Climbing tree stands can be very beneficial for hunting intelligent and perceptive animals, but many people overlook the benefits. Properly placed in the right environment, they are an essential part of any hunter’s arsenal.
The bonus of height gives you an advantage as the target won’t be able to see you. However, it’s not as simple as it seems, and to reap the benefits of this advantage, you’re going to have to put effort into setting up a large and cumbersome stand.
For this reason, you’re going to need to find the best climbing stand for bow hunting available to you. If you choose a poor-quality model, you may find that it goes unused due to the additional stress that it puts on your trip.
Luckily for you, we’ve scoured the market and found five of the best climbing stands for bow hunting. Below we’ll look at these as well as the most important factors to consider when purchasing your new model.
This will prevent you from experiencing any nasty surprises once you go to take your new climbing stand out for a test run.
In a hurry?
If you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to read our entire article now (we suggest you come back later and finish it off!), then we have the solution for you. The best climbing stand for bow hunting we found online is the Summit Treestands Viper SD Climbing Treestand
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Below are a few reasons why we think that you’ll enjoy this climbing stand the most:
- The chair is complete with a backrest and armrests which are all suitably padded for maximum comfort.
- A safety harness feature gives you peace of mind that you’ll be secured into the tree without having to worry about falling.
- The climbing stand weighs a mere 20 pounds and offers a maximum capacity of 300 pounds. This allows you to easily transport the stand around and carry all of your gear with you without worrying about putting too much pressure on the stand.
In this post, we'll cover:
Summit Treestands Viper SD Climbing Treestand
Starting off our list is the Summit Viper SD Climbing Treestand, which is made from an aluminum frame and features a padded chair to relax on. The chair includes a backrest, armrests, and a footrest platform as well. The chair is covered with a traditional hunting pattern to keep you from being spotted by your target.
The entire climbing stand weighs a mere 20 pounds, making it very easy for you to transport it around with you. What’s more, is that the maximum weight capacity is up to 300 pounds. This allows more than enough capacity for yourself, your bow, and all of your gear.
This climbing stand comes with all of the necessary hardware that you will need, and there is a full-body fall arrest harness system. This offers you more security and safety, so you don’t have to worry about falling while trying to position yourself on your perch.
Pros:
- A comfortably padded chair included.
- The overall weight is only 20 pounds.
- A safety harness keeps you securely in the tree.
Cons:
- The instruction manual is not as easy to follow as you might hope.
- The Viper SD remains a favorite amongst hunters
- Strong, lightweight aluminum construction makes transporting and climbing a breeze
- Sit comfortably for hours thanks to the suspended foam-padded seat with cushioned backrest and padded armrests
Last update on 2024-11-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Summit Treestands Goliath SD Climbing Treestand
The second Summit Treestands climbing stand on our list, this model is just as reliable and impressive as the last. The stand is made from aluminum and the chair is covered in a mossy oak fabric to ensure that you blend in with your surroundings. The footrest is ideal for relaxing and resting the weight of your bow while you’re not using it.
The chair is padded with thick foam, and the backrest and armrests are also padded for maximum comfort. You’ll be able to carry the stand on your back easily due to the low weight of 25 pounds. An impressive feature of the Goliath treestand is that it can hold up to 350 pounds of weight.
This climbing stand adopts the same full-body fall arrest harness system from the Viper climbing treestand, giving you an impressive safety feature that is very welcomed when you’re suspended high up into the tree.
Pros:
- The durable seat is camouflaged to keep you out of sight.
- Thick foam padding is very comfortable.
- Great maximum weight capacity of 350 pounds.
Cons:
- A few customers had an issue with quality control.
- Comfort-engineered climber that is a favorite for larger-framed hunters or those looking for extra room
- Includes the same design features found in standard Viper SD
- Has a higher maximum weight limit of 350 pounds
Last update on 2024-11-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Guide Gear Extreme Deluxe Climber Tree Stand
Next up is the Extreme Deluxe Climber tree stand, which is made from a durable steel frame and a comfortable perch with armrests and a backrest. The added durability ensures that you’ll have a trusted climbing stand for the season after season, and gives you peace of mind that you will be safe while using the stand.
The chair is padded with 1-inch foam to add comfort to your hunt without compromising the lightweight advantage. The backrest and armrest are also padded, so don’t worry if you confuse this chair with the comfiest chair in your house!
You can fold this climbing stand down within minutes for easy transportation and storage when you’re not using it. Not to mention that the 19 x 26 platform to reset your feet doubles as space to rest your bow so that you’re not holding the entire weight for your whole day. Take advantage of the included safety harness!
Pros:
- Padded chair for ultimate comfort.
- Easy to fold away for transportation.
- Added safety harness.
Cons:
- The instructions aren’t the easiest to read.
- EXTREME DELUXE HUNTING TREE STAND – The Guide Gear Hunting Tree Stand is great for deer hunting. Features a 1” padded hunting seat cushion and climbing seat bar.
- DURABLE – Made from durable steel for rugged stability. Our hunting tree stands are built to last for years of use. Includes full-body safety harness.
- COMFORTABLE – Features a 1” thick foam padded seat, padded backrest, and armrests to keep you comfortable all day. An essential part of your deer hunting gear.
Last update on 2024-11-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Summit Treestands Summit Viper Steel Climber
A third Summit Treestand model to grace our list – you can see that this brand offers superb climbing stands! The sturdy steel frame houses a seat and a footrest for you to take advantage of. Both of these features allow you to either sit down or stand up during your hunt.
This climbing stand weighs a mere 29 pounds which is great for carrying on your back before you set it up. The cables used to set the stand up quickly without hassle so that you can spend less time setting you your gear and more time hunting.
The rapid climb stirrups help you to get high up into the tree in record timing. The chair is nicely padded for added comfort, and the stand will hold up to 300 pounds without any issue. Finally, the design is made specifically to ensure that no noise is produced that could scare away your targets.
Pros:
- The durable construction ensures safety and comfort.
- 29 pounds of weight is very easy to transport.
- Quiet design.
Cons:
- The foot rest is rather small.
- A modern version of the classic Viper in its original steel construction
- Includes the Quick Draw cable retention system and RapidClimb Stirrups
- Powder-coated steel finish provides rust protection and concealability
Last update on 2024-11-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
X-Stand Deluxe Aluminum Climbing Tree Stand
Last but not least the X-Stand climbing stand allows you to easily set up your treestand wherever you need it. What’s more, is that you can easily fold it up and transport it within a matter of minutes. There are straps that you attach over your shoulders to make maneuvering it around as easy as possible.
When it’s time to climb the stand, simply use the hoops to help you reach the desired height. The stand is made from aluminum, which offers two benefits – lightweight and great durability. The washers are made from nylon to prevent them from making any noise when you’re in stealth mode.
You can adjust the depth of the chair up to 16 inches, and the chair includes a padded seat bar and the armrests for great comfortability. An added platform below the seat allows you to stand for additional height. Along with the climbing stand, you’ll receive a safety harness and an accessory bag.
Pros:
- Easy to use and climb.
- The aluminum frame is lightweight and sturdy.
- You can adjust the stand to make it more comfortable for you.
Cons:
- There is no backrest.
Buyer’s Guide
Now let’s discuss what you should consider before committing to purchasing a climbing stand. This piece of equipment is not something to take lightly when choosing, and the wrong option could be detrimental to your hunting trip and your health. No pressure!
Safety
Safety is the most important factor to choose when you’re choosing which climbing stand to choose. It’s recommended that you secure your stand to the tree from 17 to 20 feet high, so it’s imperative that your stand is safe and secure enough for you to use.
The cables or belt that is used to attach the stand to the tree much be of the highest quality and the stand should follow all safety guidelines and protocols to ensure that you don’t find yourself in danger.
Check the customer reviews to ensure that no one else has found an issue with the safety of the model.
Weight Capacity
Bows are cumbersome in themselves, so make sure that you add the weight of your bow to the overall weight that you need the stand to hold. Not only do you have to consider your own weight and the weight of your bow, but also the weight of all your gear.
The recommended weight capacity is 350 pounds, but don’t go for anything less than 300 pounds.
Space
You’ll need a good amount of range of motion while you’re attached to your climbing stand so that you can aim for wherever the target is positioned. Don’t go for a climbing stand that offers you a minimal amount of space to move around, particularly with a large bow in your hands.
Comfort
Hunting trips can be long, so you should expect to be up in your stand for hours at a time. If your seat is not comfortable, you might find it difficult to remain in the stand for long periods of time and therefore you might not be able to wait for your target to come out of hiding.
Take care while picking out the size of the seat, the material of the seat, and the size of the platform.
Some stands come with bow holders for you to place your weapon while you’re not using it. This can be beneficial for some people who don’t want to suffer from tired arms.
If your budget allows, consider looking for a climbing stand that includes a bow holder.
Durability
A climbing stand should also be incredibly durable if you’re going to trust the structure to hold up your weight for hours at a time. The stand should be made of durable materials so that nothing falters when you need the stand most.
The materials should also be weather resistant so that you don’t have to cut your hunting trip short due to the weather.
Ease of Use
The last thing that you want is to spend half of your day, when you should be hunting, putting up and taking down your climbing stand. For this reason, you should try and find a climbing stand that is as easy to install as possible.
You don’t want to be carrying around an entire toolbox with you as well!
Moreover, the climbing stand should be easy to climb up and down. You should also not feel unsafe while getting up and down from the stand.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high should a tree stand be for bow hunting?
Bowhunters should aim to hang their climbing stands around 17 to 20 feet from the ground. However, it doesn’t always apply to every hunting situation, so you should assess the situation before hanging your climbing stand.
You need to hang it with impressive coverage, so if the only cover is further up the tree, you’re going to have to climb a little higher.
Are climbing stands dangerous?
Climbing up a tree and putting all of your weight onto a small platform hung up by no more than a small cable might seem a little dangerous, but we’re here to put your mind at ease by confirming that climbing stands are safe to use.
What’s more, they’re comfortable and easy to use, so you don’t have to worry about setting it up wrong and plunging it to the ground.
It is always recommended to wear a safety harness to ensure your security, but as a whole, climbing stands are safe to use.