When did Pradco buy Summit? Are the stands made in Decatur anymore?

Those will give you the answers your looking for

I have four different models of Summit climbers and their deer cart. All high quality products.

I wouldn’t climb in anything else.. they are fine!!

We have a member on here that works for them. Maybe he'll chime in?

I am pretty sure Pradco has had the Umbrella over Moultrie, Summit, Code Blue Scents, The Old Knight Rifles , Knight and Hale game Calls and a few other fishing companies for a very long time.

Great stands and Ive met a couple of the Wollers and they were nice.

I’ve got four, two over 7 years old, two under two years. I see no difference in them.

I love my summits but I wish they would put something in them to dampen the clanking noise when hiking. I fill mine with foam and that helps but I shouldn’t have to do that

Pradco also has whitetail institute too I think.

I don't like how low the cables hang down when packing in. And they are noisy to take in and out.

PRADCO (Owned by EBSCO) purchased Summit about 15 years ago. Shortly after that is when I left the company. Nothing is made in Decatur anymore, all comes from across the pond as they basically shut the Decatur doors last year I believe.

I've hunted from an API for about the last 20 years (currently using a Grand Slam Shooting Star that I bought probably a dozen years ago). There's nothing wrong with my API, but I got it in my head that since it's that old, I should get a new stand for safety reasons. So I bought a Summit Viper SD and put the adjustable shooting rest on it also. I bought that Summit in early October, and I just sold it today. Personally I hated it, but I know I'm one of the very few folks who feel this way.

1. Sitting in it is comfortable, but it was "tight" (I'm 5-11 and 185). I couldn't even stand up and turn around without rubbing the sides of the stand and bumping my gun (I lay my gun across the stand over my knees).
2. I hated the stirrups for your feet, I was actually just hooking my toes under the side rails of the foot platform. Going down the tree was way harder than going up.
3. The gun rest is way too close to your body when raised in the shooting position, very unnatural posture.
4. The gun rest has to be folded down out of the way to climb (because it is straight over the bar you sit on). This is problematic because I like to hang my bag and extra clothes from the shooting rail on my API when I climb.
5. It carries on your back updside down, and catches in the top of your rubber boots or pants with every step.
6. Difficult to pack it neatly or tightly, no good way to fold the seat, and it was clangy/shifty.

I sat in mine yesterday, and I agree with you, they are tight. The seat needs to sit higher. I have tried to adjust mine, but... not there yet. The seat is also not as comfortable is they used to be either. I don't find their sound deadening to be that effective. I hate the cable system. All the stuff with the seat just gets in the way when packing. I have an older Summit hang on, I think its called an RSX, and it way more comfortable to sit in, but no rails. At my age I like the rails around me.

The upside is I found an old steel viper on a tree on our property line, so I confiscated it. Going to compare it to my current aluminum one and see if there is a difference. They don't nest together near as well as my new one that much is obvious.

PRADCO has owned many of the brands for many years, with the exception of Texas Hunter Products (2018), Bobby Garland/Crappie Pro (2017 or 18) and Whitetail Institute (2019). The Decatur facility was closed in 2019 with all Summit manufacturing moved to China while all engineering and design, to my understanding, is still performed here in Birmingham.

The Summit Viper is a good stand for people shorter than 5'10". At that point, I would move up to the 180 Max or Titan.

Jeremy

I'm 6'4 and 250lbs and still use a viper. I probably should move up to a titan but I assume they are heavier and I don't want to carry more. I mostly stand the whole time while bow hunting so its not a big deal to me. Always been pretty comfortable for me.

I have a summit goliath and love it!! My son is currently hunting out of my “old” old man and he hates packing it in and setting it up(those pins with the screw tops for safety). My summit I can have on/off the tree and packed really quickly. I just wish I could figure out a way to keep the seat/shoulder straps in the correct position when packing. I have to grab the stand, kind of toss it up on my back and then put my arms through straps. Otherwise, the straps get lopsided and the seat pad gets out of position. But, I can live with it. I haven’t hunted out of it all day yet, but think I could compared to my old man

In the process of getting him a new summit. But he is about to have hip surgery so his climbing days (at least this year) are probably done so no need unless a super sale comes up

Oh, how'd I forget the cable system.... it's basically impossible to adjust/level the foot platform once you're in the tree (which I can do the top and bottom rather easily with the API).

I ordered a lone wolf. I ha e hunted out of a summit since I’ve been deer hunting. I’ll let y’all know how it goes

I have a summit viper and a lone wolf sit and climb. If I use a stand I always end up in the LW, it’s not as big and bulky, lighter, quieter, more packble and is rock solid once you tighten the stabilizer straps. Took a little getting used to not having a bar around or in front of you. Kinda like a loc on. But I can pack it in and set it up on a tree without making a sound. I can also take it down and pack it up with a sound. No matter how hard I try I can’t do that with the summit. With Molle straps it’s extremely easy to carry any distance I need. The Summit might be more comfortable for an all day sit but for the way I hunt the LW just fits my needs better.

Molle straps on both make them very easy to carry but there is no comparison for me when toting them around and through the woods and setting up quietly.