Gorilla/Loggy Bayou Tree Stands

[Crudders32]

I was looking at buying a climbing tree stand that was light, easy to carry, comfortable, and not too expensive.  I know this is alot to ask for so I was trying to satify as many of these criteria as I can.  I will be using it mainly for deer hunting with a rifle and muzzeloader.  I saw a gorilla greyback in gander mountain for $170.  It weighed 19lbs, folds flat for carrying and seemed like a pretty nice stand.  I also saw the loggy bayou transformer in the cabelas catalog for around $220.  This stand is 18lbs and also folds flat for carrying.  I was wondering if anyone had experience with either of these stands and how you liked them.  Thanks.

[Graybeard]

I started using treestands back in the days when the Baker Board was the only climbing stand on the market. If you don't remember it count yourself lucky. Those who used them and are still in one piece sure do.

I'm of the opinion there is no such thing as a light, compact, comfortable, easy to carry and easy to set up stand. You best decide which criteria is most important to you and look for it and hope the rest aren't too terrible.

Generally the most comfortable are horrible to carry thru the woods. Those big enough for other than midgets are heavy as lead. Those that are easy to carry are horrible to put on tree and/or to climb with once on the tree.

I don't find 21 pound treestands comfortable to carry anymore, not sure I ever did really. But nothing less has the weight capacity for my fat butt. I hate facing the tree. Yes it has some advantages but they are for me at least far outweighted by disadvantages.

The drop down fabric seats do have many advantages. Most stands have the rail too close for comfort for my knees but the drop seats allow you to get the knees low enough not to be bumping the rail all the time.

The best I ever used was an Amacker Deer Thief model made of aluminum. It was light, easy to carry and adequately strong for my weight at that time. NOT NOW. It went on tree easy and climbed like a squirrel. Can't say it was all that comfortable even then but I did spend all day in it many times.

[WoodyP]

Lok at the Summit models.  I have owned and used alot of stands over the years, and IMO the Summitt's are the best.
Woody

[.308 Win.]

I've bought an Ameristep Non-Typical climber and it's light.  I don't know why I bought it though because I really am not crazy about heights and am disabled.  The only time I'd had it out of the box was today and hooked it to the tree out in front.  It's solid but my back is awful bad and if I fell, even with the full body harness that it came with, my life would be hell for awhile.  It's better for me to be on the ground, I expect.  You might try this brand.  It does seem awfully solid to the tree.  I've never used a Summit but they look pretty cool and they're well advertised, I know that. Does anyone know if BuckShot tree stands are still around? 
 

[The Sodbuster]

My only experience is with Summit's Viper tree stand, which I bought last year.  It's about 21 pounds.  Comfortable to sit in.  Seems quite sturdy to me.  I like the solid feel to the climbing rail.  It's fixed in position and doesn't pivot up or down to double as a shooting rail or foot rest.  When I reach my tree and take the stand off my back, it takes me about 15 minutes to be up the tree, in position, and pull my rifle up to me.  I also considered an API Outdoors stand.  They look similar to the Summits, but as I recall, they were made from steel and were quite a bit heavier.

One thing:  I wish the safety harness fastened with seatbelt-type buckles instead of those you have to thread through the buckle.  I know they make more user-friendly, after-market harnesses, but they're not cheap.

[Shoreline Trapper]

Im with graybeard. 21 pounds is to much. Im not going in the woods to sit in a couch, I want to hunt.  I agree w/woody, summit stands rock..
I think my climber is 14 lbs.  I take the cables out and store them in a pack walking in and out, that way I dont get hung up as much.

[Shoreline Trapper]

The problem I had with a API climber was the chain... stamped made in China. I didnt like trusting my life to that. The cables on the summit are quieter too.