I'm thinking about buying a lightweight climbing stand for hunting public ground. I've never used a climber before except an old Baker. How stable is the platform when you stand out toward the edge to make a shot? I'm Just wondering if they're squirrley acting compared to a chain on stand.

My summit viper is steady eddy :) JF

JF, I'm thinking of the Summit Open Shot. I assume they hug onto the tree in the same manner?

Baker's were death traps. They tended to loose contact with the tree and slide down if you stood too close to the tree. And, or, they didn't get sufficient purchase when climbing or descending. They held on OK if you stood to the outside edge of the stand. Of course, you don't want to stand on the outside corner of any stand. My Lone Wolf is very stable.

I can walk out to the edge and jump up-and-down on my Screaming Eagle hang on stands - no movement no sound

Not that I make a habit of doing that! :)

Yes all the summits grab the same. if it doesn t squeaking while you climb take some sandpaper and sand the paint off the teeth where it grips the tree. The climbing bar makes it easy to climb, plus you can turn around and sit on the bar facing the tree.I haven't found where the bar has ever been in my way. my boy is always outside of the bar anyway and the bar gives you a place to rest your bowl waiting for the shot. It's pretty cozy when you get the seat adjusted right and just sitting there I love mine... JF

I used the TSS band style back in the day, moved up to the Old Man which was a real step up, and graduated to the Summit Viper 3 years ago.

Love it. Rock stable, SUPER comfortable for all day sits, as mentioned...the rail holds my bow for rattling or whatever, and easy to climb and descend with.

I had to adjust the rail high when shooting a 62" recurve, but with a 60" no problems.

Thanks for the info and advice. I don't 100% trust any stand or step. I use a full body harness to increase my odds of going home after the hunt.

I was looking at Summit Open Shot to avoid the rail. My longbows are all 66" amo. The Lone Wolf Assault hand climber stand seems great but it's quite expensive.

Smart man, using the harness. Where in Missouri are you. JF

Central MO. Jefferson City. I hunt on friends' properties north and south of the Missouri river. I'm wanting to try the Mark Twain National Forest north of the river.

Screw in tree steps not allowed on public land in MO. I thought about hanging leaving my hang on tree stand and backpacking in and out a set of tree sticks. But then, I thought these new light weight climbers don't weigh much more and no bulkier than the sticks. Provided they work, which is why I posted to get information and opinions.

Cool, whitetail hunting in the lower hills is a lot different than hunting them up here in Iowa cornfield wood edges. JF

Deer get bigger up north too! :)

I'm also thinking I can pick trees on each side of a trail and climb up the tree with the wind in my favor. You have to hang several fixed stands to cover the wind. For example, the danged NE wind is killing me lately. Prevailing wind is supposed to be out of W, not the E!

My Lone Wolf handclimber seems quiet and it's all I use when I'm not hunting on the ground. I have been able to turn around, without being caught and shoot bucks that came in behind me in each of the past two seasons. A noisy stand won't allow that.

Bigger body's but nor bigger antlers, so I've found out. My cuz that got the new bow took this one last Saturday. The biggest in his life. JF

JF, That's a whopper!

I notice the Lone Wolf has the adjustable double tether straps between top and bottom pieces that you leave long while climbing and cinch up tight while in hunting position. That seems like a good idea to me. Does the Summit Open Shot come with these tether straps or would I have rig my own?

I prefer the lone wolf over the summit. FYI right now lone wolf has $50 stands if you order from them.

Don't climb without the two tethered together. Mine was a store display so I had to add some stuff to it,like tether cord. JF

I have a Summit Open Shot. Haven't used in a few years. Only use my Lone Wolf hang-on now. The Summit climber is just as stable as the hang-on. You can stand on any part of it, and it won't move. It's also super comfortable.

Uncle Lijiah,

I have the Summit Clearshot, which was made before the Openshot. Once I get to the elevation I want to hunt from, I shift my weight to the right and left, to insure the teeth in the v-bar get a deep bite in the tree. However, when preparing to descend, you will have to first pull the foot platform up, to break the grip from the tree.

I am right-handed, and when preparing for a shot to my left, I hook my left foot toe under the side brace for the cable. That makes me feel a little more secure when leaning over the left side of the platform. If shooting off the forward end of the platform, I hook my right toe under the right brace.

Be sure to move your harness tether up the tree ahead of the seat/hand section. The tether length should be short enough to be taut as you put all your weight on your elbows, to lift the foot section. I find that tightening the tree loop slightly over my head is just right once I stand on the platform for the next step in moving it, again, slightly over my head. I wear Atlas nitrile faced gloves when setting up the stand and climbing. That brand has just the right combination of flexibility and tack to help me maintain a good grip on the stand. They also work well for my hoist line.

A few years back I had a mishap and learned the value in having a strap/loop on the hand section. It only hangs down in front of you as you climb up. I needed it to support my weight on my knees, as the bottom section came off the tree and I was suspended on my elbows from the hand section. The loop in the photo is 1" tubular nylon. I make sure it is hanging both when climbing and descending. It just wraps around the crosspiece at other times.

If interested, I've got a few other tips.

I have hunted out of the Summit Open Shot for around 8 years (if memory servers me). The stand is rock solid and it does not slip or wiggle when I walk around the edges of the platform. I can shoot my recurve bows out of it with no more interference than I get when using a hang-in stand.

It is easy to climb by placing my chest and forearms on the seat and lifting and lowering my legs rather than doing pull-ups with my my arms. The stand is also very light in weight. I feel more secure using this stand than any other stand that I have tried.

PS: I added the "Third Hand" straps which are the same as the double tether straps that you mentioned. Once you cinch done the straps, the top section of the stand is locked in place. The same straps keep the bottom and top of the stand tied together while you climb.

My wife just got a new X stand and she loves it. Only 14 lbs. and it is very stable and really digs into the tree, even a pin oak. A little pricey, I guess you pay more for less when it comes to climbing stands. My climber weighs 26 lbs, might change over next year myself.

James

Here's my relief loop. What isn't visible is that the tubular nylon is a single loop. That is, the ends are connected in a knot. There is a portion hidden behind the crosspiece in the photo. I use the hand climber, as does HighNTree, and rest my forearms on the sides as I face the tree. That's why the gloves help me get a better grip on the side cable housing braces.

At the time I had my mishap, I was using a Loggy Bayou stand and it had a loop which you could sit on, instead of resting your weight on your forearms. In that method of use you have to fit inside the loop/climber to stand and move the harness tether up. I prefer to be outside the loop, and sometimes support the climber from falling down, by pressing my waist into it and against the tree. Usually it bites and holds so I don't have to touch it until I lift it. Most times it breaks free from the tree with a slight lift/movement to the right or left.

I have used my API grand slam magnum for years, love it. I replaced the chain once, just for piece of mind.

I like my Summit Bush Master. solid climbing and noise free when set. The only thing I don't like about the Open Shot is the platform is a couple of inches smaller. I have also used an Ole Man with success.

As mentioned above...Third Hand Archery Products. Check out their climbing stand stabilizing straps. I use them on my Summit Viper and Ol man climber, makes so much difference in stability.

Lone wolf alpha climber. Hang a strap off the front of the climber and you can sit and climb

With the lone wolf hand climber I was thinking if the bottom portion fell out from under you then you would be hanging by the climber portion and would have to be really strong to hold on to it with one hand and reach down with your other hand to raise the bottom portion.,I guess this is a good reason to use the strap that makes it a sit and climb.

I really liked the TimberTalls. Lightest climbers I found and they have an adjustment wheel on the bands so you can adjust the angle as you climb if needed. However, they have a fixed climbing rail that can get in the way of the bow limbs.

I also use a Lone Wolf Sit-n-Climb. Easy to climbs and the climbing rail can fold under neath the seat so there is no obstruction for bow limbs. If a shot presents itself, I either fold the rail up or down against my legs and it is out of the way. When seated I like the rail up as it provides a nice arm rest or shooting rest for a firearm.

Either one is rock steady. The L.W. has a set of straps that run from the rear of the base to the front of he climber and when you get the stand in position, tighten the straps to really lock it in place. Loosen them up for climbing so that if you slip and drop the base, it only goes as far as the straps will allow and can be easily pulled back into position. Even if you don't buy the Lone Wolf, buy a set of these straps from the company.

Lone Wolf here.

Try a couple stands before you buy. you cant go wrong with the Lone Wolf, Summit, or others. All about safety and personal choice. Always use a harness.

take care,

tundra

Lone Wolf or Summit, both very high-quality and both very stable. You can't go wrong with either. Lone Wolf does carry a bit more compactly than Summit and is a bit quieter when going through brush. However, I find I use my Summit "Clear Shot" more often. The Clear Shot has an attached seat and preceded the Open Shot. I like it because the hand climber is not the seat and I can put the hand-climber behind me and out of the way while hunting. Not sure why Summit changed to the two-piece design? Anyway, both good stands.

Don't go cheap...I don't use stands much now after a near fall from a cheap gorilla climber

I have an old Summit Open shot. The down side, it doesn't fold flat. ( I guess the newer one's do ). The up side, it's very stable, comfortable, and easy to climb with. I had a problem with my Lone Wolf in that the climber was too narrow. Tough to climb with my forearms in front of my body. I sold it and kept the Summit.

Lone wolf also here. Rock solid and it's all I hunt out of anymore.

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