Help me pick a climber

[lightsareout]

I'm going to buy my first climber this fall. Just can't decide which summit to go with. I would greatly appreciate anyone's input.

My criteria is:
-Easy to carry long distances; light weight
-compact when on my back (do any of these pack up thinner than the others?)
-comfort

I'm 5'9" and ~ 170lbs so i'm not concerned with needing a larger model.

Mini Viper 18 lbs
http://www.cabelas.com/product/summit-t ... t+climbing

Viper SDX (New Model???) 20 lbs
http://www.cabelas.com/product/summit-t ... t+climbing

viper SD 20 lbs
http://www.cabelas.com/product/summit-t ... t+climbing

Viper Elite SD 17lbs (no back rest, is this comfortable for long sits?)
http://www.cabelas.com/product/summit-t ... t+climbing

 

[TNReb]

What do you consider a long distance? 500 yards? 1000 yards? 2 miles?

 

[lightsareout]

What do you consider a long distance? 500 yards? 1000 yards? 2 miles?

I'll be hunting WMAs primarily so I want to get off the beaten path. Reviewing google earth my walks will be 2-4 miles in.

 

[ROUGH COUNTRY HUNTER]

Take a look at the treewalkers

 

[Tennessee Lead]

Send gator-n-buck a pm or maybe he will chime in.
I have the viper SD
I like it. It's light weight until I load my pack full of gear on it.
If you want to add the molle straps to it I've read that they make packing it in and out much easier the way they disperse the weight on your back.
I've pulled several daylight to dark hunts in mine. Very comfortable.



Sent from the barrel of a model 70 at 3300 fps

 

[lightsareout]

Send gator-n-buck a pm or maybe he will chime in.
I have the viper SD
I like it. It's light weight until I load my pack full of gear on it.
If you want to add the molle straps to it I've read that they make packing it in and out much easier the way they disperse the weight on your back.
I've pulled several daylight to dark hunts in mine. Very comfortable.



Sent from the barrel of a model 70 at 3300 fps

That is a good idea on the molle straps. When you pack in what type of pack do you attach off the stand?

 

[WhitesCreek]

X2 on the Viper SD. This is the most comfortable stand I own. I'm about your height and a few pounds lighter. If you upgrade the backpack straps and carry the stand with the teeth pointing upward (allows stand to sit higher on the back), you'll be fine.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MattZ9]

If your not set on Summits check out lone wolf

 

[lightsareout]

If your not set on Summits check out lone wolf

I've heard so many good things about the Summits thats what i have my heart set on.

 

[TboneD]

I'm going to buy my first climber this fall. Just can't decide which summit to go with. I would greatly appreciate anyone's input.

My criteria is:
-Easy to carry long distances; light weight
-compact when on my back (do any of these pack up thinner than the others?)
-comfort

I'm 5'9" and ~ 170lbs so i'm not concerned with needing a larger model.

Mini Viper 18 lbs
http://www.cabelas.com/product/summit-t ... t+climbing" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Viper SDX (New Model???) 20 lbs
http://www.cabelas.com/product/summit-t ... t+climbing" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

viper SD 20 lbs
http://www.cabelas.com/product/summit-t ... t+climbing" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Viper Elite SD 17lbs (no back rest, is this comfortable for long sits?)
http://www.cabelas.com/product/summit-t ... t+climbing" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Don't let the Cabela's catalog confuse you. There is no Summit stand called a "Viper Elite SDX". They need to do more catalog proofreading and less catalog sending. Can't go wrong with a regular Viper SD. It's not the lightest or most compact but it's ok with better straps and a hip belt. Carries best upside down but you have to remove the seat, which is fairly quick and easy to do.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[RidgeRunner13]

X2 on the Lonewolf. My buddy has the viper and he loves it, but for me I'd choose my Lonewolf. It's crazy how light it is, and it folds flat.

 

[TboneD]

X2 on the Lonewolf. My buddy has the viper and he loves it, but for me I'd choose my Lonewolf. It's crazy how light it is, and it folds flat.

Light? I've had three of the hang ons and the hand climber model, and for their platform size they weren't so light. How could they be light when they're solid, cast construction? And they don't even have heavy padding like Summits. However, you're right about how they pack. Folded flat does pack better.


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[RidgeRunner13]

Mine is definitely light but that could be because I'm used to big clunky stands. Not to mention, I took and put rucksack straps on it so it makes it feel really light.

 

[TboneD]

Mine is definitely light but that could be because I'm used to big clunky stands. Not to mention, I took and put rucksack straps on it so it makes it feel really light.

Hip belt helps a bunch, too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[RidgeRunner13]

Mine is definitely light but that could be because I'm used to big clunky stands. Not to mention, I took and put rucksack straps on it so it makes it feel really light.

Hip belt helps a bunch, too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes they do. I bought the entire setup that hooks to the frame of a molle ruck. It even made my heavy steel API feel much lighter.

 

[bambikiller423]

Check out old man climbers

 

[TN Whitetail Freak]

I have a summit and I'm really wanting to switch to a lonewolf tree stick method....but it's $350.....from what I've gathered is tighter against the back making it easier to carry through the woods, it's lighter in weight,14lb stand, its more quiet per the guys that use them often, and it's mobile which is another perk that intrigues me, you don't have to tree hunt, you can climb about any tree.....I think I'll sell the summit next year to fund a lonewolf alpha 2 and stick setup.

 

[TboneD]

I have a summit and I'm really wanting to switch to a lonewolf tree stick method....but it's $350.....from what I've gathered is tighter against the back making it easier to carry through the woods, it's lighter in weight,14lb stand, its more quiet per the guys that use them often, and it's mobile which is another perk that intrigues me, you don't have to tree hunt, you can climb about any tree.....I think I'll sell the summit next year to fund a lonewolf alpha 2 and stick setup.

LOT harder to fall asleep in, too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[TN Whitetail Freak]

I have a summit and I'm really wanting to switch to a lonewolf tree stick method....but it's $350.....from what I've gathered is tighter against the back making it easier to carry through the woods, it's lighter in weight,14lb stand, its more quiet per the guys that use them often, and it's mobile which is another perk that intrigues me, you don't have to tree hunt, you can climb about any tree.....I think I'll sell the summit next year to fund a lonewolf alpha 2 and stick setup.

LOT harder to fall asleep in, too. I'm


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's a plus also

 

[gator-n-buck]

I'm going to buy my first climber this fall. Just can't decide which summit to go with. I would greatly appreciate anyone's input.

My criteria is:
-Easy to carry long distances; light weight
-compact when on my back (do any of these pack up thinner than the others?)
-comfort

I'm 5'9" and ~ 170lbs so i'm not concerned with needing a larger model.

Mini Viper 18 lbs
http://www.cabelas.com/product/summit-t ... t+climbing

Viper SDX (New Model???) 20 lbs
http://www.cabelas.com/product/summit-t ... t+climbing

viper SD 20 lbs
http://www.cabelas.com/product/summit-t ... t+climbing

Viper Elite SD 17lbs (no back rest, is this comfortable for long sits?)
http://www.cabelas.com/product/summit-t ... t+climbing

Viper SD would be perfect for your size. 20 lbs and you will have plenty of room. There's no perfect stand out there but overall it's hard to beat a Summit. Been using them for 18 years and selling for 6 years now....