Today as I put up another stand of mine I got thinking about how many yrs old this stand was, and the treesteps I was using. I figure both were approx. 10yrs old. I always look over my equipment, and it all appears to be in good shape. But just how long with those steel pins fastening the lag bolts to the step last, I wondered. When should I retire them, and buy new. Although they still seem fine, and held up ok. Climbing up the tree is the most unsafe act we do in treestand hunting. Even using a safety belt for putting up treestands, and climbing. Whose to say injury still won' t result from a simple pin breaking, or a rivet or weld on a stand giving out. Has anyone else ever considered age of equipment???