What do you guys use while climbing up you steps? I hung another stand last night and of course used a normal lineman setup with the prusic knot system. However I was wonder if you guys do the lineman thing or connect up a safety rope with a prusic knot from the top(above your stand) all the way to ground level? I was thinking I need to go to Home Depot or Lowes and create my own 25ft safety line with the prusic knot and that would be much easier to climb in the morning than a lineman hook up.

Just wondering what you guys do, thank you

I use the lineman's set-up on my Tree Saddle. It's a little cumbersome but it works.

I use an ascender. The type used by window washers and the like. They are available at construction supply houses. Mine cost $35. They are very easy to use and they are quiet. If a window washer trusts one at 50 stories, I trust one at 25'.

You can use something called " the fall guy " safety system. It is a seatbelt like strap, secured above your stand, like a normal safety belt, but has 20 feet of webbing strap, and a locking mechanism just like a seatbelt, that you put on at the base of your tree and it retracts as you climb up. when you climb down, it free spools, but if you fall , it locks like a seat belt. It will keep you safe from ground to stand and back.

Can't beat that.

Check here:

http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=1309286&mpage=1

I just climb. I've never felt uneasy while climbing steps. I hunt at 18 feet. Once I reach the stand I sit on the seat facing the tree and fasten my safety belt. I am only concerned with stand failure. When I'm climbing, I have at least 3 and sometimes 4 points of support and control. When sitting in the stand, you have no hope of control should a failure occur. Think this way....do you wear a safety harness when working on a ladder? If you must, by all means wear it. I just never saw the need.

That's too bad since statisticsshow thata majority ofhunting stand accidents happen while climbing into and out of the stand.

I agree with you, really. If you feel you need to do that, then you must.

thanks Bob on the other thread. I was thinking about buying a safety vest instead of the supplied harness's you get. Might just go with the Fall Guy system. Going to price the difference of high quality rope using a prusic knot against the Fall Guy.

You can also buy them ready made out of great quality ropes from Summitt in 30 feet models. You can get one for $35 or order their 3 pack for $89. Nice thing about them is they're 30 feet. The single comes in a nice small carry bag. I'm not sure if the 3 do or just come loose.
http://www.summitstands.com/productDetail.aspx?id=329148