Looking to buy a climbing treestand. Advice?

[SeaRun1]

Hey all,

I have been using hanging stands this year but have a new area to hunt.  A climber would be perfect for positioning on some rub lines.

Does anyone have experience that they could pass along on what I am looking for in a climbing treestand?  I would appreciate any thoughts or advice.

SR1

[Nice Racks]

I have a Summit and love it. What ever you get, I highly recommend one with a "saddle" style seat rather than a padded seat. They (to me at least) are much more comfortable.

[steeliedrew]

I have a Summit and love it. What ever you get, I highly recommend one with a "saddle" style seat rather than a padded seat. They (to me at least) are much more comfortable.

I too have A summit.  I believe its the Elite SD and has the saddle seat. only weighs 14lbs too.  I tow it in to my spot on a bike trailer.

[sakoshooter]

I have a Summit climber also but really don't have any experience with any other brand. It's an older Viper with the hang down padded seat and back rest but it's comfortable. Actually nothing's comfortable after a couple hours in the stand, LOL.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Summit ...Seems most agree 

[Turner89]

I have 2 summits, one with a bar rest in font, and one without. I recommend one with the bar rest. It's easier to be quite while climbing, and keeps you in the stand when you fall asleep.

[coyotecrazy]

My summit is nice but I do wish it had a larger platform. I bow hunt and stand up on it often. It is a nice stand though.

[dupedc]

I went through the process this summer checking out and researching the different types and brands. I ended up with a Summit Viper SD and couldn't be happier with it.

[mulehunter]

I have Summit  Love it.  Good Luck.

[Skyvalhunter]

  Backpacker model

[sakoshooter]

Explain the padded seat vs saddle seat please.

[Little Fish]

I am a little bit of a rookie with tree stands, but I bought one for elk season this year just in case the elk were in a particular area I was hunting. I ended up buying a welded aluminum stand from Walmart for $140. I believe it is made by Ameristep. At any rate is works great....at least in my back yard and seems to be very well built. I personally think it is a probably a good way to go for my first climber and I can upgrade later as necessary.

PS There are several videos out there that will get you started on how to use a climbing stand.

[KFhunter]

someone mentioned backpacker model,  I got a summit with backpack straps - they suck

I really like the stand though but don't expect to want to pack that thing on your shoulders for more than a 100 yards or so, but then it'd just be easier to carry it 


I use a shelf freighter backpack to carry in the climber if I'm going in any distance,  much nicer to strap it to that.

[Machias]

Lone Wolf and Summit are the best IMHO

[Florida_Native]

Sorry to buck the trend but my  is to stick with a non climber. The climbers are pretty noisy and you always have to climb them down. I would suggest getting a good traditional stand and some good pegs. I've seen the kind that screw in and seem to do so pretty quickly. The attraction for me here is quiet and the ability to leave the stand or move it at will. I'd sacrifice the extra few minutes to have more options and stealth.