Hey all, I am new to using a climbing tree stand. This year I purchased a Summit Titan. I love it. My question is how do folks attach/carry their packs with into the woods with stand? And how or where do you position it on the stand while climbing? Pictures would be great. Thanks.
I carry my pack in my hand while walking and wear it while climbing.. I have a small hook I screw into tree I hang it on.. I carry several as I am bad about leaving them in trees..lol
I have a Blacks Creek fanny pack with shoulder straps. I attach the stand to the point between my shoulders that is meant for attaching the top limb of your bow. When I get to my tree I take the stand off, put my bow in place of the stand, put my pack back on and climb up. Short hikes I will just carry the stand in hand.
I use a fanny pack instead of a backpack when using a climber. Less weight on the back and everything is handy. I also have the bag that attaches to the bar.
I use a summit viper, and use a thick gauge wire to twist tie my back pack with all my camera gear to the frame of the stand while walking in the woods. i then put it on my back while i climb, and use the thirdhand bowholder to hold my bow while i climb, so there are no bow/gear ropes. I highly highly suggest checking thirhandarchery.com, and picking up some stabilizer straps, and bowholder. they attach the top piece of the climber to the bottom piece of the climber, and makes the climber rock solid like a hang on stand once at desired height. enjoy the new stand, i love mine!
I attach my bag to my LW with the bungee that comes with the stand for going in, then I just sling it over my shoulders on the way up the tree and hang it on a pre set screw-in hook once settled in. I say pre-set because I leave the hooks in the trees I hunt from, instead of screwing them in and out every time I hunt from that tree. The way they are located tells me the exact height and position I need to be in for that tree, which is great in the dark.
I asked the same question when I bought my Viper SD and someone recommended bungee balls. I tried it out and that's what i'll be using from here on out; worked great. I wear it on the way up. Considering getting pouches for the rails.
I clip a carabiner to the top handle on my pack, then clip that to my stand. While climbing I wear the pack. I use a pack on state land as I am usually back in pretty far and forgetting something isn't just a simple 5 minute walk back to the truck. I carry my top layer in the pack in cold weather and my climbing harness stays in it so I can't forget it.
I'm not a big fan of self climbers like i used to. for the summits there big,complicated and noisy when climbing. hate that you have to find a really straight tree and a certain size tree. Id recomend a lone wolf assault with 4 lone wolf climbing sticks. its lighter than those summits, really quiet.
I have two climbers a viper and LW...I do it a little different. I put the stands on my back, I carry my bow in one hand and my pack in the other....sometime I take the time to lash my pack to the stand but other wise I would rather less weight on my back.
I have a Summit Titan as well. I use a Badlands Monster fanny pack and the Summit side backs. I used to attach my pack under my Thirdhand Stabilizer straps and synch it down on top of the seat, but I got tired of the extra bulk hanging on my back.
But you lose comfort, height, and need a lineman's belt and more movement to set it up. Only real advantage is better tree selection, and if you scout in advance most times that's not a big deal either. Plus, OP already has the climber and likes using it.
Only way you need a lineman's belt if your hanging 6 climbing sticks high. I've been hangings sets from 8 ft to over 20ft high. I have used summit and lone wolf climbers in the past. Not everywhere you go is gonna have a straight sized limbless tree as you're climbing where deer are funneling. Especially public land you cant damage vegetation in order to climb higher. Self climbers sometimes work if you're in the timber. But an open alfalfa and cut corn field. its hard looking for a good size limbless tree to climb vs a light portable stand with 4 climbing sticks like lone wolfs, where you can hang most trees in the timber, and most trees by the open field.
Many of us will disagree with that statement. I hang the first two without being hooked in, after that, I my lineman's rope goes around the tree for the next two sticks and while I hang the stand. I use an Assault and 4 sticks to supplement my LW handclimber for reasons you said, you can't always find a climber tree.
I have a summit and a Lone Wolf. I have both sections strapped together and have backpack straps on the bottom section. I carry my "stuff" in in a backpack as well. I place the backpack onto the top section and then place the stand on my back. Once arrived, I remove back pack and set up stand. Once I put my harness around the tree I put on my backpack. When I am up top, I remove backpack and install a hanger for the pack and my bow. Meanwhile, the bow is attached to a 25 ft line which, is attached to the upper section. Painless, 10 to 12 minutes from base of tree, till bow in hand. Develop your own system. Good luck.
