I got a LW climber last year that I used on a couple hunts, and took it out last night. It still seems like it is taking me too long to get up the tree. Is that just me not being used to using them as much yet? I am wondering if it might be faster for me to switch to one of their hang on stands and sticks, and would help to increase the trees I can actually get up in? How fast does it usually take for those of you with a LW to get set up?
I agree that you can get in more trees with a hang on but I love the feel of sitting up there in my climbers. The first few times I climbed I thought it cannot really be this hard. I also thought "Man what an ab workout". The more I have done it, three seasons now, the faster I get up. When I find a tree that has everything I am looking for, I can be 15-20 feet up and hunting in 7-10 minutes and only a minute or two is actually climbing. Coming down is even faster! Good luck and I would hang on to the climber!
I like climbers. They may not have the coolness factor but to me they get the job done. I hunt public land so I like the small profile of the Lone Wolf climbers. I also have a Lone Wolf loc on if I ever need it but right now it is collecting dust.
I prefer the hanging stands. Takes me anywhere from 10-20 minutes to set up, depending on the tree, how many sticks I use and how quiet I'm trying to be.
Same here. For me, the biggest advantage that my hang on and sticks has over a climber, is that my trees are virtually unlimited. I can hunt anywhere, any tree- crooked, split, forked, big limbs, etc. With climbers you only have 1 option- tall and straight with no limbs.
I prefer the summit type climber for comfort and being secure but hang on's work every where. I wonder if the sit and climb part is what your having issues with.
Good Point! A climber has to have a good straight tree with very few limbs. a loc-on you can leave a lot of limbs for cover and still get the stand setup.
There is no way I could get up a tree faster with a hang on and sticks than I can with my climber. I guess its what ever you get use to. I wish I could find a hang on/sticks that didn't weigh a ton,were easy to pack and were fast and easy to set up.
You're looking at carrying 20lbs with a Lonewolf assault and 4 sticks. As far as speed, 10-15 minutes and you're up. And atleast with you sticks, it may be a bit slower, but what you lose in speed, you gain in silence. It's quieter. You wont be scraping the back of the tree or breaking bark as you climb.
Hang on all the way for me. I would say 75% of my hunts anymore are run and gun style. 15 minutes and I'm set up.
I have been using my LW handclimber since 2009. I can be up a tree pretty fast but purposely go slow to not break a sweat. I also slide my tree strap up as I climb so that adds a little time. However I am going to pick up an Assault II and sticks this winter to supplement the climber. I keep finding spots I want to hunt but they do not have a climber tree. I am tired of passing up spots due to this.
I also will climb around branches with my hand climber. As far as the lock on goes I sold my Lonewolf sticks. I would rather prep eight or 10 trees with steps and just carry the stand on my back.
i just bought a lw sit and climb 2 combo. the wide one for *cough* us larger folk out there. went pretty good. was my first time using a climber. in no time i was 15 ft up the tree. next time i will go slower though so i dont break a sweat. but it was pretty comfy to sit in and stand up in. i have a..well... healthy respect for heights and i felt a lot safer in it than a normal ladder stand. i want to try a hangon as well but this climber just feels more safe i guess cause its like sitting in a chair and not on a stool.
Climbing around branches is a huge risk I am not willing to take. Also I only hunt Pa public ground so leaving sticks on a tree is like throwing money away and using screw in steps is illegal.
And $450 lighter in your wallet! Holy crap! I'm not afraid to spend that kind of money on a stand but I'm not convinced those stands are worth that kind of money. Maybe it is,the hang ons/sticks I've tried were heavy and hard to handle. Somebody lone me one and let me try it for a week You might be quieter but I'm not. Banging sticks around, banging stand with sticks, etc. And then there is the loud cursing I wish I could make a hang on work.
I bought LW sticks and an inexpensive hang on, as I have to hike in, set up and take down each hunt. Weight and ease of use were big factors. I considered a climber but like the versitility and can hunt from trees where a climber wouldn't be easy or in some cases possible.
