This is a good thread which should be read by all tree stand hunters. I once read that one out of four tree stand hunters will have an accident within their hunting lifetime. Not good odds no matter how you look at it. People say it can't happen to me because I am careful but a friend of mine who is a hunter ed instructor with years of experience had a bad fall while bow hunting in Illinois. He was using a climbing tree stand and had his HSS vest on but didn't connect the safety harness with the prussic knot as he went up. He got to his hunting height and before he could hook up his safety strap the stand fell. He broke his neck, ribs and did something to his spleen. He had a cell phone and called for help otherwise he would't have made it. That safety strap with the prussic knot is real easy to slide up as you go. The HSS vest has a lineman's belt which hooks up and allows you to use 2 hands when putting up lock on stands. Money well spent and costs less than a single stand. Glad you shared ManofTheFall