I bought a new tree stand last night...

GC

GC

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I am reentering the world of bow hunting after about a 25 year absence. I bought a new tree stand last night, a Summit Viper SD with the footrest. I had been doing research on stands and decided I really wanted to look at this model which is a “sit & climb” and to my surprise a local shop just got in a new shipment of Summit stands. After looking those all over I decided the Viper SD was probably my best option. The dealer is in some sort of buying group and this stand has some factory upgrades like the footrest and deluxe pack straps. I am excited about it, what do ya’ll use? Also, which safety harness are you guys using? The Summit comes with one but it seems most guys are using something else from what I've read.
 
I have a couple summits, the 180 and a viper. Most comfortable stands I've ever owned and no problem making all day sits.
Check out the Summit saddle bags too. I carry all my small essentials in them. The seat in pack mode will hold your bigger stuff, like heavy coat, layering garments, etc.. Oh and if you choose to get the saddle bags you'll want to use a small bungee cord to stop them from swaying and knocking while you walk to and from your tree.
Practice in the off season getting it on and off the tree and into back pack mode. I've had mine many years and can put them on and off the tree and back in pack mode without using my headlamp.
Also when climbing they make a scrape/crunching sound on the bark. Keep your eyes peeled because over the years I've had several bucks come to check out the sound.

As for harness, yeah the cheap ones you get with the stand are not very good. I have the Robinson Labs tree spider and the life line that lowers you to the ground if you should happen to fall. Gives you a real sense of safety/peace of mind.
Hope this helped!
 
I prefer hang-ons myself.I have a Screaming Eagle and a LocOn lite.I use screw in steps on my own property and where it's OK with the land owner and strap on steps for state lands where screw steps are illegal.I have enough steps on hand to keep 4 setups ready to go.My harness is also from SE.
 
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I hunt mainly from a summit viper as well and they are really comfortable! All day sits no problem. I was never a believer until I actually used one. As for a harness my wife and I both use the one from Muddy Outdoors. Super light, easy on/off and affordable.
 
You will be very happy with the Viper HD!
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I hunt several different types of stands from cheap lock ons to my viper sd infinity. The Viper is by far the most comfortable, but the fixed front rail makes bowhunting a bit trickier. I also hate climbing up and down in a climber all the time, so I usually only use my viper when Im checking out new spots or whatever.
 
Just to throw a monkey wrench in....try a Tree Saddle (no longer made) or a Guido's web. Once you hang, you'll never sit again...waaaaayyyy more comfy and secure feeling.
-Rob
 
I own 2 of the Vipers and absolutely love them!!! IMHO the safest, easiest, comfortable climber out there... I use the Muddy harness as well.. Regarding the "squeeking" noise present on a New climbers.. I took a wire brush or even better a wire bristled attachment on a table grinder or even a drill.. Use this to remove the paint/coating on the teeth that come in contact with the bark on the tree... The top part of the climber isn't to loud when climbing but the bottom portion is very LOUD and out of place at day break in the middle of the whitetail woods... Do yourself a favor and remove that coating ... Practice climbing with your new toy and always pack a folding saw or good pair of limb cutters.. You can put these to use while climbing to your desired height.. Make sure to cut all limbs FLUSH with the tree!!! Any remaining parts of the limb sticking out can get stuck on the cables (will get stuck) and will be a big PIA trying to get the cable up and over the stob or worse will give you a false sense that the platform is solid when it is actually resting on that small piece of remaining limb.. Not fun when it's still dark and your climbing up in the dark !!!
 
My son just bought a Lone Wolf sit n' climb so we'll see how the two compare apples to apples very soon. A friend of mine has both and says he very much prefers the Summit over his Lone Wolf.
 
Originally Posted By: RobTaylorJust to throw a monkey wrench in....try a Tree Saddle (no longer made) or a Guido's web. Once you hang, you'll never sit again...waaaaayyyy more comfy and secure feeling.
-Rob

I just ordered the web. I cant wait to try it out. Im goin to use it for coyote hunting more then anything.
 
My family uses a lot of home made ladder stands which we leave in pretty much year round as long as the stand placement doesn't need changed, but those are on land owned by our family. If I'm packing in somewhere or am on public ground I use either a crotch stand (homemade) or a hang on.

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I have 2 like this one and another that is bigger, they fit the crotch of a tree and are easy to take in and out with you, we have great luck with them even if they aren't much to stand on, makes safety harness even more important.

this is one of our ladder stands, these tend to be more permanent but having hang on stands and the crotch stands allows us to be flexible if we need to make a change for wind or just have an odd tree, if we had climbable trees a climbing style stand would be at the ready as well.
 
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I have Summits first climber. Bought in 1987, and it's still a great stand. Mostly I use a Summit Viper, but when gun hunting during the rut and want to sit all day, nothing beats my Tree Lounge for comfort, and it is so good for those times when you just need to take a nap.
 
I have land in VA, on which I don't hunt, but somebody's, or somebodies, has put up 2 ladder stands and fixed seat, and kindly left the screw in steps in too! So I guess they're mine now.
 
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