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Summit Explorer SD - what can I do with this?

L

ledflight

Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2021
Messages
43
Hi all. I have the mentioned climber and am not that happy with it. The seat is a little too big and makes shooting around it a PITA with my longbow.
It's has an open top seat - comes with this comfy loungy chair that I replaced with a slumper mesh seat, so NOT like the open shot / Lone Wolf top climber.
Does this have any use for me - as a hand climber top?
Can the bottom platform be used with my saddle to climb the same way as the hand climber top? Thanks for any suggestions. It's not terrible, I just don't love it and would rather get something out of it than just buy more stuff. Pics of the stock model and the slumper for reference. THANKS
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I don't see a reason why you couldn't climb with the bottom and your tether. I would probably want to run a second tether or lineman's belt so I wouldn't be relying on the bottom to hold me while moved my tether up.

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krub6b said:
I don't see a reason why you couldn't climb with the bottom and your tether. I would probably want to run a second tether or lineman's belt so I wouldn't be relying on the bottom to hold me while moved my tether up.

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Click to expand...
I should try. I haven't see anyone using such a big base to climb with. I don't think I would mind having the big platform.
 
ledflight said:
I should try. I haven't see anyone using such a big base to climb with. I don't think I would mind having the big platform.
Click to expand...
If you don't mind packing the bottom portion it would be a very roomy platform, make sure you tie the bottom to you somehow before heading up the tree

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krub6b said:
If you don't mind packing the bottom portion it would be a very roomy platform, make sure you tie the bottom to you somehow before heading up the tree

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
So the bottom is secure enough without the top cinched onto it. It's my weight that does it all. I think I'll need to add something for my feet to hook under that's closer to the tree than where I use it now.
 
ledflight said:
So the bottom is secure enough without the top cinched onto it. It's my weight that does it all. I think I'll need to add something for my feet to hook under that's closer to the tree than where I use it now.
Click to expand...
On my old climber there was a strap connecting the top and bottom so that you couldn't drop the bottom and be stuck up a tree. If you have a rappelling system then that's not a huge concern, but if you are planning on climbing up and back down I would want something that would keep the bottom from falling, even if that was just a piece of Paracord that hooked to my belt loop

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krub6b said:
On my old climber there was a strap connecting the top and bottom so that you couldn't drop the bottom and be stuck up a tree. If you have a rappelling system then that's not a huge concern, but if you are planning on climbing up and back down I would want something that would keep the bottom from falling, even if that was just a piece of Paracord that hooked to my belt loop

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Click to expand...
Yes, at this point I'm not yet rapelling ready. For sure to secure it to me somehow.
 
ledflight said:
I should try. I haven't see anyone using such a big base to climb with. I don't think I would mind having the big platform.
Click to expand...

The only climbing stand I personally own is a 25+ year old steel Ol' Man. I don't know how a stand could be improved on for actual climbing but there is more to it for me; weight isn't much of an issue either despite it resembling a boat anchor in that area.

The biggest problem for me, is the actual bigness of the dadgum thing! It is like 30" long and wider than my waist although every month post retirement from the Corps is making that less and less of a concern.

If I had a smaller full sized climbing platform I would hunt it in a second. In fact, I am waiting on a device to be delivered to my door to do just that.
It gives you plenty of options because you can still hunt with your saddle, or hunt it as is was designed facing away from the tree; just watch your side pressure if you get excited for a just-out-of-comfort leaning shot.
 
I don't think, as of yet at least, I'll mind the big platform. It's what I am most used to and I think will allow me to shoot in the stand style away from the tree or facing as I choose.
 
There is a YouTube video. Guy uses the top section to climb with and also as his platform. I think he welded some of the bottom platform slats across it or something like that
 
Bowhunter41002 said:
There is a YouTube video. Guy uses the top section to climb with and also as his platform. I think he welded some of the bottom platform slats across it or something like that
Click to expand...
I don’t have welding access at the moment, which is why I started this thread. I’ll see about this as an option though, maybe after this season
 
Summit makes stirrups that clamp on the sides, they’re plastic but work ok. For your purposes might wanna find something more stout. That’d be good for a large platform as others said but you’d wanna figure out a way to get it secure or you’re going for a ride. Could always just throw it on Facebook.
 
I think I'll need something closer to the tree from where you usually climb on a climber, hence I'll be looking at straps, or stirrups type add ons as they seem fit.
 
Ive used the base of my climber with my saddle several times to climb. It works great, I didn't have to move the straps for my feet.
 
Here's a really cool idea to do with that seat. I've been collecting parts to build one for myself all I'm really lacking is that seat.

DIY poor man JX3 Hybrid

Been working since I saw the JX3 Hybrid. Total cost for me was under $30 but your miles might varies. Old Summit climber seat was free, but you can amazon it for $60? 2 slotted D-Ring, $2 a hiking backpack frame from Goodwill that was $6 4-5 feet of Amsteel for bridge 4-5 feet of climbing rated...
saddlehunter.com
 
i found the bottom half was really hard to climb with because of the position it put me in on the tree. scrapped the idea and got a stick
 
It definitely isn't my favorite method to get up a tree but it did put 2 deer n 1 hog on the ground my first saddle season.
 
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