I think that most of us can agree: it is foolish to climb without a safety harness. However, is a 4 point harness really necessary or is there some simpler type that will be easier to use and will suffice for a typical hunting situation.

The two scenarios that I can imagine during my own hunting involve either falling asleep while in the stand or having the stand break/fall beneath me. In either case, I need something to arrest my fall long enough for me to hug the tree, release the harness, and slide to the ground.

Would the harness type with a single strap around the chest (perhaps with a "stretch" tether to avoid an abrupt stop) be adequate? I realize that you would not want to hang like this for an extended period of time or be unconscious, but I am assuming these conditions are extremely unlikely.

Are there other designs out there that would perform the necessary function and be significantly simpler than the 4 point?

Any thoughts or, better still, informed opinions are welcome.