the best anything is a loaded question IMO
that said, there are features on every climbing stand you have to look at, and then try and pick the one that fit s your needs best
I have owned a few over the yrs and tried a few guys at camps too
my last climber I have is a Lone wolf sit and climb stand
I personally found the factory seat, sucked, I replaced it with a seat from a summit, a MUCH softer seat for all day sits
a simple mod, but an extra costs
the lone wolf seat is lighter, to they can claim a ligher tree stand
next I had the standard climber /seat I found that in COLD weather when I am bundled up, it was a TIGHT in the stand , and why I gather they came out with the WIDE climber option they now have
I have had a few summits, both open and closed climber
I liked the stands, but I fould the Lone wolf to be better to fit more tree's and easier to pack and, after adding soem more foam padding to a few spots, and adding some camo paint to take away the solid Gray finish!
the lone wolf was to me a better stand overall
the Loggy bayou's climber I had was also like the sumit's
nice stands
better seat again than the lone wolf too
and had a shooting like rail on the climber top, great for rifle hunting, but some what in the way on bow hunts, but again came in handy when I switched to an X bow
once this stand was up a tree, I could sit all day and not feel like I sat up a tree all day!
but stand didn't pack as well as either to me!
all the above stand, I added better back pack straps, as all the factry straps SUCKED IMO!
so when picking ouyt a stand, I suggest you look at what they offer and pick the best options you like
a GREAT place to buy a stand if you ask me, is at the Harrisburg Sportsman show, here in harrisburg PA, every Feb
almost every tree stand company on the market is there , and you can try out the stands there before you buy
and when I say every stand maker, I mean even the small no one has heard of companys, trying to make it big
and they all have stands on sale at show prices, and last day of the show they sell demo's CHEAP
won't help you if you need a stand NOW< but something to think about!
last, weight of the stand, I have carried a lot on my back
a 19 lb stand, and a 26 lb stand, all get heavy after a mile or so, and its IMO splitting hairs at that point!
any stand in the 15-25 lb range is NOT a huge deal unless you carry a stand every day and walk for miles
yes every oz helps to be lighter, but ist NOT a huge deal maker or breaker to be honest!
weight of stands is like HP wars of truck makers
more hype than needs be!