Slugman,

I haven't used or owned every name brand on the market, but since 1968 I think I've used every type, from homemade to store bought.

When I was younger I loved the lock on type with a stick type ladder (we made our own back then). The seats on most of these are terrible and you have to consider that you'll be carrying at least 3 items, your gun/bow, ladder, and stand. I don't care how careful you are, you're going to make some noise puting it up and that ladder has a habit of jumping out and grabbing every limb in the woods.

Some of the climbers are great, but you've got the weight with most of them, most seats are better on them. You can normally get higher with these, what I like to call the, nose bleed height. You'll make noise with these too.

I like to think that I've been lucky over the years, I've been in as many as 4 hunting clubs at the same time, now only one, which we have had the land for 21 years. What I now like the best is home made or bought ladder stands with seats and armrest on. Getting older and arthiritis has made a lot of the choices for me. I have several up and don't move them because each one I have put up produces for me, my family, and friends .

Now take either type, lock on or climber and try carrying them thru the woods in the dark and find a suitable tree, put it on the tree quietly and level and you'll find none are perfect, some just better.

dog1