good post..i was wondering the same thing being i never been in a tree stand except once to film a kid i know..he went up no lie 30 or more feet...his rope is 30 feet and he climbed with the bow hanging for a good few more climbes with a climber...i was like whoa! your nuts! i felt comfortable upto about 25..but the trees really were bendind and swaying in the lightest breeze....i didnt like that much...but thats his style of hunting...thanx for the post guys..that saved me from doing one later on!