Girlfriend is getting me one for Valentine's. I've been looking at summit and milenium..open to other suggestions
I hope my favorite is the Aero Hunter Kestrel that I ordered a few weeks ago. Never use one! But the weight of a regular tree stand is holding me back from hunting places that I really want to hunt.
Otherwise the only stand for long carries on public land is the Lone Wolf.
Tedd
Hands down, Milenium...
Lone Wolf
Another vote for Lone Wolf.
Lone Wolf or XOP & Sticks if you're a Hang & Hunt or mobile hunter....
Chippewa Wedge-Lok
Lone Wolf with climbing sticks. Goes up and down with me all season!
I won't waste my money on anything but a millennium
Millennium for comfort and Lone Wolf for long pack in's..
What Guss said.
I never found anything better than a Screaming Eagle...Incredible durability...I have some that are 30 years old and are in fine shape...Still dead quiet...Rock solid...Seat height perfect...Not comfortable when contrasted with ladder stands or many modern climbers, but no lock-on is...
LW and Chippewa are my 2 favorites.
I am converting all of my stands to Lone Wolf or XOP with climbing sticks. Solid and quiet.
David
Screaming eagle for me
I'm also a big fan of Screaming Eagle but I confess that I've never used a Millinium. They do look nice.
Regardless of what brand you choose, make sure the platform can be leveled. Makes a huge difference in comfort during all day sits.
I prefer a stand that gets me on deer.
Agree with Gus's above statement
I believe there are several good stands, but, it really depends on what you want to do. If you will be hunting primarily straight trees and dont need much leaning capabilities, I would look into the millennium stands.
I will warn you though, most people I know that "LOVE MILLENNIUM's" are typically hunting preset stands. I have had every light stand they make; the M60u, M100u, and the M7 microlite. They are all very well made and comfortable stands imo.
BUT, none of those have a platform adjustment, which isn't a huge deal, but you definitely need to factor that into your decision.
I have yet to purchase a tree stand that was the actual weight it states under the description.
If you're biggest emphasis is being light weight, look at XOP. They're not the most comfortable, but if you're standing, the platform doesn't have a comfort need. IF you like to sit, look at something with a good seat.
I also own a XOP. I like the larger platform and the seat is definitely comfortable, also has adjustment for leaning trees and utilizes the versa button attachment system. All plusses in my book. But, it is around #14. Which isn't heavy, but it is labeled as #12.
Let me know if I can help you any!
God Bless,
Daniel
Daniel the Millennium 150 monster is now adjustable on the platform. I do agree with most not the best option if you plan on moving it around. More of a preset stand unless your using additional receivers.
If I had to choose one stand only, for all situations, it would be Lone Wolf.
I think the small Screaming Eagle was called the Screaming Eaglet.Super strong stand and lightweight and also is a chain on.*I like chains more and as your title states they can be actually locked more easily to the tree.Which may deter theft if you leave it hung for a few days.
Thd aluminum Loc on Spirit is also a chain on and it weighs like 10 pounds..It does not use cables for supports.Cables can go bad.
For the price, you cant beat the field and stream timberline hang on stand; usually on sale for under $100 yet performs just as well as some of my more expensive stands.
Lone Wolf or Chippewa. You get what you pay for and they are both USA made
I love my Lone Wolf. A lot of really good things going on with it. You can get into almost any tree, and do it quickly and quietly.
Screaming Eagle
Guss nailed it!
Terry
Lone wolf. Been there and tried everything else.
Lone Wolf are great and are my choice for the rare times I need to carry in my stand. Light, compact, solid, and quiet.
For my season-long stands, it's Millennium all the way. They are bulky and somewhat heavy, but they are unbelievably comfortable for all day sits. The old style M-100 (slat platform) are also dead quiet. Newer style (mesh platforms) can be quiet but you have to make sure they are set without any undue torque. I really don't like the new style but it's all that's currently available.
The Millenium Monster (newer style with adjustable platform) are NOT quiet. I gave away the half dozen or so I had as they are junk!
Lone Wolf or XOP.
I'm still partial to my old Loc on Limit and Spirit. 8.5 #
Easy to hang and replacement seat makes it comfortable for hours.
dnovo x 2...I've got a set of Loc On LEMS that are probably older than most folks on this sight. I don't even know if you can get still get them except second hand, but with the after market padded seats I've never had any reason to switch. Good balance of size, comfort and weight.
For 20 years Lone Wolf Alpha hands down for my style of pure mobile hunting (tried and handled most everything else.)
HOWEVER- I discovered the Muddy VANTAGE POINT this season. With same KEY features of LW- EXCEPT it is 32" Deep (tree to front). LW and others are 4-6" shorter than this. This is a HUGE issue for me. I sit all day and like the room in front of me. MORE IMPORTANTLY I can shoot my trad behind me with that much room from the tree. FURTHER- as a bonus- the stand has a beautiful 3" thick well-designed cushioned seat pad that is both comfortable and places my 6'4" frame in a taller position.
Dan in KS
Dnovo and olddoggrib....I also loved my Loc-On Spirit stands. I had 2 at one time in the early 90's. Loaned one and never got it back, another was stolen off private land. Well made, secure stands, especially with the chain attachment. No platform cables to rust and break. Mine was rock solid and easy to hang. Unfortunately Loc-On has been out of business for a long time. I wish someone would start making the Spirit model again.
Still running an original Lone Wolf with the rope tensioning system. Super light weight and portable. I use Millenium climbing sticks with it. It certainly has withstood time and elements.
QuoteOriginally posted by MIBIGHNTR:
Chippewa Wedge-Lok
X2 ... great stands
Lone Wolf for me for all my stands (climbers or hang-ons).
Recently I've been using ladder stands, but I do have a couple of older API Baby Grands that I use with climbing sticks on out of state hunts.
If I'm on land where I can hang the stand and leave it, I go cheap, whatever is on sale. Found some Muddy stands last year for $65 each. If I'm packing it in and bringing it out, Lone Wolf and their sticks.
For carrying and quick set up my "Lone Wolf" has served me well.
Tundra
Lone Wolf, hands down