nice!

 

I have the XOP Punisher, looks the same except it has the bar. Overall its a quite and comfortable climbing stand. It is priced well also.

 

I picked up the XOP airraid and im happy with it.

climbing without the bar is different for sure. try to lay your forearms up the top bars, took some getting used to on my summit openshot

 

I use the lonewolf hand climber (interesting, is this a knock off?)
I find it easiest to put my hands on the short angles of the seat from where the sides angle back to the teeth section, then use my forearms on the seat cushion. Might take a minute to get used to,but after that you're set.
Foot placement is a little peculiar at first too, but once you figure out the location and movement, it's a breeze!
Only issue I ever had was trying to get the band over a knuckle on the backside of a tree. It tend to bend and waffle around and be harder to clear. My solution is to rotate the stand around the tree 20-30 degrees until you clear the obstacle.

 

make sure that you get some stabilizer straps and attach the top to the bottom while you climb......I use third hand straps on my alpha hand climber.

 

You made a great decision.
I started using the strike force last year......no looking back.

 

It has the stabilizer straps in it. I knew these basically were same as a lone wolf but never used either . For me as light and fold flat as it is seems like it'll be nice carrying in and setting up. My summit ain't exactly the most compact. I'll try the forearm on seat. Seem like it will be nice for bowhunting and yes I have hit my bottom cam on the summit before at full draw moving on a buck. If this thing climbs easy and I get used to it hopefully I'll never look back either. Looks well built!

 

Stabilizer straps are a must or you will bump the seat down with the slightest movement.
When set it is rock solid and is very comfortable because you can set the seat as high or low as you want, It is like sitting in a custom lock-on.
They also double as safety straps for your lower platform as you are climbing.

The climbing technique is a little different and takes some practice but if you are in decent shape it will be no problem.

And if you get out tonight Good Luck!

 

thank ya! I'm Rdy to try it out. What do u do for your bow holder or a pack? My summit has that pouch I guess I can still use it on the seat climber? May have to take a screw in hook for my bow

 

I have a lone wolf hand climber so same deal. I climb up with pack on my back with a screw in bow holder in the pack and an extra caribeener. When I get to the height to hunt, I'm already attached to tree as I slide up my safety harness and snug as a climb. Attach the extra caribeener to the tree strap your harness I attached to and hook your pack to it. Then pull out the bow holder and screw it in. Sit down pull up bow and away you go.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I usually go really light weight with a fanny pack and the bare necessities.
If I will be heading for an all day sit I may bring a backpack and strap that to the back with bungee cords.
The stand is so light the backpack with it is usually the weight of other climbers.

Look at the Molle II Thread for ideas if you plan on strapping more gear to the back of the stand.
The beefed up straps and waist belt will really help on long humps back with a bunch of gear.

 

Thanks man! I'm not gonna get to try it tonight but I'm hopefully tomorrow.

 

These have to be made by lone wolf...their identical basically. ..am I wrong?

 

I just bought a strike force as well. I'm very happy with it. I camo'd mine and also added a molle system. For a bow holder, I have a bolt-on bow holder that I attached to the bottom platform. I'm very excited to start using this stand this year.

 

Original owner of LW now owns XOP (or something to that effect)

 

I bought one last year and love it. When I'm not seeing deer in my permanent stands I bounce around the woods with my xop. Climbs nice if you are in shape and is nice and sturdy when you tighten the stabilizer straps.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I would like to get an XOP wide climber one day.

 

I have a xop enforcer and love it compared to my old climber. As far as packs go, check out the gameplan gear leech pack. The hook right on to your stand.

 

I have the XOP Strike Force as well and couldn't be happier. I purchased it online towards the end of last season for half the price of a lone wolf hand climber. The only difference I could find between the XOP and the LW is that the XOP does not have the built in bow holder in the platform. IMO that wasn't worth the extra $200 for the LW

 

I tried it out tongiht. Unpacks quick and those stabilizwe straps really do secure it tight. I'm 6'6 and it seems hard as hell to climb with arms I have to cross them on seat. I think I saw a belt once you could add to set on and climb with this or do I just need to practice and figure this out ? Lol wasn't that bad I guess just awkward as hell after using a summit but man this is a nice stand!

 

I'm 6"5 so you can probably scratch your knees when you walk like me . I don't use my arms or forearms on the top section at all. I bring the bottom section up to wear the top section will sit just above my belt line. Then put my left hand on the short arm on the top section and wrap my right arm around tree and use legs to pull up while stabilizing with arms. I'm right handed so if left handed reverse grip. Most people try and use upper body strength like you can to hold yourself with bar style climbers where you can support yourself easy. For these climbers all legs. Lift the bottom and set. Raise top section and then lift with legs again. Way easier to climb with these once you figure it out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

I just bought one as well and tried it out last night for the first time and did well with it. Have used a summit viper for years and was used to the bar too but this was not too much more work. Nice to have a shooting rail for gun hunting but packs like a swing set on your back. This strike force packs awesome.

Regarding the straps.... the stock ones work but as you snap them together listen to the sound they make and ask yourself if you are ok with that in your hunting spot. Get some third hand straps. They are a worthy investment.