Need Treestand Recommendations

[Caleb the bow breaker]

All,

Well i about killed myself hanging one of the El Cheapo strap on stands Monday night.  I wore my harness and all so was never in danger of falling but I almost jumped out of the tree out of frustration.  I really have a hard time holding a stand with one hand and trying to run a ratchet strap with the other.  I am up for suggestions or stands that have a more user-friendly strap system.  I like the price of the ones I have but man they are a pain.

Caleb

[Chris Surtees]

Does your harness have a way to use it like a climbing belt?

I use a SOP which allows me to use both hands while hanging a stand.

Chris

[Blackhawk]

A few years ago I followed a thread like yours and followed the majority opinion and bought a Lone Wolf Sit n' Climb without ever using one.
After a few times, I learned how to safely and quickly set it up and use it to the best advantage.  

I do not use a strap-on anymore and just bought a used Lone Wolf Handclimber.

Glad you were using the harness too.

[Caleb the bow breaker]

yeah, I have a SOP harness so I have both hands free.  The deal is that those darn ratchet straps seem like they need two hands.  I hunt mostly river bottom land setting up in old cottonwoods, hackberries, etc..  A climber is not really a good option.

C

[RLA]

You need to look at the Chippewa Wedge-loc stands. They are pricey, but they are the easiest to hang and best built stand on the market.

[onewhohasfun]

I second Chippewa Wedge-loc

[Plumber]

summit

[Running Buck]

Check out the screaming eagle boss system. You chain the bracket up in the tree and plug the stand into it. They run about a buck and a half.
e-screamingeagle.com

[Fletcher]

I've gone to using a bow hook or step to hang the stand on while I attach the strap or chain and it works great.  This has really made hanging a stand much easier and safer.  Yes, I also use a SOP harness with a climbing rope to allow both hands free.

Most of my stands are Gorillas or a similar design that use a heavy strap instead of ratchet straps.  You get the strap snug, push down on the stand to get the strap pretty tight and then lower the platform.  Lowering the platform pulls the uprights out from the tree a bit and really tightens the strap up.

[BowHuntingFool]

The Lone Wolf Alpha is in my opinion the best stand on the market, combine it with the climbing sticks and you'll go in just about any tree that'll hold ya! The seat and platform leveling is awesome, worth the extra money. Oh and don't forget the offset bracket! Pricey but you get what you pay for! They make an EZ hook system as well, but I only used it once, just as easy to hang it without it! I have to take my stands down every evening, believe me when I say I can have this up and hunting in 15 minutes!

[KentuckyTJ]

http://www.gomuddy.com/shopping/Departments/Stands.aspx

[BobW]

we switched over to almost exclusively ladder stands.  haven't used a climber in years now.  Some of out ladders are quite packable if you are needing to frequently move them.

[joevan125]

Here is what i do, i take a screw in step and put it right below where you want the stand to be placed. Once you pull the stand up in the tree you hook the bottom part of the stand on the screw in step. Once you get the belt hooked on the tree raise it up a little so you can take the screw out. It keeps you from having to fight the weight of the stand so you can concentrate on getting it belted in.  

[lpcjon2]

I also use the tree step to hold the stand, I also use a bungee strap to hold it while i do the ratchet. A rope around your waste and the tree free's up your hands.I leave my stands in all year and only take the bottom four steps with me each time i leave.If it gets stolen your only out $35. compared to a $135.nice one.Amen to the disposable stand.

[Mint]

I really like my chippewa wedgelock but my friend loves his lonewolf.

[wapitimike1]

Take your stacking sticks and hook on your pull straps to each one. Put them up against the tree your about to set up in. Start with the top and push them all up the tree. Climb and strap as you go up the tree. Once secured climb up with the stand on your back with one strap. Stay down from the top one or two steps on stick. Hook one knee around one step it leaves you hands free for hook up of any type of stand. Once you get it down it's fast and simple.

[VTer]

Use a stand w/ a chain. Easier to do than a rachet. Also make sure your strap holding you to the tree is tight. You want to almost be snugged up to the tree. Easier to work that way than with your butt hanging way out and trying to reach forward.

[Three Arrows]

I like the Screaming Eagle and Lone Wolf the best.  I use a Trophyline Mesh Treesaddle with a Guido's web tether.  I can climb and comfortably hang there and even shoot my bow this way.  It has been my prefered safety belt since it leaves me facing the tree should I fall.

[kodiakkid]

I use the tree step also to hold my stand while I strap or chain it to the tree. Works great for me. Paul<><

[twoblade]

I use my game cart to haul my ladder stands in
be cause im by myself most of the time.
I also have a lot of different brands of hang on
type stands most of these i converted to the wedgelok chain system much easier and cheap to convert.
Ron
.