I have an old version of the stand(5 years old). And for comfort, they cannot be beat!! But, they are extremely heavy once you add on all the little extras to bowhunt out of. Noise is big problem setting them up. The back brace bolts will rake against the inside of the holes they go into, making a terrible racket. Nothing worse than scraping the threads of bolts inside a hollow aluminum tube to chase the deer away!! I have never had a problem with mine swaying on me, and feel totally safe when in the stand. I would strongly suggest to permantly attach it to a tree if possible with shielded aircraft cable. It is easy to do. Take 2, 5 foot pieces of the cable(with loops on each end) and thread through each back brace so that equal lengths hang out the ends. HINT--Making your own cable is easier, due to the fact that you need to make the loops on the end of each cable after you thread it through the back braces. Use only good, heavy hammer-crimp clasps to make the loop. Otherwise, the U-bolt clasps can be undone. Hang your stand normally on the tree. Take each loop and put it down through the triangular spaces created by the "gripping cleats", side rails, and seat brace. Then, put a good Master Lock on it, connecting the loops together. Do the same procedure to the foot climber. This way the lock hangs down under the stand, and completly out of the way and quiet when climbing. I leave mine on the tree all season long with no problems. The aircraft cable is next to impossible to cut in the field due to the individual strands that move around too much on a hacksaw blade.(Trust me!!---I tried to cut it, torch it, shoot it, ect. before I was to hang a $500 stand in the timber all season long!!) Good Luck!!

Edited by - richie3 on 10/04/2002 09:19:28