i'd like to add that even 10 lbs. of weight on your back is alot to carry when wearing multipule layers of clothing, i know what you mean, your already sweating when you raech the tree. aside from that i don't think a fixed stand has much if any more shooting room. as for noise, setting up a ladder stand doesn't seem to be much quieter unless you leave it there which isn't an option for me but probably is for others. one thing that keeps me using mine as opposed to noise is this: 2 years ago all i had was a homemade ladder stand taht i put up with a screw gun 20 min. later a buck came in , didn't get him, but he sure wasn't spooked by the noise, 3 hours later moved it to a differnet tree, again 20 min. later i had deer but no shot, moved it to the other side of the same tree again with a screw gun had 8 pt. come in got him.point is i don't worry alot about some noise when setting up