I'm curious to find out what everybody prefers....

I know that some of the members on here may not use them, but then again I believe that a lot of members might....

I am a Firm Believer in the 'OL MAN CLIMBING STANDS!!!!!!

These stands are the most comfortable stands that I have ever hunted out of....They really give me that advantage to sit there a little longer in hopes of taking a good deer.....

If you notice when watching "MOSSY OAK HUNTING THE COUNTRY"....The 'OL MAN CLIMBER'S are the stands they use also....

'OL MAN CLIMBERS are made in Mississippi.....

If you are in the market....Give these a look....You won't be disappointed... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I personally like the Summit Viper XLS. I have both the Viper and a Tree Lounge. The Tree Lounge is the most comfortable, but it is also the biggest pain to set up. I like the Summit because it's lighter and I can have it on the tree and be up the tree by the time I've even got the back braces off the Tree Lounge.

I will probably sell the Tree Lounge soon.

Another vote for the Summit Viper XLS,no pins and tearing shrink tube over chain like API's.Quiet carrying and very stable when climbing.Snakeable cable really quiets and speeds things up.Lightest at 19# also.

woods

Check out Lone Wolf stands. Extremely quick, quiet and light.

I think my next one will be an 'Ol Man but I'll have to check out the Summet. Right now I'm using a Port-a-climb. Not the quickest or the most quiet to set up but very comfortable.

I have used 4 generations of Summit stands. I have tried other types that my buddies used but now they all only buy Summit.

I recommend them without hesitation.

I have the original model Ol'Man and have used it the past 10 years or so. Portable tree stand hunting is all I do for Southern Whitetails. I'm 55years old, so I've been doing it longer than there have been commercial brands available. Some ofmy earlier ones were homemade out of angle iron and steel mesh, must of weighed 40lbs! Here are some hard earned opinions of a good climbing tree stand. (1. -- portability-- You don't want one that sits too high above your shoulders or sticks out too far out behind you or hangs down too low below your butt. Remember, the easier it is to carry, the more you will carry it. Mine is just as much a normal part of my hunting garb as my fanny-pack and rifle. (2.-- Weight-- This is obvious but closly related to #1. Alighter stand that is cumbersome or awkward or unbalanced is more of a pain than a little heavier one that fits better. (3.-- Ease of set-up-- Forget anything that has wing-nuts or bolts or anything that can be dropped or lost. Forget anything that requires both sides to be adjusted. Forget anything that can't be readjusted once you are up the tree or going up the tree. (4.-- Quietness-- This includes assembly and disassembly as well as climbing. (5. Ease of climbing-- Most important. The top and bottom parts need to be light enough to allow you to work around knobs and limb stumps and bulges and all those little obsticles that less than perfect trees have on the way up and down. There are not many perfect trees. The sides of the stand that you hold onto while climbing should be flexable as well, for the same reasons. (6.--Steadiness.-- Very seldom will you get a shot where the deer is in the perfect position. You have to be able to "squirrel" around to get into the proper shooting position and that requires a stand that is very secure and stable in both the top and bottom parts. I've shot most of my deer either sitting or kneeling on the bottom half while resting my rifle on the top half. Most of the time I've gotten to that position without even thinking about it. (7.-- comfort-- The longer you can sit there the "luckier" you will be, particularly during the rut. Six hours is about as long as I've sat in mine and it was due to reasons other than comfort that I didn't go longer. That mesh seating is far more comfortable than it appears. There's probably more, But I'm having a senior moment. For my money, you just can't beat an Ol'Man.--Bill

I bought my first climber this year, I went with one that Cabelas puts their name on, not sure who makes it for them. Plenty comfy, nice padded shooting rail for my muzzleloader, under $200 if I remember.-KT28

If anyone is looking for a Tree Lounge Climbing Stand and doesn't want to shell out the retail prices, I have an as-new Tree Lounge for sale, but haven't posted it anywhere yet. Was going to put in on consignment at the hunting store near the lease in SW Georgia and then thought about the hunting sites I visit and found this thread.

It is the #44-E Extended Gun Hunter's Special ($370), with #83 Safety Cable System, Instructional Video, Owner's manual, #8 Gun Holders, #9 Chill Pad, #11 Bow Hunting Adapter, #59 Bow Hunting Adapter Knobs ($5), #34 Tree-Lounge Jumbo Knobs ($10), #86 Tree-Lounge Arm Rail Pads ($20), #6 Pillow ($10), #403 Leveler Combo Pack ($120). Total purchase price, excluding shipping, is $535 and I am asking $295 + reasonable shipping.

I live in FL, but travel to SW Georgia (Worth & Colquitt Counties) about once each 4-6 weeks during the year and quite a bit more frequently during hunting season.

That's a little more than half of what I paid - I just purchased this rig last season from Tree Lounge and used it less than 6 times. Some of the accessories are still in the original shipping boxes. Everything is in like-new/excellent condition and I can take/post/send digital pics in the next couple of days.

If anyone is interested, please let me know at cetyson@bellsouth.net . This is a nice way for someone to get into a complete Tree Lounge Climbing Stand with all of the useful accessories at nearly half the price.

Heck, this price is $70 + shipping LESS than the Gun Hunter's Special Tree Lounge Climber ALONE with NO accessories!

Clay

I would recommend puting this add on the classified section as well.

Mike

Good suggestion and I'll do that with some digital pics in a day or two.


Thanks,
Clay

Im also a Firm user of The Summit Viper XLS, It light and Im a big guy & I can get up the tree pretty quick with it. Its also as quiet as id like too. I love mine. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Summit Viper is the best with API grand slam a close second. I have and use several of each. Summit is a little more user friendly. SF <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I'm a pretty big guy, 6'4 265, so my needs might not match most other's but here is my experiences with climbers. Up until last season every brand of climber I had been in I didn't like, to hard to set up, didn't feel sturdy enough, loud, not big enough, etc. Last season my uncle let me try out his Summit Viper X4. Let me tell you what a difference that stand made. It wasn't to heavy to pack it. Set up pretty easily and quitely. I was able to climb up the tree with very little effort and once I got up there I was very comfortable. That stand felt rock solid. I would highly reccomend the Summit treestands. I'm saving up to get their goliath model, its a little bigger and has a 350lbs rating.

I just picked up the Summit Bullet Backpacker which is very similar to the Viper, except the Backpacker folds flat making it a little easier to transport.

I had been using a Lone Wolf Alpha hang on but the fatter I get makes it harder to step from the top step to the platform w/o fearing for my life. I was considering getting the Lone Wolf climber but it was too expensive. I really like their cast aluminum platforms though.

Check out NORTH STARR tree stands. They have a website. Big platform like a Loggy, very light 16lb. very very safe comfortable (I'm 6'3") I can't say enough about them.I don't see them advertised very often so maybe they don't have a big advertising budget.They are a member of the TREE STAND MANUFACTURERS ASSOC.I sold the stand that I have been using for the last 10 years or so.No regrets.I could go on and on. Take a long look at them.

Summit, Summit, Do I need to say any more. I have a Viper I use for muzzleloader/gun hunting and a Broadhead model that I bow hunt out of. I've never had a bit of trouble out of any of my Summits. I've even climbed shag bark hickory with them and they locked in very well. I like the fact that the Summits are made in Decatur, AL. I've got an old Cougar Climber anyone ever use one of those? You've got to be careful with those, you can get yourself in trouble fast if you don't watch what your doing.