Summit OpenShot

Contradictory to the other reviews about big guys being able to utilize this stand, I rolled the dice on it in an effort to keep my load lighter and I’m content with my decision. I’m 5’ 9” 260 I lift a lot and like to eat I’m far from the most ideal size. I will say if you’re not comfortable or confident in your climbing gear or skills this is not the stand for you, not having the bars can be nerve racking, I climb telephone poles for a living and even then until I tested the limits and stability of the platform I was initially hesitant. My first attempt at climbing I was concerned and was ready to pack it up when attempting to fit between seat posts I was too wide (57” chest) to get my lats in and forearms over the bars. I realized after some trial and error, the only efficient way to climb was to fold the seat down, keep it below your bottom ribs grab hold of the cables and rest your torso on the seat after that I was up the tree in 3 minutes. It was not the most comfortable nor the most efficient way to climb but it got me up the tree and I didn’t have to bear the weight on my triceps. The seat itself is more comfortable than expected, but the cushion has a habit of rolling to the back and exposing the front bar, I’ve yet to find a solution for that but I eventually will find a way to tether it to the front end of the seat to keep it from sliding back or cover it with a foam insulator. The base was plenty stable, I felt comfortable connected to my bridge and shooting behind the stand as well essentially using it as a saddle stand. Without the bars like a traditional climber you will definitely need a hys strap to hang your gear and will most likely have to stand up and spin around to access it efficiently enough to not drop your things. Overall it gets me up in the tree, it’s light weight so I can cover more distance and it’s stable even for my big ass. I’ll run it for a season or 2 and make a decision on its fate as I am not in love with it but nor do I dislike it at the moment but I am hoping with time it grows on me.

Good bow climber. PROS: Lightweight, easy to set up, no bar in the way, sturdy, thick cushion seat. I like to refer to it as my “Climbing Hang-On” Stand. CONS: Alittle awkward to climb with if you’re used to cinching down the teeth by sitting on the bar, not a ton of room for bigger guys (I’m 6’2, 220). Alittle noisy during set up but that’s metal for ya. Overall, good climber. Would recommend for “Sticks and Strings”

This stand is not for the old and out of shape. It is a workout climbing up. But if your hiking as far as i am its worth the money just for the weight. Its 15 pounds as it said in the description. The seat has a nice thick pad which is nice. Everything was as advertised and came in great condition. I must say theres not a lot of platform room to lift the seat to stand but its a enough. Definitely use a harness using this stand. I always where one anyway. Also i would suggest buying a hanger of some sort to hang your bow ,gun or gear on. I would also suggest putting on the platform some grip tape or no slip tape. I did on my stand and im glad i did. I would also add another tether to connect the top and the bottom as a just incase fail safe. They do send one with the stand. But it has a plastic clip holding the one end. I just think in really cold temps it could snap off. The last thing i want is to watch the platform for of this stand fall to the bottom of the tree. That would not be a good day for anoyone lol. Oh also the this stand is quite if you strap it together correctly and i found it best to carry with the tree straps down not up.

I have two sticks/lock-on rigs but they're so much more cumbersome to setup and take down than this climber. This thing is lighter, generally more comfortable, easier to pack/unpack and much faster to get in and out with. It's not designed as well as the Viper for stacking, but I found butting the cable rails and lashing them together w/2 lashing straps works much better than trying to nestle them for packing. Quality control seems to be hit and miss hence the minus a star. Another issue w/mine was the cables would hangup inside the rails, but after applying some JB Weld SteelStik epoxy to smooth out the hang-ups, it's no longer an issue. The stand could use smoother edges but all-in-all, there's little that competes w/the Open Shot's conveniences for bowhunting. As much as I like my sticks & lock-on setups, I reserve them for special circumstances, now.

Just got it today and got it set up and I couldn't be happier. I'm giving it 5 stars because I have used the same stand from a friend. It is light and easy to take in and out of the woods. There are no pins or what not to lose, it climbs great and is quite once set up, I shot 2 does in one sitting out of this stand! Its a good quality stand that I'm sure will last for many seasons. About the only negative thing I have to say is it takes a little breaking in.

Want a good core workout but hate exercising? Then look no further. Great tree stand for bow hunters.

This stand is lightweight but as others have stated, it does not stack together as nicely as some of the other Summits. You just kind of have to find a way to get the top and bottom to sit on each other and then tighten the strap as much you can so it doesn't bang. Lots of metal will be touching between the top and bottom part though and since it doesn't have a standard position where the two pieces just fit together naturally, if the pieces move position at all you will have to stop and retighten. It definitely is not like a Viper SD that fits together nicely in the same position each time and all you need to do is a quick snugging of a strap to be secure and quiet. You will definitely play around with this one a little each time to find a fit that works. It is doable but could be better. Once in the stand, the top part is easy to bump when you are standing if seat is flat or while you are flipping the seat up. Having it inclined up a little helps but if flat it can be easy to bump and just the slightest bump and it falls and hits the platform. It would definitely spook deer in the area. I stopped using it after a few times last season and did not bother to try to fix it. I think this can be fixed by being strapped to the tree with an additional strap. The top part pretty secure when sitting in it. Your weight keeps it very snug to the tree. Only when you stand is it an issue.

I've read some of the reviews and kinda chuckle. It's a great and safe stand for the well experienced climber. Super light weight and high quality as you can expect from Summit. There's no rail to sit and rest mid climb so if you are out of shape and large around the waist area take note that it's tight. You don't have to be a skinny fella but if you're a 38" or larger waistline look elsewhere. You will be using upper arm muscles. Tricept dips (pre season training)... Grips the tree perfectly as long as you understand the mechanics and can use one of these things you'll be just fine. Perfect for getting in and out of tight places. I love it. Buy new cables every 2-3 years cuz the rubber coating eventually wears off oround the locking lugs from normal use. And finally, don't be a dumb. USE a SAFETY HARNESS and LINEMAN'S ROPE when climbing with any stand.

good price and feel comfortable in it i am very happy with this choice