RE: Public land Treestand suggestions>>>>
Agreed. I have a Viper (among others) and love it. It goes on the tree quick, climbs easy, and feels solid when you are in it. It's not that heavy in comparison to other stands, so it's not back to pack in. I lost an Ol' Man climber to a thief with cable cutters on private land last year. That was my favorite stand. It had steel blades on it instead of teeth, and cut into the bark very well. No slipping, even on hardwood. The optional spreader arms made it very roomy. The mesh seat made it like sitting in a hammock, and was very comfortable. On cold days, your back-side could get a bit chilled, so a seat cushion was a nice addition. The Summit Viper is my new favorite though. For the money, I don't think you can go wrong with it.