Evolution of the ultralight stands

[Plebe]

Ahh yes! I remember my tree lounge days! I had the 'Margaret special'! Came with a roof and curtains, pillow, all kinds of misc cushions, bow platform, gun rail, gun rail curtain, gun and bow holders, for a grand total of about 937lbs!!!

Unfortunately, I lost the whole setup in a house fire at the family camphouse.

I do recall the foot climber however. Mine was the last remake (that I know of). It was smaller than the old square ones with the 'v' in the back. Wish I had a nickel for everytime one of those went down the tree on me... that was before I was old enough to realize I needed to tie everything together apparently.

I also tried the jx3 last year. It was alright as far as comfort goes but the silhouette was like a 'redneck truck in a tree' blind. Sold it.

I've just about tried em all, except the LWHC, which I would probably love. Go figure.



Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

The LWHC tree stands sucks to climb with. Even a dip style climbing aid is way easier. I really like the Sit and Climb though, minus the weight and bulk.

If you've the right trees, the LWHC top as a climbing platform really is the bees knees. But, it has questionable durability and with even small design modifications would be much better.

It sounds like, and I do believe, this will be the year for a climber come back, whether that means micro climbers or climbing platforms. A well done purpose built climbing system will be a major upgrade to diy and a hot ticket.

 

[Mr Price]

If a person likes a certain way of climbing, ams some don't, why don't we just say it's not what I prefer, rather than "it sucks, worst ever, awful, and you get my picture".
Not everyone is alike, if we were it would be a boring place. Just simply respect others opinions and not be to quick to bash someone's idea or option. There is enough negativity on this earth as it is, don't throw gas on the fire.

 

[Plebe]

If a person likes a certain way of climbing, ams some don't, why don't we just say it's not what I prefer, rather than "it sucks, worst ever, awful, and you get my picture".
Not everyone is alike, if we were it would be a boring place. Just simply respect others opinions and not be to quick to bash someone's idea or option. There is enough negativity on this earth as it is, don't throw gas on the fire.

Usually I do frame things as related to me.

But in the case of the LWHC treestand, simply put, climbing categorically sucks. Otherwise, it's nice enough to hunt from and packs flatter and more compactly than any climbing treestand I know of.

On the whole, folks that like the treestand aren't championing it's easy climbing. I didn't put forth my statement in opposition to another forum member, and I think what I've stated represents a majority opinion. If there is a predominant voice that says otherwise, I stand corrected.

IMO, it's worth mentioning, in a thread about evolving treestands to the next level, because it would be a difference maker to have a stand like that with an effective climbing component. If the LWHC treestand were more user friendly to climb with, likely we wouldn't be talking about anything other than lightening it up with a machined platform and seat, and narrower platform.

Nonetheless, the seat design makes a great climbing platform, but not without areas that would be greatly improved if it was purpose built for saddle hunting. I own the stand, and have found all parts useful.

I do see your point about careful language though, as contentiousness doesn't move the ball effectively.

 

[BenG]

Usually I do frame things as related to me.

But in the case of the LWHC treestand, simply put, climbing categorically sucks. Otherwise, it's nice enough to hunt from and packs flatter and more compactly than any climbing treestand I know of.

On the whole, folks that like the treestand aren't championing it's easy climbing. I didn't put forth my statement in opposition to another forum member, and I think what I've stated represents a majority opinion. If there is a predominant voice that says otherwise, I stand corrected.

IMO, it's worth mentioning, in a thread about evolving treestands to the next level, because it would be a difference maker to have a stand like that with an effective climbing component. If the LWHC treestand were more user friendly to climb with, likely we wouldn't be talking about anything other than lightening it up with a machined platform and seat, and narrower platform.

Nonetheless, the seat design makes a great climbing platform, but not without areas that would be greatly improved if it was purpose built for saddle hunting. I own the stand, and have found all parts useful.

I do see your point about careful language though, as contentiousness doesn't move the ball effectively.

I think it's pretty easy to climb with. Maybe I've just gotten so used to it that it's easy, just like anything else really. You could always run some webbing on the top portion and make it really easy, like a sit and climb. I would prefer a seat that could fold up but think that would be hard to do without adding weight, so there would be a trade-off. I do miss that about my loggy. I guess it hasn't bothered me enough to seek out a mesh seat. I mostly sit anyway and will even shoot sitting if I don't have to shoot to my right. The less movement the better. That's one of my struggles when using my saddle is I tend to sway and look around too much. It's usually not that hard for me to find trees in western pa and I can get around a branch or two if I need to, but I use it more in pre-determined locations rather than run and gun. That stand is my workhorse, but I let the situation dictate what I decide to head into the woods with.

 

[Maverick1]

Sometimes I think it would be nice to be a bear. Effortlessly climb trees. No worries with carrying large, bulky outer layers in and putting them on at the base of the tree. Don’t have to drag the deer out, just eat it on the spot. All very attractive options. Missing the hunting season due to hibernation and difficulty in drawing a bow has kept me from making the switch, though.

 

[Plebe]

I think it's pretty easy to climb with. Maybe I've just gotten so used to it that it's easy, just like anything else really. You could always run some webbing on the top portion and make it really easy, like a sit and climb. I would prefer a seat that could fold up but think that would be hard to do without adding weight, so there would be a trade-off. I do miss that about my loggy. I guess it hasn't bothered me enough to seek out a mesh seat. I mostly sit anyway and will even shoot sitting if I don't have to shoot to my right. The less movement the better. That's one of my struggles when using my saddle is I tend to sway and look around too much. It's usually not that hard for me to find trees in western pa and I can get around a branch or two if I need to, but I use it more in pre-determined locations rather than run and gun. That stand is my workhorse, but I let the situation dictate what I decide to head into the woods with.

Indeed, Lone Wolf attempted to address these concerns. They made a sit strap for the hand climber. As well, they added the flip top to the lineup.

I find the LWHC seat too short for the sit strap to work well.

The flip top added weight over the hand climber and personally, I find more comfort in the sit and climb setup when on stand.

Anyway, as is, the LWHC is not a design I would pursue for the ultimate in climbing tree stands. Maybe that's how I should have said it to begin with.

 

[khnc]

I’d think it would be awesome if someone started a thread of seeing guys who went saddle and transitioned back into a lightweight stand. I’d really like to see though the guys who went into the treestand/hybrid but went back to a more traditional saddle platform.

I have used a web saddle for years, but am about to try a traditional saddle for the first time. I wont be using a platform as i will be sticking with my ROS.

 

[Noonespecial]

I loved my LWHC matter of fact I had two. In my opinion the LWHC assault version is about as small as you’re going to get, maybe a lighter smaller seat. I harvested many deer from them but way too noisy while climbing and a pain to carry in and out. I think hunters forget that with a treestand comes a harness. So why use a stand and harness, if you can replace a harness with a saddle then all you need is a climbing platform. The only reason I would have kept my climbers would have been to use the seat for a climbing platform. Think about this, when using a climbing platform with a saddle no tree is unclimbable. You can stay harnessed in the entire time even when going over branches. So let’s go companies make one!

 

[BuffaloBill]

My climber was definitely lighter than any stick/stand setup i looked at when I bought it. And the way I carried it it packed as well or better than them.

I wonder sometimes how much advantage the saddle has really been for me, and how many more deer I could have killed if I had kept my effort solely on hunting and not gotten distracted looking for the better mousetrap.

I feel exactly the same way. I've been keeping an eye on Craigslist and FB marketplace for used climbers. I had the XOP Strike Force hand climber at one point and that thing was a PITA to climb with. But it packed flat and was light. I have a hang on and sticks but I'd like a climber option as well. The climber market has been pretty stagnant. Summit is all made overseas now and they still charge $300-400 for a climber. I'm hoping Novix comes out with a climber. But i'd probably even pay more for a LWCG climber.

It's interesting see some people, including me, coming full circle back to climbers. I just want to be comfortable and be able to get 20+ feet without dealing with multiple sticks, and no I'm not one sticking or doing any stuff adapted from rock climbing. I don't want to deal with a bunch of ropes and pouches. Just the climber, harness, and weapon. A Summit type stand that is lighter and packs better would be money.

 

[Shakeandbake]

Well seeing as how the beast stand cost me a grand CAD to get to my door. I'd pay 750 USD for a under 15lb sit and climb with a mesh seat and foot rest with a bowholder that's not in the middle of the front of the platform.

Sent from my SM-G986W using Tapatalk

I have the Lone Wolf Assault climber, it’s 14 pounds. You can buy the mesh seat and foot rest separate and you will be around $400.

 

[ketch22]

Sometimes I think it would be nice to be a bear. Effortlessly climb trees. No worries with carrying large, bulky outer layers in and putting them on at the base of the tree. Don’t have to drag the deer out, just eat it on the spot. All very attractive options. Missing the hunting season due to hibernation and difficulty in drawing a bow has kept me from making the switch, though.

^^^how did this just get glassed over lol

 

[HeavyD]

I sold my summit climber before the start of the season because it was heavy, clunky and noisy for me. Yeah once in the tree it was great and perfect for all day sits. I will say though, if an ultra light climber or LWHC that packs flat hits the market I'd probably pick one up. When I hunt the big woods most trees are straight and the leaf canopy can be 30+ feet high. I stick out like a sore thumb using sticks with aiders at 17'.

 

[kyler1945]

I for one wish for the ease of use, and weight of climbing stands continues to improve. It means that instead of 90% of hunters will be concentrated in woods with straight limbless trees, it will be 95%.

anything to improve the predictability, lack of adaptability, and consistency of human intrusion I’m all for!

 

[Vtbow]

I for one wish for the ease of use, and weight of climbing stands continues to improve. It means that instead of 90% of hunters will be concentrated in woods with straight limbless trees, it will be 95%.

anything to improve the predictability, lack of adaptability, and consistency of human intrusion I’m all for!

Yeah, that'd be a real Game Changer.

 

[mtsrunner]

It seems like people are getting a little nostalgic about their old climber days. Maybe this picture is a reality check (it was for me). This is my Summit on the left and my LWHC on the right. The Summit with rock climbing harness and tree tether weighs 23 pounds and is the size of a Prius. The LWHC with a Recon sling, tether and backup 2TC system weighs 6 pounds 2 oz and I carry it over my shoulder like a small purse.
The only mods on the LWHC I have are an Amsteel footstrap, the [mention]Bwhana [/mention] climbing rope pieces mod to change the angle of the arms and a piece of 3/4” shrink tube over the climbing band to make it less grabby on the bark. I can climb the same trees that I could with the Summit PLUS I can go around limbs if needed.

 

[redsquirrel]

I wonder sometimes how much advantage the saddle has really been for me, and how many more deer I could have killed if I had kept my effort solely on hunting and not gotten distracted looking for the better mousetrap.

You could do both? They don't necessarily conflict with each other.

I am not surprised to see people going back to hang ons and climbers. I've been saying all along this whole saddle boom was going to bust. Saddle hunting is just not for everyone. Our baseline number of saddle hunters is going have increased but it certainly isn't going to be enough to sustain the X number of saddle manufacturers that have popped up. At some point there is going to be something like 5 saddles available for every 1 saddle hunter out there.

 

[Red Beard]

Our baseline number of saddle hunters is going have increased but it certainly isn't going to be enough to sustain the X number of saddle manufacturers that have popped up. At some point there is going to be something like 5 saddles available for every 1 saddle hunter out there.

You mean I'll be able to find Evos again!?!?!?

 

[kbetts]

In general, facing away from the tree is more comfortable and more effective for me, I get busted alot less when back to the tree.. Using a climber is also faster (by a stretch) and more quiet for me.

With emphasis on 'for me'

Now the bulk is such a con, I rarely use my openshot these days. Also theres the downside of only climbing specific trees.

Obviously this is all spit-balling because of the wide spectrum of personal preference when it comes to saddles/stands/sticks/location/etc.

I could probably find a more comfortable saddle which would cut down on squirming and thereby less likely to be seen. I'll add too that when I say, I get busted less, it's not so much as definitely being picked off as it is not seeing as many deer when in a saddle (which is confusing) and I'm assuming the odds that theyve seen me is increased. All speculative.

What isn't speculative is that I would love to see a climber remake. I'd keep my saddle and other climbing methods for specific situations but I'd probably prefer the climber.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

Get a larger platform. I switched from a ROS and it changed everything. I shoot primarily trad bows and having footing eliminates the weak side.

 

[Plebe]

I for one wish for the ease of use, and weight of climbing stands continues to improve. It means that instead of 90% of hunters will be concentrated in woods with straight limbless trees, it will be 95%.

anything to improve the predictability, lack of adaptability, and consistency of human intrusion I’m all for!

Ladder stands don’t mind limbs.

As well, I wonder what the split on climbers vs lock-on sales is? I’ve actually never seen another hunter take a climber in where I go. Have found a couple buckets though.

I would think a lighter climber would increase mobility of hunters choosing that method, thereby decreasing the predictability and consistency of intrusion on the whole.

I would also suppose numerous folks going in on a high end micro climber or climbing platform would have other set ups for other spots. Especially the folks discussing it here, who realize it could be the best tool for the job...when the Swiss army is unnecessary and inefficient.

 

[Nutterbuster]

As well, I wonder what the split on climbers vs lock-on sales is? I’ve actually never seen another hunter take a climber in where I go. Have found a couple buckets though.

I have no idea, but I know it's highly regional. I have never once in 20+ years of hunting personally seen a hunter carrying a lock-on into the woods to mobile hunt. I see 10 climbers left at the base of trees for every 1 preset hang-on. The mobile guys are all sitting on the ground or in a climber. Probably because Summit, Loggy Bayou, Ole Man, Cougar Claw and several others are all based out of the deep south and we have plenty of straight trees.

Compare that to the fact that I don't recall chatting with a midwestern hunter who owned a climber. They all yammer about Lone Wolf stuff.