Which climbing stand?

I am looking into buying my first climber here in a week or two. I was thinking about getting a Summit but i was wondering if anyone had additional feedback on how they like theirs. Also, im sure there are other brands that im not aware of that perform just as well and maybe are not as expensive. I was looking for something on the lighter side, packs easily and quietly,user friends and most importantly safe.

 

Summit viper! Rmember when looking at cheaper stands, you get what you pay for.

 

I just got my first climbing tree stand this year too. I went on Craigslist in my area and found a Gorilla Stand for $80. I've already tested it out and I like it. Most I think are between 20 and 28lbs anyway so, just be sure you are in good shape. Good luck!

 

I have the summit bushmaster that I like a lot. Ive had it for about five years now and its still in good shape. highly recommended

 

summit viper the 20lb one. for the price cant beat it

 

LW handclimber or the Summit specialist looks nice. I like handclimbers better then sit and climbs

 

Summit, a buddy bought a gorilla and it was junk. He now owns a summit. Its my favorite stand to use, I feel safe and comfortable.

 

You can not go wrong with the Summit viper (aluminum stand).

 

I bought a gorilla last yr and put it thru hell and back and worked great, plan on using it here very shortly. Pulled it out last weekend just to tweak anyrhing. Ready to go hunting.

 

I love the Supermag by Austin treestand. (www.austintreestands.com) It is identical to the Bigshot that Buckshot use to make that later became Equalizer Treestands. The idea of sitting on a bar to climb a tree is in no way safe to me. You are completely enclosed as you climb and descend the tree. This is the very first climber I ever used and I was hooked from the start. You can sit facing the tree or facing away from the tree. You can lower the seat back down all the way down if you are bowhunting or you can use it as a rest if you are gun hunting.

 

Don't know what kind of gorilla stand he had but I've been up and down trees with mine and it works great. A little heavy but I don't walk a mile to my stand so no big deal.

 

Summit 180 ss its aluminum and easy to carry in and out of the woods

 

I got the Summit Viper with the foot rest a few weeks back and I have to agree it is one comfortable stand. I was real uneasy starting out and doubted my decision not to get the Lone Wolf ($$ issue) but now I have had a little practice packing it in, setting it up and climbing with it I am sold! Quiet, easy, comfort and cost effective. Viper or LW...you can't go wrong.

http://www.basspro.com/Summit-The-C...mbing-Treestand/product/12031305005521/425802

 

I have a gorilla and a summit, the gorilla is a bit heavy so i don't use it where I have to pack a stand a long way, but it bites into the tree quite solidly and I like the lock down straps to join the top half and bottom half. That being said I will take my summit over the gorilla for the reason that it's super light easy to use, quiet to move up the tree, and has a very nice seat. I feel more at ease in the summit, to me it feels like a recliner in the house. I usally lower the seat down from the rail a bit so as to have the rails for nice arm rests. I often doze off on slow warm days and still feel quite safe in doing so. I'm not knocking the gorilla in any way, I just feel more at ease in the summit.

 

I've used the Summit Viper for four. I have easily climbed 60 different trees with it and climbed well over 100 times. There are things I like about it and some things I hate about it.

I like how it feels on my back and it is extremely comfortable to sit in. It is well made and sturdy. I have a gear bag that sits inside while I'm hiking and it rides there perfectly. Most of the places I hunt are over a mile from my vehicle in steep terrain and the stand is easy to carry...and I'm no spring chicken. The cables have held up very well and the coating on the cables can be replaced as can the cables. The stand is easy to put together and takes just a couple of minutes.

What I don't like about the stand is it is too noisy for my liking. It seems that it loosens up and rattles while I'm walking, and that irritates the heck out of me. What I can't figure out about the rattling is that sometimes it happens and other times it doesn't...and I can never figure out the source of the rattle. Another thing I don't like is the hooks for the seat back seem to clatter on everything when putting the stand together and that too drives me crazy. Wrapping them with tape helps but they still make a "cling" when they come in contact with the aluminum stand.

I've heard the new Viper has been altered to quiet it down a bit but haven't seen one yet. I won't be buying a new once since mine is still in great condition. Hopefully I'll figure out the rattle issue and cure it.

Overall I like the stand and have killed many deer and hogs from it.

Hope this helps.

 

I love my summit. I've been using the same one for about 8 years. It will rattle if it isn't packed tightly, though. As for being up in the tree, it is extremely comfortable and sturdy; much more so than any of my ladder or hang-on stands.

Have you tried dipping the hooks in rubberized tool grip dip? I don't know if this will work but it may deaden the sound more than tape.

 

Thanks for everyones advice. I just ordered the Viper from BassPro because i had a $25 gift card. Now i have to waiiitt for it to come!

 

Summit bushmaster its nice for bow hunting cause you have no bar but you have sides so you cant fall out its very comfortable too

 

I've been using a summit viper for a while and its alright. It can be a little noisy during set-up. I also found that it kinda hangs low when I wear it on my back and occasionally the bottom will get caught on my pant leg or my muck boots while I'm hiking. It is very comfortable though.

 

Dude! This is a brilliant idea. Funny how we have all the resources in the world in this country but sometimes we don't have the sense to fix simple problems.