I have my hang-ons up and ready to go. I currently use my API Grand Slam Supreme for my mobile hunts. It's comfortable, but a bit heavy and cumbersome to be toting a lot. I'm looking for something EXTREMELY light and mobile. Comfort is not up on the priority list (I'm young, and I can deal with it). I'm looking for QUIET, QUICK attachment/removal as one of my top priorities along with packability. I like the LW hand climber over the sit and climb simply for it's compactness, but I'm going by appearance only. However, price wise, I'm liking the Summit Viper SS. Weight wise, it's a little more than the LW, but I like the attachment system, and it's fairly light weight. I don't have any way to get a hands on test or view of these to really compare, so I'm looking to hear from those who have used any of these three to offer input, or if there's someone using an alternative that fits the above qualities, I would love to hear about it.
Check out timber tall & tree walker. I've handled the treewalkers...really sweet. Likely to be my next stand
I took a look at them briefly a while back when you mentioned them in another thread. I'll go look again.
I have the Summit Bushmaster, I think it is a Cabela's exclusive model, but it is basically the same as an open shot with a slightly larger platform. I used it for one season so far and so far so good. It's light, (listed at 14# I think) easy to lock on to trees and easy to climb.
Funny you should mention this. I finally got my Cabelas Archery catalog, and that was the stand that caught my eye. Jeff, how do you like the attachment system on your LW? How's the cable noise wise?
I hunted out of Summits for years (over a decade, as a matter of fact) and still own a couple... but for quietness, portability, and packability they don't hold a candle to my Lone Wolf hand climber.
Greg, can you elaborate more (or others who also favor LW)? The price difference is quite a bit, but I believe in getting what you pay for, and not cheaping out on something as significant as a treestand. What is it you like a lot more (besides everything:D)? How is the traction belt? On a normal tree what's the setup time from off your back to strapped to the tree roughly?
The forged stand is a big plus and one that's oft-overlooked, I think. Got tired of that "tink" sound reverberating through those echo chambers that are Summit's square tubes. LOVE - L - O - V - E the fact that the stand folds down perfectly flat. I mean, I can turn sideways and squeeze between trees on my way in and out of the woods in places that stil leave me in amazement that I've got a stand on my back... Once you flip the bolts on the bottom of the support tube around where the traction belt slips in, allowing it to be drawn up as tight as you can (I'll go into more detail later if you buy the stand and need some assistance), you can get up in a tree as little as four inches in diameter (just ask John and Matt who hunted with me last year ) as well as anything as large as a Summit can get up into... I don't have to worry about banging my bottom cam off the side of my Summit, as Matt and I did both a few years ago off our Cobras... I can readjust my LW to accomodate a wrong tree angle WHILE I'm at hunting height -- SAFELY, and EXTREMELY quickly. These are the first few things that come to mind...
Matt, if you really want to be mobile and put in some shoe leather, the Lone Wolf can't be beat. I've hunted Summit's, and still own an Ameristaep Non Typical (very similar to the Summit Razor X5), and the Lone Wolf is really sooooooo much quieter. It also packs so much better. Something you don't really think about is that because it folds flat, it's closer to your body. Because of this, the weight doesn't seem as heavy, as if it had leverage being far away from your body like the Summit's and others that are similar. The traction belt is by far the best design I've seen for a climber. Beats the heck out of loud cables for the Summits and similar stands, it's completely dead silent and I feel grips the tree better as well. Only suggestion I have is if you get one, get Gray Wolf Woolen's adjustable straps, or buy a pair of quality neoprene rifle slings to attach to the bottom for packing, they really are nice when your going a long ways in.
Thanks, guys! That's the info I was looking for. The one-piece forged frame is one of the major positives that makes me actually believe this stand can be as silent as claimed. I used to (and yes I realize this was a VERY poor decision) hunt climbers as a semi-permanent stand left at the bottom of the tree at the end of the hunt. Obviously I no longer hunt like that, but I want a stand that can be packed out very quickly and quietly at night, and likewise during the early AM hours.
Here is a LW sit and climb review if you are interested. http://www.bowhunting.com/blog/post/2009/05/08/Lone-Wolf-Sit-Climb-Review.aspx
i use a LW sit and climb and love it but you could definitly be happy with a summit, i also own a viper.
Has anyone here used a summit with the quick draw system? How quickly can you adjust the stand? Is the hollow tube design creaky when climbing? Do any of you feel the advantages of the Lone Wolf make a significant difference in potential success (in terms of noise alerting deer) to warrant the added $$? I can deal with a little noise (and I mean just a little), but I hate my API for climbing stealth.
Just weighing all my options. Big purchases I always take my time, research, ask questions, you know the deal