First, how do you like heights? Not everybody is a born tree climber.

How much weight can you haul into the woods. And how much weight do you want to carry. Many tree stands cover 300 lbs of weight and weigh accordingly. Not every hunter comes in at 260 lbs or greater?

If I had to give up my heirloom tree stand, I'd be into a ground blind.

And if all the leaves were off the trees, I wouldn't use any tree stand.