Climber VS Hang on Stand

I would appreciate some of you fella's opinion about treestands.
I've hunted 90% on the ground all my life but I have used climbers and ladderstands a little.
I sold my climber about 10 years ago but I'm considering buying a light weight setup.
I have never used a hang on but I have read where some folks can set up a hang on as quick as a climber.
I like the idea of a light weight hang on like the Millenium M7 for a versatile treestand.
I don't want to climb in a hurry and be unsafe but I don't want to spend too much time setting up.
This will be an in and out setup every hunt.
I would appreciate any feedback.
Thanks

If you have trees you can use a climber with, use a climber. I only use hang-ons when trees have limbs in the way.

If you know the property and generally where your go to spots are I would say a loc on/ Millenium stands for quietness and easiness. Now a climber would be much more versatile and probably be the best option for newer property

If you going to use it in and out every hunt I say climber but if I leave it in woods then lock on. I use both. I use lock on at my best spots to be quiet entry and exit l use climber to try new spots.

I was considering that option too.
Use a climber and put up a hang on in the hot spots.
My son has an XOP Strike Force but I haven't had a chance to try it out yet.

How much of a difference is there in time as far as setting up a light weight hang on compared to a climber?

Takes practice, I'm horrible at it without sweating to death and scaring everything out of the woods.

If did the Millenium brackets it's simple just have to pre hang them all so I don't sweat to death, at least I do

Thanks everyone for the info. That's one reason I was considering the Millenium, preset the recievers in my hot spots and just use the climber the rest of the time.

I bought a Millenium and sold all my other loc ons except 2 cause of comfort and other people can't sit your spots if they don't have one

I have a lower back issue that doesn't bother me much unless I'm sitting on a seat that's not comfortable. The Millenium would be good for me.
mauvilla, do you use the Millenium along with a climber for other areas?

I have been using this technique for years. Hated hanging lock on in non productive areas then having to move.Plus keeps climber free to hang with any wind direction.

For some reason i always feel like i stick out like a sore thumb in a lock on. Maybe its becauase i get higher in a climber.

None, with practice. Also, just as quiet when using screw in steps for me.

From what I'm gathering from reading what folks say that hunt with hang on a lot is..having a system and lightweight stands is the key.

Not much of a time difference, but you will dang sure be sweating your azz off with the lockon route.

I tried the light weight lockon route with lonewolf sticks. Ended up going to the x stand. Way way better for in and out bow hunting, unless you're somewhere that doesn't have straight trees (the Midwest). X stand beats any lockon and sticks combo by 7 pounds or more, and it takes a heck of a lot less physical exertion. I prefer to bow hunt out of lockons, but I've finally realized that unless I'm headed to Kentucky, I need to just set them on pinch points and chase the acorns with a climber.

My son got in a new hunting club this year, that's his plan...use the climber and set up hang on in spots that he knows he will hunt a lot.
I hunt public land so I'm not crazy about leaving a stand in the woods unless it's a cheap one.

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

Yes i do I have a old API grand slam I've had forever I will hunt new places with and if I consistently see deer there I will move a set of sticks and a bracket in and hang it if it's towards the end of the year sometimes just keep using the climber and hand a new set summer or fall

I'm using a lone wolf alpha 2 with 4 xop sticks. I've used climbers since I started hunting but going to try the "hang and hunt" method this year. Whatever you get practice with it

I sweat a lot when it's hot, anyway. However, I don't sweat anymore with a lock on than I do with a climber.

Just have to find what works for you and go with it.

My experience over a span of about 25 years:

Loc-on-
1. Lots of work. Anybody that says they can do it quick is being dishonest. Lots of work. Did I say lots of work? LOL
Why anyone would take in a loc-on and steps/ladder the morning of the hunt is beyond me.
2. Tiny platform. If you can't pull your bow back from a seated position, or stand totally erect and pull it back without fear of losing your balance, do NOT use a loc on.
3. Absolutely limited. I don't hunt anywhere that the deer ALWAYS come within bow range of that tree, or at least where they do it for very long. Acorns go away, seasonal patterns move the deer, etc. Lots of work for a small window.
4. In the end I've just never had enough reward for the labor involved. I quit hanging them years and years ago.
5. There will ALWAYS be a huge hairy spider in a funnel web inside the tube against the tree. Good luck when you climb up there in the dark and see him crawl back down that tube, then you know you gotta sit on him all morning.
6. You WILL forget your seat cushion every time.
7. Lastly, they are lots of work.

I've only used lock-on's a couple of times. Once I was in them, they were fine, but I absolutely HATE having to climb up climbing sticks. Being completely vertical instead of angled like a ladder....just don't care for it. Plus ever set I've ever used, the steps were way too far apart. If lock-on and climber are my only 2 choices, I'd say climber, especially if you're having to put it up/take it down every time.

I still prefer ladders over everything else though. 15' is about as high as I care to go.

I can unpack a set of lone wolf sticks, get them up a tree about 20-22', hang my stand, and be pulling my bow up in under 5 minutes... I've timed it multiple times. Are you saying I'm a liar?

I use a climber for mobility, because it's lighter, and less physically demanding. It's tit for tat on time up the tree.

I use to hang them with screw in steps the morning of my hunts. Once I left the ground, I didn't come down until my hunt was over. It wasn't enough difference in time to cuss a cat over.

I guess he's calling me a liar, as well.

I believe you Austin.

I've seen it done pretty quick. But it takes practice and athleticism. It's not for everyone.

Im personally all about loc ons and ladders. I hate using climbers and have sold any I owned.

I used to carry a pack with 10 strap on steps and an alumi lite loc on stand when I was younger.

5 minutes strapping on 8 steps to 10 steps and a stand. maybe 7 minutes tops.

Now days I set em up on active runs in funnels and pinch points, as well as on my food plots at home. But keep em there...with a lifeline attached.

I prefer ladders to loc ons, but loc ons to climbers.

I stalk into my sets..sneak up like a cat.

I hate the racket of those dang climbers..even my old summit which was the quietest I owned.

Heck Ive caught a few trespassers outfitting by HEARING them climb up in a climber near one of my sets when I snuck in and was sitting in it.

Just a matter of which works best for each individual I feel. and the older you get..the less likely youll want to pack in a climber. I sure dont.

Heck, I aint packing an alumi lite either. I set up me stands and leave em as Im too old to mess around like that in the dark now.

If I have to adjust due to movement I make my correction after a hunt and leave em at the new spot as well.

I love hunting out of my summit titan and I hate hunting out of loc-ons much less packing one into the woods with me as a mobile setup. To each their own.

If I had my own land or was in a club I'd have ladderstands in the hot spots.
But hunting by myself most of the time ladders might be a booger to move if I need to relocate them, sure dont want to pack on one in and out..lol

+1

I think my biggest problem is I don't think I could trust a linemans belt while hanging stands.
I think climbing into a lock on stand that has a lifeline with a prussic knot would be fine for me.
When I use to use a climber I would move the tree strap up as I climbed so I was hooked up the whole time.
It's a mental thing with me

I can sit waaaaaay longer in a good climber

The Millenium M7 looks like it would be a good mobil stand for packing in and out.

started hunting out of lock ons about 5 years ago when i really started to bowhunt. I don't pack them in and out though. it takes me about 30 minutes realistically to hang a lock on. i do however second using the lifelines. the peace of mind i get knowing I'm hooked up from the minute i leave the ground is a must for me in a lock on.

I'm like a cross between a cat and a monkey in a tree, and y'all crazy as bat@#$#@ about taking in steps (or dang sure sticks) and a loc-on on the day of your hunt!!!!

CAN I put one up in a fast time?...I suppose. But why? The point of a loc-on is to not have to carry a stand and climb the tree every time. (Or in rare cases because there isn't a tree to climb) I ain't saying y'all is lyin', just crazy as heck!

I reckon I don't like to work like a jobu just to sit low to the ground on a plate-sized platform. If I was purposefully working fast, in the DAYLIGHT mind you, just simply to be timed on hanging a stand, I'd say 20/30 minutes tops. But I guess some folks think I'm nuts for putting the climber on my back and walking a mile up and down ridges.

Oh, and of my list of reasons against loc-ons, THAT'S the one y'all took notice of???? Not the spider????

I'm not a female, so I wasn't worried about the spider.

Yeah, you crazy! I'll hurt everybody in the room over a spider.

Lol. I've got a buddy that feels the same way about midgets.

I was a die hard loc-on guy for years but have reverted back to climbers (specifically Summit Vipers). I have several that I will hang on trees and leave out much of the season on private land. I do remove the seat so squirrels won't chew it up and I have a dry seat.

For me personally I would hang a loc-on and find myself reluctant to move it during the season because of noise, scent, the work involved etc... With climbers I will leave one in a general area and can relocate daily if conditions warrant. I'm sure some will disagree but I feel safer in a climber because I didn't use lifelines with loc-ons but always strap myself to the tree before going up in a climber.

No right or wrong answer if your area is conducive to either type of stand. Really comes down to personal preference.

I've prolly hunted 90% out of loc-ons over the years. I have climbed into a loc-on and seen deer as I reached the stand that are undisturbed by my silent climb. You cannot do that with ANY climber. And a loc-on will go in a heck of a lot more trees than any climber will.

I use a climber when hunting a new area to decide where to put a loc-on. I rarely move a loc-on in season, just put another one up. I've prollly got 30+ loc-ons and three climbers.

Thanks for the comments fellas.
From what I've gathered, most would rather use a hang not as an in and out stand.
And a climber for hunt/scout tactics.

TG, I prefer lock on and will use one in any situation I'm able. The versatility of a climber is great, I'm just a control freak on hunts and when I'm not good with climbers it makes me paranoid to use one. Either the racket from me setting up one or my cussing at it will scare the deer off. If I were hunting public land, I would practice more with a climber. But, I've hunted on our property my whole life. At this point I have a good enough idea of good sets so I always use lock on.

To answer your question, I can set up a lock on pretty quick and have done so several times the morning of the hunt. I haven't read all the post but, Millenium makes that big stand that comes with a fitting (whatever it's called) they sell for like $25 on Amazon. You can buy 1 or 2 stands and several of those and set up several sites with screw in steps or sticks and carry the stand in. I haven't used one yet, but from what I understand they just slide down in that fitting. I would use those all day over a climber. I think you're a stick bow guy like me so being able to hide is more important. I don't have a single stand over 15 ft high but they're hidden.

Anybody ever used a Climax stand? I have several and they are awesome. They closed up shop but they have a swing arm under the platform so you can hang them in virtually any tree and make them level. They are a mother to hang though.

Climax

Recurve, that's a blessing to have your own property to hunt.
I would do the exact same thing.
I was debating on getting the Millenium M7 stand, it takes the receiver that you're talking about.
It's not a big stand but it only weighs 9lbs
I have to pack in anywhere from a mile to 2 miles which I dont mind, but I dont want to carry any more than I have to.
I thank God at 57 I can still do it..lol
I sold my climber about 10 years ago. I bought a cheap heavy climber last year but I'm going to leave it in the woods this season.
Been a ground hunter mostly but I want to do some hunting out of a stand this year.
The first climber I ever had back in the 70s was a Baker stand, we called them DEATH TRAPS..lol We've come a long way since then.

I have a XOP vanish stand cast aluminum is key. I bought a hawk mega combat but since it was not cast aluminum every time I went to stand up the stand itself popped. I've been hunting NA forest my whole life and hunted with a climber for the first 2 years... I've switched to loc ons since it was lighter to pack in loc on and sticks and I can be more quite with a loc on than a climber. I have a loop around my seat so when I'm done with climbing my sticks I screw in a $2 bow holder then pull up my stand and put the loop over the bow holder to hold the stand so I'm not sitting there 20' up holding the stand with one hand while trying to hang it. Makes the process 40% more effeciant then I just strap her in and cam loc and I'm ready to hunt no more than 13 minutes and I never have to go back down to get my bow or anything

LOL my uncle still uses a Baker. I had never heard of them as they were before my time but when I first saw it I thought “he has made himself a climber.” They literally look like someone took scrap wood and a blow torch and made it in their garage.

And yeah, “receiver” is what I meant. I’m back in school and was up late last night so my brain wasn’t firing on all cylinders. That M7 would be good. I have a couple of the M25 and I wish they came with a receiver. It would be a lot easier/cheaper. I like the M25 because of the platform size and don’t need to be as comfortable as I would be in the 50 (whatever model has the reclining seat

How does he still use it Recurve? The only ones I saw weighed over 30 pounds at the least. Probably more. I bet most were just left on trees when the owner had enjoyed using it as much as they could stand. I've found at least three grown into trees.

Hunting public land in Mississippi with a climber for 4 years throughout college I became pretty efficient with my climber. I can honestly say that there has never been an instance where there was a location I wanted to hunt that there wasn't a tree I could get in with my Ol' man. Mine is an older smaller model than the multi visions ( which are also very nice). Most peoples issues with climbers is the disturbance to deer while climbing. I would contend that you can get up a tree in a climber causing little to no disturbance; so long as you dont find the oldest pine tree in the county to shimmy up.
I could never speak ill of lock ons either. Im not very good at setting them unless I have an extra set of hands sending stuff up but im sure that comes with practice. We use both on our leases. Lock ons and ladders for permanent stands around our early season plots and traditional white oaks and climbers for fresh sign we find during the year.

There are usually trees where I hunt for a climber but not always.

I have 1 climber that I use to stick and move around. I have 5 lock on's and several ladder stand scattered around in hot areas. I replaced all my lock on's with millennium and hawks. Worth it as I can sit in them for a long time. This is also on 1300 acres so there are several spots I hunt. I just like the comfort of the hang on.

I have no idea. I've never used one or even seen him climb with them. From what I understand you have to bear hug the tree to climb? I also need to make a correction to my previous statement. He doesn't use it as much anymore due to shoulder/back problems. I know last year he found a good spot and put it around the tree and left it. Ended up killing a good 9 point out of it with his Black Widow. So my correction is, he doesn't use it much anymore and mainly sticks to lock ons that I hang for him...

He uses those Climax stands I mentioned earlier. I use them too but also have a couple others (M25 to name one). They are awesome stands but heavy and tough to hang. The swing arm under the platform that allows you to hang it in any tree and have level is a blessing and a curse because on top of being heavy, the bracket that attaches the swing arm to the platform is thick and sturdy so a lot of the weight is in the front.

I hang a loc on lem "limit" and climb with 2 sticks. Im good at it, takes me bout 10 min goin real slow to hang my stand. Aint nuthin to it if you practice method and have a plan. Im young, im athletic and in good to great shape, and above all im careful and well trained. Dont do as i do unless you can. This is the way i climb

Sounds like you have a system down.

For those that have used hang stands a lot, how critical is having a platform that has leveling capabilities?

I use lock-ons 95% of the time because they are quite and that's what I like. I highly recommend using a linemans belt for safety purposes while hanging the stand. Im 50 and still hanging em, so it should a breeze for you if your younger....where a linemans belt.

If you like to stand/sit on the side of a hill, then get one that doesn't level. One of the features of a Lonewolf Alpha II is it's ability to adjust to odd trees with an angle + or -.

Yep, I have been doing a lot of research and I keep comin back to the LW, seems like a very versatile stand.
I was concerned about the comfort of the seat but I could always add Slumper seat.
I like the idea that they are American made also.

X2

I have an xop vanish stand i got it for $150 and its the best priced cast aluminum stand for sure. and it has a adjustable base and seat wit ha 3 layer memory foam seat

Cant beat that price.

I have climbers and local ons but primarily hunt using 4 short Leverage climbing sticks and my Quidos Web. Most versatile setup I've used and I can hunt almost any tree and even leaning trees. Started using it in Kentucky cause good trees are hard to find on field edges.

Buy a climber. Take the time to learn to use it, get comfortable with it and use it safely. Take your time climbing. No need to be like a squirrel and haul azz up a tree. Go into the woods earlier and take your time. Helps with safety and cooling down after walking in and climbing. And wear a harness of your choice.

I have to say I'm comfortable using a climber but that's because I have used them before.
I've never climbed that high when I use to use a climber.
14 ft max. Shooting a recurve I don't like the shot angle any higher plus I'm not that crazy about heights over 14-15 ft.
As long as I have cover that's what I worry about.

Through the years it seems I've always wound up on the ground 90% of the time..lol

I was thinking about this last week after I listened to a podcast. After some debate I think I’ll stick to my climber since I hunt public land. If I had private land I could justify a loc on since I could hunt the same spot multiple times.

Thats a good stradegy if you hunt in areas that have climable trees.
Most of the time in the southeast thats not usually a problem.
If I hunted private land I would have pre set stands.
Since I hunt public land I dont want to take that chance.
Natural ground blinds are what I use most of the time.

Thats a good stradegy if you hunt in areas that have climable trees.
Most of the time in the southeast thats not usually a problem.
If I hunted private land I would have pre set stands.
Since I hunt public land I dont want to take that chance.
Natural ground blinds are what I use most of the time

We definitely got some trees, no shortage there. I’ve never had much luck hunting from the ground but some people kill a lot of deer that way.

There is no way I’d leave my stand on public hunting ground, you know what they say about public land and etiquette.