Ladder Stand or Climber?
 

I just want to see what some of you think. I have a private woods that i hunt and want to put some stands up. I have found some good low price ladder stands. I also have been reading about climbers they seem real nice but you have to find the perfect tree and are expensive. i can get 3 ladder stands for the price of a climber. What would be the best option?

Ladderstands by far. If its your property then put up several and you will not make any noise or get sweaty getting into the tree. I hunt ladders a lot and have killed a lot of big bucks from them. They are 15ft, 50 dollar stands. I love them. I only use a climber if I have to...I hate them. Ive tried several of them and I now have a Lone wolf...I hate it too.

i say a climber. i can tell you this, if you can get 3 ladders for the price of a Summit climber...your not gonna be happy with them. those cheap ladder stands are so uncomfortable that you won't sit more than a couple hourse in them at a time. they do make some good ladder stands but then your spending the same amount of money as you would on a quality climber.

as far as climbers go, they are a heck of alot easier to set up and move around (mobility is a huge benefit). the tree's you climb don't have to be "perfect", just reasonably straight. i climb tree's with knots and saw off limbs with my pocket saw to get higher if i want.

some prefer lock on stands but in my opinion they are a bigger p.i.t.a. than ladder stands.

I mostly use a climber. Ladder stands are easier to get into, quicker and all... but you lose your mobility. I can switch location half way through the day with my climber and go anywhere, not just where I havbe a ladder set up. I do use both, but if I had to have just one stand, I'd stick with my climber.
-Jake

I only use ladderstands, tried them all and now we replace all of our other stands with ladders.

Don't skimp on paying for a quality ladder, a deal on a junk stand is no deal, least when you hunt all day, once up, once down.

Personally I want a big platform that extends under the seat, which the seat flips up, arm rests, shooting rail, 15' or more to the platform base, and you've got a quality ladderstand.

I'm with kybuck on this, minus hating climbers and with a little more to add. If it's your own private land, find the main trails the deer use every year and put ladder stands about 10 to 15 yards off these trails downwind. Leave em up forever, they'll pay off. But I would also recommend having a climbing stand to set up on rublines or scrapelines when they pop up. Ladder stands set up on trails between bedding areas and food sources are excellent during early bow season, but you'll want a climber to set up when you find scrapes and what not later in the season.

I use both, I have ladder stands on the regular runways at my favorite spot, but if there is no action, I can throw the climber on my back and go to plan b or c.

Ladders all the way, and 2 man at that. That way grandkids can go with you. You can sit, talk, eat a snack, and they too will learn to enjoy the outdoors and hunting. It warms your heart when they call and ask; Pop, when are we going deer hunting?

Where do you live and what type trees do you have to climb???

In some areas of the country, it's hard to use a climber because of the trees...Here in NC there are plenty of pines, poplars and oaks that are nice and straight and can be easily climbed...

I prefer a climber...It's more comfortable and more mobile...

Thanks everyone for there input. I live in IN so i have a good assortment of trees. Ill probably put some ladder stands up and get a climber as well for a back up plan incase the ladders are dead.

I like both, but if I had to go with one, it would be the climber based on its versatility and comfort. convenience doesn't really seem to be that big of an issue to me...may take a couple more minutes to get up in a climber, but nothing major at all. I, too, have had to saw off a few small limbs, but have never had an issue with finding a usable tree in any area that I wanted to hunt.

I use both, each has there place when hunting.

Even a cheap ladder stand can be made more comfortable with the simple addition of padding, and if you're hunting your own land and know the best spots a climber won't add anything but noise.

With it being private land, I would go with the ladder stands. I rarely hunt out of my climber anymore, only my ladder stands. It is alot easier to sneak into a ladder stand quickly and quietly too without spooking game.

Ladderstand,
I have a xtra wide Big game and love it. Very comfy and quiet. Shot some big bucks out of it.

I agree with SouthernStrut56.I like my ladder stands but still keep my climber for mobility.

Climber or Ladder
 

Is this a trick question?.... climber of course. Good luck setting up that ladder stand spur of the moment, or wanting to move to a new location, or moving it after season starts. Not only that but if you don't put it up with time for deer to get used to it being there the big bucks will steer clear, not so with a climber that goes up with nothing for them to see.

1+! coud not have said it better....karl

I have ladder stands and ithink they work great for a quick hunt because they are already set up just climb in and hunt. but I also have a climber dont rule these out either i have a rivers edge its a little on the heavy side but if your not going far its not bad .

Climber. I like the mobility without having to buy several ladder stands for different places.

I currently have a summit goliath, very comfy, but you have to find a suitable tree. Which blows, hard. not only do you have to find the right girth, but you have to find a tree that goes high enough without any limbs getting in the way. Severely limiting.

If i could go back and do it again, id get one of the climbing stick stands. Where you just bring 4 links that you attach to the tree, and you're good to go. the girth doesn't matter as much, and you can manuever around branches/ limbs.

Love the products out of lone wolf. Give those a go. Not as much comfort as some of the summits, but still very high quality, silent, and incredibly easy to transport and use.

Best of both worlds! the mobility of a climber, the ease of going up and down of a ladder. (especially helpful if you ever have to take a dump while out in the woods all day, or if you accidentally drop something. KEeps the sweat to a minimum too)

Ladder stands! If set up correctly they wont squeak.