Stand "system" recommendations - portability & easy install

[Rando]

As I age I am looking for the easier and SAFER way to do things. I am still in good shape but not a fan of dangling from a tree to install a stand or breaking my back hauling one in to my hunting area.
I have become a huge fan of ladder style stands, but they are often bulky & heavy - not conducive to long treks and mobility. I do hunt from the ground when I am able, but some areas are better suited to tree stands.
Next year I will be hunting some areas that will require medium to long walk-ins and will only be hunted a day or two at a time. Would love some recommendations on the best system you've found to address these challenges. Steps vs sticks, hang-ons vs ladders, etc. Looking for something easy to haul, hang/install, and safe.
Look forward to your replies...
Rando

[Mike Bolin]

I'll be watching this as well. I am leaning toward the Lone wolf hand climber...I think!? I tried the Lone wolf sticks but I have had a couple of foot surgeries and the steps are hard on my feet, so thanks for posting this!

[Morning Star]

I've tried many setups over the years.  Still can't find a better one than a Lone Wolf Assault with 4 Lone Wolf Sticks.  I replaced the buckle straps on my sticks with a Tenex  cuff rope system to lighten things up and quiet the installation down.  I use a Muddy Outdoors harness with a Chinese cuff rope belt to climb and work hands free. I put "The Claw" backpack straps on the stand. Very nice for packing, strong, no shifting.

I've never been a fan of climbers because they limit you to certain trees.  This setup will work in any type of tree and that's what it takes to get killing close.

[Iowabowhunter]

Im going to go with the Hawk Helium series of stands and hang on steps. Fairly inexpensive, very lightweight. I think most people get hurt because of not wearing a safety harness on the way up the tree (lineman belt at least) and also trying to get higher in the tree w/fewer steps to save on $

I'm not sure why tree Stan hang on steps are sold in 3 packs, I've always used 4 to get up to the desired height.

[Steelhead]

I think chain ons are easiest to hang fast and without hassle.Seems most stands today use a buckle type system.They work okay.But I prefer chain ons.The screaming eagle eaglet mightbworth look for a pack in stand.Its about 10 pounds.

for packing in I like tree sticks.I would use 3 or 4.I like 3 and space them apart a bit to get higher.Or 3 sticks and a couple tree steps to keep the overall pack in weight down.

I bungie strap all the sticks together tightly.Put the sticks straps under one of the bungies tkeep them fromm flopping around.

Then bungie the sticks to the standand and you have a  pretty light unit of around 22 #s that packs quietly and wont clang around.Some wide pack straps on the stand that wont dig into your shoulders is nice.

I have seen the HAWK stands mentioned above.The 10# alumiinum model looks very well made.They wont break the bank account.Thier are variety off sticks available.I would go with aluminum too keep the weight down.

Thats my system in a nutshell.Been using it for years and it works very well.

[RLA]

Chippewa easily the best.

[KSdan]

LW and sticks.  No noise.  I carry sticks on foam blocks so they never touch one another and they are low profile.  Buckles are easy and covered with felt they make NO noise- none (nothing worse to me in the deer woods that ANY metal noise!) With shoulder straps AND hip belt, along with everything I need in a turkey vest (this is key) there is little noticeable weight.  I can shoot fine with it on.  Every hunt is a new set-up. 10 minutes or less and I am up and hunting.

Dan in KS

[Rollie]

Mike, may I ask what size tenex rope you are using? Thanks.

[Morning Star]

Rollie,

12 strand Tenex, 1/4"

[heartshoth]

Chippewa treestsnds

[kadbow]

Another for Lone Wolf (alpha) and sticks.  If it is a really long distance I will use steps instead of sticks.  The sticks are quick. I use 3 sticks and usually have an extra step or two just in case. My tree stand hunting experience is limited compared to the Midwest and east guys.

[Kopper1013]

Can I ask y not a climber?
If your only hunting the area a day or two at a time y not just bring in a climber leave it over night, pull it the next evening...just wondering

[KSdan]

Kopper- not sure if that is a general question- My answer:  There is not a tree I get in that would allow a climber. I had one years ago- but they are useless in most any areas I hunt (KS, ND, NE, MO, MI).  Even if there were trees available I want to hunt the deer not be hunting for a tree.  I am DEAD quiet and from the time I arrive at the base of a tree, I am hunting in easily 10 minutes.  Every sit is new like this.  (I set up this year within 40 yds of a doe and fawns.  Never even spooked them.)

Dan in KS

[grizzlyxx]

I have longwolf assault with 4 of their climbing sticks and the long wolf hand climber.  The climber is great for long hikes very light weight and compact, but often as the case where I'm at you end up hunting a tree you can climb instead of deer.  The longwolf assault is more versatile and more comfortable than hand climber.

[Jasper2]

I agree with Dan. If you have trees picked out and prepared ahead of time, or are hunting in an area where the trees are conducive to climbers, then they are the way to go.  

Short of that, sticks and hang on are my choice.  I have the LW Assault that I use occasionally ...but on trees 18" and under, the Chippewa system is hard to beat.  After the sticks are up, I can hang even the largest Chippewa platform with one hand, and be sitting in it safely in a matter of seconds. It takes me longer to get the Assault setup because you have to get two straps around the tree....while the stand is up there. I do not have the EZ hang hook, which would help, but you still have two straps to deal with....versus none on the Chippewa.

If Chippewa would pad the seat a little more and open the back of the stand wider to fit larger trees, they would have a near perfect setup for the areas that I hunt.

[Altiman94]

I've used the LW alpha and 3 sticks exclusively since 2005.  Prior to that I used climbers.

Like others have said, I would rather spend my time hunting deer than trees.  I can get up just about any tree I need with the alpha.  I'm not limited hardly in any way.

I can get up any tree a climber can, plus many more that a climber cannot.  Only thing you give up is some level of speed.

If I hunt an evening sit and want to hunt the same spot for the morning, I'll leave it up.  Since I hunt public land here in Iowa, I don't leave anything more than overnight.  I can just imagine someone's mouth salivating if they see a LW and sticks in a tree.  They wouldn't last.

[Flying Dogg]

Chippewa tree stands with the strap option. They are very light weight(under 10lbs.), pack easily, are the easiest hang-on stands to hang that I have found(which makes hanging them safer), and they are rock solid and quiet when hung. I replaced all of my Lonewolf hang-ons and a number others that I have used over the years with these stands. I use the drill and 3/8" bolt steps, or the skyhook aluminum screw-in steps, but would not recommend either if you are over 200 lbs.

[DaveT1963]

My original LW assault weighs in under 8 pounds (I believe it is 7.5 pounds).  It is far better from stability and noise standpoint then any other stand I have ever tried.... and far lighter.  I use three modified helium sticks (modified them to where they are only 20 inches long with two steps on each.  I also replaced the strap with Amisteel rope).  I added a foot web strap extender to each that gives me another 20 inche step on each.  I can easily hunt to 16-17 foot with this set up as each step can easily take me 5 foot.  My sticks weight about 1.5 pounds with rope and straps.  My total stand and sticks weight in just a tad over 12 pounds.

[Mr. fingers]

I'm never "huntimg trees" most people have an area scouted before hand. I have no trouble in my neck of the woods finding a tree for my climber if I need to trim a few branches no big deal I usually have a tree picked out beforeI hunt. The same with a hang on and steps. You can't use sticks and plow through the branches on you way up there is always some level of trimming. crooked trees then yes  a set of light sticks and hang ons are the way to go. For in and out hunts I like my LW hand climber combo It's light quiet and compact. Perfect for longer treks into the timber. And very fast to get up a tree. I've taken more deer with my climber ( element of surprise) than any other stand I own. I also feel safe with it I'm 47 and had a beast of a time dangling from a safety strap 20 ft. Up trying to get my frozen treestand strap undone on one of my hang ons. So I know what you are saying. With my climber I'm always on the platform from the ground up.
And ladder stands are nice but also a beast to haul in and out of the woods. I actually use all 3 styles if I were to use only one it would be my LW climber
So despite  what some say don't exclude a good climber.