I've never used the API, but I can highly recommend the Viper X4. It's light, easy to use, and COMFORTABLE! I bought two of them, and my 13 year old daughter can carry it, put it on the tree, and climb with no problem. Being a bit uneasy about heights, I like having the climbing bar in front of me. For bow hunting, you adjust the seat higher to put the bar out of the way. For gun hunting, you can use the climbing bar as a rest. It's like strapping a Lazy Boy to a tree!