I'm into bow hunting enough now it's time to start looking at some other gear. The only stand I've used is my dad's and it's a ladder stand. Nice when you're in it but you can't just throw it up there in the morning. Anyway, given the experience here on the forum, what do you think works best for you and why? I like the climber because it seems fairly easy to put up and the video on Lone Wolf's web site made it look easy. At least on a telephone pole.... The hang-ons are a little cheaper but you need sticks and stuff too. Any general advice anyone has would be helpful. Other brands that are worth the money is good too. I don't mind paying a little more for a quality product. Thanks everyone!
Love my LW hang on and sticks. It does take some practice to become efficient though. Eventually you will develop a system that works for you. I am a medium frame guy and the assault platform was a little too small for my liking. I bought the alpha and felt much more comfortable with the size of the platform. Worth the extra few dollars IMO.
"Telephone" pole is the key... not many trees like that, so for FAR more versatility, the hang on with sticks are better. I would also argue that time of set up is close to the same if not even faster depending on the tree (branch positioning, bark texture etc.). Hang on for sure and sticks, no question. T
I have one of each. I've got the LW sit and climb and I have an Assault hang-on with sticks. The best of both worlds!
I have the hang on and its been easy to put up and take down. I hunt public land so I can't leave it up. I do wish I had the climber as well since the area I have hunted the most is all hard woods with no branches. The one thing I have noticed with my hand on is that one set of sticks does not get me up as high as I would like so If money is one of the deciding factors add in the price of a second set of stick.
I would say, check the areas that you would be hunting. I have the lone wolf hand climber and have had no problems with it what so ever. I have climbed straight trees, curved trees, knobby trees and haven't had one problem. Nor have i had a problem here finding a tree to get in and get up. Being here in east texas, I have pine trees everywhere and large hard woods so i have no problem getting in every spot that i find. I find the set up and the ease of the climber, perfect for me and my setups. Im not going to say that the climber is better because there are some places in the united states that does not have large limbless trees. But i do find the hang on and sticks takes a little more preparation and practice to become efficient. So if you decide on the hang on and sticks, i would practice with full gear on and with the bow. It takes me from the stand on my back to up 20-25 feet (even on the gnarliest trees) five -seven minutes. That is also complete and finished, meaning i have everything set up, bow arm set, accessory hood placed, bow up. all of it. I am ready to hunt after no more than seven minutes. This also takes a little time to perfect for the climber, but that learning curve came after the second or third tree. (Also might had on that i am an athletic 20 year old so that might also help my time a little.) This can be attained with the hang on and sticks, it just takes more practice and time to perfect your preferences on how to hang the sticks and stand. I think both are great options and both have there places. I am looking to purchase some sticks in the future to carry with me and use my climber as my hang on stand. Whatever your decision, I would buy it from eders.com and bowhuntingoutlet.com . If you join the bow hunting club which is 25 dollars (really not much) The hang on alpha is 200 dollars even, the sticks are 154 dollars for the four pack. And the lone wolf hand climber on bowhuntingoutlet is 297 to your door (which is what i did.) These two places with the club membership is the most inexpensive place i have found lone wolf. Even though you said you wouldn't mind spending more, you could save same money on these two sites. Which ever stand you choose, best of luck out there.
Like the others have said it depends on what type of trees you have in your area. I have both a lw alpha and sticks plus a lw flip top climber. Both have there plus and minus to them. The one nice thing about a hang on and sticks is you can buy the ez hang hook system and set mutiple stands locations. So pre hang the hooks at different spots then decide where you are hunting go there and set up the sticks and stand. It does take practice to find a system that works for you. You have to pick the system you are most comfortable with. Some people dont like hanging off the tree and setting climbing sticks even with a linesman belt. Talk with your friends see if they have either type of stand and try them out before you buy anything
Totally agree. They should sell those things in sets of 4, not 3. I just use a few of my Cranford screw-in steps to make up the difference.
They only had sets of 3 (32") steps at Cabela's when I was there last. I thought I remembered someone saying you could get sets of 4, but I haven't seen them. Maybe through their web site.
Do you ever think you will want to leave your stand out instead of bringing it down? I have both a climber (Not LW) and a Lone Wolf Assault 2. In my opinion you can't go wrong with a hang on, they are light and if you get the LW sticks they are super light to making it an easy pack job and if you use a Linemens belt you can set it up pretty fast. In my opinion the Climber will get you set up faster and you have less metal parts clanking in the woods but you can never leave it in the tree...
Hang on for sure...as I've said before. You can put a hang on in literally any tree, climber only in certain ones. Plus of you want to leave it....take the bottom 2 or 3 sticks down as you go down and throw them back up going back next time.
LW has them on their website for about 199... Incredibly over priced if you ask me but they would be nice
