Summit Climbing Stands

Summit's climbing treestands are beloved amongst outdoor enthusiasts and hailed as the most comfortable and secure. With industry-leading features designed by hunters for hunters, you are sure to find the climber that best fits your needs in the field.

summit climbing stands

Summit Treestands toll-free at 844-940-2688 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT, email at support@summittreestands.zendesk.com or online at -notices or www.summitstands.com and click on customer service at the top of the page and then Recall Notices for more information.

During the test we evaluated each stand to see how well they packed, their overall comfort, and how much noise they produced during the packing and climbing portions. Each portion of the test was graded on a scale of one to five, with five being the best. We also timed how long it took to set the stand up and climb 10 feet up a tree.

For the timed climbing test, a tester started at the bottom of the tree with the stand on their back. Once the timer started, they set up the stand and climbed to ten feet (height from the ground to the platform), while the other testers at the base of the tree noted how much noise the stand produced.

Testers rated the comfort of the stand during the packability and climbing portions of the test. The backpack straps, seat cushions, and comfort during carry were all evaluated and rated on a scale of one to five, with five being the highest.

While the Sit and Climb Combo II has an overall small footprint, the large seat makes it a great option for all-day sits, as does its ability to silently compress to the tree if you need to break up your silhouette. The Sit and Climb Combo II comes with a steep price tag, but if you want a lightweight climbing stand with plenty of seat, this is your huckleberry.

Even with its bulky frame, the Summit Viper Level PRO SD proved the quietest and fastest climber to attach and climb a tree. It also provided a decent amount of comfort for packing, climbing, and sitting.

When analyzing these tree stands, I paid very close attention to product weight, weight capacity, compactness, portability, railing designs, platform designs, platform size, interior dimensions, platform gripping, tree gripping, quietness, comfort, price, and more. All aspects were considered.

Why It Made the Cut: Bowhunters need their climbing tree stands to get them where they want to go, and not get in their way. As the best climbing tree stand for bow hunting the Hawk Ultra-Lite Climber does that.

Why It Made the Cut: Most hunters buying a climbing tree stand just want the most comfortable climbing tree stand option available. With a thick bottom seat cushion, tall back cushion, and side-panel cushions, this is the Cadillac of climbers.

The X-1 treestand is an excellent climber, especially for those wanting the absolute lightest climbing tree stand they can buy. Interestingly, the primary reason this tree stand is so light is due to the patented Pro-FleX carbon composite flex arms, which actuate in and out, eliminating the need for a heavy bulky upper framework. While other stands just grip the back of the tree, these arms allow the cable to move inward as weight is applied, which grips the tree trunk on the sides and back. The cables move away from the trunk while climbing.

The Game Winner Climber Tree stand is the best affordable climbing tree stand. It offers a nonskid platform, adjustable, nonslip foot stirrups, quick-release cables, and a great back and seat cushion.

Weight Capacity: How much the tree stand can hold is important, too. This is especially true for larger hunters. Plus, you need to keep the weight of your gear in mind. Most climbing tree stands have a 300-pound capacity.

Fearing protests from foreigners over its recent crackdown on Tibetan dissidents, the Chinese government closed off the north-side Tibetan summit route to all climbing groups this year. This forced climbers to take the south route in Nepal that Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay took in 1953.

While the Chinese climbers made their final ascent in early May, Nepalese restrictions temporarily prevented other climbers from going higher than Camp 2 at 21,500 feet. The Nepalese even had an armed sniper prepared to shoot anyone who tried to defy the climbing ban, says Musey. The delay almost cost climbers appropriate acclimatization training and even a chance to summit at all.

The Chinese team carrying the Olympic torch reached the top of Mount Everest on May 8. Fifteen days later, as the sun went down on May 23, Musey and 100 others set out on the final 10-hour climb to the "very treacherous" summit from Camp 4.

For how massive Everest is, the snow-covered summit area is no larger than a decent-sized hotel room. And when a group of climbers reaches the peak, it's very crowded, says Musey. Twenty climbers crammed onto the summit the morning Musey successfully ascended. After snapping some pictures and spending only 30 minutes at the top of the world, he began his descent. 041b061a72