Climber vs. Hang on Stands
 

Will be buying a stand soon and wanted to see what your guys views are. I will be hunting on public land , so I wont be leaving my stand in the woods. What stand would best fit my needs ? Are the hang ons a pain to put up and remove on a daily basis ? I was thinking of a lonewolf climber and some climbing sticks. What does everyone use and why ?

RE: Climber vs. Hang on Stands
 

ladder stands. I'm probably the only hunter on planet earth that doesn't like climbers at all!!! I scout my arse off in the off season and hang lots of ladder stands around. I like how quiet and easy they are to get up and down. I have enough around my property and well concealed ( i think) to have the mobility of a climber. JMO.
Do you guys worry about the noise the climber makes?? How about carrying the darn contraption in and out?? Sweat your butt off and sound like a freight train getting up a tree. And the tree has to be just about perfect. It probably gets a heck of a lot easier with practice, but I just don't see it for myself. I tried one ONCE!! Got so pissed off with it, it's in the bottom of a pond right now. Let me know if I'm missing the boat here climber guys.

RE: Climber vs. Hang on Stands
 

c'mon guys , I know most of you use stands. No replys ?

RE: Climber vs. Hang on Stands
 

Slugman,

I haven't used or owned every name brand on the market, but since 1968 I think I've used every type, from homemade to store bought.

When I was younger I loved the lock on type with a stick type ladder (we made our own back then). The seats on most of these are terrible and you have to consider that you'll be carrying at least 3 items, your gun/bow, ladder, and stand. I don't care how careful you are, you're going to make some noise puting it up and that ladder has a habit of jumping out and grabbing every limb in the woods.

Some of the climbers are great, but you've got the weight with most of them, most seats are better on them. You can normally get higher with these, what I like to call the, nose bleed height. You'll make noise with these too.

I like to think that I've been lucky over the years, I've been in as many as 4 hunting clubs at the same time, now only one, which we have had the land for 21 years. What I now like the best is home made or bought ladder stands with seats and armrest on. Getting older and arthiritis has made a lot of the choices for me. I have several up and don't move them because each one I have put up produces for me, my family, and friends .

Now take either type, lock on or climber and try carrying them thru the woods in the dark and find a suitable tree, put it on the tree quietly and level and you'll find none are perfect, some just better.

dog1

RE: Climber vs. Hang on Stands
 

slugman : said he would not be leaving it in the woods.

(1) a hang on will be a big problem to put up and remove every day![:'(]

(2) Carring a ladder stand into an area befor day and putting it up in the dark is a Bitch ([:'(]:().

(3) A good well built climber with the size for you,and the knowledge to use it, is the best way to go.

go to a place that has a lot that you can look at and try out,like Bass-Pro or Cabelas, or a good large sports store.

I have three climbers, one summit , two warren and sweat. I have been using them for about 25 to 30 years and can climb a tree with you watching from 25 yards and you will not hear a sound,not a squeek or clink.
It just takes time and pratice to learn how to use them.;)

do not cheat your slef and try to but something just because it is cheap.(You get what you pay for).get one that fits you and is comfortable,if you are cramped and a hard seat or setting leaning back against the rough tree bark ; you can't hunt very long. go prepaired to spend a couple 100 $$$$$,from $125.00 to $200.00 to get a "GOOD" stand.
JMHO , :D[:-]

RE: Climber vs. Hang on Stands
 

I have more stands than I care to admit of many brands and variety but what I would suggest to you is exactly what you are already inclined to... Lone Wolf. I will give you a few of my thoughts on your Lone Wolf choices as they are both silent, light and easy to use. The Alpha climbers are great but as someone else mentioned you need a relatively straight tree with no branches (or a good pruning saw). (no they are not noisey when climbing, NY Bowhunter) Where as, as the Alpha hang ons can go up in many types of trees including those that are crooked and have branches. We have both styles and use both and they are both AWESOME and worth the extra cast that they cost. Overall, IMO Lone Wolf has though their designs out and made them not only hunter friendly (quiet, easy to set up, light etc.) but very safe as well. Many guys say that these stands are so easy to set up that they can set both the climber and fixed position in the same amount of time. They are both easily carried in and out on your back and weigh under 20lbs and fold very flat offering no back strain what so ever. My only suggestion is to invest in a good set of padded back pack straps for the sake of shoulder comfort on long walks. Basically, assess the types of trees you hunt most and then decide which style of stand works better for your style of hunting and areas. Or if you have the cash, get both!;) We love ours... Hope this helps a little. TGK

RE: Climber vs. Hang on Stands
 

the seats on the lonewolf look pretty small. I'm 6'3" and 250 lbs so I need something a little more accomadating. Any suggestions ?

RE: Climber vs. Hang on Stands
 

Become shorter:)

Well, actually I think you would be ok with either but maybe better off with the Sit and Climb as you can adjust the seat height for your comfort level and leg length. I find it very easy to use and very comfortable for the most part (you could be sitting in a La-Z-Boy and it would be a little painful after 8 hours[:-]) contrary to what most say. All I can tell you is I really like mine. Took a little while to get used to but now I wouldn't use anything else....

RE: Climber vs. Hang on Stands
 

I have ladder stands and four or five hang ons with climbing sticks for each.
I have one hang on and climbing stick from Cabelas that are aluminum.
I hunt my own land, so I place all these stands before the season.
However, I save the aluminum combo as a mobile stand.
When you get used to a hang on, I think they are as fast and quiet as anything.
And you can hang it on any kind of tree.....with limbs or leaning.
I have carried that aluminum combo and my bow/gear more than a mile into the woods on many occasions.
This is the combination I use if I choose to hunt on public land for the day.
I am 52 years old, and I weigh about 210 lbs.
The aluminum hang on is rated for 300 lbs.
The one drawback is the small seat, but I stand once in a while for an hour or so and then sit again. Hey, works for me!

Clint

RE: Climber vs. Hang on Stands
 

I wouldn't mess with a fixed hang on on a daily basis I can tell you that. I have an Ol Man Multi Vision and love it. It is reasonably light, packs fairly flat and is extremely comfortable. I also have a Summitt which is equally light, quiet and flat folding. The only reason I prefer the Ol Man is the net seating is more comfortable and doesn't absorb water or moisture giving you a case of the wet a$$ if you leave it hanging on a tree for a few days. There are many manufacturers of well built climbers out there so do a little research and find one YOU like. Many threads have been done on this subject and I think you'll find lots of satisfied Ol Man and Summitt users there. If my recollection is correct which it may not be:D They seem to be the most often talked about brands as far as value.

RE: Climber vs. Hang on Stands
 

Depends which climber it is. I own the Lone Wolf Alpha sit-n-climb, absolutely the quietest climber I ever tried or owned. It weighs approximately 18-19 lbs., but the way it folds flat and carries, it actually seems lighter than than the old 15 lb. Loggy Bayou I used to own. I guarantee that the traction belt is quieter than a cable or band.

As someone else said, a climber friendly tree is generally harder to find whereas trees suitable for strapping a stand on are easier to find. That is the only drawback to a climber.

RE: Climber vs. Hang on Stands
 

if i had to bring in and out my stand everyday, i would buy a portable ground blind. i have one and love it. set it up in 2 minutes with no noise. use it for turkey, deer, and predator, plus everything in between. but if you need to hint high everyday and take your stand, a climber is the only way to go.

RE: Climber vs. Hang on Stands
 

Old Man climbing stand are the best I've found.Light and quiet when climbing.But then I also like my ground blind.Public land, I think I would rather be up a tree.

RE: Climber vs. Hang on Stands
 

We tried climbers a few years back and did not like them.
Too heavy, too noisey, and IMO, just a pain in the butt.
The last 4 seasons we've used Chippewa hang-ons from
Basic Innovations and 4 Lone Wolf climbing sticks. Quick,
simple, safe, and quiet...perfect system for 'on the go
hunting'[:-]. I also know a lot of bowhunters that use LW's
hang-on and swear by it.

The thing that deterred us most from climbers was that
the just wouldn't work on very many trees here in Iowa.
I work way to hard preparing my stand sites in the off-season
to not be able to hunt from the perfect tree. I prefer
to hunt from oak trees when possible to take advantage
of the leaves as concealment, very rarely was I able to
hunt from a oak with a climber[:@].

RE: Climber vs. Hang on Stands
 

i bought a lone wolf alpha climber this year , it is the best hunting investment i ever made ! it is light and makes no noise at all. i am tall 6 foot 4 in. and 230 pounds and i can sit all day in it if need be.

RE: Climber vs. Hang on Stands
 

IMHO, climbers are the only way to go. I've got four of them, two OL'man grand visions, and two Ol'man grand multi visions. As you can probably surmise, I feel Ol'man makes the best climbers. If you come down and hunt in the deep south (MS, AL, LA) which is the heart of climbing treestand country, then you'll find that 95% of the guys using climbers are using Ol'man stands. I have one hang-on stand. It's been in the same tree for the last 7 years and I haven't visited it in the last three. Thank God I only paid $39 for it because that's about all they're worth. It always scared the crap out of me trying to hang the thing with one hand while holding on to the tree with the other, all at 25 ft above the ground. Never again. Those things are very, very dangerous in my opinion. Climbers are about the safest treestands made. It's pretty much impossible to fall out of one while climbing unless you do something really dumb.

RE: Climber vs. Hang on Stands
 

thanks for all the input ...

RE: Climber vs. Hang on Stands
 

SLUGMAN,
I'm in the same boat as you. I can only hunt public land so far, and I'm required to remove my stand daily.

I have to recommend a climber. Anything else is just too much to carry in and try to set up quietly. I've used a climber once and loved it.

In my infinite wisdom however, what I actually bought was a hang-on and a 4 peice climbing ladder. My setup is fine and plenty comfortable, but what a pain it is to carry! So why did I buy the hang-on, you say? Simple: I'd only bowhunted and got tired of seeing deer out of range that I couldn't shoot at. I liked the idea of spotting deer from my stand, and being able to get down and stalk up to them without making ANY noise. Since I bought it of course I have not had a single occassion to use it this way.

It does wrok nicely though if you want to get down and do some still hunting for the middle part of the day and then return to your stand later for the late afternoon.

In hindsight, I would certainly buy a climber in your situation.
They are plenty quiet, and you can still get down during the day almost silently if you want.

Use fall protection with any stand.

WHATEVER TYPE OR BRAND OF STAND YOU BUY, YOU WILL FEEL MORE SECURE AND BE SAFER IF YOU GET A RACHET STRAP TO STEADY THE STAND AGAINST THE TREE ONCE YOU'VE CLIMBED UP. THEY MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE.

ALSO: If you go with a hang-on, use a fall protection system like Summit's Seat Of The Pants. It lets you use the safety rope as a climbing belt attached to d-rings at your hips. THis is the only effective way I;ve found to have both hands free to sttach the hang-on stand to the tree. It'd very awkward and even dangerous to try it with one hand. Too easy to slip.

RE: Climber vs. Hang on Stands
 

I hunt mainly private property and will only use hang on stands (well, am going to get a two-man ladder stand this year for me and my boy). I leave them in the tree all year round. I know you can't do that on public land, but to me, they have many advantages over climbers - they are more mobile (to me anyway), easier to get in the tree, you don't have to cut all the branches off to get up in a tree, they are more secure when using ratchet straps and are lighter and less bulky to carry in and out. I do hunt public land once a year when me and my buddy take our week long hunting trip up north. I've never had a problem with theft, but it is not uncommon. One draw back. That's why I've always used cheap stands. I've had many types of stands over the years and found that the $59 River's Edge works the best for the money. I've used a climber before and hated it. Maybe it's a thing where you get used to it, but I personally think that hang ons are the way to go.

RE: Climber vs. Hang on Stands
 

I tend to think that a climber is safer than lock on stands using screw in steps or climbing sticks. The hazards associated with the last 2 options are numerous. I've been using API's Shooting Star for the last few years and like it just fine. I'm getting a little older and fatter these days but still don't mind toting it in 3/4 - 1 mile for a days hunt. Some hikes are worse than others.
Regards to noise, some trees are worse than others. Large Pines are the worse, a good hardwood suits me just fine and I can get up it nice and quiet. There have been several occasions ( as recently as this past season) that I have climbed a tree and no sooner got set up, that a buck has come in on me obviously looking for something. I can only surmise that even with my best efforts to be quiet that the noise I did make must have sounded like a buck rubbing and attracted these other deer.

RE: Climber vs. Hang on Stands
 

Badshot,word of advice,if you get the two man stand BRING HELP.Those suckers are heavy but when they are set up they are great to hunt out of.I have one for my grand kids. Slug, if you are hunting out of live oaks I don't think a climber will be much good to you.

RE: Climber vs. Hang on Stands
 

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RE: Climber vs. Hang on Stands
 

I hunt public land also and dont have a problem with people stealing my stands.
I lockem to the tree with a good chain and lock. Most people wont take the time to get a bolt cutter. Not saying they wont but i havent had one stolen yet.
Todays climbers are alot quieter than they used to be. Ive gone in, setup my climber, started climbing and had deer walk out and come right under me before I could get 10ft off the ground.

RE: Climber vs. Hang on Stands
 

I use an Ole Man