Some of you may recall that I switched back to a Lone Wolf climber for this season. I chose the Wide Sit and Climb. Liked most of the stand, but hated, I repeat, hated the seat. It was a pita to climb with, over engineered and the worst part, utterly uncomfortable. For a stand at this price point, they really need to figure the seat out. I swapped the seat out for a Hazmore mesh style seat. They're fairly easy to install, light weight, and to my amazement, extremely comfortable. You won't have to worry about it being in your way while you climb and on the standard sit and climb, it will slide back against the tree when you're standing. On the wide sit and climb, because of how the stand is designed, you can't slide it back against the tree, but if you leave a bit of slack in the seat when you mount it, it does push back far enough to allow standing close to the tree. It's probably the best $20.00 investment I've made on a stand. I've made 4 sits so far in it and so far, its worked perfectly. Now, the other gripe I had was that you can not fold the climbing bar back up under the frame of the stand like you could with the standard sit and climb. The stabilizer straps get in the way. I contemplated making my own bar, that fit inside the frame, giving me enough clearance. However, I was messing with the stand before season and discovered that you can simply sit down on the seat, unbuckle a strap and route it around the climbing bar and re buckle. Do this on the other side, fold the bar under you and cinch the straps down tight. The whole process takes less than a minute. I really am loving the stand now. Its almost perfect for me now. Here is a pick of the seat on mine.
I have the handclimber and upgraded to a Gorilla XPE size medium seat cushion, nice mod. Years ago I installed a bowholder made by API on the left of my stand. That keeps my parallel limb bow in ready position. I have a 6 year old LW that doesn't accomodate parallel limb bows in the built in bowholder. This add on holder that I installed allowed me to harvest a buck last year that I didn't have time to reach around to grab off the tree if I would have been using a screw in style.
Hey man thanks for posting the pictures. I've been standing most of the time and I found that without the stabilizer straps tight the platform creeks when I step side to side. I'm exsperimenting with a few ideas and they involve different top sections. Problem is without the use of the straps it creeks. I think I remember you saying you had the same problem. If my attemps fail I'm going to get your set up. Thanks for posting.
Thanks for posting!!! I've been playing around with ideas for my wide and was thinking of trying to make a mesh seat like on the ol mans. That's a great investment for $20!! I'm going to be checking into it!!
Ive been looking at a different seat and ill have to look into this but i wont do anything till after the season so for now mine is okay.
I had never heard of the Hazmore seat until reading this. Just ordered me one for my Summit Viper though. I think I will like it much better instead of fighting with the thick padding and backrest getting in the way.
I've been tickled with the Hazmore so far. Like how light and out of the way it is. My only reservation is cold weather. I'm wondering how much I'll miss the warmth of the padded seats when the temps really drop. However, I think I have a pretty neat idea how to make the mesh seat a bit better for colder weather hunting.
I bought one of these over the summer and never put it on, kind of forgot about it until I read this thread. Since I am going to hunt PA now I think I may end up installing it.
I haven't ordered one yet. But I've got another idea I'm going to play around with this weekend. I will post pics once I get it done(if it works)! Haha
How exactly do you install it? im curious i might be getting this for my LW next year, the seat now is just annoying to try and keep out of the way while climbing.
Yep, I swapped my sit & climb top section for a hand climber and love it. The sit and climb seat always was putting pressure on my hips.
About an hour once I got started. I already had the para cord left over from tying lanyards. So I just started tying some strands on there. Took me a couple of fits on the tree outside to get it to my liking. Didn't take long once I got started.
The big difference I noticed is that now the bar that you use for climbing will not be a part if the seat. It conveniently folds up under the stand out of the way though. It still has enough give in the seat to allow me to stand and slide it back out of my way. And I kind of like the fact that I sit higher in the seat now so I can shoot sitting down. I never like any of the seats that sink down below the bars on a climber. Makes it tough on us Bowhunters.
