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In need of tree stand advice

KSQ2

KSQ2

PMA Member
I recently purchased an API Grandstand Ultra-lite... only because it was on sale (a good sale) was i not too disappointed. it's supposed to be 11 pounds, but it feels heavier to me. and there's no way i could set it up without letting every deer within a quarter mile know i'm there. several years back i bought the Cabela's Trophy Lite and i love it, it's light, easy and quiet to set up. unfortunately i'm pretty sure it's now also discontinued. my question is: is there a reasonably priced, LIGHT, and easy to set up quietly, fixed stand out there? (the trees around here won't accommodate a climber) if i order another, i don't want to be disappointed again. one more thing, i don't really want to spend over a hundred bucks.
 
spend another $75 and buy a Lone Wolf. Worth every penny. Lightweight and the quietest stand on the market.
 
KSQ2,
I know what you are saying I was the same way and after $400.00 of hang-ons I finally bought a Lone Wolf alpha hang on...I wished I would have bought one sooner.

I am not one to really push a product on someone however these stands are worth every penny and I wish someone would have convinced me sooner I would be money ahead in the end...I have since sold most of them and have bought a couple more lone wolfs and am tickled to death. PM me if you are interested in one.
 
Limbchicken, i've looked at these and my only concern is the diameter of some of the cottonwoods i hunt out of. how large a tree can the lone wolf strap to? the Alpha was the model i looked at and with the two strap system it said that the largest diameter was 19 inches.
 
go with a gorilla they are cheap quiet and easy to hang. If you do get a gorilla you may want to get the gorilla ratchet straps though. I put one on a huge oak tree last year. worked great!
 
After a much needed smack up side the head, I broke down and bought a lone wolf this year as well and needless to say, I should have done it sooner. I can take the stand to a tree, any tree and climb it faster with the climbing sticks than I ever could have with a climber. If I would have had this thing a few years ago, I could have gotten into the tree I wanted and killed a bona fide booner......I had a climber and was limited to trees. Well worth it in my opinion.
 
I own 3 of the Lone Wolf Alpha hang ons & would not go back to anything I've tried. They are quiet, easy to hang, light, & come with backpack straps. I really like the rubber grommet in the cast in bow holder ... quiet & convienent. Just a word of safety advice, I'd use both an upper & lower strap. Good Luck.
 
Lone Wolf is a great stand. My setup is going to be used with the V bracket and put the hook on loosely to hold the stand while I put the top strap on. Then take it off and put it on the bottom versa button. I should really just order another strap and then I don't have to remove the strap with the hook on it. This isn't going to do much for securing it against the tree, but helps out in ease of hanging. Plus this way I can fold up my seat. I like to shoot leaning flat up against the tree to eliminate as much of the blob effect as possible.
 
deadeye,
You can put the seat up when you use the hook system. It is also going to be very difficult to use the hook to hang the stand with the vbracket attached. Just my experiences.
 
I thought the seat was to help hold tight if you didn't use the V bracket. The trick to using the hook with the V bracket on the stand is to leave plenty of slack in the strap to start with. Then once the hook is in the stand you can tighten it up and attach the straps on the versa button. I realize this is extra work, but it seems to work well for me. I think the V bracket also helps hold the sticks in place. Especially since I use 2 Lone Wolf sticks and then a gorilla stick on each side of the 2 Lone Wolf's. Don't ask, but it works.
 
Works well actually. Just need to figure out how to pack my fanny pack or back pack along with the stand. Especially when I carry the video cam. Think I will just strap it to the back of the stand/sticks. Can't justify spending $100 on that back pack from cabela's to carry my stuff in right at the moment. Didn't find any in the bargain cave last time I stopped in either.
 
i just got back from the Lone Wolf website, and are you kidding me, $179.00 is a hole lotta cash for just a hang-on treestand! now, i'm not a tight-waud but i think that is very high and almost like "price gouging"! don't get me wrong i would love to have a lone wolf alpha hang-on and it appears that they make a very nice line of treestands, but i'll take the chance on cheaper hang-ons, besides i haven't found one hang-on treestand that makes so much noise that it scares the deer away. Wal-Mart has a great hang-on for $40, it makes a little noise, but your the one who controls how much noise it makes and besides it will fit on almost any tree!
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I personally use Non-Typical hang ons, the Outfitter to be exact. But check out Rivers Edge Treestands if you want a decent stand at a low price.
 
I just bought 3 of those $40 Hunters View Razorbak stands at Wal-Mart. Looks like they will strap on tight, and they seem to be welded, bolted and cabled just fine. Big platform, comfortable seat, plus, each one comes with a full-body harness.

I parted with my treesuit last week in the classifieds. Love that stand, but these types of stands will get more use while hunting with CamoKid. I like the Lone Wolf stands, and one may be in my future (Christmas ?), but for now, I can get 4 of these stands for the price of one of those. One of you guys will need to show me the advantages of the Lone Wolf sometime. Their climbing sticks look pretty cool. How do the Gorilla sticks compare to them?
 
I would agree with the fact that Lone Wolf stands are to expensive. When I bought mine three years ago it cost $100, now they are as high as $180 for the exact same stand. The only difference is they give you a thicker foam pad to put on the seat, which is a piece of junk anyway since they squeak when they get wet. Great stands, but they are getting a little carried away with the price anymore.
 
Gorilla sticks are VERY similar. They are 4 inches longer. They don't stack quite as well. They attach by a hook instead of the versa button. The V bracket on them doesn't swivel - this could be good or bad depending on your outlook. They are about $20 cheaper per 3 than the Lone Wolf's. I am using two of each. If I was to buy a set of 3 I might go with the LW sticks because they stack and attach to the LW stand a bit easier. If I was using a different name brand stand I would buy the Gorilla sticks and save the money.
 
LW does sell strap extensions for about $4 each. I haven't use mine yet but the tree and location are pretty much unlimited with them. I have also cleaned house of a lot of cheaper equipment since buying my first LW late last season. I say I have heard many positive comments from owners of cheaper Gorilla brand strap ons. I think a little extra cash goes a long way in the case of the LW products, they are super easy to hang. Let us know what you buy and what your experience is. It is almost time to shut up and hunt!!!
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I like all stands as long as im in a tree, it don't matter what the effort was to get it there if a big buck is gonna be heading down the trail
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