BowHntrRick

I have several of the inexpensive ladder stands sold at Dick's Sporting Goods (approximately $50-$60 on sale) that I set up in various locations. While their construction is adequate, the seat comfort is not: they have no lower back support, so the simple seat pad included with each stand is fairly worthless. 15 minutes sitting on one of these and my back hurts.

Instead, I have been bringing a folding plastic stadium chair (about$15, also at Dick's)with a bungee cord. I removed the thin vinyl seat pad and glued a more comfortable closed cell foam pad (camo, of course!). While the stadium seat has a hook on the underside to hook it to stadium bleachers, the hook places the seat too far forward on the ladder stand seating surface. I use the bungee cord to hold the stadium seat to the ladder stand instead.

The bungee cord also enables me to carry the stadium seat to and from my stand "hands free" (you never know when you may get a shot while walking in to the stand) by securing the seat to my lower back with the bungee cord.

The stadium seat provides lower back support resulting in a much more comfortable seat on the cheap ladder stand.

Bowflex

My tip for the cheap ladder stands is to use them to get to another stand that I hang above them.

The cheap ladder stands don't have nearly enough standing platform to be any good for bowhunting. I have missed out on numerous deer because I couldn't stand or shoot sitting down to my right to ever useone for bowhunting again.
Also, if your son or daughter wants to sit with you while you hunt they can climb into and sitin aladder stand moresafely.

Just my two bits.
Good Hunting
Bowflex