I attach the safety strap around the tree as soon as step into the climber and am ready to ascend. I keep the loop a tad loose just for ease of sliding it up the trunk as I go ... but not too loose as to prevent it from stopping my fall. Takes a few more minutes than not staying attached, but is well worth the effort. Do the revers on my way down. Keep the loop around the tree and slide it down as I decend.