Climber Platform and Tree Saddle Combo

[Red Beard]

How is this different than the LWHC?

 

[Fatty in a tree]

Different strokes for different folks. What works for some may not work for others. I'm always adjusting things and fine-tuning my load out. The bulk of a full-size viper platform may be bulky and not efficient for some, but practical for others for their given situation.

My open shot climber/platform is small enough that I can cut through thick mtn. laurel without making too much noise, and does not stick out past my body. I hockey taped everything, so sound is kept to a minimum.

19" Wide overall, about 20" deep overall, and the cable sticks out roughly 14" from my back.

I prefer this over the LW hand climber because there is no flex or potential structural integrity failure with the bolt mod. Plus, I don't need a backpack to attach it to, as I just wear it, and bungee the shoulder straps to the bottom before I get on it to climb. I wear a waist pack reversed for the walk in, and wear it normal when I climb.

The only issue I have is during the rut when I have to pack in heavier cold weather gear such as my Sitka Fanatic top and bottoms. That is when it puts a strain on my shoulders because it sticks out further from my back, which pulls on my shoulders. Usually by that point in the season, I'm in my "hunting shape" and my shoulders and neck can handle the strain better. However it is still uncomfortable for my 45-60 minute walk in/out.

I'm thinking of upgrading to an Eberlestock F1 Mainframe for the later season to carry my cold weather gear in with and attach the open shot to the pack. But, that's a $300 purchase that I can't quite justify yet.

 

[BowhunterXC]

If I'm not mistaken I think you can buy just the top portion of a Summit open shot without buying the whole stand. I think a lot of Summit's stands share the same or very similar platform and the idea was maybe buy a Viper and later on buy the open shot top and depending on your situation that hunt would determine which top you took that day.

I called Summit and they do not sell the hand climber portion separate....even as a replacement.
I was hoping to just buy the Open Shot hand climber portion to go with my Viper platform, but I had to buy the entire Summit Open Shot stand. I've only used it 4x, but I will be selling it as soon as possible.

After using my Viper platform in conjunction with my Cruzr saddle and then rappelling out, there's no need for this stand. I wish I had ran across this setup before making the purchase, but someone else will benefit from this stand.

 

[JBDCPA]

I called Summit and they do not sell the hand climber portion separate....even as a replacement.
I was hoping to just buy the Open Shot hand climber portion to go with my Viper platform, but I had to buy the entire Summit Open Shot stand. I've only used it 4x, but I will be selling it as soon as possible.

After using my Viper platform in conjunction with my Cruzr saddle and then rappelling out, there's no need for this stand. I wish I had ran across this setup before making the purchase, but someone else will benefit from this stand.

I'm sorry I led you astray or got your hopes up, they used to would do that. I guess they realized they could make more money making you buy both.

 

[tylerray378]

And just like that I’m the proud new owner of a Summit Viper, again. Either I’m gonna run this as a stand alone climber, or I’ll mod it out like you’ve done with the open shot. Either way, I hate you all!! Hahahaha!!!!

 

[Fatty in a tree]

And just like that I’m the proud new owner of a Summit Viper, again. Either I’m gonna run this as a stand alone climber, or I’ll mod it out like you’ve done with the open shot. Either way, I hate you all!! Hahahaha!!!!

haha!! I have modded a Summit Viper platform before I bought the open shot. However, it 100% destroys the structural integrity of the stand, and uses backwoods engineering with grade 8 bolts keeping it all together. I weigh 250 pounds and carry at least 25 pounds of gear with me and it has never bent, buckled or felt unsafe. I'll have to search for pictures and post them if you're interested. At your own risk of course! You are tethered to the tree the entire time so in case of catastrophic failure, you're only dropping a foot or two. then you just need to self-recover.

 

[tylerray378]

haha!! I have modded a Summit Viper platform before I bought the open shot. However, it 100% destroys the structural integrity of the stand, and uses backwoods engineering with grade 8 bolts keeping it all together. I weigh 250 pounds and carry at least 25 pounds of gear with me and it has never bent, buckled or felt unsafe. I'll have to search for pictures and post them if you're interested. At your own risk of course! You are tethered to the tree the entire time so in case of catastrophic failure, you're only dropping a foot or two. then you just need to self-recover.

Sure! Post em up. I’m only 190 plus gear. If I mod a piece it’ll be the top part though. I’m thinking of cutting the front bar off, right in front of the welds of the arm brace. Might do that either way I decide to hunt with it. (Saddle or stand)

 

[raisins]

I would do this 100% but almost all the places that are good to hunt (in my state and where I have permission or on public) have very few climber friendly trees.

So, I'd run into the same issue that caused me to ditch the climber years ago....finding perfect spot but can't climb the trees.

I know you can kinda one stick around branches....but I'm just not interested in doing that. And with with some of my trees I'd be doing that as much as using it as a climber.

 

[raisins]

Climbers are great but that rappel method isn't gonna work with a tree that isn't leaning. Not sure how safe it is either, haven't tried it but seems to me it would be relatively easy for an inexperienced rapeller which I would say 99% of hunters are to get ahead of your platform and get stuck in a bad situation with feet stuck.

Those guys have some good ideas but they are youtubers first, making content for eyeballs. I'm not a huge fan.

Youtubers have to keep coming up with new stuff. I used to watch some fitness youtubers and they were always coming up "new gamechanger way to do bicep curls"....and it was either no big deal or some of the stuff was actual bad advice.

 

[raisins]

I saw that video before and it looked interesting but also scared the daylights out of me. Just curious if you secure the platform to the tree with any kind of strap or something once you’re at height? I would be terrified of that thing kicking up on me and dropping all the way to the ground and I take a spill into the tree in the saddle and no easy-ish way to recover.

If I did this, I'd at least have some amsteel cranked somewhere to hold it to the tree.

 

[Westdesign03]

If I did this, I'd at least have some amsteel cranked somewhere to hold it to the tree.

Same here. would be really easy to nudge that bottom platform just enough for it to drop on you when you sink your weight into the saddle.

 

[Fatty in a tree]

Same here. would be really easy to nudge that bottom platform just enough for it to drop on you when you sink your weight into the saddle.

I always have the stand tethered to me to avoid this scenario, because it can easily happen.

 

[loujo61]

I used to bear hug climb with my Loggy in my younger days, very light to carry in, it has a seat, and I pretty much just released it and slid down the tree when done. I tried using the Loggy with the saddle like he did in the video but couldn't get much advancement on each move, maybe the angle on it is different than the Summit. Too bad I really wanted it to work, I loved the simplicity of that stand.