Well, I got the climbing sticks thing figured out for my hang on stands, so now I'm looking at bowhunting climbers. I was considering trying the Summit Openshot at 15 lbs., but I see that Summit now makes a Sentry open front with a bit larger platform and nicely designed fold up seat at 21 lbs. It looks like it could be more comfortable for long sits. Anybody here use the Sentry? Is any advantage of the Sentry worth packing the extra 6 lbs. in and out?

I've got an Openshot and a Viper. If I'm not walking far I'll often take the Openshot top with the Viper bottom. A bigger platform is nice. That being said 6 pounds is a lot of weight if you're walking in a fair distance.

I like the idea of the mesh seat on that Sentry. If it's comfy. When I leave my stand overnight and it rains, I wouldn't have to use so much Gold Bond powder the next day because my cushion was soaked.

You'll be happy with either, and if you go with the Sentry let us know how you like it!

Jerry

Both the Open Shot and the Sentry are hand climbers, right? If so, you'd better be in shape! I've got an Open Shot, but at the age of 66, I might not have it for much longer. My abs immediately remind me I'm not a kid anymore after climbing in a hand climber.

Fiddler, I see that Lone Wolf makes a Hand Climber Sit Strap. You can see it in use on their website or on YouTube, I forget which. It looks like it would fit any brand of hand climber. If not, maybe Summit should make their own sit strap. Clint

Last year, I bought an Open Shot with the new flip-up seat. I've always been a hang-on guy, and prefer them but with my back issues I was not as able to safely install tree steps and a hang-on stand as I used to. So I figured the climber might be a bit safer and easier on my back. It is, but I still don't like climbers as much as hang-ons. They never feel as solid to me.

The advantage of a hand climber vs. a sit or strap climber is you move 2x as fast up/down the tree. But I agree, it does take a bit more muscle to pull it off.

I'll continue to use my Open Shot where and when I can. It is as light as my hang-on and set of steps, which was my goal. The extra 6 lbs. of the Sentry was too much for me, where I go in to hunt.

Before putting a sit climb strap on a hand climber, make sure that the handlebars are long enough to keep your knees from hitting the tree. If not you won't be able to climb.

MP

"Is any advantage of the Sentry worth packing the extra 6 lbs. in and out?"

I would say yes, because more room on the foot platform would allow you to turn for shots off to the side easier. That is, if you make sure to keep the seat section fairly low. Learning to maneuver your bottom limb around the seat section side rails will take practice and may prohibit shooting behind your stand location.

I just watched the Lancaster Archery review of the Sentry and the instructor does warn that the hand portion of the climber can be bumped loose from the tree and dropped, thereby making a racket. I'm sure the strap provided can stop it from falling, but there will be a temptation to lean on it when shooting to one side or the other. My first Summit had just such a hand/seat section and I used a ratchet strap hooked to the v-bar and around the tree below the hand section. It held my weight for some leaning, but it eventually warped/bent, due to the strain of the ratchet strap.

I currently use an older style Summit called the Clearshot. The hand section is stored on the backside of the tree and the seat folds up from the foot platform. The seat is triangular and easily allows you to turn to either side for peeking behind you. Sometimes I can lean either shoulder into the tree and sit sideways. If they brought back that design, I would buy another in a heartbeat. Closest thing to it was a Loggy Bayou Stalker XL. The seat is not the same but I have one as my backup climber.

Regardless of which stand you buy, I would install a loop of one inch tubular nylon webbing, bridging both side rail supports close to the seat end. It should be big enough to reach down to your knees as you support your weight on your forearms. This loop will provide you a place to kneel/stand, in the event there is a problem with the foot platform and it drops or is unstable. Been there, done that, and believe you me, it was tough at 63yrs old. The photo shows that loop on my present Summit.

Wild Bill, I like the idea of that loop. With a hang on, I've always felt I could get back onto the stand or steps if I fell. Might not be as much to grab or step onto with a climber. My HSS harness came with a suspension relief strap to stand on but I've never had to use it yet. I was thinking of adding two tension straps to whichever stand I choose. Lone Wolf provides them with the Assault climber. The foot platform which is always weighted down pulls on the seat to hold it secure. Clint

I have the fifteen pound Open shot. It is stable enough to hunt out of, but I don't think it is comfortable for an all day sit. It excels in the packability category. That additional six pounds is enough to feel if you are humping in a long ways. I use the Open shot when I have a long hike in to my spot. If you aren't walking far, there are more comfortable climbers. My first year of using the Open shot, I had sore abdominal muscles and realized what I needed to do to fix it. Lots of leg lifting type ab work at the gym three days a week getting ready for year two and I could go up a tree fairly easily. It is a lightweight, quiet to erect, useful tool, but it is tough on an out of shape body. I will be 53 this season and am already too brittle to be dangling out of any trees, much less hitting the ground from a fall. Use that safety harness and keep yourself strapped to the tree from the time you leave the ground, all the way up and all the way down. Slow and steady wins the race - and keeps you out of the damned orthopedic doc's waiting room...

I have the Open Shot and really like it. I have sat for 3 and 4 hours with no lack of comfort. If needed, you can take breaks by folding the seat back and standing for a spell. I think it is very versatile. My only complaint, is that, in my opinion, the backpack straps suck. Royally! I typically just grab the stand in one hand and carry it rather than put it on my back. If the Sentry has the same straps, I can't imagine trying to pack it with the extra 6 lbs.

Agree - it is fine for a three or four hour sit and those straps do suck. I have adjusted them everyway I can think of and it either wallows around too sloppy or it digs in too tight. I have a piece of foam rubber cushion that I ended up strapping between my shoulder blades and the stand. It gives me some padding once the backpack straps are shortened up enough to make it ride higher and it augments that little butt pad once I get seated. I think they should rethink those elastic straps. There is too much give to them.

Agreed on the sucky straps on the open shot. That reminds me I need to replace them before the season starts! LOL

While I can't remember exactly which model I have,my open front Summitt stand is very comfortable,the most comfortable climbing stand I've ever used. But as far as packability,it sucks.Usually I just throw it up on my shoulder but as I get older I can't pack it like I used to.The main thing I think hurts it in the packing department using the shoulder straps is that it does not fold flat,if it did that would make it a whole lot better to carry on your back.

I think the stands are wider than they need to be personally. That doesn't help with the packability. I wish they would produce a narrow and a wide version so a person could choose based on the size trees they expect to encounter.

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