Been ground hunting for years but thought about getting a climber for the 2018 season.
with that said im 57 years old. So what would be a good climber?
Lone Wolf wide sit and climb with a Hazmore net aftermarket seat installed is what I use and would highly recommend.
When I'm tradbow hunting, I use the platform from a timbertall brute and the top is a LW handclimber. Best of both worlds. Bigger platform with not much weight and clear room with LW open top. The platform has a leveling feature as you go up.
I like my summits with the open front, and i like my lone wolf flip top climber. Summits are more comfortable but i like the platforms on lone wolf better. Both great stands.
Lone wolf flip top climber is a great stand.
Lone Wolf and Summit are the most popular by far when this question comes yp
I have found the Treewalker to be the most stable and comfortable climbing stand for me. I have used Ole Man, Summit, Lone Wolf, API and the Treewalker. The most uncomfortable stand I have ever hunted in was the Lone Wolf hand climber. After 1 hour, I just couldn't sit still. The API would be a close second behind the Treewalker. I have also found that the a rail around around a climber does not effect shooting at all. I shoot all of my bows from a climber with a rail, from 62" to 68".
Best would be the most secure , stable stand you feel safe in , and "you " can use ........
After many years in the trees(love it) and trying MANY of the top name brands , hands down Lone Wolf stands alone(for me) in all categories . I have owned a Lone Wolf hand climber for a "lot" of years . Some can use a hand climber (need good arm and core strength) and some need a sit and climb style stand . For me nothing even comes close to the designed stability in a Lone Wolf . Rock solid walking the edge !
If any local family-friends that own a few of the stands you are interested in trying , I would ask to try them and do a honest side by side test . You can just get off the gound a few feet and give them a good go over for stability ...then (with proper safty gear) use them climbing and descending . Its the only / best way to make all the decisions "you" need to make ;)
Best with your quest , be safe , and make sure a Lone Wolf is on that "short" list !
I got a lone wolf sit and climb last year. I really disliked the seat. A lot. A friend gave me a hazemore seat for it( I also put one of them on my API). Much more comfortable and quieter. My 2 cents. Jim
I am 57 as well and use an open front Summit called Specialist. It's good for 4 to 5 hour sits but my Ol Man Vision is my choice for long sits.
I'm 57 too, I use a summit. its the oldest open front one they made. I think cobra?? I removed the cushion seat and made a webbing from strap that slides back when I stand. weighs in about 14 lbs. I have taken a few naps without falling out. if the seat is set low enough, you have to jump out to fall,
but I prefer a hangon.
I've used a Summit Open shot for years. Very comfortable. And, the hand climber is wide enough to use your forearms comfortably.
"Lone Wolf wide sit and climb with a Hazmore net aftermarket seat installed is what I use and would highly recommend."
Ditto what Flingblade said
I'm 64, and still like my Lonewolf sit n climb.
Lonewolf assault. The seat is as hard as a bullet, but otherwise a great stand for us lil fellers.
I'll recommend two for you, depending on your needs. I haven't had them all but have had or used quite a few over the years.
Summit climbers are the most comfortable that I have found. They are preferred for LONG sits. Also they have an aftermarket seat that surrounds you which can be nice in the wintertime on windy days as it can be a wind barrier and keep you a touch warmer than a more open stand will.
Lone Wolf climbers are in my experience the most quiet and most versatile in what trees they can get into. They also seem to be built a little better overall than anything else that I have used. The downside to them is that they are not the most comfortable on the market. I put a Hunt Comfort gel core pad in mine and lean against the tree. I'm a pretty small guy and have troubles with my butt and legs going numb if I sit on hard surfaces, even like a wooden chair or stool, for more than about an hour. With the Hunt Comfort pad, I can last all day with periodic standing breaks, which I would do anyway just to stretch my legs. Because of this versatility and quality, I have since sold my Summit stands.
I now own 4 tree stands total. Two are cheap ladders that stay chained to two trees on my grandfather's land. I sit in those trees about twice a season and my father-in-law does as well. For public lands I use either my Lone Wolf hang on or Lone Wolf climber. If I know the exact tree that I want to be in will fit the climber it goes with me. Otherwise the hang on gets the nod as it's more versatile.
Hmmmm. I've been using a Lone Wolf hand climber for at least 20 years. Very quiet and stable, among the lightest of climbers and easy to use, and I don't find them uncomfortable. I often sit in one dark to dark. Not that it makes any difference, but I'm 72.
Lone wolf hand climber...
Lone Wolf wide sit and climb. Get the wide climber/seat. It gives you extra room to turn without harness catching any of the seat climber.
API grandslam is what I have hunted from for years. Don't use it anymore. Sit and climb style, very comfortable and secure. You may want to try one out before dropping a few hundred bucks on a climber
I like the Summit Viper for gun. I used it for bow but find the bar inconvenient for bow. I have shot a lot of deer out of it with bow though. For bow I have the Lone Wolf Sit and Climb, since the bar folds down. My absolute favorite is the Lone Wolf Alpha lock on with tree sticks.
Too bad you are far away. I have two Summit open front climbers cheap. They are good for bow hunting but a little too hard for me to climb with.
Gil