GB,
A succesful bowhunter often has to be very maneuverable. This translates into a stand that is light. He also has to be comfortable. Comfort means a bigger platform,seat,etc, which is more weight. But comfort also means more time on stand which means more oppurtunities at deer. He also has to be safe. Most stands are relatively safe - Nobody wants to mfg an unsafe stand.But NEVER forget the safety belt!!

For these reasons, I like to find a stand that can hang quickly, Portable for sure, in the 11-14 lb range with a comfortable, fold-up seat-I spend a LOT of time standing , anfd shoot standing always. A fold up seat is a must for this so you can stand as close to the tree trunk as possible. If you look around you can usually find several that meet these criteria in the 50-75 dollar range.

North starr stands makes a Steel Starr. I bought several of these a couple years ago for 50 dollars each and I love them. Secure to tree quietly, quickly, very securely, and is very comfortable, with 300 lb capacity( I was thin at fifteen ,too, but that changes a lot of times!) Also , the stand only weighs around 11 lbs. Not bad when you have to carry a long way!

Just a tip, but in the average situation , you want to have at least three stands, if possible. I have about 10 portables, but I'm not very average!LOL

Good Luck!!