First time using a stand

[G-Man]

I'm more concerned about being in the right spot to get a deer than the right tree for my stand, climbers have a place but they are very limited when setting up on the right spot, a set of rapid rails and an aluminum hang on (lightest I have are old loggybayou hang on lites) are much more versitile and will let you be in right spot regardless of tree type..on public or private land

[Five Seasons]

initial setup of a hang on is longer, but once done properly you just hop up in your stand and go. The climber of course much more versatile and easier for getting up and down and moving. do not skimp on a climber. i bought a cheap field and stream from dicks a few years back for like $130. the thing was not just heavy and loud but down right dangerous. You can get the summit viper sd's on sale now and then for $250 shipped. It will be an investment that will easily pay for itself over the years. You can also consider a blind. But be aware you'll need to sit shooting down unless you buy one you can stand in like a big mike.

[nyslowhand]

Granted, all three types of stands have their place & benifits, But each also has its' drawbacks! At least for me, I can't get pass the insecure feeling of being in a hang-on with only a rope/harness keeping me secure. To each, their own!

[G-Man]

Granted, all three types of stands have their place & benifits, But each also has its' drawbacks! At least for me, I can't get pass the insecure feeling of being in a hang-on with only a rope/harness keeping me secure. To each, their own!

Use a bigger hang on, I have several that are 32 x 36, bigger than most ladder and climbers platforms

[dbHunterNY]

I've used a climber for a while now.  it's a Summit Openshot.  14lbs I think is the weight.  problem with climb though is you can't climb a tree with limbs.

[LI OUTDOORSMAN]

chuck all that extra S$@%T and get a Summit Open Shot(VERY LIGHT) unless your tipping the scales past 250 (like me) then get a summit goliath if you have good trees..If not then the sticks and hangon is the way to go but honestly I wouldnt pack that in and take it out every time..Big PITA..I have 2 hangon setups on my hunting land put up in very good locations but they are permanent...i just check the gear/straps every year and trim the lanes.

Try to pre-scout and look for good trees or a pop up blind is your answer...But I prefer a treestand while bowhunting..

Edited October 21, 2015 by LI OUTDOORSMAN

[Core]

I saw something about an X stand they are supposed to be the lightest climber in the industry. I think they are around the same price as the summit.

Here is the link to the stand.

https://x-stand.com/product/the-x-1/

Here is the link to their site.

https://x-stand.com/

Damn, 11 lbs? Very nice. Not as comfortable as the summit but no excuses on portability with 11 lbs total. I imagine somebody will eventually bring the weight of a climber under 10 lbs by using carbon fiber, though maybe it isn't appropriate.

Will give the Hang on another shot but i think only if I can practically move it each time because of the public land. If not I will use the summit I bought. If it turns out to be too bulky I could always sell it next fall and pick up an ultra light climber. I think its back rest will be nice though; back was killing me on the stand on Monday after just a couple of hours. Probably need to stand more.

[Five Seasons]

I bet you will really like that Summit climber. I love mine and can get set up silently in less than 5 minutes. That Dicks comfort zone climber is a death trap. I had the bottom platform fall out from under my feet when I was 25ft up in a tree as the cable broke. I then upgraded to the Summit and couldnt be happier. I now no longer buy any of the cheap Dicks stands except for their ladders. The more expensive stands ie. Summit are much lighter, engineered better, and are just so much nicer and safer to use

 

same thing happened to me at 20'. fireman pole slid down the tree all the way to the bottom. tore up my baselayer and belly pretty bad. haven't used it since and bought the summit.

 

they still take getting used to. so don't expect 5 minutes off the bat. and if anything, taking your time is more important. with everything in life, the more you use it, the better you'll get.

 

[Five Seasons]

I saw something about an X stand they are supposed to be the lightest climber in the industry. I think they are around the same price as the summit.

 

Here is the link to the stand.

https://x-stand.com/product/the-x-1/

 

Here is the link to their site.

https://x-stand.com/

 

if the weight of a summit gets you winded you shouldn't be using a climber. anything roughly 20 lbs on your back shouldn't be a problem. Sure, lighter is better but i'm not going to sacrifice the comfort of a 4+ hour sit for a few extra pounds that I should be in shape enough to carry anyhow.

[chas0218]

if the weight of a summit gets you winded you shouldn't be using a climber. anything roughly 20 lbs on your back shouldn't be a problem. Sure, lighter is better but i'm not going to sacrifice the comfort of a 4+ hour sit for a few extra pounds that I should be in shape enough to carry anyhow.

I understand but some people like to take a lot into the woods with them or travel very long distances to get into remote stops. That 10 lbs. saved can make all the difference  in the world when dragging out a 150lbs. animal 1 mile+ off the beaten path.

[Five Seasons]

I understand but some people like to take a lot into the woods with them or travel very long distances to get into remote stops. That 10 lbs. saved can make all the difference  in the world when dragging out a 150lbs. animal 1 mile+ off the beaten path.

 

maybe it's just me, and it doesn't matter if I'm a mile in or not, but I go back to the truck or house with stand and weapon after the retrieval and gut. Change to lighter cloths and grab the cart and had back.

[The_Real_TCIII]

You will hate that 32lb climber, try checking craigslist there are always summits on there. My open shot is 14 lbs

Edited October 22, 2015 by The_Real_TCIII

[Core]

if the weight of a summit gets you winded you shouldn't be using a climber. anything roughly 20 lbs on your back shouldn't be a problem. Sure, lighter is better but i'm not going to sacrifice the comfort of a 4+ hour sit for a few extra pounds that I should be in shape enough to carry anyhow.

This is fair. Most of us could lose five lbs anyway, though five lbs evenly distributed as fat is easier to haul than something on the back. But I am really thinking the back rest on the summit will be king. So many people online love them.

 

More I think about it the more I am planning on taking down the stand I left on Monday, putting it back in the box with the receipt and packing up the sticks and craigslisting them.

Edited October 22, 2015 by Core

[Five Seasons]

This is fair. Most of us could lose five lbs anyway, though five lbs evenly distributed as fat is easier to haul than something on the back. But I am really thinking the back rest on the summit will be king. So many people online love them.

 

More I think about it the more I am planning on taking down the stand I left on Monday, putting it back in the box with the receipt and packing up the sticks and craigslisting them.

 

i'd prefer a hang on. they're just that much easier to get in to and out of quick and easy. But they're just not versatile if you want to hunt a few different spots.

 

the backrest you speak of on the summit is really just a pad that ties around the tree, but yes if you set the climber up right they're more comfy than a hang on even. Personally I stand a lot and prefer a lower profile to comfort. Have some pretty small hang ons that aren't great for all day sits, but the reduced profile is good. You can also put a blind to cover your waist down on a stand that really helps reduce movement.

 

[Buckmaster7600]

I have a lone wolf, an Xstand and a ol'man Drone for climbers, the drone is the most comfortable by far but gets used the least. X stand is my favorite but it's noiser to climb with than the lone wolf neither are even close to as comfortable as the drone but both are fine for all day sits. Owned a summit years ago and hated it because every part of it rattled and squeaked maybe they have fixed it by now?

[Core]

I have a lone wolf, an Xstand and a ol'man Drone for climbers, the drone is the most comfortable by far but gets used the least. X stand is my favorite but it's noiser to climb with than the lone wolf neither are even close to as comfortable as the drone but both are fine for all day sits. Owned a summit years ago and hated it because every part of it rattled and squeaked maybe they have fixed it by now?

I understand they do make small tweaks over time.

 

I've had it out of the box and trying to figure out how to carry it. It's super important to me to have hands free as much as possible as an option. I've discovered that I can put it on my back with my pack at the bottom of it (my bow attached to the day pack). This allows hands free for any precarious hills. However, I then tried putting my day pack on (has a nice waist strap), then just throwing this thing over top as if the day pack isn't there and to my surprise it is damned comfortable. Weight is nicely distributed and this stand just sticks super far out of the back. This would require me to carry my bow, but I tend to anyway unless going through some really nasty stuff, and in any case the bow has a marvelous tendency to snag on freaking everything it can find in any case, yanking arrows out and whatever else.

 

Still want to check out some of the smaller climbers, but even the open shot is no thinner than the summit; it is merely 4" shorter and lacks a back-rest, plus it is 6 lbs lighter.

[Buckmaster7600]

If looking for a light one I highly recomend the x stand it literally takes 30 seconds from being on my back to hanging in a tree. I also love my lone wolf. I feel that these 2 stands are the best of the best when it comes to super light climbers. I don't know the weights of either but I don't think they are much over 10 pounds if that.

[The_Real_TCIII]

I understand they do make small tweaks over time.

I've had it out of the box and trying to figure out how to carry it. It's super important to me to have hands free as much as possible as an option. I've discovered that I can put it on my back with my pack at the bottom of it (my bow attached to the day pack). This allows hands free for any precarious hills. However, I then tried putting my day pack on (has a nice waist strap), then just throwing this thing over top as if the day pack isn't there and to my surprise it is damned comfortable. Weight is nicely distributed and this stand just sticks super far out of the back. This would require me to carry my bow, but I tend to anyway unless going through some really nasty stuff, and in any case the bow has a marvelous tendency to snag on freaking everything it can find in any case, yanking arrows out and whatever else.

Still want to check out some of the smaller climbers, but even the open shot is no thinner than the summit; it is merely 4" shorter and lacks a back-rest, plus it is 6 lbs lighter.

six pounds is huge, but I won't claim the open shot is comfortable

[Core]

Got the climber out today. Not yet as fast as I want it to be but I liked it. No back pain to speak of because I can keep shifting position and it has the back rest. Also the bar on the front is extremely compelling.i know it could in theory get in the way of a bow shot but I felt very stable and it was something to help grab onto while moving around, rest the bow on, etc.

[Five Seasons]

I understand they do make small tweaks over time.

 

I've had it out of the box and trying to figure out how to carry it. It's super important to me to have hands free as much as possible as an option. I've discovered that I can put it on my back with my pack at the bottom of it (my bow attached to the day pack). This allows hands free for any precarious hills. However, I then tried putting my day pack on (has a nice waist strap), then just throwing this thing over top as if the day pack isn't there and to my surprise it is damned comfortable. Weight is nicely distributed and this stand just sticks super far out of the back. This would require me to carry my bow, but I tend to anyway unless going through some really nasty stuff, and in any case the bow has a marvelous tendency to snag on freaking everything it can find in any case, yanking arrows out and whatever else.

 

Still want to check out some of the smaller climbers, but even the open shot is no thinner than the summit; it is merely 4" shorter and lacks a back-rest, plus it is 6 lbs lighter.

 

 

Got the climber out today. Not yet as fast as I want it to be but I liked it. No back pain to speak of because I can keep shifting position and it has the back rest. Also the bar on the front is extremely compelling.i know it could in theory get in the way of a bow shot but I felt very stable and it was something to help grab onto while moving around, rest the bow on, etc.

 

I've always carried my bow, but you're right it's basically your only option. I actually stick with a fanny pack instead of a backpack. Take your time with the climber. There is no reason to rush. it's not worth the safety risk, it keeps your sweat down and 95% of the time a few more minutes aren't going to affect your multiple hour sit

[Tinman313]

maybe it's just me, and it doesn't matter if I'm a mile in or not, but I go back to the truck or house with stand and weapon after the retrieval and gut. Change to lighter cloths and grab the cart and had back.

Me too, except cart. I need one of those.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tinman313]

I use the the summit open shot. I love it. I hunt public land so I have to bring my stand in and out with me. It's 15 lbs, and pretty comfortable to sit in. I've done all day hunts in it. I stand a lot as well and having no bar in front is a huge plus for bow hunting. I added molle straps to distribute the weight on my hips, now I barely feel it. I strap a small backpack to the stand and carry the whole thing on my back. I carry my bow. It gets awfully spooky trekking in the early morning. I like having a weapon in hand.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Core]

I use the the summit open shot. I love it. I hunt public land so I have to bring my stand in and out with me. It's 15 lbs, and pretty comfortable to sit in. I've done all day hunts in it. I stand a lot as well and having no bar in front is a huge plus for bow hunting. I added molle straps to distribute the weight on my hips, now I barely feel it. I strap a small backpack to the stand and carry the whole thing on my back. I carry my bow. It gets awfully spooky trekking in the early morning. I like having a weapon in hand.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I find it much worse at dusk because you know that if you get stuck in the dark it will be dark until morning. First time I did that a few weeks ago I heard a snarl in the woods at dusk and looked over and saw a black bear. I was wondering exactly what to do. I wasn't going to just stand there by my tree as it came near me, so I either had to try and shoot it or dash through the woods to the road. But, the bear wasn't moving. At all. I used the range finder and with a better glimpse found out it was just a tree stump that looked a lot like a small black bear.   No idea what the grunty snarl sound was, probably nothing at all.

Edited October 29, 2015 by Core

[The_Real_TCIII]

I use the the summit open shot. I love it. I hunt public land so I have to bring my stand in and out with me. It's 15 lbs, and pretty comfortable to sit in. I've done all day hunts in it. I stand a lot as well and having no bar in front is a huge plus for bow hunting. I added molle straps to distribute the weight on my hips, now I barely feel it. I strap a small backpack to the stand and carry the whole thing on my back. I carry my bow. It gets awfully spooky trekking in the early morning. I like having a weapon in hand.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My favorite thing about it is that I can put the whole stand on the tree and then unpack it and put the top on. You dont have to find a clear spot on the ground to unpack it. Same thing when its time to go. Im on my way up the tree in literally half the time it took me with the Lone Wolf and no bloody knuckles pulling those damned cam locks out and getting the knobs loosened

[chas0218]

maybe it's just me, and it doesn't matter if I'm a mile in or not, but I go back to the truck or house with stand and weapon after the retrieval and gut. Change to lighter cloths and grab the cart and had back.

I prefer to only make 1 trip and if I am hunting that area often I drag the deer guts and all to an area where it won't effect the deer as much. I would rather not stink up the area more than needed.