14 New Treestands and Blinds for 2012

Staying hidden from suspecting whitetails is paramount to success in the deer woods.

Ameristep Switch

Pop-up ground blinds haven’t changed much in the last decade … until now. The new Ameristep Switch ground blind is unique. This blind has a lightweight aluminum frame that has push button legs like you find on crutches, which allow the hunter to adjust the height of the blind between 60-88 inches. The legs can be set at different heights if the blind is being set up on a slope. Once the frame is in place, a water-resistant shell is placed over the frame. The shell is available in three different camo patterns including Realtree APG, Max-1 and Max-4, so hunters can customize the blind camouflage based on their surroundings.

API Bowhunter

API Outdoors has an aluminum climbing treestand called the Bowhunter that is aptly built for bowhunters. It weighs 23 pounds, can hold 300 pounds, and comes with a padded seat, padded backrest and padded armrests so the stand is comfortable and quiet. It has a flip-up foot rest and accessory bag and backpack straps that make carrying it into the woods extremely easy.

Double Bull Double-Wide

Double Bull Blinds is offering a blind called the Double-Wide Door Blind that comes with an extra-large zipper-less door that measures 29 inches wide and 48.5 inches tall, This makes getting the hunter and extra gear in and out of the blind easy. The blind has a 180-degree full front window, measures 60 inches square and is made of an extra tough poly/cotton canvas shell.

Down Safe Emergency Descender

If a hunter falls out of a treestand and fails to take the pressure off his legs and groin area, he can quickly pass out or even die. This is called suspension trauma. Down Safe Systems offers a new product called the Emergency Descender that eliminates the problem. The Emergency Descender can be used with any safety harness by attaching the Descender to the tree and the harness. If a hunter falls out of a tree, the Descender slowly lowers the hunter to the ground instead of leaving him hanging the way a normal harness would do in the situation.

Gorilla G-Harness

The simple, lightweight new G-Series Harness from Gorilla Treestands is sure to be a hit. The belt-free design is less cumbersome and more comfortable than other harness styles and comes with padded shoulders and a padded backrest. The G-Series features Gorilla’s exclusive Energy Absorbing System tether that reduces the force that the user feels if they fall by up to 40 percent. The G-Series is all about comfort and weighs 4.5 pounds.

Gorilla King Kong

Gorilla Treestands has a new climbing stick called the King Kong that is perfect for the bowhunter on the go. The package is made up of three 32-inch sticks that together weigh only four pounds and fit trees ranging from eight to 22 inches in diameter. Each unit has sawtooth steps that help hunters get a firm grip when climbing. The steps fold away for transporting.

Hunter Safety System Hybrid

Hunter Safety Systems is making a new lightweight harness called the Hybrid for hunters who don’t like bulky safety harnesses. This vest system weighs three pounds so hunters won’t notice that they are wearing it, but it has many features found on heavier vests, including six pockets and a built-in binocular strap. Like all Hunter Safety System harnesses, the Hybrid features quiet buckles that are easy to use and snap shut in a split second.

Hunters Specialities Primetime

Hunters Specialties offers a pop-up blind called the Primetime blind. One special feature found on this blind is the “split window” feature that allows the hunter to open two windows per side to keep themselves concealed or the entire side if a large view is needed.

Leverage Outcast

Leverage Treestands has a new ladder stand for hunters who want to hunt high from a stand that is lightweight and portable. The Outcast is 18 feet tall and comes with an Outrigger Stability system, which makes putting this stand in place a piece of cake. This telescoping stand is easy to transport and only weighs 47 pounds.

Lone Wolf Wide Flip-Top Climber

Lone Wolf is known for making exceptional climbing stands, and the trend continues in 2012. The new Wide Flip-Top Climber Combo is easy to use because it is wider and more stable. It allows for easy, seated climbing and features a comfortable wide flip-up seat that is mounted higher, which makes getting into shooting position extremely easy. This stand is made of aluminum, comes with a cast bow holder, weighs 21 pounds and can hold up to 350 pounds.

Rivers Edge Relax

Rivers Edge has a new Ladder Stand called the Relax. The name says it all. This 15.5-foot treestand has a lounge chair-style mesh seat and backrest that has an ergonomic design, which makes hunting all day enjoyable and relaxing. The Relax stand has padded armrests, weighs 50 pounds and supports 300 pounds.

Summit Seat-O-Pants

The Seat-O-Pants FastBack Deluxe Safety Harness from Summit Treestands is easy to use and can save a hunter’s life. It comes with a lightweight, tangle-free design, “breakaway” tether strap and low-profile rubber-coated buckles that are silent. It is made of wide straps that are easy to put on and comes with comes a heavy-duty safety rope with a sliding Prusic hitch for getting safely up and down the tree, a lightweight sewn fabric back and a high-quality locking carabineer and snap clip to convert the safety rope into a lineman’s belt.

Summit Viper

Summit Treestands hit a home run with their new Viper Climbing Treestand. This stand is a whopping four pounds lighter than last year’s model. Two models are available: the Viper Elite SD (16 lbs.), which has a closed front, and the Viper Specialist SD (14 lbs.), which has an open front. These lightweight stands are made of aluminum tubing, which provides plenty of strength and reduces the overall weight of the stands. These Viper series comes with Summit’s Dead Metal Sound Dampening technology, which reduces the noisy aluminum sound you typically hear if you brush up against an aluminum stand. These stands come with a mesh hammock-style seat.

X Stand X-1

Hunters looking to go lean and mean should check out the new X-1 treestand from X Stands. This climbing treestand only weighs 11 pounds and is made of aluminum. It features flexible fiberglass arm technology that causes the arms to flex inwards as the cable cinches to firmly grip the tree, and the arms expand outward to open the cable for easy climbing. The X-1 comes with a quick-attach cable and a padded seat. This two-piece climber is built for the hunter who wants to get off the beaten path.

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