Probably been discussed before..

Alpha Hand Climber

Been killing from one for years. Very lightweight and easy to pack.

I have somewhat modified my summit viper and shaved a few pounds here and there in the process and it's fairly lightweight and comfortable can sit all day

Probly a lone wolf..i usta kill a buncha deer in an ol man with the bar flipped down..they wudnt light tho..i held matts stand sunday..that thing is super light

That lone wolf alpha hand climber looks awesome. I want one now....

Lone Wolf Alpha Hand Climber

For portability the lone wolf, I like my summit mini viper pretty good for comfort/weight and easy but u need to be average size to fit ok…if over 6ft or 200lb prob wouldn’t be good
Like carbon said the ol man’s r good too I’ve had 3 different varieties and enjoyed them all also had a ln equalizer that I liked for bow hunting back in the day, not sure if there still made but u can adjust the platform like a fishing reel while in the tree
I just don’t hunt much from a tree anymore…

My x-stand x-1 only weighs 11lbs. The tradeoff is comfort. I have trouble sitting in it more than 4 hours.

I'm 5'10, 175lbs, and have a 34" waist. I wouldn't recommend if you are much bigger than that. 200+lbs and/or 40" waist is probably too big.

I picked up a used summit open shot at a yard sale for $50, and its alot lighter than my Alum Viper. It's not the most comfortable stand, and climbing is slower, but its light.

XOP use to make a lone wolf hand climber knock off. I use to have one and killed many a deer with my longbow out of it. I may actually look at buying another, and swapping that aluminum seat with tiny cushion to a millenium seat. The aluminum seat will be fine for most but it was difficult to sit long periods for me.

Yeah you’re not going to fit a big boy in an alpha. Better plan on maintaining good upper body strength too.

I hunt out of a summit open shot all season. Super light and doesn’t bother me to sit for long periods

Another vote for the Summit open shot

Love my Open Shot

The lone wolf hand climbers are great but they are discontinued and novix nor XOP makes something similar as of right now.

It’s unfortunate, i’ve been in this situation recently and have decided to just get a lightweight hang on and run my openshot/viper if needed as well.

And lone wolf / novix does not seem to be selling replacement belts for the old stands. So if you can find a used one be sure the belts are good. Hoping they would come out with a light weight climber or improve the old one.

Anyone know why Novix/Lonewolf discontinued the climbers? Did it happen when Novix took over? I’ve previously owed a sit and climb and the hand climber. I wish I’d kept them both.

I know where one of them is. Looks like all Novix and XOP offer now are hang on’s. That’s crazy.

What was I thinking? Haha. I’d love to have a sit and climb wide.

Killed that big 8 out of it last year. 😎

There's been some patent (or something) issues belly aching with that group.

Link

if you havent yet, look into a saddle

The Equalizer by Buckshot! I don't know anyone that owns one other than me, but I've bought two over the last 20 years, and I love them. Light weight and they level to the tree with a small crank. They are easy and quick to put on and take off a tree too. They also grip the hell out of any type tree.

I tried one and sold it. Saddles are alright for quick hunts but I’m not going to stand for hours 20” up a tree with a tiny platform to stand on and wear knee pads to knee into a tree. Climber or lock on is still the way to go. The problem with lock ons is the added weight of sticks leaving your hovering around 20 lbs light. A lightweight climber is 14 lbs and that’s it, but you need limbless trees. The answer is somewhere in the middle.

Man I bought into that crap spent a ton of money and tried hard to like it. Saddles are terrible. Have what seems like 15 pieces to get set up in a tree and have to move like crazy unless the deer come out in the perfect spot. Can’t be close to any limbs in the tree or you can’t do your spider man act to move around for a shot. Dumbest money I ever spent on hunting.

I think alot of people are feelin that way about saddles..not what they thought it was

I think coosa would disagree…I haven’t got familiar with them enough to give any feedback but I know he’s killed several outta one

I’m on year 3 of saddle hunting. I haven’t hunted in a tree yet this year, but it’s gonna be in a saddle this weekend when I finally do. It takes a sit or two to get used to, but I find it better than my lone wolf. I like being able to kinda swing from side to side when I get bored. It’s the little things.

That was another problem I had. I swung around stood sat caught myself moving all the time.

I have hunted out of mine for years. I replaced the seat with a hazmat string seat. I also sprayed spray foam in the aluminum to try to help quiet it. It’s a pretty good stand just is on the heavier/bulky side. Rock solid climbing though

Hey, i aint knockin them..all them youtube dudes absolutely slay outa them things..im a big proponent of learn and be proficient..an i think your average weekend warrior that watches youtube an thinks..oh..thats great..gonna be so much better than totin this summit goliath up the side of a mtn in skyline..when they never got real good at usin the climbin stand to begin with. I think there are alot of people that wind up moving to much an they get busted easier..and the biggest gripe ive got out of almost everbody ive talked to is trying to get to full draw with that lanyard and bridge in the way..im gonna make me one out of a sit drag to play with…but them thangs are way to expensive for whag they are..i bet the nicest one kn the market dont cost $20 to make..an you cojld make a platform outa stuff from lowes for $15-25…in my mind..the loc on is king..an even if it aint..its whag alot of lightweight guys prefer..just lesser nowadays..i do think that the saddles are neat and they definitely have their place..an i aint ever used one..so i might not even know what im talkin about🤷🏻

I’m in Kentucky hunting, I’ve been here for 5 days. With me, I have an xop lockon, a millennium m-7, a xstand climber, a summit open shot, a saddle, muddy pro climbing sticks, tethrd one sticks, and climbing spurs.

Want to know the only items I haven’t used on that list? The two climbers. And my lease is primarily hardwoods with climber friendly trees.

What’s the reason for no climber love?

Several things, but primarily weight, cumbersome while walking in, and noise. I find myself grabbing a lock on if I’m planning to sit for more than 4 or 5 hours, or if I might leave a stand in there. Otherwise, the saddle always seems to win out for shorter hunts, despite being less comfortable than the other options. The only situation I see myself using a climber in, would be an all day sit, in a spot that’s easy to get to.

If weight and noise are an issue you should try the Lone Wolf. You’ll change your mind. It’s like walking in with a lock on on your back

I had an xop sit and climb (same thing) and didn’t like it. Didn’t care for the belt system, they gripped so well, that it was hard to get up certain trees, until you got high enough for the bottom to level out. Didn’t like having to mess with folding it flat, but it did carry well once you had it packed up. Weight is no better than a summit and the summit is more comfortable. It was definitely quiet for a climber, unless you were getting hung up on a rough barked tree.

Another vote for Summit Open Shot. Love being able to shoot sitting down with my bow if I have to. It has a nice padded seat and a footrest added helps comfort for long sits. They aren't the easiest to climb with but similar to any of the light weight bow hunting models where you have to use your abs and arms to climb.

It’s amazing to me that a company hasn’t designed a sub 15lb climber. I think the Novix group will eventually get back in the game once the market for a 600$ lock on diminishes.

FWIW, I have an old wind walker loc-on I use with my saddle. I find myself leaning in the saddle versus sitting because of knees in the tree.

I’m gonna try and find one if the old stands we made back in the 90’s. Made them from 1/2” or 5/8 square tubing. They weren’t plush but they were light weight and packed easy.

X stand climber is 12lbs…