I'm definitely goin with a summit, but I've never had one of their open front models. I'm thinkin Sentry or open shot. Which ones have yall tried?

I use to have a summit bushmaster I think that was the name was,but it was an open front stand and loved it until somebody sticky fingers like it more I guess. I have never used a sentry or open shot but me getting an open shot soon.

I have the cobra, which I really like, and I had a specialist MLB edition that got stolen that I loved. If I was going to buy another summit open front stand though it would be the explorer. It folds flat, I have an older one which I think is the closed front razor, which is a viper that folds flat and I love it. It's easy to pack in and out with the cables not sticking up at a 45 degree angle. The seats on the cobra and explorer are extremely comfortable, I like that style seat better than the open shot or the sentry and you can still shoot from sitting in it.

I appreciate the advice

See if you can find a Summit Clearshot it has a seat that is attached to the base and folds up and down for climbing. It's like sitting is a lock-on with 4" seat cushion.

Nice

I’ve got the Sentry. I love it but can’t figure out how to pack it. You’ll see what I mean if u get it. I can’t keep it together packed. If you get if and figure it out, let me know.

I love my open shot. It's very comfortable for a stand that does not have arm rest or a rail. I added the footrest to mine.

Get this and be done with it

Lone Wolf

I’ve got an openshot sd, cobra sd, and an explorer and I love them all.

Thanks for the input guys. Not sure it's helped narrow it down any I'll be puttin alot of thought into it over the next week or so.

May want to check out Treewalker, I am glad I did. I doubt I’ll ever buy another stand. If this one fails... getting another.

I just got a brand new open shot SD. I like the stand and the cushion seems really nice but as a whole the stand is missing some paint at some of the joints and the way it was packaged allowed it to get beat up pretty bad. Whatever you get I’d do a thorough look over before I left the parking lot.

By the way I went with the open shot because it is lighter.

I have a summit dagger and have been very pleased. It folds flat.

I have a summit specialist SD, not sure if they make it anymore but it looks very much like the sentry but has a sling seat. I really like that stand for bow hunting because it is light and pretty comfy. I threw a set of molle straps on it and it is a breeze to carry. Might be worth looking for an older specialist if you can find one.

Yeah, I'm lookin for somethin to set up just for bowhunting. As light as possible and at least a little wiggle room on the platform.

The Razor is the one I like the bar is far enough down in the front it is not in the way for bow hunting. I don't even fold it back under the seat. Climbs easier than the open shot.

X stand

I have the razor so I can sit on bar while climbing then fold it away at top.

If you guys could get a regular size Lone Wolf hand climber @ 17.5 lbs or a Summit Explorer open front @ 21 lbs for the same price because the Lone wolf is on sale... which one would you get?

IMO out of those two I would do the summit because to me the summit is more comfortable. I also don't believe the 2.5 pounds is enough to really notice a difference. If I'm looking to save weight I'm gonna grab my x-stand mini @ 9 lbs and use it.

I'd get the summit if I was interested in comfort or an x stand sit and climb if I was interested in light weight. The lone wolf hand climber is heavy and uncomfortable.

Both good stands I m just a Summit man

Thanks, Guys. I was leaning toward the Explorer. I thought I might sacrifice the couple of pounds for the less comfortable seat on the Lone Wolf since it would be used solely for bow hunting public land and longer walks. I think the Explorer will pack very nicely compared to my very, very classic Viper that's at least 20 years old.

Lone Wolf for me. That seat on the Explorer will be more comfortable. But the LW has the advantage in every other category. JMO

If you want quiet to bowhunt, go Lone Wolf. If you want a nap, go Summit. I choose the Lone Wolf sit/climb, or Alpha II hang-on.

TREEWALKER!!!!

I've been using a Summit Viper for years and just ordered a Summit Cobra SD at 18 lbs. I did add the footrest for comfort, so a slight weigh addition, but I'll also be removing the backrest, so that'll offset it slightly. LoneWolf looks like a nice stand, but doesn't look anywhere near as comfortable, which is important to staying for long hunts.

This is why I eventually ordered the Summit Explorer. If I do hike in a very long way, I'm more likely to want to sit all day. That's the only reason I opted for it. I do like what both stands have to offer. I really like the Cobra as well, super light, but packs more like the Viper aside from the weight. The Cobra was on sale for $220 on Amazon the night before last so I added it to my cart before going to bed to mull it over some more before checking out. I got up the next morning to complete the purchase and it was back to $279. At that point I decided to opt for the Explorer or the Lone Wolf. I eventually ordered the Explorer for the reasons stated above. It was a roller coaster ride. Haha...

Lonewolf with a Hazemore seat is the best of both worlds.

Summit explorer all day. I have 4 different climbers and the explorer is my favorite.

I ended up ordering the Explorer from Ebay - free shipping and no tax. It should be here tomorrow. I can't wait after hiking around Skyline a couple of times recently with my old Viper classic. Haha...

You’ll like it. I thought I was gonna love my new cobra but it simply doesn’t work with the summit seat so I ordered the hazmore seat for it so I may actually like it now. Not only is the explorer super comfortable, it packs flat so you can hide it in the woods almost anywhere by simply covering it with a few sticks and leaves. That makes it really nice if you are hunting quite a few spots in a place you have a long walk to. Hunt, take it off the tree and hide it, come back and get it and climb a different tree without having to tote a stand the whole way. Makes it really nice when you are hunting a mile or 2 from the truck.

My Explorer came in today. I've played around with it some setting it up, breaking it down, and packing it. Man, it's nice, very well built and quiet. My whole setup - stand, backpack, and bow - is now lighter than just my old stand alone. It will carry much better than the old one aside from just the weight.

The elastic backpack straps that came with it are pretty nice and super comfortable with the treestand only. However, they do stretch out a little with the additional weight of my backpack and bow. I think I read something from someone else about the same thing. I will probably put my padded molle backpack straps that I bought for my old stand on it and use those instead.

Thanks for the recommendations. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to sneak out of the office tomorrow afternoon to get a sit in.

I put Molle Straps on my Millenium M7.
Makes a big difference.

I have the Summit open shot and absolutely love it. It's the perfect stand for public land hunting imo.

Yeah, i hate the stretchy backpack straps. When you finish your step, the treestand jerks you towards the ground. I need to change my straps.

Got the open shot. Found it on eBay last year brand new $125. Really lite and easy to get in and out.

I really liked the OpenShot too - especially the weight. What do you guys think about the smaller platform? That's the only thing that concerned me.

@ 17.5 pounds I would go with the Buckhorn outdoor products Higher level 21" archer and use their sling seat.
A sit an climb which takes less energy to climb with vs a hand climber.
Ability to easily adjust the angle of the stand while climbing, which can get one much higher in the tree.
It has a double row of teeth to grab the stand more secure to the tree without damage to the tree.
Comes with Stabilizer straps which make the top part a guard rail as if it were bolted to the tree.

The buckhorn is really nice looking, but they sure are proud of their treestands.

I've used my son's Open Shot. I'm not cray about heights, 15 ft is my max.
The Open Shot platform did not bother me at all.
The seat is not as comfortable as the sling seats on Summit's other climbers but I took some straps from an old harness and weaved it to the seat frame, keeps the cushion more stable...from not sinking into the frame.
I bought my son the XOP Strike Force climber, I like the OS better.

Y'all that have that the Hazmore seat, did you order the back rest too or is it good with out it?

I have a lone wolf hand climber model that I’m wanting to get rid of

Something wrong with it? Lone wolf is legit. Is it heavy?

I have an x-1 mini I'm looking to sell. Nothing wrong with it at all, used twice. 9 pounds. Just like my summits better.

I need an open shot myself because my bow is 58” long and is a pain to hunt out of a regular climber. I either have to drop the top down when I see deer moving (nearly impossible) or hunt the whole time with it dropped. I hunt on private property so 99% of the time it isn’t an issue because I use lock on stands. But, when I’m heading down the mountain from a hunt and see a place torn up it would be nice to be able to climb.

The Open Shot is a great stand. You can also shoot outbof a climber with a rail, like the Summit Viper.
Even with a recurve. Asjust the seat as low as it will go so that when you stand up the rail is up close to your upper body. You can shoot without any interference.

What do you not like about it? I’m considering buying a lone wolf

I'm interested to know that as well. I'm in between the lone wolf and the x stand.

I have a open shot that has been used once and sitting in the garage. I'll sell it for $200 firm

What's the price?

180

Used my new Open Shot today. Easy stand to climb with and I'm no treestand expert.

Now that I've got to use he Open Shot some I've discovered it just aint gonna work for me.

It is a great stand, easy to set up and climb with. But, I have a lower back problem that acts up if I'm setting very long on a seat that is not comfortable for me.
I should have went with the Summit Cobra since it has the sling type seat.
I had the Cobra years ago but sold it 10 yrs ago because I hardly ever used it.
I hate it but that's the reality of it. Nothing wrong with the stand, just a physical thing with me personally.

Think I will just stay on the ground.

Why not get a cobra seat for the open front stand? where there's a will there's a way. I have back problems too. I had two open shot API's. Now I just have a treewalker with a great seat and a removable front bar.

The seat on the Covra or Viper wont work on the Open shot..the arms dont extend out far enough..but might could add some length to the arms..might work then

Maybe he meant just to buy the whole top section only - from a Cobra or Explorer SD - and use with your Open Shot bottom/platform?

I finally broke down and bought the open front Explorer earlier this year and I absolutely love it. It and the HHA sight are the best hunting equipment I have spent money on in a long time.

Using the top defeats his purpose. He wants a stand with no bar that hinders a bow shot. The seats on my old API's were the same as a Grand Slam and very comfortable.

I called Summit to see if I can get just the top section of tbe Cobra but they dont have any...said they offer them if they made too many..ect.
I like the Open shot..gonna try and work it out...mayne try a Hunt Comfort pad seat.

I bought a Hunt Comfot seat cushion calked the Scout.
Gonna try it and see if it makes the OS more comfortable.