I have a Summit Bushmaster XL and I LOVE IT. Nothing, and I mean nothing, can beat Summit treestands. They are quiet, light, comfortable, easy to use, and VERY SAFE. They have awsome customer service. As for packing my Bushmaster. It is VERY NICE. They only climber I have seen that is nicer for carrying through the woods is the Lone Wolf, but I HATE that climber. It is quiet and light, but thats about it. It doesn't feel safe to me and that is a big thing to me. I have carried my Bushmaster in and out of the woods MANY times and I have NEVER had a problem with it. It doesn't strain your back. I think that you would be hard pressed to find a better brand than Summit. Just my opinion though.

Good Luck This Season: Buck Magnet
P.S. Only Chuck Adams can sit at home and see deer so get into the woods. =;^)

HH,
I've never climbed with a summit stand (I use a API climber) but I must ask, why is he selling his stand. If he is quitting hunting I can understand selling his stand, if he needs medicine for the baby I could understand selling his stand, if the stand aint worth a dang I could understand selling the stand. <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>
Seriously though, if he is still into hunting I would really want to know why he's selling the stand. I reckon there could be a good reason for selling one's deer stand other than it's a piece of junk, I just haven't thought of one yet. Then again I'm pretty cheap when it comes to parting with my hunting gear, I've still got 2 pairs of camos and a jacket that is over 20 yrs old. I still got my first climber also, a home made job I put together back in 1983 that weighs 36 lbs. Heavy as all get out but real comfortable once you get up the tree.

Regards to using a climber, I use mine about 70% of the time when I'm hunting. Nothing better than getting up out of a deer's line of sight and minimizing your scent. I will stay on stand alot longer when in my climber verses sitting the ground.
Good luck.
Mark in SC

The guy says he just started hunting. he bought the stand on advice, and quickly found out he was scared of them and heights.

HH,
I've never climbed with a summit stand (I use a API climber) but I must ask, why is he selling his stand. If he is quitting hunting I can understand selling his stand, if he needs medicine for the baby I could understand selling his stand, if the stand aint worth a dang I could understand selling the stand. <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>
Seriously though, if he is still into hunting I would really want to know why he's selling the stand. I reckon there could be a good reason for selling one's deer stand other than it's a piece of junk, I just haven't thought of one yet. Then again I'm pretty cheap when it comes to parting with my hunting gear, I've still got 2 pairs of camos and a jacket that is over 20 yrs old. I still got my first climber also, a home made job I put together back in 1983 that weighs 36 lbs. Heavy as all get out but real comfortable once you get up the tree.

Regards to using a climber, I use mine about 70% of the time when I'm hunting. Nothing better than getting up out of a deer's line of sight and minimizing your scent. I will stay on stand alot longer when in my climber verses sitting the ground.
Good luck.
Mark in SC
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Been using a loggy bayou for years and have no problems with it. Becareful with the new Summits. the little catch/lock on the climbing cable got a little worn on one owned by a friend and he got seriously hurt when he was climbing down and his platform simply swung away from the tree and slipped off his feet. Ended his season. he's contemplating a lawsuit right now. I had to go into the woods and retrieve it for him while he was in the hospital and a little better design on that catch could have made all the difference (IMO). I guess they're ok but keep an eye on that lock/catch

I tell you to take a pass on the TreeLounge climbing stand. I have owned one for three years now, and will tell you this. If you have a spot that you can hunt without worrying about it getting stolen, you might try it. Good things about it---#1--It's comfortable, you can literally fall asleep in it without the worry of falling out. Infact, if sat in properly, you CAN'T fall out due to the side rails. #2--It has several attatchments that make it easy to hunt from, such as, bow holder, gun holder, seat cushions and pads, (all camo colored) bow hunting adapter, (for the ability to stand up) even a cup holder can be bought for it, along with a full camo blind that incases the whole stand, ect! Now, with all of this praise, you would tend to think its the greatest thing since sliced bread! Well, here is the kicker(s). #1-- It is HEAVY! DO NOT plan on packing it in somewhere every time you hunt! By the time you ad on everything you need, this stand is ridiculously heavy! I am an ex-weight lifter, and even after packing this stand in about 75 yards, I am worn out! I bought this stand because I believed the ad when it said it was easy to pack in and out of the woods, and I thought it would be good to take too the several public places near by to hunt out of. WRONG! Even if you are just going to gun hunt out of it, it is my opinion that you still need the gun holder and the bow hunting adapter so you can stand up in it. #2--LOUD--When you try to assemble this stand around a tree, you have to undo four knobs which themselves are not loud if you are careful. But then you have to take apart the back brace of the stand for both the foot climber and stand itself. In doing this, you have the impossible task of putting two threaded bolts mounted in the back brace, thru holes in the arms of the stand. When the threads rake the sides of the holes, you might as well get a drum out and beat it! Hollow aluminum and threaded steel bolts do not mix! On top of that, you now have to attempt to climb the tree, QUIETLY, good luck! This is due to the stand being in 3 telescoping pieces. When you climb,(God willing its a perfectly straight tree--no knots) the stand will rattle due to the inch-worm motion you have to use, causing the the outer 2 lengths of stand to flop up and down. I have tried every imaginable way to use this stand quietly, and the only way I have found is to lock it to that perfect tree, and leave it for the entire season! You will need to buy your own locking cables and locks, yes 2 of them, that way the stand can be left, assembled around the tree. WHEW! Sorry I was so long winded! But I thought I better tell you this info before you waste your hard earned money! By the way, by the time I ordered every little extra I needed to hunt out of it, I ended up dropping about $630.00 bucks! If any one has any suggetions (serious) on how I can make this stand better, I would love to hear them!

ive ised several climbers, the best i like is summit climbers

Newsflash Richie, the Treelounge has been redesigned and in doing so comes in at 19lbs. THIS IS ONE POUND LIGHTER THAN THE API BOWHUNTER!!!!! If you use the leveler bracket there is no need for the bowhunting adapter as the majority of pressure is now taken off of your knees.

Yes the old model was heavy, but lock it to a tree and leave it??? Come on man!! Ex weigh lifter??? Give me a break!!! I have a friend of mine that has been carrying around a Treelounge fully loaded with chill pad, storage bag, and bowhunting adapter and weapon around the woods for over three years now and he is a far cry from being a weight lifter. Oh yeah, he lifts weights allright, the Phillip Morris type at a rate of two + packs a day. YOU may have considered yourself a weightlifter, i have seen alot of guys in the gym that thought they were weightlifters LOL!!!!!!

When i gun hunt i like to climb HIGH over things like cut overs. I'm talking 30+ feet and the TreeLounge gives me the security to do that. And i don't care what stand you have you can not get any more comfortable than the Treelounge. They have also redesigned the side rails to be friendly on your hands. Oh, and i forgot, they have included a knob and a hitchclip that keeps the stand from telescoping while your climbing thus enabling you to climb quieter.

And the thing about the bolts, let me tell you it's all in your head. The very FIRST time using the Treelounge in the woods i know i made a boatload of noise getting it set up and getting to my hunting height. Can you guess what happened? Not 15 minutes into the hunt, not 40 yards away walks....WALKS....a buck out in front of my tree. Head down, perfectly relaxed, AND I CLIMBED A PINE TREE NONE THE LESS. So the noise thing is all in your head.

Did i mention the fact that TreeLounge was able to increse the sitting area by something like 20 square inches and was still able to keep the stand at a total of 19lbs?? Look at some stand weights in your Cabela's or Bass Pro catalogue and see what you find. Yeah, some of the Summits can compare, but only in total weight. They can not compare in tree gripping ability, range of adjustment, comfort, ease of packing due to the stand telescoping.

Hey, let's not forget to mention the problem Summit had with cracking welds. I know, I know they have cleared up the problem. However, in over 40 years of business i have never heard of a cracked weld from Treelounge. I have heard of Ole Man's slipping, i have heard of API's chains breaking, i have heard of Summit's welds cracking, but nothing out of the TreeLounge.

The guy asked for a good climbing stand and i stand by what i said. Yes, the Summit's are a good climbing stand, but the TreeLounge is the best, bare none, period.

Edited by - zzvedder on 01/09/2002 08:56:43

Summit Bushmaster XL here. I tend to be a minimalist, so like the very light, simple design. That said, any of the top brands that use cables instead of chains, straps, or bars are good. I don't think you can go wrong with Summit, API, Treelounge, etc.

cogito, ergo armatus sum.