screw in or strap on treestand steps?

[Hookeye]

FWIW I reuse holes and have never had one pull out.

But I don't mix steps, use one brand and model.

Have had buds have step "pull out" by mixing brands (different length/diameter and screw shapes).

Buds also don't crank them in fully too, get tired, in a hurry. I seat my steps to max depth, everytime.

EZY single folds, flick the screw out, stick the tree and start cranking. The ONLY problem with EZY's...........the screws stay sharp, will trash your pockets. I carry mine in a fannypack to save my camo clothes.

[RC]

I like the Simmons woodpecker system myself.I`ve drilled the same tree year after year with no ill effects.RC

[bamboo]

folding steps w/ rivets are BAD NEWS!!i mean it !!its not if they will fail --its when!!
 i'm not trying to rain on anyones parade--but i've seen them fail while screwing them in -screwing them out-i've been standing on them when they fail--in fact that was the last straw!!i threw over a hundred of them in the dumpster--i could not trust them anymore!!i went to the one piece screw- ins and never had another problem--i've since gone to climbing sticks and ladders[must be gettin old]
do yourself a favor and phase those folding steps out of your hunting system!!
---------------mike

[kskickapoo]

Have you considered tree spurs?  I have used Bashlins with tree gaffs (not pole) since 1982 with virtually no problems.  Don't worry about thefts as I take my setup out every hunt and have hunted out of the same trees for years with no apparent ill effects to the tree.  Takes me less than 5 minutes to be at the base of the tree, up, and setup.  It does require a little practice but once you learn to trust the gaff and understand the angles it is a quick setup that's mobile.

[Jeremy]

When I use a tree stand, which is rarely, is use the Stepp Ladder strap on steps.  Each step goes on the tree in just a few seconds with practice and they're big enough to stand on with two feet.
I've actually used them as a tree stand!  I think they'd be about perfect if you're using a tree saddle or sneaky sack  

[vermonster13]

Screw ins make stealing your stands a lot easier. Take a look at the threads involving theft this year.

[Bill Carlsen]

I remember seeing a safety video made for the Bowhunters Safety course. It went thru safety features on all kinds of stands and climbing systems. Screw in and single strap on tree steps were deemed to be the most dangerous and the video recommended not using them. I have some of the Lone Wolf 4' sections and they seem very nice. However, I like the ladder type climbing sticks or a regular ladder stand from a safety point of view. I have had some of the screw ins fail on me. Fortunately I was not up very high. Their best use for me now is to use them for making ground blinds. They make it easy to lean brush/logs or whatever against other trees and I can even tie stuff to them if necessary.  I don't even consider them for climbing unless they are one of the two bottom steps.

[Hookeye]

EZY's don't use a rivet in the proper sense, they run a pin that is flared at one end.

I've never had the flare fail, or the pin fail, but have had them wobble after major abuse (hammering them out of a tree-left in too long). Junk anything that doesn't operate as it did new. Like I said before, I might have had to trash 3, after using the snot out of them, then having to abuse them in removal.

I run 3-5 stands, move them often, have for over two decades.

Other folding steps? Seen them fail, also seen problems with rod type steps (rotate under load even when seated fully).

Won't climb a tree with cheap/bargain steps.

I trust EZY, have for 25 yrs and had zero problems with them.

[Hookeye]

BTW, I usually pull the bottom few steps to lessen the chance that somebody will use or steal my stand.

That means quite a bit of in and out for the lower holes. Again, same brand/model of step, seated fully, never a pull out.

I weigh 180 ish, so maybe that helps with safe step usage, dunno what they're rated for.

Will say I've seen a LOT of people using EZY and other screw ins, who are pretty hefty, and they don't put the steps in all the way.......and people often mix step brands.

Recipe for disaster IMHO.

Not the fault of the steps though.