OLD ELK HUNTER you are saying the new version tree lounge is not as safe as the old model because of the leveling bar.this is an optional item. i have never really needed the leveling bar. i always looked for trees with little taper. i didnt want to spend any more on add ons or carry the extra weight. how can you say a stand is bad when it its really just the optional leveling bar that the tree lounge people have recalled ? bottom line with the tree lounge is if you can set it up before the hunt or use the wheels its not bad at all. i think most are in a rush to get hunting and dont want to spend the time with packing the tree lounge up properly or getting to the woods early enough that they dont have to rush. i get to the woods early enough so im not rushing to my hunt sites. i have learned how to make my tree lounge more friendly by adding some tape to quiet metal against metal while walking with it and painted the knobs with white paint so they can be seen better in the dark. once in the tree if you get it set right i have no noise issues.i did put a small piece of outdoor carpet on the bow hunting platform to quiet boot scuff noise. if your gonna use a stand a couple days out of the year as i suspect most of the whiners of the tree lounge are you will never get to know the stand inside out. i dont come out of the woods for lunch so being able to hunt comfortabley all day with the ability to sleep in a stand is priceless to me.