I really like my Goliath it has room , climbs great and makes no noise in and out of the woods. I also have a old Viper and a razor SD, but we know those stands won't fit you. What I do have and I think you may like is a 180. The top is huge and the 180 seat sits great. The only downfall to the 180 is its 26 lb. It's kind of a load headed to the tree, but for a power lifter it shouldn't be a problem. I have Hazmore seats on my Viper and Goliath ,I really like them. also, if you going to have a climber you have to have third-hand tree stand straps, they are a must. As far as weight limits. I am not as big as you are I'm 6-foot 210. My Buddy is 6"3" and 280lbs. We have been trusting our lives with Summit treestands for years, so I don't think you will have a problem. O, another thing I recommend with a climbing tree stand is a treestand wingman. When you combine a treestand wingman, third-hand tree stand straps and a summit I'm not sure there's a safer way to hunt out of a tree.

 

I am 6-3 284 and I love my titan, but with you being 5-8 you may not like the extra length of the titan carrying it in. The Goliath is a bit smaller but as you know has the same weight limit .

 

Not sure about the newer ones but I think when the Goliath was first out that it used the same foot piece as the Viper but carried a higher weight rating. I wondered how they came about the extra 50lbs. if it uses the same lower as the Viper with a #300 rating.

 

You are correct and I always wondered that myself.

 

I have used my brothers goliath a couple times and I am 320 ish pounds and it handled me really well, I use a petzl rock climbing belt and had a line around the tree during my climbing and sitting with it and that was super easy to deal with as I went up and down the tree. I felt no flex in the stand as I stood on it anywhere and it just bit in the tree more than when I was a smaller guy.

 

That's funny I climb with a lineman's belt also. Honestly seldom wear a harness anymore. It limits my movement in the stand and I feel like the risk is predominantly going up and coming down. If the lower slips, doesn't set properly, etc...the belt stops me.
Not that it's ever happened...knock on wood. Someone mentioned trusting their life to Summit stands...I agree with that. There may be other good stands out there but I have 0% accident rating with Summits over more than 10 years.
If it ain't broke...

 

300 pounds here no issues with viper

Sent from my LM-X410(FG) using http://bit.ly/Archery_Talk_app

 

I have 4 summits. 1 viper and 3 Goliath's. I leave them in the woods in different places on my lease so I don't have to carry them all the time. no doubt the Viper is lighter but after using it this past weekend I realized just how much I LOVE my Goliath and the extra space. the only time I like to use the Viper is early season when it's still warmer with less clothing on.
and I also thought that the base was a little longer than the Viper but I can't remember. GO GOLIATH!!

 

That's what I'm thinking. Sounds like it's the best of both worlds.
Thanks guys! 👍

 

Well, I have had many close calls over the years in treestands and I have been climbing trees since 1982. I really like the goliath, I have sit in the viper and the goliath and to me there is no reason to get the viper. To me the summit climbers are simply the best out there and super solid and they are so good they are confidence inspiring when it comes to safety. But when something goes wrong and snaps I like having my safety harness hooked up.

 

Check on the weight thing, for some reason I think the viper and goliath weigh the same.

 

Hi Padgett! I think without looking that the Viper is 18 or 19lbs and the Goliath is about 21lbs.

 

I went and looked at the website and the Goliath is one pound more than the viper.

 

250+gear.. I love my summits.

 

Buy a lone wolf sit and climb wide and call it a day. They’re quieter, more package and have a 350 pound rating.

 

I like the rail in front. I rest my bow there and I can lean into it on steeper shots.

 

I had a lone wolf and sold it to buy 2 extra summits.