During bow season I like to use a portable stand as it allows me to get higher and shoot easier than with my ladder and box stands I use during gun season. I just don' t like the noise and sweat that comes with getting one up a tree during our warm weather September and October hunts. So this year I' m thinking about getting a ladder of some sort to attach to a tree so that I can leave my portable in position in a spot that I' m going to hunt. Does this arrangement work pretty well? Is is easy to step over into a tree climbing stand (I use an API) without flipping the thing over? Who makes a good one or I' m a splitting hairs when trying to decide? Cabelas has a wide assortment of these things and I' m sure that one or two of the products has proven to stand out from the pack. Any suggestions?

Here' s Cabela' s page with their choices: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...ainCatcat20712

I have some api climbing sticks that are awesome. They come in three pieces, each piece is about three feet long, so depending on you gait you could get around fifteen high. They' re rock solid. They may slip a little at the first as they get settled to the tree, but after ward they' re solid. I could bounce up and down on mine and they don' t budge, and I weigh over 200lbs. They use a strap on buckle type system where you push down the end to slip the strap through, then when you let it go it' s held down. Pull it hard as you can and it won' t go anywhere.

Brandan

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Those " Rapid Rails" from www.nontypicaltreestands.com look good but do they take longer to get set up than a system that hooks together in one piece and the whole thing straps to a tree?

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Go with the Cabela' s Magnum Climbing Stick! It is very safe and a good value. We have three sets and one 4' extension. I will be buying another extension before deer season because it is much safer stepping OVER onto the stand, rather than UP into the stand. Sometimes the ladder comes with that double D strap and sometimes in comes with a camlock strap set. The D strap is junk - replace it with camlock straps for less than $10 and you' ll be happier. Shoot, I bought red ones and they are fine. I can strap the pieces together and tie the straps to form a sling, put my stand on my back, my bow in the other hand and walk a long ways and still have the energy to climb the tree like a squirrel. Jim

The Rapid Rails do look interesting. I also like the look of the new Summit steps.


https://www.summitstands.com/summit03_Bucksteps.htm

I have to agree with Irishlad32 on this. Those API " Stackin Sticks" are great, solid as a rock. Also, for $69 bucks plus shipping from Bass Pro Shop they' re a great deal.

Thanks for all your suggestions. I think I' m going to try out a set of Rapid Rails. The idea of how they quickly cling to a tree using the angular nature that we appreciate with a climbing stand looks good to me.

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