I'm in the market for a new stand. Debating climber or portable hang-on with climbing sticks. I've only ever used a climber.

Those of you with experience with both, what are your thoughts and recommendations? I like the versatility of using hang-on/sticks to setup on trees you couldn't use a climber on, but it seems like the process of using that system would be harder to learn and master.

Also, I want something light and easy to transport.

The lock on and sticks will weigh about the same as a good climber.

If I'm toting a stand in and out every hunt, I would much rather have a climber. I also prefer a climber for rifle hunting, too.

I have used both, and lets just use the lone wolf system as the example since they make both.

The lighter option is the climber, but neither are too heavy as to be burdensome.

The more versatile option is the hang-on, you can literally get in any tree.

The hang on is harder to set up, but again, not so much as to be a problem. Understand that you will need to do some taping and mods to the hang on and sticks to avoid metal on metal noise.

The climber is more comfortable.

If I had to choose between the two I'd pick the hang on, because I mostly bow hunt and it allows me to set up anywhere. It is a pain in the butt to have to set up either a climber or a hang on early in the morning in my opinion, so I might as well be able to get in the best tree. Also, if you know ahead of time where you are going to hunt. you can go in and limb those trees out and hang a "ez hook". I just love the concealment of a hang on.

TooTall nailed it...I went to a hang and hunt setup this year and I like it much better than a climber. I use lone wolf sticks and a newly acquired XOP air raid. Also if you hunt the midwest it helps out because there aint as many good trees to climb. If you go with the hang on and sticks look at the stick talons or the lone wolf stick quiver so you can easily attach and carry your setup in. It'll take some practice but I can make one trip up the tree with all my stuff, I don't have to make multiple trips up and down the tree.

I have for the most part always hunted private land so I have been partial to lock on stands. There was a company out of SC that made stands that we have all over the property and if you can find them they are good. They aren't very light, but they have an arm under neath the platform where you can put them in any tree you want and them be level. They aren't "run and gun" stands like some of the Lone Wolf stands, but the thing I like about them is if you have climbing sticks its a lot easier to pick out a tree. They are called Climax stands.

I know the portability of a climbing stand is good, but I have always hated the fact that any time I find a hot scrape I never have a good climbing tree.

All that said, if I were you I would go with a lock on and climbing sticks so you have portability and freedom as far as the trees you set up in. My issue is that I use a traditional bow exclusively so we're talking 20 yards and under shots. I don't like being in the open on a straight tree with a climber. I would much rather have a lock on in a cedar or forked oak...or any tree that provides me cover for that matter.

I prefer lock-ons, because, you can get in and out of the stand quickly and quietly. In some cases, I use a climbing stand (to check out new spots mainly).

Thanks for the feedback thus far. To me, it sounds like the hang-on/climbing sticks allows you to hunt deer and not a tree.

Climax stands

Most of my hunting is done on public land or for certain places where leaving a stand behind is not an option. So I would have to use a portable system.

Portability depends on the climbing system, so you could use any lock on really as long as you have sticks. Just a matter of what you want to carry in and out

Anyone use Lone Wolf stands? They are proud of them, but also looks like what I'd want from a weight standpoint.

Leave your stand and just bring out your sticks, this is what I do on both private and public. I leave my cheaper stands on public, carry them in one time and leave them and just carry my sticks in and out.

I use lone wolf lock ons and sticks. I much rather have screw in steps than the sticks. They are much lighter and easier for me than the sticks. The sticks stand out too much for me. They're very hard to hide compared to screw in steps.

Lone wolf stands are good. If you're hunting public mostly, Millennium makes one that weighs 8#. Get you 4-5 sticks from Lone Wolf or XOP and strap to your stand and head out!

N2TRKYS has it right. The tools of a silent swift and deadly public land hunter:

1) A lightweight aluminum treestand. Lone wolf is good, I like Millenium's seat a little better there are others. I can put mine inside a surplus Molle Ruck Sack.

2) Screw in steps

3) Stanley Push Drill

I use to could go up a tree and hang a Loc-On Windwalker faster than you could hook a climber on the tree and start up. The push drill is key to that.

Stick a twig in the holes as you go down and you'll be faster the next time you hunt that tree, just put the steps back in the holes the twigs are sticking out of.

I have 5 Summit climbers and about 14 years ago I started hunting from a lock on too. I prefer the lockon for freedom of movement. I have shot several deer from a lockon that I would not have been able to shoot from my climbers.

As far as comfort, I have taken a many a little cat naps from my climber and never worried about falling. I have never taken a nap from a lockon, even though I wear a safety harness.

Concealment, no question, a lock on is better suited to conceal you when up in a tree.

Drawback, I prefer to leave my lockon in the same location for the entire season. This is why I now have 18 lock on stands. It is an addiction I think. Instead of going and taking down a stand, I have just gone and bought another lockon. Be careful or do like I did and end of way to many stands.

I put some money into my lock on set up. Should last many years though. 4 Lone Wolf climbing sticks with a Millennium m100u stand. Very comfortable stand. I hike in with my backpack attached to the stand on my back, sticks in one hand, and gun/bow in the other. I use a method similar to what's in this video to get up the tree in one climb. Takes me longer than 5 minutes, but it's routine now, even in the dark. The bracket system also makes getting the stand hung effortless.

Joe, I think that guy puts his steps too far apart. When you are wearing heavy winter cloths you can't step up as high. I don't think they need to be much more than 18'-22" apart depending on a persons height. Hunt Safe

this is my setup... I use 2 screw in steps to get me going then the lone wolf sticks which are awesome. Packs flat, weighs about 21lbs and is comfortable. Only have on more mod to add and thats putting some molle straps on for carrying.

I have hunted out of both and never felt that safe in a hang on stand. Don`t know why. Treewalker = problem solved.