Climber or hang on with sticks for beginner?

[flathead#2]

@flathead#2 you didnt answer the question? I havent used a climber before, but curious on the details of your comparison, as it seems off to me. It makes a big difference what equipment you are using, so Id like to know what you are comparing to and some detail on using a climber. If you are comparing a top of the line climber to a $79.95 steel hang-on from Dicks, sure. But Im curious for some specificity on what you experienced, because what youre saying about a hang-on doesn't match my experience.

Easier, maybe I dont know. A stand and sticks is just a buckle strap, repeat as needed. Is a climber significantly easier? The one thing some people find tricky is getting a heavy stand initially mounted on the tree—but a light stand is way easier, and there are also several ways to mount the strap or a bracket first so the stand essentially just clips on to it. What did you find difficult?

More comfortable—this is the one advantage to a climber I see most people agree on.

Quicker—maybe…but like I said with even minimal practice with a hang-on, 10-15 min start to hunting is easy even if passing branches and being quiet, and if you get comfortable 5-7 min is very realistic most if the time. Is a climber really much faster if its not pre-set at the bottom of a straight tree?

Quieter—is highly dependent on the exact stand and sticks youre using, but a cast hang on and good sticks are quiet enough to set up pretty darn close to bedded deer. The only noise is if you are careless and bang your stuff together. What was it you found loud?

Less equipment—stand, sticks, harness and tether. It all straps together like a backpack for transport. Is a 2-piece climber with a harness and tether that much less? It may be fewer pieces I guess simply because you have a couple sticks, but Im curious what you found so different? A basic but good quality lighter stand and sticks will weigh about 9lb for the stand, and about 2lb per stick, including buckle straps, so call it 17lb, and as far as I know the rest is the same as a climber…and if you spend a bit more theres multiple ways to drop 5 or 6lb from that. Are climbers typically that much less weight or bulk?

Dude, use whatever you want.
I know what I prefer.

 

[Luked]

Never cared for the climber stands myself. Always used a lock on.
I Have a XOP in the shed that is a nice Cast Alum stand that I have had about 4 years and its never been put in a tree.
Just got to where I use my Saddle more now days.

 

[Yoder]

I still use both. It doesn't matter. I have a LW sit and climb. It's safe, easy to use and I love how it folds flat. It's not the most comfortable stand. I saw one in the classifieds here not long ago. It might still be there. For a lock on LW Alpha2. They got bought by Novix. Good stands and they aren't too crazy expensive. Sticks and a lock on take longer to setup and you need some practice with all the ropes. Good thing is you can use a bigger variety of trees. Where I hunt, one is as good as the other.

 

[SkyHunter]

I generally prefer a climber as I find it more comfortable than a lock on. But you could be very limited on tree selection as others have pointed out.

But I typically use a saddle more than the climber these days.

 

[Archery22]

Tree Walker climber is very safe, which ever way you choose to go use a lifeline.

 

[br459]

I’m a sticks and lock on when it comes to bow hunting. I like the open shots with no worries of hitt the top of the climber. Now if I was using a climber I’d look at the open shot. Its really built for bow hunting

 

[Maverick1]

First year going bowhunting on public land and was wondering what styler tree stand is better for a beginner, climber or hang on with sticks? Any suggestions on brand would be great too. Thanks!

I have hunted with both a climber, hang on stand, and saddle. In most situations, the climbing sticks and hang on stand is what has worked best over the years. Sold all my climbers and use a hang on or saddle setup these days. The climber was always a compromise; it rarely put me in the right position.

With a climber, I found myself hunting for the "right tree". (Finding a tree that had no limbs, was straight, and very telephone-pole like). In many situations, the "right tree" was not necessarily in the "right spot".

With a hang on, I find it much easier to find the right sign, setup in the nearest tree (whatever configuration that may be - straight, crooked, leaning), and then hunting the SPOT.

A climber put me out of position many times.

A hang on lets me be in the right position most of the time.

 

[Boarmaster]

I like a Summit Titan climber myself my buddy loves his Old man climbers. He is much smaller than me. I hunt in primarily pines. And I can pretty much drive a SxS to every tree. I feel safe in the larger stand and can pretty much sit all day comfortably if I cared to. I am not a beginner hunter more on the other end of the spectrum. So comfort and safety are a primary concern of mine.

 

[mineral4x]

When I first started trying to be mobile, I got a Summit Viper climber. It was very comfortable, but I quickly realized in my area is severely limited where I could go. I was 'trying to make it work' instead of being where I really wanted. I quickly switched to a XOP hang-on and was much more successful. I sold the climber and never thought about it again.

 

[JCMCUBIC]

If I were trying to decide, the current discount on this one would entice me to the hang-on route:

COLD WORLD™

Ultralight hang-on treestand Cold world is an lightweight hang-on with a plethora of features. Equipped with a fully leveling seat and platform, it provides an exceptional option for all your ultralight endeavors. Its 4-point bracket allows efficient placement in a variety of trees. The shape...

xopoutdoors.com

 

[RocketRob16]

If I were trying to decide, the current discount on this one would entice me to the hang-on route:

COLD WORLD™

Ultralight hang-on treestand Cold world is an lightweight hang-on with a plethora of features. Equipped with a fully leveling seat and platform, it provides an exceptional option for all your ultralight endeavors. Its 4-point bracket allows efficient placement in a variety of trees. The shape...

xopoutdoors.com

Pair it with the X2 sticks and cable aiders from EWO and you’d have a very versatile, beginner friendly setup with good resale value if you changed down the road.

 

[Honyock]

If you're going to leave a hang on stand set up on public land, I would suggest that you buy two stands. They have a habit of disappearing and/or someone hunting out of it.

 

[JCMCUBIC]

If you're going to leave a hang on stand set up on public land, I would suggest that you buy two stands. They have a habit of disappearing and/or someone hunting out of it.

It's my assumption that the use is hang/hunt, taking it out each time.

 

[Hardly_Hangin]

For anyone who has never hunted before, id recommend learning by sitting on the ground. Get you a weapon, pocket knife and a 5 gallon bucket or folding stool and start walking. Don't even get expensive camo- just be warm and dry and learn how to sit still.

Less barrier to entry and safer until you get some practice reps during the summer in a controlled environment. Spend your brain power, time and attention span learning woodsmanship and how to hunt deer, then worry about the bottemless gear rabbithole later. Focus on getting experience killing deer rather than fiddling with stuff

Once you get a feel for what kinds of trees, cover and terrain you have to work with, then experiment and research what gear you think would work.

My $0.02

 

[Watrdawg]

I have both and it depends on where I'm hunting. If mostly pines or even straight oaks I'm in a climber. I have a Summit Viper. It's really comfortable and more than once I've fallen asleep. If I'm in an area that doesn't have many straight trees I'm using a lock on and sticks. I like the Millennium M100 Ultralight lock on and whatever sticks you want. There are other lock on's out there that are lighter but to me this one is the most comfortable. Sitting in a lock on gives me the willy's and this one has arm straps that make me feel a bit safer. No way you would catch me in one with just a little pad seat! Saddles really intrigue me but the costs is too prohibitive right now.

 

[FLS]

It does seem Summits are quite popular. Is there a noticeable difference in weight between their steel and aluminum stands?

Big difference in weight. You definitely want aluminum.I hunt out of both. For long sits and rifle hunting I much prefer a climber. Mobile bow hunting, l like sticks and a lock on.

 

[Macintosh]

For anyone who has never hunted before, id recommend learning by sitting on the ground. Get you a weapon, pocket knife and a 5 gallon bucket or folding stool and start walking. Don't even get expensive camo- just be warm and dry and learn how to sit still.

Less barrier to entry and safer until you get some practice reps during the summer in a controlled environment. Spend your brain power, time and attention span learning woodsmanship and how to hunt deer, then worry about the bottemless gear rabbithole later. Focus on getting experience killing deer rather than fiddling with stuff

Once you get a feel for what kinds of trees, cover and terrain you have to work with, then experiment and research what gear you think would work.

My $0.02

I love this answer. The only caveat I have is that if you are bow hunting it can be really hard to draw without being seen while on the ground. To me the single biggest advantage of an elevated stand of any sort is the better visibility it provides to help get your timing of draw right so deer doesnt see your movement. In areas with lower deer density bow hunting any deer successfully can be truly very hard so any advantage matters. Other places maybe less critical. But overall I agree with the sentiment entirely. Its also a decent argument for a popup style ground blind, Ive seen a few that are pretty easily portable.

 

[mtfallon]

I hunt MA NH NY and there's plenty of nice straight oaks in most areas. Climbers are bulkier, but faster and easier to set up in the dark for me I also have sticks and lone wolf hangon, saddle platform, and one stick. For gun hunting one sticking is my go-to. For archery I still prefer my summit open shot. Faster and easier in the dark with no light especially for shorter sits. I wear a dryad kill deer harness that weighs nothing. If you are in parts of the country without good climber trees it may get frustrating trying to find the right tree and in that case sticks/hang-on may make a lot more sense.

 

[TreyPwestOk]

For me in my area it is way too difficult to find a tree for a climber. Hang ons with sticks or saddles are much more forgiving on finding the right tree.

 

[RiversideHunter]

There won’t be many situations where a climber is better. It’s definitely more versatile and has its place when scouting new areas but it’s so hard to be quiet I think lock ons are far superior.