Kaptag

Simply puts it's like learning to ride a bike. The first couple times is unnerving and your body naturally resists the movements. Watching someone use a climber that has done it before will NOT expose this (because they are comfortable with it) until you try it yourself. Like I said in my post I'm 53 yo and I taught a 30 yo how to use one this past weekend. I can scurry up a tree pretty quickly with a climber but I've been doing it for years. As for the 30 yo . . . he was sweating profusely after only going up about 8 feet. Practice makes it easy. . . All I can tell you is that I love using my climber due to the portability but it's certainly something you need to get used to. There is a knack to it (but it's learned quickly).

For rich people only. Don't waste your time on this. . .

Over the years I have used permanent stands, some ground blinds made with brush, ladder stands, hang on stands and climbers. Each one has it's advantages. If I owned my own land I would have permanent stands made and when I hunted my dad's land that's what I used. However, for a land owner, in my opinion a ladder stand cannot be beat. It may not be as easily moved as a hang on or a climber but it can be moved without much difficulty and is nice to be able to walk into the woods without having to set it up. I have used the hang on type and honestly I like the stability of them but I don't like hanging them. They are not that easy to hang up. I would consider them more like a permanent stand. I currently own 2 climbers. The 1st one I'm not sure but I think is an Ol Man Climber which I've had for several years. It works extremely well. In the spring I purchased a Summit MLB Specialist climber for bow hunting. I don't recommend this climber for a 1st time user as it does NOT have a shooting rest you can sit on when climbing. You really should be an experienced climber to use this (Summit MLB Specialist) stand. I used it for the 1st time this past weekend and it worked well for what I bought it for. Given a bad situation with my parents I now hunt public land only (I don't know anyone) so for me I have to be mobile and the climber, in my opinion, is the best way for me to try out new hunting areas. Trust me at 53 yo's I'd rather not be carrying a tree stand on my back but it's what life has dealt me and I accept it because I want to hunt. As a small piece of advice: Climbers go against your natural movements and you have to train your body to use them. That being said, once your body gets used to it, they are quite easy to use and the big the advantage is they are portable! Best of luck in your coming hunts.