Question on climbing treestand

I am looking at the summit bushmaster from cabelas.I have not hunted from one of these,mostly making ladder stands from wood and i also have a summit tripod stand.I have watched a few videos of people climbing them and damn with the safety harness having to be repositioned as you climb it, it seems to take a lot of effort and time,the positive i see is that i am no tlimited to one or two spots plus going high enough will not be seen heard and smelled,comments.I also just saw a API high point climber at bass pro that looked nice.


Modified by ThomasL at 6:14 AM 11/16/2010

Well to be as safe as possible you need to wear the climbing strap but I will be honest most people climb then put on the safty harness when you get to the spot you want to be. It can be a pain to climb using the linemans harness.

I use a climbing stand alot, I have had or used quite a few brands. Old man, summit, API, warren and sweat, commanche and others. Right now I own a summit viper, this is the best stand I have ever used. I have used the bushmaster, or "open shot" when you buy it some where else and it is more difficult to use than the viper. The summints are the most stable stands I have ever used, the old man I just used a couple of days ago was very unstable as some of the others I have usd. The API stands are as stable as the summits but heavy and a little bulky. As far using a linemans belt, it takes another minute and is better than a fall. I use a belt to climb the first time and then use a rope like a HSS life line to climb after that if I hunt the same tree for a while, I usually hang my stand from 30-35 feet and a climber is alot easier than a hang on for me. I make sure I am always tied off at al times.

Toby,i am looking at the bushmaster because it is on sale for 179.95 and 30.00 off that thru today at cabelas.I found out api is only available from bass pro.I am seeing the viper ss's on ebay with a few at bids of 170-200 dollars.

I do have a question and it is about me,i have bad knees,can dislocate but have not done it in a while,had one operated on,that is a concern for me.At least with a ladder stand if something happens i am still holding the steps of the ladder,just a thought i had.

I also use the Summit Viper and love it. I only climb using my rope when I am in a tree with loose bark and it feels like my stand is slipping. I don't use the linemen belt when I do though. I just set my harness up like I normally would and move it up the tree as I go, it's really not that big of a deal. The Viper really is easy to use. Just sit on the shooting rail and pull your knees up, set the base and stand up and reposition the seat part. I've used the stands where you have to use your arms instead of sitting on the shooting rail and they are much more work. You should be ok with your knees because you will have the chair part of the stand to hang on to if your knees were to go out.

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by ThomasL &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Does anyone mind looking at bass pro at the api highpoint at 149.94,it does weigh 26 lbs though and i don't know what kind of strap system the bottom part has?</td></tr></table>

It appears you just slip your foot under the side supports.You could buy that stand and add the climbing bracket. I am a Summit guy. I have three with my latest being the Goliath. I go up as high as 45 feet and I am 280lbs.I do wear a harness but I don't put it around the tree until I am 10 feet up or so. My biggest problem with the Summit stand is after getting in the tree an hour before light come 10:00 oclock or so and the sun starts warming things up I go out like a light. Some of the best sleep I get is in my stand. Another thing to consider is any part you have to remove to attach the chains is subject to fall out of your handsand will be gone forever, buy spares. With Summit no worries there are no loose parts.

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Sterling &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">

It appears you just slip your foot under the side supports.You could buy that stand and add the climbing bracket. I am a Summit guy. I have three with my latest being the Goliath. I go up as high as 45 feet and I am 280lbs.I do wear a harness but I don't put it around the tree until I am 10 feet up or so. My biggest problem with the Summit stand is after getting in the tree an hour before light come 10:00 oclock or so and the sun starts warming things up I go out like a light. Some of the best sleep I get is in my stand. Another thing to consider is any part you have to remove to attach the chains is subject to fall out of your handsand will be gone forever, buy spares. With Summit no worries there are no loose parts.</td></tr></table> http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/bows.gif Daum My summit does me the exact same way Best rest I get all year http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif during dear season Summit all the way for me http://www.bassboatcentral.com/boardstuff2/beers.gif

I have until midnight to buy the summit bushmaster for 179.95 plus 30.00 off,shipping will be close to 24.00,total around 173.00.I do not intend to climb more than 16' high so the open front doesn't bother me much just the idea of using my arms more than i would with a bar or seat model,decisions,decisions.

I have had both climbers and lock ons. I prefer the lock on. Mostly because you lock it on and leave it, no carrying it out or having to bury it in leaves making a lot of noise uncovering it and going up the tree. Another reason is that a climber requires a more perfect tree and thats not always gonna work out for you. The only time I use a climber is if I see an area thats getting a lot of traffic and I had not put a lock on or ladder stand there I at least have the option of getting in that spot quickly.

ive got a summit goliath climber and love it...go with the summit, you wont regret it..

are you exclusively bowhunting ie. open front climber ?

if youre gun hunting go with and enclosed front...they even have some nifty gun rests....and yes, i bowhunt out of my goliath all the time http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif

If it's private land, I like to attach the stand to the tree a day or two ahead so I only have to get in and go. I HATE attaching my old API in the dark.


Modified by BP in ME at 6:07 AM 11/18/2010

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by TobyG.Mo &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I use a climbing stand alot, I have had or used quite a few brands. Old man, summit, API, warren and sweat, commanche and others. Right now I own a summit viper, this is the best stand I have ever used. I have used the bushmaster, or "open shot" when you buy it some where else and it is more difficult to use than the viper. The summints are the most stable stands I have ever used.</td></tr></table>

+1

Let go of a little extra money and get the viper ultra from Cabelas. Comes with a lot of accessories for very little extra $. Best stand I ever owned.

I've used an API stand before and it was nice. I believe it was a grand slam or something along those lines. The part I didn't like about it was the foot straps, they were just nylon straps, you had to bend over to put them around your boots which is tough when you are a big guy in a little stand. I much prefer the rapid climb set up that summit has which you can buy for $20 and had to the API

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by ol man river &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">ive got a summit goliath climber and love it...go with the summit, you wont regret it..

are you exclusively bowhunting ie. open front climber ?

if youre gun hunting go with and enclosed front...they even have some nifty gun rests....and yes, i bowhunt out of my goliath all the time http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif </td></tr></table>

Would make more sense if you hunted out of an Ol Man treestand! http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by ThomasL &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote"> ....so 26 pounds is light compared to 47 lbs! http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif </td></tr></table>

Keep in mind that you'll also be carrying your rifle, possibly a back pack and half of your clothing (because you don't wanna work up a sweat heading to that perfect tree).

I have had three climbing stands. The first one I bought from Gander Mountain many, many years ago. It was one of the first generation designs with the "v" shaped blades that went around the back of the tree. It was not very comfortable to hunt from and not the most stable thing in the world. I later up graded to a Summit Cobra. It was a huge step up and I hunted out of it for several years. A couple of years ago I started hunting from a Summit Viper and absolutely love it. The enclosed front makes it much easier to climb with. As with all Summits is it super stable and very comfortable to hunt from. As others have stated weight is an issue. You will not only be packing your stand but also your gun, back pack, and any other extras you need to take with you. That was one thing I really liked about the Cobra, it was really light (I think it was 16 lbs). However, I still like the Viper a lot more. Bite the bullet and get a Viper, you will not regret it for one second.

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by ecubasser &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">

Would make more sense if you hunted out of an Ol Man treestand! http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif </td></tr></table>

smartazz http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif


what i needed is a fat man stand....hence the summit goliath.. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif


Modified by ol man river at 9:47 PM 11/20/2010

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by ol man river &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">

smartazz http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif


what i needed is a fat man stand....hence the summit goliath.. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Modified by ol man river at 9:47 PM 11/20/2010</td></tr></table>

The ole Man are fat boy approved!

Decided to keep the bushmaster done out of the box and ordered pads for the upper climber from summit for 20.00.It is hads down lighter than the api which is on it's way back to BPS.

I've got a Summit Viper and love it. Very stable. I'm also terrified of heights so my stand was going to have to be stable! I also use the safety rope and harness both going up and down the tree. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/thumbsup2.gif