Lone Wolf Stands: Worth The Extra $$?
 

I bought many brands of treestands in my career; except Lone Wolf. Once I saw that price tag I couldn't get over why it's even worth looking at. Now years later they seem to be all the rage. I can't fathom why people would buy them.

Now myself, I'm a guy who had at one time, had 27 manufactured treestands in the woods at one time. LOL! So that says I love the sport. Back in the day, our local fleet store had API Alum-I-Locks 100m's for only $90. I had several Loc-On brands too.

Now I see these Lone Wolfs around the $200 mark and slightly higher and can't imagine myself getting a 1/2 dozen of those! :eek:

I'm thinking of getting one now to have one that I can carry on my back and setup once I see sign. What I'm looking from you is....

"Why are these treestands worth it?"

"What features do you like about these stands?"

Any feedback, good or bad, you can give me about these stands, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks,

iSnipe

I'm in the "think they're worth it" camp. I own a Alpha hang-on. This is why: First of all they are squeekless. They are rock solid steady when up. They are ambidexturous, meaning you can put them on a tree from either side. The platform is adjustable for tree angle. The tree hook system is easy to put up. You don't have to have three free hands to do it. You can have multiple hooks in multiple trees, making relocating even easier.

I own the alpha climber, I like the cast base as opposed to the fabricated ones . Its a nice light weight and quiet stand.

While doing my studies on these, a trusted source, big buck bowhunting freak, says the stands are quiet. Guess your impressions are the same. Can't stand a stand that squeaks. Nothing like not being able to move a muscle in fear of driving off the deer around you. LOL!

One thing I like is the way you can see through the stand, whereas some stands have a design that makes them look like a blob.

Thanks for the feedback.

iSnipe

I have the Alpha Hang-On along with the Lone Wolf climbing sticks, and I don't think a better setup for bowhunting exists. Deadly quiet, adjustable platform angles, and fairly light. Go get it!

Honestly if you've bought that many stands, then you already know why many are cheap, they squeak and rattle, heavy etc..... Go buy one, you are out nothing, cause if you don't like it, there are guys lined up to buy it from you.
Dandbuck

I personally don't understand why anyone would own one and pay the money for one.

I like big platform stands, ie ladder stands, shooting rails, arm rests,

every stand I've seen of theirs has been tiny, lightweight sure but I don't pack in stands everytime I hunt...

I also sit on stand all day, so a tiny platform and tiny seat, with no arms, etc...that things just asking for me to fall out of, no thanks.

they might work for some guys, but ya no thanks.

Just checked out their product line....who can sit in one of those stands for more than 2hrs? do most guys just hunt mornings and evenings for less than 2hrs? that tiny seat...

I like lightweight and quiet, but tiny seat? no falling asleep in that tiny thing....lol.

To each his/her own. I couldn't count the number of times I've done ALL DAY hunts with my LW sit and climb. I have a cushion I use with my stand, so sitting all day isn't a problem. The cost is relative to the quality of the stand. Super quiet, sturdy/secure, light weight (probably the lightest), quality construction, and packs very nicely. Oh, did I mention SUPER QUIET?:s4:

ok here's what i don't understand. every good thing mentioned above i can also say about Summit's. Summit's are all welded, making them quiet in the woods, light weight, rock solid, comfortable AND $100-$150 cheaper than Lone Wolf's. ya'll keep buying those over priced LW's and leave the Summit's for me!

Lone wolf stands were great............................................. .for Andre D.

Here's what I don't understand. How can a stand platform with tubular (hollow) construction be as quiet as a stand with a solid platform? The other thing I don't understand is how can a stand with a coated cable strap grab the tree as securely as the traction belt of a LW? Just for the record, Summit has stands that are every bit as expensive as the LW, depending on which model you get.

He wasn't asking about Summits.

Wrong!

I bought more stands than that. I said I had 27 out at one time. Matter 'o fact, I just bought 3 ladder stands and another lock-on type stand... and will be buying another Ol'Man climber here most likely in the next 2 days. I don't buy stands because they're cheap. I buy these stands because I like them and they work. One stand that was squeaky for me was a Staghorn stand on a very very cold morning. I eventually had to kneel on the stand and re-adjust where it leaned against the tree. I wouldn't call API's, Loc-Ons, Ol'Mans, Summits and Predator stands "cheap", although I miss the Predators. I also purchased a $300+ Lone Wolf climber and can honestly say I'm not overly impressed with it. I like my Ol'Mans better. I just can't see or justify spending $200 on a fixed position stand when several others can do the same for less. I've since sold some stands and bought others... and I don't have any where close to that many stands out at once anymore. LOL! It gets expensive losing too many to thieves. :mad:

One stand I really liked was the API AL-50. It was small but extremely light. It was solid as a rock too. That and a few steps and I was in the tree in no time. I could go about 2 1/2 hours tops and I was done though. LOL!

There are cheap stands out there and I'm not interested in any of them. I want quality and all the amenities of a good stand, but without paying money that doesn't have to be paid out. Yeah, I'll have a LW fixed position stand. Most likely the Assault is the one I'll get, but we'll see. I want too many toys and at GunBroker a few more guns came up that are calling out to me. LOL!

I appreciate all the feedback, good and bad, about the Lone Wolfs. Since my post I have studied them more and will be going down to the local sporting goods store and look into them more thoroughly.

Thanks,

iSnipe :rock:

1. as long as there are no parts to move like you get with bolted together stands, their will be no noise.

2. the coated cable or traction belt does not grip the tree. the stands work on leverage not "bite" like older blade using stands. ive been hunting with Summit's for over 3 years now and i have never had the stand slip or move while in the tree.

3. if justifying paying $400 for a stand helps you sleep, than so be it.

I have a LW Alpha along with the LW tree steps that I bought at the beginning of last season. I can honestly say I only hunted out of it 1 time, and I only lasted app. 2-2.5 hrs. on stand. By then my a$$ was killing me. The seat cushion provided is app. 1in. thick, and didn't do my behind justice. It has since been relegated to my practice stand behind my house. I'm going to sell it and buy another climber. as for the steps, they are nice and portable, but you have to watch the trees you put them in. I tried to hang them on a tree that was bigger around than I could reach, and fel off of the top rung of the first step. Not too high, but high enough to knock the wind out of me when I hit the ground. Good luck with the stand!!
JC-

Glad you did not get hurt. Use a linemans belt for setting stands, works great. I also went with the UCR's from a guy at AT which work great and you can get longer ropes.

To each his own. Kind of like trucks, there's a reason there are more than one out there, people like different things.
Happy Hunting all.
Oh, and as far as the tubular frame compared to the solid frame, my guess is walking through the brush and hitting sticks is where the solid excells(sp). Although I switched to a Tree Saddle and LW sticks, and that's been a great combo for me. i have not done the whole day sit in it yet, but i will soon.
Dandbuck

im personally fond of ladder stand, to me they seem safer more sturdy and easier to get in to, as far as portable goes...they arnt all that much but thats what the 4 wheeler is for :)

I invested in a summit ultra this season and I have to say it is very comfortable to sit in for long periods and is easy to pack in and out. Very Satisfied

Well like you, two years ago I thought about buying one set of sticks and a Alpha Hang On stand. Now I have 7 of each !!

What do I like about them. First they are lightweight and easy to pack in. These stands are well thought out. Compared to the metal welded grate I used to use, these are made of one piece aluminum and have increased strength and will out last others even after being in the weather.

In addition, once they are set, they are rock solid. No noise and the sticks do not loosen over mutiple in and outs of your set. Seat height of these stands makes them very comforatable for those long sits.

All in all, I will never own anything other than a Lone Wolf stand. I will continue to add to the inventory over time as I do have a rather good chunk of land to hunt.

Do yourself a favor, buy one and use it, if you don't like it, PM me as I will guarantee that I will take it off your hands...

PM me if you are really interested in selling it.

Lightweight????????? 24 lbs with a set of 4 sticks attached is not lightweight IMO. I have the Alpha hang on and a set of 4 LW sticks and one Muddy stick. Wish the Muddy sticks were longer. As far as the stand, easy to hang, that's about it IMO and way overpriced.

My advance studies
 

It's good. The amount of study one can do on tree stands, on the internet, these days. And I'm just starting.

Yes, the price increase startled me as an "old timer". But one pays for recent engineering and for the new harness system. The harnesses are called by this company, if I got this right, a "fall arrest system" and come with every tree stand. (It's gotten real expensive for multiple users) I'm afraid the newer expensive tree stands and safety systems will put a lot of younger and newer hunters out of the tree climbing business.

At present, I'm satisfied with my old one. I've made "quiet" improvements over time and put some plain new old foam in the seat and back, to be able to sit for hours.

But time moves on and thanks for the comments. Got to update.

I can agree that for the money the summit line is well worth it. but the LW climber is not made of hollow aluminum its solid. so, even though they are very quiet to put on and climb,that large cumbersome summit will sound like a wind chime if knocked against a branch or worse yet your bow. If your in the market for a cheap yet reliable climber go summit but if you want the best of all of the above LW hands down.

I also have the alpha hang on with the LW sticks and it can get a little heavy at times. some personal improvements id make to you setup is some padded camo tree stand carrying straps made by Allen. ($8 at wall mart) also some folding tree pegs, maybe 1 or 2. they replace the need for a fourth stick unless you are hunting public land there-in illegal.

I bought the LW Alpha climber last year used it for two hunts and put it away for the rest of the season. It did not work for me because:

Where I hunt I don't have to go long distances and I have lock on's mounted for the pinch points I regularly hunt so weight is not a big deal for me. The belts really bite the tree almost to the point it makes climing hard. On rough bark the belts get hung up and sometimes they will twist making your job harder. The alpha climber has you at a weird angle on the upper portion which makes transferring your weight harder. The seat is painfull for long hunts and not very roomy for us larger sized hunters. I did like the platform though, rock solid and quiet. If I could have sold just the top part and got half my money back I would have kept the platform but then it did not pack well with my Summit so it went to someone else who probably has sold it to someone else. IMO they are too overpriced, you are paying for an extruded platform with top portion that needs a lot of work.

I am a big Summit fan, but only for their climbers. The Summit Copperhead that I have is supposed to be easily moved from tree to tree just leave the hanging strap and hook in the various trees. That much about the Copperhead is true.

However, the Copperhead pops upon movement. It is really loud for the first few sits and stands then kinda lightens up. I can't figure out where it comes from. There is a little metal to metal contact, but putting my spare gloves in between didn't help.

Bottom line is do not buy the Copperhead. Mine is going to be sold! Hello, Lone Wolf - maybe?????

To me - quiet is everything. I can handle uncomfortable for a long while. But, have that f'in stand squeak when the bruiser is right there and you just ruined it all. I can get comfortable at home after I get the deer.

Have you considered a Viper Summit climber?

I had a GanderMTN hang on tree stand that broke on me (as I was testing it like I do before each hunt the clip broke and down we went (fortunately I had my harness and was facing the tree)) and I took it back to Gander and without much fuss on my part they gave me 50% off a new stand of my choosing.

I figured I would get another hang on (but NOT a gander product) and once I started looking I decided heck, why not, and sprung for the Summit Viper SS.

To this day I consider it one of the better hunting purchases I have made (nothing will EVER top my first 870). Heres what I like about it:

1. It is quiet. Both when Im in it and when I carry it in
2. It is light. MUCH lighter than my considerably smaller Hang on
3. It is SUPER comfortable. I can and do sit in it for full days
4. It has a "swing like" seat so its almost like being in a hammock. No hard platform to sit on
5. It is very sturdy. I would have no problem taking this stand 20 or more ft up (though I don't). It has teeth that dig into the tree when you stand on it so even if the cables were to slide the stand would not
6. The teeth also prevent it from squeeking against the tree when you move around
7. It has a nice ring or rail around the front to hold you in which doubles as a way to hang camo burlap as a curtain of sorts (which allows you to move your feet without being seen)
8. The seat height is adjustable which is great for those of us who bow hunt and rifle hunt because you can raise it up for bow hunting and lower it and use the rail around you as an arm rest for your rifle

You can get them for $280 new and they come with a comfortable harness. I HIGHLY recommend them.

Here's a link to them: http://www.gandermountain.com/modper...summit%20viper

However, don't forget to support your local hunting store. A few extra dollars that will stay in the local area is money well spent.

As a once marketing major in college (thank god I changed majors) you learn that at the very ends of the pricing spectrum (both high and low) the seller is normally using price point selling tactics. Basically, that is, they know people will buy their product because it is the most expensive or the cheapest. More so at the high end, the most expensive items are not much better and if you do get any added benefit for the extra money spent its from stuff you dont need (e.g. lone wolf stands have that funny looking zig zag pattern on the platforms). What it boils down to is they know they want to have a very high priced product and they have to find ways to "justify" that price.

Typically the best thing you can do is purchase at the high end of the middle of the spectrum. You get all the same benefits without paying for the added frizz and promotion. These items are normally in a more mature stage in the product life cycle and are selling based on reputation and product quality not promotion and price point.

Using this logic you'll probably find yourself looking at the Summit stuff.

Anyways thats my 2 cents. Best of luck with your endeavors

I have a lone wolf sit an climb,very nice but I am getting to old to be using a climber, That said for $200 I will sell it, It has never been in the woods only the yard. I live in Central wi. I don't want to ship and really don't care if I sell it. It doesn't eat
Redclub

Prices going up on Stands
 

To me I see two factors - one is engineering and the other is the new added safety factors and more expensive harnesses and other safety ropes and belting.

A lot like cigarettes. With time. safety factors are making them more expensive, plus any new engineering work and expensing their cost in higher prices.

I've been using my LW Assault for the last 3 seasons, and it is by far the best stand that I've hunted from. I too, use the climbing sticks. I bought three sets, two full size sticks and one set of the mini-sticks. Gave one full set to my dad after he borrowed mine and fell in love with the concept (he use to swear by the old screw-in tree steps). I used to remember the days where I dread packing my 25-30 lbs. steel climbers far into the woods.

Is the LW worth the extra money? It was a while back. But with the recent price increase, I'm not so sure anymore.

What I like: quiet, light-weight, and fast set up (what every one else have said).

What I HATE: the seat!!!!! the only thing that I would change about the assault is the seat. It didn't take me long to realize that an all day hunt is going to be painful. I've used some cushions and pads that helps, but it is still hurts.