The cables on any stands are generally not the weakest point in the stand. Typically, the area the cables or chains tie into the stand, the adjustment mechanism will typically fail before the actual cables, belts, or chains break.

Yall can use what you want, but I like being quiet when walking though the woods, setting up, and hunting. Keep it simple man. Some of these stands have more stuff going on than a space shuttle. I don't know how you can actually get a bow to full-draw in some of these stands? Makes you wonder if the designers were even hunters?

If I was you I would have one made. As far as I know when a product is rated it is 1/3 it's actual breaking point so a 350 would not break until 1050. Having said thatI still would have one made. Or better yet just stand there, your the tree, stand and hunter all wraped up into one.

TMA tests to 2x the rated safety factor.

I think lone wolf sells a great product. Just out of curiosity are you affilliated with the company, The Lone Wolf? I only seem to see you make posts on climbing sticks or treestands, and no other company makes anything worthwhile in your eyesexcept LoneWolf. Not raggin on you, just curious.

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I own a company that is contracted to do design work for Lone Wolf. I was a long-time customer and user of the products before I started doing business with the company.

It took me about 10 years of hunting before I finally tried my first Lone Wolf product. It quite simply changed the way I hunt, and made me a more-sucessful hunter. If I can help someone else avoid the headaches that I went through, then I'm going to give my opinion.

I try to stay positive about other brands and not "dis" them. That's why I typically say things like "try as many brands as possible before you decide", etc....

In-regard to this particular topic about API stands. The reason I wrote in about these stands was because I actually followed a friend through the timber with one of these things on his back and I couldn't believe the racket that it made when samplings slapped the stand, etc..... So, that's why I made the comment regarding the "walking through the woods". I was just being honest and making a comment based on my observations of an actual hunting situation.

Because I have a background in design, engineering, and treestand design, and been hunting for many years, I try to answer stand-related questions if people have them. Every once in-a-while I may get a little overboard, so I appologize if I have offended anyone. Shoot straight yall.....

"TMA tests to 2x the rated safety factor."

Good to know.I'm fairly positive in the building industry it is x3. I thought that it was an engineering rule when calculating loads.

I would definitely have one made possibly by a stand company, special order or something like that.

Thanks TLW, no offending with mein fact I am really considering the lone wolf climbing sticks. What about designing an enclosed stepfor them or one that is not so sharp on the ends. They look like if you would slip on one that it would definately impale you.I thought I was right about your affilliation with the company and just had to ask.
HCH
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No worries hardcorehunter, I think you'd like the sticks.

In-regard to you're question about enclosing the end of the steps. Probably the biggest reason is that they do work very well as-is. Because the ends of the steps are "open", you can place the inside of you're foot against the tree, and then on the step. The "enclosed" versions mean you are using only the tips of you're feet to climb, the LW sticks enable you to contact the tree which really helps when finding the next step (on the way down), and they really are safer because you can place you're feet on an angle (more contact area), instead of perpendicular to the tree. Once you try them, you will understand what I'm talking about. Kind-of tough to explain.