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Climbing Platform vs. Panther Climbing Platform

I got a chance to test drive the new Summit Open Shot platform, this afternoon and it worked out as good as I could've hoped. :cool: This is going to be a great system for deer hunting this fall, at only 16#.

Walk up to the tree, attach the platform, climb onto it and stand up to tie the Maverick hitch around the tree. Then I attach a Petroacan hitch to my saddle bridge, hook my feet in the platform stirrups and start climbing. :) Once I'm hunting height is when I attach a ratchet strap (not used in this photo or climb) and when I'm ready to rappel down, I just hook my feet in the stirrups and use a Munter hitch to rappel down. After I'm on the ground, it's just a matter of wrapping up my rope and pull-down cord, then put the platform on my back and I'm ready to hit the trail. ;)
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I got a chance to test drive the new Summit Open Shot platform, this afternoon and it worked out as good as I could've hoped. :cool: This is going to be a great system for deer hunting this fall, at only 16#.

Walk up to the tree, attach the platform, climb onto it and stand up to tie the Maverick hitch around the tree. Then I attach a Petroacan hitch to my saddle bridge, hook my feet in the platform stirrups and start climbing. :) Once I'm hunting height is when I attach a ratchet strap (not used in this photo or climb) and when I'm ready to rappel down, I just hook my feet in the stirrups and use a Munter hitch to rappel down. After I'm on the ground, it's just a matter of wrapping up my rope and pull-down cord, then put the platform on my back and I'm ready to hit the trail. ;)
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That’s a great set up. I would have no problem not screwing with the rope and repelling gear, skipping the repelling down and just climbing down, but repelling would be fun ;).
I think the climbing platform is a very easy and I believe could be the safest way to get in and out of a tree, but I have used climbers for over 50 years.
 
@1canvas
I rappel down whether I'm coming back to the same tree or not. If I'm not coming back, I simply put my feet in the platform stirrups, sit down in my saddle, then tip the platform off of the tree and down I go.
If I'm coming back, I set the rappel rope off to the side of the platform and rappel down. Once I'm on the ground, I tie off the rope to the tree, at head height. Upon returning, I use the Petroacan hitch on my saddle and a Garda hitch foot loop to climb back up the rope, to the platform. It's very quiet, easier to do than you might imagine and safe. :)
 
I was considering the purchase of one of these Panther Climbing Platforms.....until I considered what I'm already using and how well it works. :)

I'm using my Summit Viper platform with my saddle and rappel rope, in the same way the Panther platform is being used.
The PROS are:
#1 Once I'm at hunting height, I kneel down and fasten a ratchet strap around the base to hold it in place. I can do this without having to rappel down beside the Panther platform and I don't have to climb back up an aider.
#2 I already own a climbing platform.
#3 It has more foot space....20" x 36"
#4 At the end of the hunt, I remove the ratchet strap, put my boots in the stirrups, sit down in my saddle and rappel down. If I'm coming back to this same location, I can rappel off to the side of the platform and SRT climb back up to the platform.
#5 I'm not spending nearly $400 bucks for another (smaller) platform.
#6 Summit platform is 9.6# with pack straps.

CONS:
#1 Once at hunting height, the post has to be cinched to the tree, same as the Summit platform gets a ratchet strap.
#2 Panther platform is 5.8# or 6.5# with the aider and pull strap.
#3 Panther platform space is 14" x 19".
#4 Cost is $379 + tax + S&H (if it's in stock) verses the climbing platform that most of us already own.

It's America, you decide. :cool:
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the ultralight is 799
 
I think it’s greed

Look into the cost of just the 7075 plate needed for the platform. Consider their manufacturing capabilities/resources. I don’t think it’s an awesome value, but doubt it’s very greedily priced.

the ultralight is 799

And save a hundo at the moment…so there’s that.

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