Originally Posted by UPHunter08

Climber stands usually grip best when the tree has some bark that the teeth on the stand can dig into.

I like older trees with rougher bark with some give to it, because the teeth on the climber bite better. What I do is climb to my desired height, and then bounce lightly on the platform to dig the teeth into the bark. Then I tighten the security strap around the tree as best as I can to prevent the stand from slipping if I adjust my weight on the platform or seat.

You'll find that each type of tree is different and presents a different challenge.

+1 angling the stand upward when you start. It takes some practice to figure how much lean you need to start off with depending on the taper of the tree and the height at which you want to hunt.