, but it's worth considering.

I've hunted out of an API Bowhunter for 10+ years and have no complaints about it. However, If I were in the market for a new climber I'd check out Lone Wolf.

summit viper

Take a look at the equalizer.
You will see the difference!

I have 5 climbers and they are great for bowhunting and gunhunting.I hunt on a hunting club but I do not want them stolen so i put them up and take them down.The best brand of climber in my opinion is a summit.I have a summit viper classic and it is the best stand for the money .I only paid $150 for mine at academy sports and outdoors.Check them out.

I've hunted out of (and swore by) a tree lounge for years. BUT this season I switched to a Summit Viper. I haven't taken the lounge into the woods all season and I don't regret it. Now don't get me wrong! I love the lounge but it just doesn't cut it for bow hunting. The viper however is a bowhunters dream. Large sturdy platform. Quiet. Light. Now my lounge is used for rifle hunting only. If I were buying an all around stand and I knew I would be using it for bow hunting the Viper would be the way to go.

i have an API grand slam it has a gun rest that can be moved down for bow hunting and also used as a foot rest. its my second one (1st one got stolen) i love the chain link strapping system.

I love my Summit backpacker. Not a problem sitting in it all day.

Buy the old style Loggy, hands down. It's a one piece stand and very light. It also allows you to hook your back pack, which is a must have in hunting, to it while walking through the woods. People on here are steering you to a two piece system. The Loggy is a one piece system that hooks on your feet and you hug the tree to shimmy up it like when you were a kid. Very easy for even this old man. Persanlly, I feel safer when I can hold on to what I'm climbing. Never liked the two piece system.


Don't buy this one. Look at the very last picture and notice the two feet/prongs that go against the tree. They make the stand unstable when climbing the tree. However, the strp that holds it against the tree I prefer because it's quicker than the "J" hook.
http://cgi.ebay.com/LOGGY-BAYOU-TREE...item1c0d9b1fc4

On this stand, they show the climbing aid. Buy it, keep it, never use it unless your injurged or that much out of shape. If your that much out of shape, you should stay on the ground. Look at the grip around the tree where the prongs were. It's an entire grip and very stable climbing. The "J" hook has been replaced with a strap and clamp and IMO is better than the "J" hook. I still wouldn't shy away. I took my "J" hook model today because it's so fricking light. I'm taking my other stand on Monday becasue it has a big chusion and I'm doing a full day on the stand if the big boy doesn't show up in the morning.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Loggy-Bayou-Clim...item19b77f52d7

Bottom line, I have come to hunt with a group of friends through the love of hunting. One guy is a complete nut, another was the first to take me under his wing when it came to hunting. Prior to us hooking up, we each purchased our stands totally seperate. All of us hunt the loogy because of it's size, comfort and quiet use. I swear by this stand and will tell you, if you buy one from ebay with the above recomendations and don't like it, I will buy it from you (I only need to approve of the price ahead of you buying it). I need another one because I have one for me, one for my son (12 years old and that's the only stand I trust for him) but I need another one up north because I fly up there now to hunt and a stand doesn't travel well on the airlines.

Good luck on your pick.

i started looking at the summit titan and the ultimate viper ss. i really like the size of the titan but i like all the accessories the ultimate viper comes with (the surrond seat,removable gun rest, drop down blind). for you viper guys do you feel you have enough room or should i go with the titan due to the fact im 6ft 200lbs

I have the API Grand Slam Super Star. The bar you sit on to climb swings out of the way for an open front for bow hunting. It has a foot rest that can be flipped up for a rifle rest when gun hunting. It is pretty comfortable and secure. Easy to climb with too.

Treewalker

Take a long, hard look at the Equalizer. I have one, and have hunted with it for about 5 years now. I also have an old iron Summit that I had from before the Equalizer. I haven't used it since .

The Equalizer is reasonibly comfortable and light to carry, and the backpack shoulder straps do not cut off your arm circulation. It is also a very easy stand to climb with. I don't end up sweating and spreading scent all over the place like I did with my summit.

The Equalizer can be very quiet to climb with, but if you get in a hurry it can be loud...if you bang the cables around putting it on the tree.

The leveling feature is outstanding. Simply outstanding.

The down side to the stand...the seat can get uncomfortable after a few hours sitting...but so can a lot of others. The shoulder straps broke on my stand after a few years at the point where they come together and attach to the loop that holds them to the lower foot section of the stand. I got my mom to sew it back up with heavy duty denim thread and haven't had problems since. Also, the rubber straps that hold the seat on can get cut if you stow the stand wrong, and the metal portions of these rubber straps can be noisy. To stop the noise, you can put some shrink tube over the metal portion...problem fixed. If the rubber breaks...you can buy a set from equalizer...or do what my brother did and sew up a few pieces of elastic material to replace the rubber straps. That stops the noise and the breakage problems.

The stand works great for a bow or gun. For rifles and muzzleloaders, invest in the shooting rail. (you can take it on and off) Take off the "back piece/rest", throw it away, and pad the metal bars with some foam piping insulation and some camo tape. Then you have one heck of a shooting rail when you want to install it.

Sorry for the long post, but I love this stand.

Summit viper
 

I can only tell you this...........I'm 48 years old, 6'3" tall and weigh 300 lbs. I started using a SUMMIT VIPER climbing treestand 2 years ago and it's the 2nd. best investment in hunting equipment (next to my bow) that I have ever purchased.
It's easy to used, built sturdy and very dependable.