I just don't see it.........I don't understand the extreme prices of their stands. I honestly don't really even like them that much.......I'm sure they are fine but what is the big draw to these products that guys are willing to shell out top end dollar for them. This is NOT a knock on LW stuff........I'm sure it is fine.........please don't be offended if you own it or like it.......and please don't imply the price tag is why I feel this way (it's not). My best analogy of LW stuff would be to say it's like the Under Armour of archery gear........priced a lot higher then most but I can't figure out why. So what exactly am I missing??
They are super light, pack the best of anything I've seen, and by far the quietest of any stand I've seen or hunted out of. Nothing makes me cringe worse than the clang of metal as I setup a climber in the dark, 100 yards from a known bedding area. The Lone Wolf just doesn't make that kind of noise at all. Also, this year I'll be venturing into some new spots where I will have to pack the stand in and out each time I go, and I honestly feel the Lone Wolf will be best suited for this situation. It packs better and is a bit lighter than the other stands I've seen or have experience with. With that said, I'd never pay that kind of $$$ for a lock on, but it makes sense to me for a climber though. I always thought my Ameristep Non Typical Lite was as good as the Summit's I've seen and hunted out of in the past and was a lot less $$$$, but the Lone Wolf is definitely an upgrade for me. The Ameristep now will be the stand that I leave out there in spots where I won't have to pack it out. The Lone Wolf will be used for everything else and will be in the car at all times for our roadtrip style of hunting. Take this with a grain of salt, but it's coming from someone that never hopped on the Summit hype train when they seemed to be the popular stand to have a few years ago.
Matt, have you used an Ol'man? I ask because I just don't agree with the packing and quietest of any stand. I've tried LW and I've tried Summit. It's likely I'll never use another climber over the Ol'man line, at least the Ol'man Original and Grand that I own/owned. Of those 3, the Ol'man packs flatter, easier, quieter and use is easier, quieter.....I say this with GMMAT's review because my ex wife, 4'11, 110 uses/used an Ol'man with ease and we sold a Summit and she could not use a LW and GMMAT concur'd. Honestly, I'll challenge anyone with my Ol'man.
For a mobile hang on stand, nothing compare to Lone Wolf. For climbing stands, I'm with Rob, my go to stand in Ol' Man. It's a little heavier than a lot of stands but it packs so thin and rides so well it feels much lighter. I've got the elite series, so mine is only 17lbs, which is light by Ol' Man standards. It's extemely quite and fool proof to set up. And the comfort is second to none. There are so many good stands out there that its hard to pick a best. Each has their qualities. For me, easy packing and a thin profile is my top priority in a climber. The Lone Wolf Alpha with 4 sticks doesn't pack all that well, but the fact that it will go into any tree ever made makes it invaluable as a mobile hang on.
Okay Jeff, your Summit was quiet , so is the Ol'man. You said above your Summit is more comfortable than the LW. I feel the Ol'man is as if not more comfortable than the Summit and again, my ex couldn't climb with the Summit so ease goes to Ol'man. The same quiet, the same comfort but easier to use goes to Ol'man. Why choose the LW. The climbing ability of the Ol'man seems better than as well. Too long? That's platform room, It feels very comfortable on my back and again, she was/is 4'11 and carried her own stand...too long, I don't thinks so. LOL
Yes, it's netting and very, very comfortable. The best I've found and a reason I bought a Gorilla hang on, same netting. It's awesome. On or in? Depends on how you look at it, you at the same level as the bar but within the side rails that go around the tree. They hug you which I like cause it's warm and comfortable and I can take naps. :d
L/W alpha hang-ons with a set of sticks is a necessity to my hunting. That set up has made me mobile without the need to find a straight or limbless tree.... With that said, they are way over priced, but you buy one stand and take it in and out with you each set and it never gets stolen and the quality lasts forever. I have used the stand and sticks to slip in close to bedded bucks and kill them in evening sits. On several occasions I hava gotten close enough in marsh terrain to have the buck rise from his bed in the evening within shooting range of my bow. Any other set up would of been to noisy. Here are my L/W stands
Here you go Peak... http://bloodbro.com/messageboard/viewtopic.php?t=178 Here is another good one... http://bloodbro.com/messageboard/viewtopic.php?t=2700
http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=666805&highlight=utility+constrictor+ropes saw these over on AT, called Utility Constrictor Ropes....a rope inside a hollow rope basically that replaces the need for ratchet straps...perhaps you LW hang on guys would like em for ease and noiseless factor. Sure beats a metal ratchet clanging around and seems simpler to use as well.
Do you have any pics of that pack on your back?? That looks HUGE to pack in and out...........and how long does it take you to set that contraption up?? I can't imagine myself making less noise with a setup like that vs my Summit..........but I readily admit to not being very skilled at putting up hang on stands. I'm sure I would get better at it quickly but if you sent me in the woods with that pack on my back it would sound like I was building a house by the time I got set up............an hour later. Tip of the cap if you can get that setup quickly and quietly because right now I couldn't.
I have used both Sunnit and LW. GMMAT states comfort is not a contest he is correct. For me it was how the LW pack and carried. IMO both are top of the line, one packs a bit better, one is more comfortable. I do think LW is built a tad better IMO, I did see more summits returned at Cabela's, but we sold more also.
I've put mine up and took it down a total of three times so far. I'm down toabout 15mins total set up. I know people who do it in half that time. The bulk looks intimidating but the sticks and stand (4-sticks) weighs in at 22.5lbs.
I've set mine up and taken it down 3 times and I can do it in 15 min. I know people who can get it done in half that time. The set up looks bulky but the whole pack 4 sticks and stand weigh in at 22.5 lbs.
After using this stand in a crooked arse tree I love it. That seat leveling feature did me justice yesterday along with the Platform leveling feature. T
