I have spent a lot of time in a Summit Viper SD and have no complaints. Add the foot rest and third hand straps, bow holder, and treads and the comfort and safety levels goes up.

Summit is the market leader for a reason.

 

Same. I have a summit titan. Throw on a Hazemore seat and your ready for long sits and comfort.

 

I do like my summit viper.

 

Took a file to the square teeth of my summit viper and took the edges off a little. Don't want to make them too sharp or you'll be yanking to get them out of the tree. Helped to make them grab better on smooth bark

 

I have to agree with some old school stands especially the API. I would keep using what you are comfortable with. As for new stands you are going to be very hard to beat a Summit for both value for the price and quality and safety and most of all comfort. Just my opinion like said above Summit is the top for a reason. Also third hand has great accessories to make it even better

 

What’s wrong with API’s you’ve been using, mine are over 20 years old, I replace the chains every few years and they’re good to go.

 

Summit is where it's at.

Add the third hand kit for whatever size summit you get and a hazmore net seat, plus either the third hand foot rest/deer drag or the summer foot rest.

 

I had the original Summit back in the day. Replaced the Jim Baker style.

Use a open shot Summit, all my life.

I'd say if you're younger, look into saddle hunting. Way more versatile. The tree has to be perfect for a climber, a saddle doesn't matter.

Good luck.

 

I have a saddle now, I like it, but I grew up with climbing treestands and it’s hard for me to get away from them, I find that even now the trees I put my saddle in, I could use a climber

 

U can pick up some good deals on a used summit ! I use a Goliath with the hazmore , 3rd hand straps the whole setup ! Hard to beat for comfort snd safety !

 

I used a Summit Goliath and it was super comfortable and easy to get up/down from a tree. One of the cons I had with it was its' weight. I think, don't know for sure, weighed around 20 lbs. Another con was the bulk size carrying it through the woods. Always banged into sapplings and other noisey stuff.

I know about the wheel kit you can get for the Summit to roll it in the woods, but where I hunt there are a lot of briars, sapplings, fallen timber, large boulders, etc., that make it very hard to roll it in or out.

I tried Saddle Hunting, but my knees gave out climbing up the steps, and I had to sell it.

 

Summit viper sd. Facebook marketplace always had a ton every hunting season from people switching to saddles and they’re not hard or expensive to replace the parts on them. Super comfy as well

 

If you are having issues with so many climbers I’m sure it’s something that you are or aren’t doing right. Talking about not biting the tree is a good indication you are not placing you weight right or you weigh 90#. As far as biting the tree, once the teeth get to sharp you start damaging the tree and also find it hard to get the stand to release from the tree while climbing.

 

Th

That could be my problem, I weigh 95lbs

 

Been climbing in a summit goliath pretty hard to beat.

 

Summit stands are terrible clunky and uncomfortable. Had a couple original lone wolfs really liked them and I have the new lone wolf climber now. Teeth are razor sharp I actually cut my hand unboxing it months ago lol. Packs unlike any climber I’ve ever seen and weighs hardly anything. If you can afford it buy it you won’t regret it.

 

I’m glad I’m not the only one that feels like that about Summit. The teeth on the lone wolf are similar but even sharper than what’s on the API’s. I’ll probably end up with one, thanks man.

 

Saddle or a lightweight hangon is the way to go imo unless you know the exact tree you’re going to will work. That being said I still have my summit viper sd that I used when i was 13 killed my first buck with the bow outa that thing.

 

Checkout Buckshot / Equilizer treestands. I have a modified Buckshot I still use for all day sits

 

Are you talking about the top section not biting? If so, the straps that third hand makes for the summit make a world of difference. Really locks down the climber to the tree.

 

I don’t know how anyone could call a Summit Viper uncomfortable. To each his own I guess. I can barely stay awake in mine

 

I sold my Summit Viper SI shortly after getting a Cougar Claw. My personal opinion is the CC is significantly nicer. However, both are bulky in the woods and you need a pretty straight tree trunk. Took up saddle hunting in '23 and much prefer it to a climber. The CC didn't make it out to the woods last year.

 

Summit all the way.

I don’t get the love or need of the 3rd hand strap.

I did remove the foam seat for archery hunting which was a good upgrade

 

I and most others would use a climber without stabilizing straps.
For a seat on my Viper use a Hazmore with a Hazmore cushion, for the open Summit with a fold out of the way sit bar I use a sling seat. But for the coldest weather I use the foam seat, much warmer, when it’s that cold I won’t fall asleep 😂.

 

Ive switched to sticks and a saddle, way lighter to carry for me

 

Get a set of sticks and stand and never look back. Most climbers are death traps anyway

 

Been hunting out of a climber for 27 years. I've used sticks/steps off and on. There's just no easier/quicker/quieter way to get up a tree than a climber. It's more comfortable. They weigh about 3 pounds more. Good to have both, but 80% of the time I'm using a Summit Goliath.

 

Find an old loggy bayou

 

user name checks out

I had this one and could not get rid of that 30lb+ steel turd fast enough...

 

How come you can’t ask a question on here about a specific stand without getting bombarded by people telling you to ditch the stands and get a saddle? It gets tiresome. There’s plenty of threads asking about saddles for those saddle aficionados to give advice on. Everybody knows by now saddles are an option. They don’t have to be mentioned every time someone asks about a stand.

 

Not to mention a whole forum dedicated to diaper hunting. What would all the social media hunters have to talk about without saddles? Woodmanship?

I got an OG Lone Wolf sit and climb in a trade recently. Weighs 17lbs ready to hunt and feels like nothing with good shoulder straps. Too bad they aren’t made anymore. I plan to primarily use it this season.

 

I spent 12 continuous hours in my Buckshot Equalizer with the Hazmore style seat yesterday. I highly recommend you consider looking into one. I’ve used summit, gunslinger, tree lounger, and also have a lone wolf hand climber. It’s everything I like about a summit with improvements in pack ability, build quality, and ease of use. The cables are nicer and way more durable than the summit cables. The leveling system is a nice feature as well. They also offer a backrest that I use during rifle season. It makes a great gun rest. Blows my mind that these stands aren’t more popular. Between my saddle and my equalizer I’m covered for most any scenario for both archery and gun season in the south. They each have their place and are equally important to my hunting. Both live in my truck during season.

 

I’ll check them out, thanks man.