I am a Climber Guy. I have hang-on and ladder stands but nothing fits my style of hunting like climbers do. I own two popular climbers among today's hunters so I figured I would help anyone looking for information on these two stands. It is to my knowledge that the Summit Bushmaster has been discontinued and has been replaced by the "Open Shot." While I cannot attest to the comfort of the Open Shot, it appears to pack identically to the Bushmaster and has a few minor modifications. Summit Bushmaster Weight: 18 lbs Price: Approx. $200 (Open Shot is $250) Pros: -Comfortable -Easy to climb -Accommodates Accessories (Stand bags, foot rests, etc) Cons: -Noisy to pack and unpack quietly -Feels Bulky on back -Noisy while walking -Hollow Frame Members My thoughts: I used this stand for about 6 years while sitting over 50 times a season. I feel as thought I put it through the ringer. I was able to climb some big trees and I've climbed some tooth picks as well, though I do not recommend it. It is very easy to climb. The seat frame provides a good place to put your arms and hands to maximize your grip. The "V" shape of the tree grips bite well from gnarly barked oaks to smooth birches. The best and greatest thing about it is that it is VERY comfortable. The cushion is what makes this stand good. It keeps me still and seated for long periods of time. It is farther out from the tree than other stands i have used which allows you to lean back against the tree without being on the edge of the seat. Most seat cushions begin just about right at the tree which forces you to sit straight up and down to maximize the whole seat pad. Another good part about this stand is that I have bags that hang from the bottom of the seat portion. I keep my harness tether, hoist rope, etc in there and it keeps me from forgetting them when I go out in the woods. The downside to this stand is that it is noisy. The two parts have to be puzzled together in order to pack and there is a lot of metal contact which results in clinking and banging. If this is not done 100% properly it will rattle and clank while walking. The cables can be another noise factor. The stand employs steel cables with barrel-type stoppers wrapped in a rubber shrink wrap that slide in the tube of the frame to adjust for tree diameter. These provide a secure grip to the tree, however when sliding the cables in and out of the frame tubes, the stoppers hit the ends of the tube causing more noise. The cables also hang-up on the frame ends which forces the user to wiggle it and try to line it up with the center of the tube so it can be freed. These cables also have to be pushed all the way in before transporting or they will slide in and out within the frame while walking and the stoppers will make noise when they hit. When the user wears the stand on their back, it fits comfortably, but feels like it weighs more than 18 lbs. Part of the frame sticks out about a foot from the users back and feels unbalanced and bulky. As a career firefighter, I wear an air pack every day that weighs almost 25 lbs and it feels lighter than the 18 lbs Bushmaster. The cables, which hang down by the back of my knees, don't interfere with normal walking, but they do pick up sticks and brush on occasion. My final issue, though not a common one, is that they use hollow frame members. My issue with this is that I like to keep my stands outside in order to limit the scent that the stand collects. With a hollow frame, it enables water to get inside causing not only rust, but freezeing within the frame. If enough water collects it would be possible for it to crack due to expansion when stored outside. I must add that the manufacturer does not recommend the stand be stored outside for this reason, however I take precautions to prevent this from happening. Lone Wolf Hand Climber: Weight: 17.5 lbs. Price: Approx. $350 Pros: -Light -Packs easily -Quiet Cons: -Cost -Less Comfortable -More Difficult to Climb My Thoughts: This is my first season using this stand and I have used it about 5 times so far in the last week. I bought this stand originally to use for quick hunts and long hikes in due to its light weight, however this has become my primary stand. This stand is virtually silent to set up. If done carefully, you can make no noise unpacking it in the woods. It is incredibly easy to pack and unpack and there is no sliding around, rattling, or moving of anything while walking. I like that it feels well balanced and it doesn't hang way off my back. It grips the tree well and the "Traction Belts" are incredibly quick and easy to deploy. While I have only climbed average-sized trees (14-16" in diameter), Lone Wolf boast a minimum tree size at a mere 6". One downside to this stand is that it is less comfortable than the Summit. The seat pad is comfortable, but because of the low-proile design of the stand the small of the user's back is right against the tree. In order to sit back and lounge, the user must sit closer to the edge using less of the cushion. It's not unbearable but I do find myself standing up to stretch out every 2 hours or so. Another issue is with the climbing: the seat pad is a bit slick on fleece sleeves. Too climb, I put my elbows on the seat pad and hold the "Traction Belts" with my hands when pulling up the platform with my feet. When wearing my fleece zip-up, I have to be weary of my elbows slipping off the pad which could lead to a fall. This has almost happen twice already in my first few climbs. This stand is also a little more awkward to climb than the summit, I believe because of the Summit has a higher profile frame which provides a little more places for the user to grip while climbing. The final downside of this stand is the price. At almost $400 at some retailers, it weeds out many buyers would benefit from this stand. The price alone is the reason I purchased the Summit several years ago. However, I feel that this product is worth the price, especially if you can find one used. Overview: The deciding factor between these stands is what you are looking to get out of them. This time of year I have shorter sits that rarely exceed 4 hours and for those sits I prefer the Lone Wolf. Later in the season when the rut rolls around I will use the Summit for the all-day sits due to its comfort. For the most part, however, I want a light stand to be as silent as I can be and the Lone Wolf is just that. The Lone Wolf has become my favorite stand simply for the ease of use and quietness. With the Lone Wolf I do not sweat on my walk in the woods from wrestling with an cumbersome tangle of frame and there is no clanging to scare off deer. I enjoy and appreciate the simplicity of the Hand Climber and I find it suits my style perfectly. However, if you want a stand that is more comfortable, I would suggest going the route of the Summit, but be prepared to take more precaution setting up and breaking down the stand so you don't spook game.
