VC, good post my friend. Great to hear from you.

I have had in my mind a ratcheting type system marketed as a bow hunting product for years that utilizes the same concept, if not exactly the same system. That is where it ends though - just a thought. I've never done a thing about it. I am going to seriously check into this. My son will hunt with me next season, I want him safer than I've been for the past 24 years.

This past season woke me up to how fast an accident can happen. I had a step break on me. Fortunately it was the second step from the ground so I wasn't injured. What if it had been the second from the stand? Whew.

As the season wears on, safety, in my opinion, becomes more crucial. In my state, December hunting means more clothing and bigger boots making climbing more cumbersome. I've slipped on steps and the platform of the stand more than once. I believe it's time to stop taking advantage of the blessing of good fortune after all these years of staying safe and invest in a safer climbing system.

What type of harness are you using?