just curious about climbers, i figure if i get one it needs to be the best. so could you please give me some advice on any particular brands that are safer than others. Thank ya v.s.
I have had a couple APIs and have had no issues. I probably climb in some trees that most people are afraid to climb in. It doesn't bother me that the tree has a curve in it if it is where I want to hunt and it is straight where I am going to perch. The APIs have very sharp teeth that grip the tree very well.
My climber is a Summit Viper. I could not be more pleased with it. Its comfy, easy to use and packs in and out well. I personally feel like you can't go wrong with a Summit.
I've only used and API Grand Slam Bowhunter and another off brand one before that, but my Ol Man that I have now is rock solid in the tree. It's heavy as I didn't spring for the Aluminum version, but safe and solid for sure.
My climber is a Loggy Bayou Mega Transformer. Folds flat for packing in/out of the woods, takes a few seconds to unfold the bracket and secure it with the wing nut when setting up but it's solid, the teeth bite the bark well, is quiet. The owners manual says it weighs 20 lbs so it's one of the lightest full enclosure climbers. With the change of management over at L/B they don't make climbers any more though. Check out Cabelas, B/P, G/M and read the reviews.
Summit Viper or the API is the way to go. I trully feel safer in the API but I like the way the Summit packs and sets up better.
ive got a summit 180.it works well but im concerned about the way it digs in or lack of sometimes.i started putting a bungy on for added safety.
Thats where I like the API better. Also instead of a bunji strap try adding a rachet strap like the API comes with. Both are great stands but after setting in fixed position or ladder stands, none feel real safe to me. After all you are just sitting there with your weight biting down into the tree.
Since your question about climbing stands referred to the safest climber I'll swear that Lone Wolf makes the safest climber. I've used many brands and based on safety alone I'll put my LW stand up against any brand or model.
I've seen too many broken welds on Summits to ever consider buying one. Not saying they all break or anything of the sort, but I'm 240#, plus gear, I get real close to that max 275#. I have an old Remington (the predecessor to the Lone Wolf even uses the same "bark-biter belt") that I really like. If I could find another, I'd buy it in a minute. I've used this stand for close to 10 yrs, and I love it. As far as safe goes though, I think the full containment stands are obviously safer and easier to climb with, but I like my open front bowhunter stand very much. Something like the Lone Wolf sit-n-climb would probably rank right up there I'm sure.
I have experience with 3 climbers. A Summit Cobra X4, Lone Wolf Sit and Climb, and a Loggy Bayou (older style with the fold up seat). I can honestly say I have never felt safer or more secure than I do in my Summit. I have never personally seen a weld on a Summit fail, but it certainly isn't out of the question. However, I'll trust the welds of a Summit over some pins and bolts that hold a Lone Wolf together any day. Outside of possible failure points on a given stand, I can again say that a Summit stand is significantly more stable than the Lone Wolf I had last year. Unless you climb telephone poles, I don't see how a Lone Wolf would be more stable. The problem with the LW comes from the width of the teeth that contact the tree. If you get on a decent size tree, only the very end teeth are in the tree. Summit's teeth section is much wider and actually comes around the sides of the tree, giving it side to side stability. I actually tested this, side by side, myself, after I had the LW shift on me several times. I bought into the LW hype last year and bought the S&C. I can honestly say, in almost 20 years of hunting, I have never been so spooked in a stand before as I was with the LW. I called them asking questions about what I may be doing wrong, but they said I was doing everything properly. I've climbed a lot of trees in my day with Summits and even that old Loggy Bayou and none of them moved once setup at height like that thing did. Needless to say, the LW is long gone and I am happily staying in my Summit. Also, you won't find a nicer group of people to deal with than those at Summit.
my opinion is that the viper is the best hands down, however I also have a gorilla climbing stand that is great! i really like it alot and its always rock solid. I am probably going to here alot of **** for saying this but I also have an older api climber, and as far as i am concerenced it is the biggest piece of crap i have ever used. you have to use the strap on the top part of the stand because if you dont it falls down when you stand up! I will not even use the api anymore, unless i have to, and then I make sure my safety vest is good to go.
Wearing a safety harness during the whole process (climbing, sitting and descending) is where the "safety" aspect comes from. All climbers work, you just need to take time to get used to it. There isnt a climber out there that's safe enough to not wear a harness.
I bought mine second hand and it did have a small cracked weld.i figured it had been used wrong.i guess it wasn't
I agree 100% about the harness. Wear it religiously. ANY stand can fail. No matter how good you are at using one, a bolt or weld can break.
