What's your go to treestand if you're going to be sitting all day?  I need to get off the ground this deer season.  I'm getting tired of being busted by the deer while ground sitting.  I was looking at ladderstands for easy in and out of the stand but would consider others.  I'll be using it during gun season and maybe a bow season if i get time

I can't help you with the best,   I'm just here for the input.

My ladder stand is a Muddy brand skybox and I use a Hunt Comfort Specialist gel seat  with it.    

No longer in production but my Big Game Luxury Box has been a pleasure to use.  Roomy and comfortable, but it is a heavy bugger you don't want to move it often.

I almost exclusively use a climbing stand anymore.  Keeps my "hunting buddies" out of my favorite trees.  Less maintenance.

Dont know about the best but Summit Climbing tree stands are roomy and comfortable for all day in the stands. Only problem is finding a straight tree to climb other then that they work really well and are pretty easy to walk in and out with it on your back. I have never walked in with a ladder stand. I usually have to set them up a few days before. Lone Wolf makes a climber that is lighter then the summits but they arent cheap new. Try craigslist for a used one and buy any worn out parts from the manufacturer

Millennium treestands have been the most comfortable to me.  Only used the ones with V like seat/backrest though.

Off course a box stand with you preferred seat is going to beat all.

I like my old Gorilla King Kong Lounger XLS hang on stands... too bad they're out of business. My Summit Viper climber is pretty comfortable, but as I get older and lazier I prefer something with a ladder.

What's your hunting land like?  What kind of trees do you have?  Do you have an ATV?

Do you like to hunt multiple areas during the season or do you have a handful of go to spots?

If you are a little limber and like to hunt a lot of different areas a hang on is a decent option.  A bit of a bitch to setup so I would strongly recommend setting up before the day of the hunt unless you like to get out EARLY(and even then this isn't ideal, I prefer to get up during the day and set my hangon up later in the afternoon for an evening hunt, then hunt the stand the next morning, late morning or early evening are the best times to set stands up).  Another big plus with a hang on is you can set it up in the exact spot you want of damn near any tree.  Low limbs will be a problem though if you use a linemans belt(which you really, really should).

They are more convenient than a climber because once they are up they are up and you don't need to climb the entire thing down to get to ground level to go take a dump.

If you have a lot of really straight, good size trees a climber might be a better option if you don't mind having to climb the whole thing up and down the tree any time you would like to relocate or defecate.

Ladders, well, do you have a few select spots that are your go to spots that you wouldn't mind being set up in all season long?  The climber is definitely the best option once it is up.  No fucking around with climbing sticks, no wrecking your knees and ankles trying to get a hang on up while you're dangling on some narrow climbing sticks, you can run up and down the thing etc. etc.

All depends on what you value as most important.  If you go the hang-on route I cannot recommend Lone Wolf stands enough!  I have a lone wolf hanger and it's fantastic.  Rock solid, light as a feather, big shooting platform.

Climbers is a toss up between Lone Wolf and Summit.  If you like a shooting rail and sitting in comfort summit has some better options, if you value weight and freedom of movement more then I would take a look at lone wolf.

Ladders?  No Idea... the only ladder stand I have is a portable Pack-n-stack by rivers edge.  For a cheap piece of shit it actually has served me very well.  Easy enough to pack in the day of the hunt and setup is actually very easy and quick.  If only the damn thing weren't steel with no noise dampening...  That and it's only about 12ft off the ground to the seat.

Nothing beats sticking a deer from ground level, granted, but since I have went up into the trees I have definitely been seeing more deer and spooking less of them.

This is exactly why I'm looking for a climbing stand too. I'm tired of spooking the deer and missing my shot because I couldn't make it without making noise or moving (apparently a requirement around here, lol).

I only use ladder stands now and we set a bunch of them up pre-season and they stay put.

I have fallen out of 2 ! different stands (Both were homemade "permanent" (Ha!) stands.  First time I crash and burned and slid all the way down the tree (like a lineman) and I dislocated a shoulder and broke an arm.  The 2nd time I got really hurt and it was a plummeting fall.  Stand "joist" failed and dumped me out like a dump truck.  I smashed 5 ribs and couldnt breathe for weeks and pissed alot of blood.  God damn broken ribs hurt.

I harness in every time my feet leave the ground and it stays on untill I'm down.  Please don't be like me.....

And as for the best my friend has a "tree lounge" its like a recliner in a tree and he sleeps ALOT in it.

I use an API and sit all day long in comfort. I would like to try an Ole Man next.

Sitting all day?  Summit Titan.  Very comfortable tree stand, with only two drawbacks.  

One, even being made of aluminum it's a bit heavy and fairly bulky so it's not the easiest stand to carry in and out if you are hunting on public land.  Much better for shorter distances along easy ground or trails.

Two, it's really comfortable so I have a bad habit of falling asleep in my stand.    I've had some of my best power naps sitting in my Summit 15 to 20 feet up a tree.

Tree Lounge.  Bulky to carry but very comfortable. Not sure they are still made.

They aren't .



 

Lone wolf is my go to stand of choice.

Same here.

Hang on for private land, and a climber for public.  The quietest, easiest packing, lightest tree stands on the market.  I don't mess with anything else anymore.

Anybody have any experience with the Treewalker climbers?  Looking to purchase my first stand and have seen some good reviews.  Not sure if I should just stick to Lone Wolf or Summit though...

My buddy has one, and I have tried it out.

It's bulky as all get out when carrying it, which I can't stand because when I hunt public land, I'm usually WAY back in there and we can't cut trails in WI.  So getting caught up on branches is constant with bulky stands like Summit and Tree Walker.

Also felt heavy on my back, probably because it doesn't pack as small as my lone wolf, I'm not sure if it's any heavier or not.  Although it felt like my tree stand and pack were lighter than just the tree walker stand.

It climbed fine, I didn't have any problems sitting in it.  So if you don't have far to walk or you can walk on nice trails, I'm sure it would be fine.  

I still prefer my LW Sit-N-Climb overall.

Do you use a ground blind? I started using Nose Jammer a couple of years ago. Spray it on my boot bottoms while walking in and again once at my hunting site. Dont give up hunting from the ground, gotta check wind. I hunt in Fl, Ga and W.Va. not so much Fl any more, too hot! In W.Va and Ga last year could've stabbed the deer they were so close to my ground blind. Also use the stuff with my climber, I swear by it!

Dont get me wrong, we have box stands, ladder stands, climbers and ground blinds in Ga. I switch it up based on the weather; wind, rain, snow etc. or time of day.  In W.Va we only have climbers and ground blinds. Climbers are great because you can move before/after and during hunting. I've set up and after a day or so realized deer are moving a farther away or no movement at all. 5 minutes and your set to move to a new tree.

Ladders require more work to move and let deer get used to seeing them. We always leave them out year long or move them set them up in August before the season starts.

The guys I hunt with use Summit climbers. I use a Tomcat, its no longer made. The smallest and lightest climber ever made in my opinion. I bought a Summit for W. Va ( i think) and left it at my dads farm 20 years ago. Used it once! Love my Tomcat.

My summit goliath is the most comfortable stand I have ever been in other than am elevated box blind.

I have a Summit Viper Elite that only weights 16# (versus 20# for most others)..

its a nice tree stand, BUT it has a 'sling' seat' that is not comfortable.. I upgraded and bought their standard replacment seat (bottom and back) and that made it way more comfortable..


Brian

Like  MarkHatfield said TreeLounge. I have had mine for over twenty years and it is the best for all day sits

They are no longer made but they can be found from time to time on Craigslist and eBay.
They are heavy and are not meant to be hauled in an out daily, but the wheel kit that was made for them can aid in that.

I got an Elite last year and I've climbed in my back yard with it, but haven't hunted it yet.  I'll keep in mind that the standard seat works in case I have the same experience as you did.

 

I know one thing, the sling is super nice while climbing... just shove it out of the way.

I love my Summit Titan

I just picked up a LW climb and sit for a steal.  I cant wait to try it out this season.

If it has the clear or semi-clear traction belts, replace them before you use it.  Those are getting pretty old now-days.  

Other than that, just make sure all the bolts/nuts are tight, and practice with it a few times before you go into the woods for the first time.  Remember to practice with all your gear too.

I have a Summit Raptor hang on that has a 3" cushion seat. It is really comfortable and I can sit in in all day.

I also have a Timber Tall baby lite climber that I think is still the lightest on the market at around 12lbs. Not that comfortable at all; 3 hours max.

This, I broke down a bought the lone wolf climber last year, worth every penny... I hardly use any of my other stands anymore, I like being able to move to where the deer travel vs hoping they travel by me

Lone wolf wide sit and climb here. I had a summit viper SD, I thought it was a comfortable stand but it sucked packing in and out of the woods. The Lone Wolf is quiter while climbing and packability is great. There are many different models of climbers find one that suits your style of hunting. Are you doing all day sits or just for a few hours. There are sit and climbs and hand climbers. See which of those would better suit your needs. You can always get one stand and buy different style seats from the manufacturer and change your set-up if need be.  I recommend Third hand Archery stabilizer straps for a lone wolf or summit. I would recommend you try some climbers first before buying. Ask some people you may know to try their stand. Do you want a cross bar or open shot style stand. There are plenty of aftermarket seats and accessories so you can customize your stand for your needs or different hunts. ( like mesh seats, bow/gun holders, padded seats, foot rests, etc.). I highly recommend practicing with a climber multiple times before the season. You need to get comfortable with it. Practice how you willl bring all your gear up with you as well. Practicing settings up in the tree. Hanging your bow, pack, calls, etc. Always where your harness while climbing with these stands and take your time. Do your research on the different stands available. I recommend usgi molle or Alice pack shoulder pads. Check out archerytalk.com its got loads of tips on how guys set up their stands. Let me know if you have any questions. Good luck this season and let us know if you get a climber.

I haven't used a wide variety but I liked my Summit Viper back when I had it.

Another vote for the Summit Viper SD. Great climber stand. Fairly pricey (new 279.99) but it s comfortable, quiet, and not too heavy



 

I use Summits exclusively but I don't like the ever popular Viper because it's too narrow for late season hunts .  Add layers of clothes and you're making too much noise when deer are close.

Summit Open Shot for all archery work and I have an old 180 that I wish was wider.

Check out http://www.king-stand.com

Discovere them this week, looks a lot like the Tree Lounge.

For sheer comfort, I've yet to try a stand that could beat the Lounge. Just a pain to carry at times. Haven't used mine in a few years as I've moved to ladders, hang on and ground blinds.