Let me just say...eff some heights. I don't like them...never have never will. But I have to hunt. I've killed some from the ground but have always had better success off the ground. I get to go occasionally with a buddy on private land who has several ladder stands up. 15-22 ft. I don't mind climbing these at all. My issue is using climbers. I have used some cheaper ones before but just don't feel safe in them. If I make it to 15' I'm lucky. I'm 6'2 and a paltry 300 lbs. I think that's why I feel so skeered in the climbers I've used. Now I'm found the Guidos web treestand I'm thinking of trying out. It's a web system that you strap on and you always have a connection to the tree. I know when I climb I have a harness on also but in my head I'm looking at this thinking man that's a safe way to do it. But then you've got to have climbing sticks of some sort to get up the tree. I'm limited to public land except for the occasional call to go with my aforementioned buddy so hauling in sticks now hinders the lightweight net stand idea because its a long ways in where I hunt. Looking for advice... Is the guidos thing worth checking on or would it make more since to buy a quality summit big boy climber? Keep in mind the I'm looking for the most secure feeling from a stand I can get. And I know I'm a big ol baby for not liking heights. That's how God made me.

http://www.guidosoutdoors.com/index.php/our-products

SUMMIT GOLIATH ALONG WITH A HUNTER SAFETY SYSTEM HARNESS AND ROPE STYLE TREE STRAP. YOU HOOK IN ON THE GROUND AND STAY CONNECTED UNTIL YOU GET BACK DOWN AND ON THE GROUND AGAIN

I know I'm still hooked up but I've still feel like I a fall and die when using the old ones I've had.. I guess I'm wondering if the summit big boy stands are that much sturdier than the $100 ones I've always used.

And to add to it I'm trying to keep the weight of packing it in & out in consideration

Once you get the teeth of that Summit Goliath sunk in you will be able to sleep with no concern of falling. Best thing to tell you on minimizing weight you are packing in and out is to minimize the stuff you carry. I only carry a bottle drink, knife with saw blade, and a box of shells and flashlight in my jacket pockets and can stay all day.

I have several brands of climbers - IMHO find someone that has a tree lounge and give it a try. I have a couple of them and you would literally have to try to fall out of the stand AND they will not slip down the tree. The only thing about them that a lot of people don't like is when you have to change from a tree facing climbing position to the hunting position and the fact they are very heavy (original ones).

Nothing wrong with being nervous about heights. I aint crazy about them either. The older I get the more nervous I get. When I was young and bullet proof I'd take a climber 25' with no harness or anything. Not anymore. I'm lucky to even get that high up in a climber. I'm ok in a ladder or lock on.

I have a Summit Goliath treestand and I weigh 310 lbs. I love the Summit Goliath and will not hunt out of any other climber ever again. I feel 100% safe in that stand however I do wear a safety harness as you can never be too safe. As far as the weight of the stand is concerned it has never been an issue for me and sometimes I walk a mile behind closed gates on WMAs. This is my two cents on the issue for whatever its worth to you.

Get a Millenium tree seat and don't sweat being on ground. It's feather light and you never fall more than 2 feet.

Sweet T , please consider a treewalker. They are very light and have very heavy load limits. Ive used about every climber and I think youd be very happy with a tree walker. They are made by a family in the USA. ill add the link to their website. Its what I own now. feeling confident in your stand will help you get over youyr fears. Good luck.

www.treewalkertreestands.com

Stick with pine trees.I have used them all including the summit but the most secure one I have ever used has been the gunslinger.you basically snail your way up the tree and you don't have to turn around.
I'm the same way.I hate the tippy effect my summit has.if you lean over a little you get a 2 inch heart attack.I refuse to climb hardwoods in my summit cause the teeth just won't sink in enough.

My buddy is like 80 years old and uses gunslingers.I tried one and I don't get scared at all using it and will climb way higher then using my summit.if you can find someone that owns one give it a try before you buy.
But definitely pine trees help using any climber

Climbersthat face the tree always felt more comfortable to me. Espe ially climbing while sitting facing the tree. In saying that i bought a treewalker last year. I bow hunt so have to face away from tree. I dont see how you could feel any safer in another tree stand.

Bigshot Buckshot is the way to go...

I don't like heights either and I use Buckshot Bigshot stands. I'll climb as high as I can in them and feel safe. I like facing the tree when gun hunting anyway so I never even have to stand up or turn around once I get to my desired height.

Another vote for buckshot/equalizer

this is the way to go. been doing it for years.

yep...

Im surprised to see guys vote for the summit.I liked my summit before i started sitting in other stands.It just has that tippy feel on the corners.The cable has a little play in it also and wont tighten all the way down till you are sitting.I like the summit in pines but in a hardwood i get scared shitless.
My buddy had used em all over the course of 50 years and turned me onto the gunslinger.It looked like crap but was absolutely the most secure i ever felt going up a tree.

I won a Summit Goliath about five years ago. After I won this stand I bought the very best climbing stand safety vest that HSS sells. Before winning this climbing stand I often thought about buying one but I never did for three reason. Number one was in my late forties and had lost my nerve and was scared chitless of heights. And two I was pushing three hundred pounds and knew I wouldn't be as comfortable as in the two man ladder stands. Three I have bad knees and a bad back and thought it would make that situation even worse.

It set in my hunting closet for two years before I ever thought again about it. Well after dropping seventy pounds plus buying a new bow I was ready to give the climber a chance. I have now been hunting out of it he past three seasons and I absolutely love it. It is very comfortable and lite for me and I feel very safe in it and I climb about 25 to 30 feet. I wouldn't use it if I didn't because I'm in the life safety, risk assessment business. I will also say like Tatsoul said I only use it in pine trees for the simple reason it feels safer to me. I added some storage bags to it so I have a place to put all my gear for a long sit. I highly recommend this stand for a big dude and someone who is scared of heights and has a broke down body.

10 Gauge to the 10th power amen