Best affordable climbing stand

[DanielB89]

But I was always extremely uncomfortable. I could spend 3 to 4 hours tops... After that I was done. I will pack in a extra few pounds in a climber if it allows me to sit for longer periods of time. End result.... You wil get a bagoozle of answers, make sure you try one yourself before you commit. [/QB][/QUOTE]

I second what he is saying.  Be sure that whatever climber you are getting has a comfortable seat. The best i have found is the "recliner" style that has a piece that goes up on the tree.  The walk in is usually no more than 30 mins, but with the right climber you can sit for hours and hours.

Let us know what you end up getting.

Daniel

[Brian K]

The Lone Wolf stands are very nice.  I certainly would like to have one. Hunting exclusively public land requires me to pack my stand in and out every time and I need something that goes up quick and quite and that did not require straight trees. Not may straight trees in Iowa.

The Muddy Blood Sport and climbing sticks are quick to go up, very quite, easy to hang and pack in nice.  I prefer hang on's over the climbers because I don't have to be as selective with the trees.

[ChetterB]

I have found 2 used quick and quiet tree stands each one costing less than $100 they have an open front grip tree well, put on tree in a snap and easy to pack. Not many people know about these stands they are excellent oh and I forgot to mention light , I think right around 15 pounds.

[BassBow]

This is great advice. The API looks nice. The price is good. I'll look into the all. I will let you know what I decide!

[edge2009]

One thing I always forget to take into consideration is trees, in FL 90% of our trees are straight up and down. Even in a oak hammock you can find one. I did buy a muddy stand with lonewolf sticks and used them ok. I just could never get into the habit of climbing up the tree without climbing back down a few times to grab the next stick.

So trees make a huge part of choosing sticks versus climbers. For those hunters with nothing but crooked trees with lots of limbs. I'm sure it would be hell using a climber, lol.

Mk I'm done now. I'm just super passionate about treestand models and types.

I've also used a tree saddle before... They are a good route considering your woods.

[jax]

I use the viper too. The rail is nice to lean against and shoot over

[Todweelz]

I have been using the summit viper  rail is there but you get used to leaning a bit and shooting over it. Very safe feeling, quite and very comfortable, I just picked up the viper sd from on on-line site for 217 shipped to my door

[tracker12]

Summit Viper for me.  I purcahsed a Lone Wolf Hand Climber last year.  Nice stand but didn't work for me after using the Summit for so long.  It went bye bye this week and I picked up a Lone Wolf Assault for when I use a Hang-On.

[buckster]

I have Summit Open Shot, Bushmaster, and LW.  My favorite is LW because it packs flat, is very quiet and secure & top section is easily adjusted while climbing.

[JMR]

I've had an Ol Man and still have a Summit that have the rail around them. I killed deer from both stands. You just have to keep the rail in mind when you position for the shot. I like the added security of the rail. Good luck with your choice.

[Nattybumppo]

Just for what it's worth...

My number one thing is comfort. I'm going to spend 3+ hours sitting in it so it's critical to me to be comfortable. I can deal with shooting my bows out of most anything. Bars don't bother me.

So I hunt out of a Summit Goliath. I have two of them. Granted I never pack them any further than 1/2- 3/4 mile at the most. And I hunt private land. If I was going to be going further I'd drop down to the open shot or the Summit Specialist.

Next to comfort a quiet stand is important to me. I am 250-260 and 6'0" so a stand that creaks and cracks and flexes is not going to work for me. This is the other reason I choose Summit. They're solid.

But it seems stands are extremely personal.

[buckeye_hunter]

Originally posted by awbowman:
For hunting with a trad bow your choices are pretty much Summit Open Shot or Lone Wolf Hand Climber

What he said!  

[Covey]

I've owned Summit, Ol'man and I finally broke down and bought a Lone Wolf hand climber. I must say, the LW is by far the easiest and the most quiet. It packs up nice and flat too, which makes it a lot more maneuverable in the thick stuff. JMHO of coarse!

[xtrema312]

Well nothing is moving and I can see a ways so I will weigh in from my lone Wolf where I have been for over 4 1/2 hours.  There are no other ones I have tried that I like better all around particularly if I have to Hall it far. I got mine used for a lot less than a new one so it was not what I would call expensive.  That it all relative anyway. In my mind expensive is something you get and hate then sell for a lot less than you paid and get something different.

I liked my old ol man multi something I think it was. I could take off the front bar.  It was steel and a tank. I liked that I could move the seat to the front to climb,  set front or back facing and stand against the tree without issues.  I also recall the pop in my back when I re ruptured the disk in my back trying to get it with a pack attacked on my back. I got an aluminum version but that thing was very loud climbing and moving around on it. I hunted it once and sold it.

I don't like bars.  I like to stand and be against the tree.  I don't like to stand and lean way out from the tree.  

I have looked at and borrowed a Summit. I have not ruled one out. Just have not found the right model at the right price.

I still hunt from hang ons most of the time. The lone Wolf assault with sticks or sick ladder is a great combo. For most of the trees I want to be in. Not cheep either but one will lay me the rest of my life as a carry around stand I don't leave out.  Got mine used still with the box and papers.

[Bonebuster]

I have two Summit Open Shots and one old Bushmaster...these stands have always served me well and I have no complaints...I would buy them again without hesitation.

What I would do if I were new to this market is go check them out to see which one I liked better. I would NOT buy one because it was cheap.