Tree Stand Decision For 2016

[Stump73]

Raise your seat as high a as you can on the rail and lower the whole hand climbercloser to the platform.

[stagetek]

I would not use a climber with the bar in front. Even if you practice with it, in the "heat of the moment" you're going to forget about it...until your bow hits it. X2 on buying a different hand climber.

[JamesV]

If you decide to replace your current stand, look at the new X stand. It is a climber and the sit and climb bar swings down or up out of the way. Best of all the stand and seat only weigh 14 lb.

[Basstar]

I've bantered this back and forth with myself now for the better part of this season, along with the switch from the compound bow and have decided I'm going back to my roots, hunting from the ground, where it all began for me years ago.

The ground hunts I've made this season were more enjoyable than when in a tree stand and I realize how much of my hunting skills and instincts I've lost.  On a good note though, I can tell that deep in my psyche they are there just waiting to be rekindled.

At first I had intended to either try this stand or perhaps switch but I think subconsciously I was ready to make the transition.

I may buy another stand in seasons to come but this next season will be on the ground at the deer's eye level "Mano a Mano".    

[Mr. fingers]

I love my lone wolf hand climber combo been using it since 2002.
Andre D Aquisto the inventor of Lone Wolf. Sold the company years ago but now him and his son have a new company XOP treestands which are almost identical to the lone wolfs with a few new inovations.You can get a hand climber combo for from $239 to $339.  Check em out at  www.Xopoutdoors.com

[OBXarcher]

I have been using an API bowhunter model for over a decade. It doesn't have the bar. I love it, it has been very good to me. Tried lone wolfs, both hang on and climbers and did not like them a bit. That rubber strap always made me uneasy,
 To each his own.

[tracker12]

Another option is to buy the open top from Summit which you can do separately and keep your stand.  I have shot my longbow out of my Viper but it will be a hindrance.

[Bow man]

Lone wolf would we Mt choice

[beaunaro]

I hadn't used either of my climbers for years till a recent Indiana bowhunt.

I never liked my sit and climb Lone Wolf because the dealer I bought it from never gave me the straps which anchor the seat to the foot platform.

These two straps are a must and make the Lone Wolf rock solid.

It's like night and day and Night with the straps and now my Summit is for sale.

Another climber I like is the 'Ol Man.

[Mint]

Never tried a climber but I sure like the versatility of my Chippewa wedgelock.

[Michael Arnette]

I'd buy some muddy sticks and a good hang on stand...or you can do it the old fashion way with the screw in climbing steps. That's what I've been doing for years. I never could get used to the climbers and didn't like having to be so picky with trees.

[Tradcat]

Keep the summit stand but ditch the seat and get an after market net seat from hazemore. It will allow you to sit much higher so your knees are slightly above the shooting rail and will enable you to see the teeth of the climber while as ascending & descending