I only have the summits, and actually I've only climbed in the 180 max. I find it a PITA to climb in. I'm only 5'10" so it seems like I inch my way up the tree. Bought the summit viper from a friend just before the season last year. It is not the aluminum one though so it's kinda heavy. I haven't tried to climb with it yet, must be easier than the 180 cause you can sit on the bar to climb rather than using the seat. Anyhow, I have ladders and climbing sticks that I usually use so generally speaking I use my climbers as hang ons unless I'm on a bow hunt where I use a dedicated hang on cause the bars on the climber get in the way of a bow shot. My reasoning is this; the climbers (or at least the ones I own) are heavy and cumbersome to carry through the woods, let alone try to carry a rifle and day pack with that a mile or so. If I leave the climber at the base of the tree, deer come check it out during the night and it is more vulnerable to thieves and I still have to climb the tree with it. With ladder or sticks, it is ready to climb, deer aren't as spooked by it and most people don't even think about stealing it cause it is too high up, locked, and too far in the woods. Hang ons are nicer to carry in but not nearly as comfortable as my 180. I usually set them up well before the season and take them down before ML. I'm way up north, we have lots up public land, I realize not everyone could hunt like this.
How do others you've tried compare to the summits?
What's your reason to go back to the old steel one?