I have the aluminum Summit Viper SI that I bought online in the summer of 2018. It is the first climber I owned after testing out some other brands and I am pleased with this stand. Add Third Hand stabilizer straps, clamp on bow holder and treads for a great accessoried stand setup. The stock seat is really comfy, but I took mine off and added a Slumper mesh seat to cut down on weight and bulk a bit.

 

This is exactly the feedback I’m lookin for Alaska, thank you. This will also be my first climber I’ve ever had. Interesting you switched out the seat to a Slumper. My local store has the Viper SD Elite which has a mesh seat instead of the pad.

 

Alaska, I’ll look at the Third hand accessories. I’m reading all kinds of great things about them.

 

Also, what shoulder straps are you going with? Would a system like the XOP TTS work?

 

I have an XOP TTS, but use it for my "run and gun" setup with a LW Assault II and sticks. For the Summit climber, I went online and got some padded shoulder straps that clip on....then added some cord on the appropriate stand treads for contact points. It isn't perfect, but this is really my learning year as I played with it last year but never took it hunting due to the places I had access. This year is much better in that regard so I am gaining knowledge of tree selection and setup time, along with hauling in and out. Icanvas has a really good setup down pat with his TTS, so I am pondering that for the future. Some like the military MOLLE setup as well.

 

I have been using Summit Vipers for over 20 years and they are a great, safe, and the most comfortable stand. For safety the Thirdhand Stabilizer Straps are a must have and their bow holder is great also. I made a custom front bags and side bags for mine which is very handy. For safety check out the Treestand Wingman.
I now have an Equalizer leveling stand and it’s great to be able to level the stand, so you might want to consider a leveling tree stand.
But the Summit Viper is a great stand priced right, it’s one stand I will always keep.
I do have the TTS and it works the best, I have them on all but one stand. It’s a bit of a challenge getting it adjusted right but once you get it right nothing is better. I can post pics that can be helpful if you get a TTS harness.

 

I would love to see some pictures of the TTS mounted on the Summit. I am using a Goliath and have been using Summit's padded straps. They work ok for walks of 20 minutes or so but not much more than that for me. I have a TTS sitting in my building that I need to put to use and would love to see how you have it set up.

To the OP I will also recommend the Thirdhand stabilizer straps. They really lock that stand down when in a tree and while packing. I added the Summit foot rest and have thought about adding the rubber traction strips. I also added self adhesive camo fleece tape to the areas where I noticed had the potential for metal to metal contact. It has really quieted the stand down when packing.

 

Thank you Alaska and canvas! This info helps a lot and it sounds like 3rd hand is the way to go. Thanks for all your help and feel free to post pics.

 

you can't beat the viper!

 

I’ve got an older Viper. It’s steel and is heavy! But it doesn’t squeak when I move. It’s the most comfortable seat I’ve ever used. My go to for all day sits. I’ve got a TTS for it. The only time I don’t like it is on the mile walk back to the truck after dark!


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for comfort, the viper is hard to beat, get yourself the footrest if you buy it............this alone will make a huge difference..........For me, now, I hate to say it after being a summit fan forever, but, I think I will be looking to go to LW or XOP at some point in the future..........even with Molle straps/ pack and a small day pack attached, my back just isn't what it used to be.......older, heavier........just can't stand carrying it anymore.....want something lighter and tighter to my back

 

^^^^ I second the footrests. As far as a LW stand if you get the regular size that’s fine but I bought the Wide Flip Top and was not impressed with the difference in carrying, better but not as much as I thought.
You must not have your TTS set up and adjusted properly, if you have the TTS set and adjusted properly it takes your back out of it.

 

Hated the LW!!!! Great company but boy did it flex!!! I have 2 vipers and they’re very sturdy and easy to setup. That said I no longer use either one they sit around as I only use ladderstands with my shoulders

 

I have a summit viper steel. It’s great! I’m still learning how to use quietly. I’ve never been afraid in the stand from a safety standpoint. As long as you have the top and bottom tethered together and wear you’re harness you should be good to go.


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I've been using Summit climbing stands since their entire inventory consisted of steel stands. I bow hunt and rifle hunt out of all of mine. I've experimented with other brands but always came back to Summit. For my money, Summit makes the best, most versatile, most comfortable climbing stands on the market.

 

I remember the fist time I seen one and sat in one at a Sportsman show, it was steel. I said when they make them out of aluminum I’ll buy one. The first year they made them out of aluminum I bought one and have had most models over the years. The two best in my opinion is the Viper and Goliath. After I lost some weight I sold my Goliath, I have two Vipers now.

 

Had a viper and regret selling it. It was to bulky for me and I wanted something lighter and smaller. Has anyone tried the mini viper? Same width, but a few inches shorter and 2 pounds lighter?

 

I have the viper have had it for over 12 years now love the stand I also use the 3rd hand straps and bow holder the straps are outstanding makes the stand literally rock solid. As said above get the foot rest. I run my seat as high as it will go for bow and as low as it will go for gun. I’ve done many full 8 hr ( honest 8 hr) sits in the stand no issue. I just bought some back pack type carrier ( tts) cant remember the brand the brand right ow also have t tried it yet. But the stand (aluminum) one is just a great great stand.

 

I am in my first and probably last sit in a viper sd. This thing sucks. Is there any way to shorten seat straps so I am not stuck down between the narrow arm rests?


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Yea read the instructions before complaining. Are just get the hazmore net seat and backrest and ditch the summit seat.

 

Dump all the cushion seat part and get a Hazemor seat. Makes the Viper even better. Did this years ago to my Goliath and have never regretted it.

 

The first pic is snapped closed. I put a few snaps in my harnesses so I can close the harness up and make it lay flat against the platform when not in use. This comes in handy while either storing/handling and when in use so I don’t have a bunch of stuff hanging and flapping in the wind.
You can see I only wire tie the back panel to the platform and only using the top and bottom straps. This keeps everything from flopping around which causes stress on your muscles.

 

View attachment 6972523 View attachment 6972525 View attachment 6972527

The first pic is snapped closed. I put a few snaps in my harnesses so I can close the harness up and make it lay flat against the platform when not in use. This comes in handy while either storing/handling and when in use so I don’t have a bunch of stuff hanging and flapping in the wind.
You can see I only wire tie the back panel to the platform and only using the top and bottom straps. This keeps everything from flopping around which causes stress on your muscles.

Awesome, thanks canvas. Great set up you have there.

My first sit went well. I went up about 16 feet and hunted this afternoon. Stand is very comfortable. I can see where you have to practice if you’ve never used one before like myself. It will take some getting used to but I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it.

 

I've been using the Summit Viper for 10-12 years now. Works for me! My first one was aluminum but got stolen. I replaced it with a steel one because it was a bit cheaper. The steel one is just so much heavier that I hated it. Plus I had left it out for a few weeks and it got water inside the tubing that froze and then cracked the steel. This was on the upper portion. I still use it occasionally but I'm always worried about it's integrity. So I ended up buying another Aluminum Viper that I use as my main stand. And yes, get the stabilizer straps from Thirdhand. I wouldn't hunt without those locking me into the tree.

 

A leveling stand is great and both come with a bench seat to sit you up at seat frame level. The bench seat is comfortable and more like a hang on seat. I like the low Summit sling seat if comfort is important for long sits. The armrests at that height are in the right position to reduce shoulder fatigue with long sits, something that’s important for us older guys.
But as far as cable noise you will still have to deal with that with both leveling stands. There are things that you can due to reduce it but you still have a coated cable with a metal end that has to hook into a metal stand. One thing you won’t have to deal with is worn cable coatings..

 

Summit Footrest, Third Hand Bow Holder, Third Hand Stabilizer Straps, and TTS or Molle. Go into the woods as far as I want and sit all day.

 

Viper is great! resonably priced and comfort is amazing. you cant go wrong no matter how you want to set it up

 

=VAhuntr;1111232073]Thanks for the idea! In my mind I thought about the only way to use the TTS on the Summit was to remove the seat. Do you mind showing a picture of the buckles when you have time? Not sure I quite follow what you did.[/QUOTE]

When not in use the buckles are connected and don’t flop around. Also, on my other Viper and Equalizer I keep a Hazmore attached so if I’m not wanting to use the seat I don’t take it, when I use my seat the Hazmore slides back out of the way.
I am able to buckle and unbuckle with no noise.