Climber Treestands

[Robie]

I bought a Loggy Bayou climber about 15 years ago and I like it alot. I haven't really stayed up on what's new for climbers lately and am wondering what's available . My S-I-L is looking to buy one.
The Summit Viper has been recommended to me.
Any recommendations are appreciated. We'll be out shopping soon.

Thanks, Robie

[LampLighter]

The King of the South is the Gorilla Greyback Pro Series. The king of the North seems to be the Lone Wolf.

Climbing stands growing up in the 80's in the deep south were as common as Remington 742's in 30.06. Everybody had one. I have used many. Jim Baker, Amacker, API, Warren & Sweat, Ol Man, and finally the Gorilla Greyback.

For the absolute most quiet to climb, quiet and ease to pack , we found the Ol Man to be tops. My Ol man, made back in the hey day in Hattisburg, MS, has gotton old. 2 years ago I bought the Gorilla. It is an Ol Man with some fine tune improvements. The Ol Man is still made, and made in aluminum too, but it just doesn't seem the same not being made in MS, but China now. I know, the Gorilla is probably made there too. The Ol Man is quieter than the Gorilla, because if you drag the cable along the back side of the tree, the pins rattle on the Gorilla.

I am pretty sure Summit is still made in Alabama. That means alot. I have never seen a more quiet stand for the serious hunter who sneaks in undetected, and maybe climbs close to bed areas, than the Ol Man. China or not, I might would take a second look at it.

Consider the person who makes recommendations to you. Are they a serious woodsman who hunts alot and is serious about slipping in undetected and being quiet ? Just look at all angles. Also, watch that you don't just get a recommendation because it is the " most popular" stand going. Look at what matters. Quiet when disassembling in the dark. Maybe deer passed under you just before dark and you didn't want any of them. They are not too far. You want to get it off the tree and remain undetected and "slip out the back door." Consider that. I once climbed down after a morning hunt with my Ol Man, got it off the tree, packed it together, leaned it against the tree, and took two steps to go get a rake that I left weeks before about 100 yards away. I come to a stop and there was a spike in the acorns , head down, eating. He never knew I was there, even after climbing down and getting that stand off the tree.

http://www.olmanoutdoors.com/

take a look at the Aluminum Multi-Vison

[Robie]

Thanks Lamplighter. I'll pass this info on. I've got a Gorilla Hang-on stand and it's my best of that type. I'll see if our local shops carry the climber. there's one bow shop not too far away that always had a good selection of stands and brands. That's where I got mine. Haven't been out there in a long time. I'll make the trip so that we can try them out.

[Sabre]

A friend of mine has a gorilla greyback and really likes it. I think it's too big and heavy and after trying his greyback, an API and a couple others, I still prefer my Summit.

[LampLighter]

ROBIE, DISREGARD MY RECOMMENDATION ON THE GORILLA I retract it. I was not aware of the changes. It seems they do not have the Ol Man net seat any more. They also do not have the Pro series, just one model. I did not know of all this. Definitely go with the aluminum Ol man. Wow! I need to keep up with this stuff. I bet Ol Man took their patent back some how. Court stuff.


You know Robie, you got me thinking. I have been pondering all night. Could not sleep. I think I figured out why the pins rattle on the Gorilla but not the Ol Man. The Ol man has the rubber hose with just a cable eye, and the rubber hose fits snug in the round tubing. You often had to twist the hose to spin the eye and put the pin through.

The Gorilla, they went to a smaller diameter vinyl-covered cable with square tubing, and molded square ends on the cable. You lost that twist tension, and that tightness that the Ol Man had. They done that as an inprovement to eliminate having to twist it to align with the hole. I did this in the dark with a red light many times. I think I know how to stop the rattle on the Gorilla. I'll work on this soon. Maybe twist it to the next square 180 deg., or put some electric tape to make the square bigger.

[Robie]

I did a modification on my Loggy by turning the tube with the detents and pins 180 degrees to allow the seat to move fully to the tree without catching in the detents. They were never in the right spot anyway. Now it's easier to attach to the tree. I don't know what their purpose was anyway.

[DaveHawk]

Lone Wolf, is better then when I 1st bought mine, But it's still the quitest, lightest and easest to put up and take down in the dark. The platform is like standing on concrete.

[ncboman]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v50/ncboman/Ohio%2007/12807Ohio130rf.jpg

This Buckshot Bigshot is still climbing fine after 24yrs of heavy use. :)

[dave-t.]

I have borrowed a Summit, but if I were going to buy it would be a Lone Wolf. They aren't very comfortable, but they pack the best of those I've seen.

[DaveHawk]

Dave if you get the sling seat and a good cushion it's really good.

[dave-t.]

Good tip.

If there is any way, even at double the time and effort to pre-hang a stand, I prefer to do it.

I had a climber platform drop out from under me the second time I ever tried one. It was such a shock, and made such a racket, I just packed up and went home P.O.'ed. I fully admit to not knowing what the heck I was doing and had zero experience with climbers. Never been a fan of climbers since then, but it is hard to deny that in some situations they provide a huge advantage.

[Twanger]

I agree with Davehawk about the padded sling seat. They are very comfortable. I've sat in one for 14 hours (a couple of times) and could still walk after the event. :D

[ncboman]

I sit on a 1x8 spruce board. You can see it in the above pic. :D

Puts me sittin up higher, keeps me from falling to sleep so easy, and is very quick and easy to switch from facing tree to back to the tree ... PLUS I really like the solid feel of my leg against that board when I'm standing up. :)

[rimrock]

http://www.treelounge.com/

http://www.treelounge.com/videos.htm

look this over

[DaveHawk]

Alan , you don't use a cushion on the board for your back side.

You are one hard a$$ man lol

[Twanger]

I sit on a 1x8 spruce board. You can see it in the above pic. :D


Shoot man, you should drive a few nails through that board and have 'em stick up about 1/2-inch. That'll really keep you awake! :D:rolleyes::p

I actually like sleeping in my tree stand, particularly if I'm gonna be up there for more than 4 hours. I'll often get into the stand a good 45-minutes before first light and then nap for a while before the action starts at dawn.