Are climbing treestands safe???

[Gator1]

As mentioned, wear a good safety harness, they are fantastic.  I have a summit Goliath, and by far the most secure stand I have hunted out of.

[Featherbuster]

I have been climbing with the same Ol Man stand since October 1994.  I always use a safety restraint harness.  I think climbing stands are very safe as long as yoiu learn how to use them properly and take your time.

[B/W lvr]

I have a tree lounger that's as safe as sitting home in my recliner!!!! As long as I have my climbing harness on and I dont leave the ground without it!!!! Frank

[Swamp Yankee]

I also started out with a Baker climber and have the scars to prove it.  Most of the newer climbers used to be relatively safe; then I turned 60 and they (?) got too dangerous for me anymore.  Ground is good.
However to answer the original question; with careful use and the correct use of a safety harness from start to finish, the Lone Wolf climbers are about as good as it gets.

[Hoyt]

My first climber was a Baker and I hated it..left it on a tree in Ocala Forest. The Baker cured me of climbers for quiet a few yrs. and when I did get another one was really surprised how improved they were.

Right now I use an old Shoot'n Star Api, Equalizer, 2 Summits..Open Shot and the other one with open front but has rails on the side and my favorite Lone Wolf Hand Climber that I hacksawed all but the back bracing and side rails off the seat. I put straps across rail to rail and attached a Gorilla foam seat to it.

The Lone Wolf is rock solid in a tree and makes absolutely no squeaks or any type of noise when you move around on it. Only thing I don't like about it is it won't fit in bigger size trees, but the best thing I like about it is it will fit in very small diameter trees.

So will the Equalizer an I like it a lot, but not with my 64" recurve and the rails that go all around it. Even when I ajust the seat level with the rails. I mainly use the Summit Open Shot and Lone Wolf Hand Climber...they are climbing Loc-On's. I also put straps on the Summit Open Shot like the Lone Wolf has. One on each side that goes from top section to bottom section with snap buckles. I can pull the top section down tight with the straps and not worry about it falling when I stand or raise the seat up.

[dutch the deadly]

the equalizer is excellent and probably extra "safe" because it is always level.  d

[KSdan]

Used one in the my early years (Loggy Bayou back then).  But- how are you going to get down if you fall and now hung up with the new style tree-stand harnesses that make you face away from the tree? I guess some guy in PA just died hanging there recently.  Makes no sense to me.

I would rather climb sticks and use a climbers rappelling seat.  

My 2C
Dan in KS