Wow I thought I was the only one who was afraid of the ladder stand I have been in it 3 or 4 times. I feel a lot safer in my climber. I think I have got it figured out. Because I am in full contact with the tree in the climber plus I am attached through out the climb by a harness I feel safer. In the ladder you are dependent on being in contact at 3 points with no harness attached until you reach the top and connect the harness to the tree. The transition from the ladder to the platform both ascending and descending are the scariest part.