Trevor, this statement would change...
I too LOATHE screw in steps, they are a freakin bear to get in, take forever, make you sweat profusely.
... if this one did.
HCH, we just aren't used to the Cranfords obviously.
There's just simply a WORLD of difference between Cranford and anything else out there in that market. Ascending a tree with Cranfords is NO work at all. Quick, quiet, easy and a pleasure to pack in and out. Guys talk about the advantages of being able to screw them in and leave them up for a few months, and they're right -- but I think they're so easy to use that I've used them for my runn'n 'n gunn'n foryears as well.