I used only a belt when I sat 12' off the ground on a platform. Now I'm 25' up and nod off often...so it's a full harness for me.

How is a vest/harness any more of a hassle than an old fashioned strap? It's fast and easy to put on, and if it's adjusted properly you have just as much freedom of movement. Once you wear it a couple of times you forget you even have it on. You climb a tree dozens (hundreds?) of times in a season, but you only have to slip once...

Wow, you must have one hell of an easy life if a safety vest is as bad as "hassles" get for you. Get a vest, i promise you the hassle of wearing it will be WAYYYY better than the hassle of blisters on your hands from propelling your wheelchair. The hunters that fall and die make the news, the ones that live the rest of their days in a wheelchair are far more numerous. The around-the-waist belts are notorious for breaking the spine when your weight flops your body in half and the slakc of the rope runs out. And, everyone thinks they are enough of an athlete to handle a fall and get back to your ladder/steps...until you're hanging upside down with a rope around your waist.

Thanks worked great!!

Try this experiment;

If you find a belt or just use a belt that holds up your pants try this.

Go out in your yard and stand next to a tree, telephone pole or whatever.

Have a short piece of rope to tie around the tree/pole and tie the other end to the belt around your waist.


Now slighty bend your knees and slowly allow all your weight to hang from the rope.


The pain is incredible! I seriously doubt you will be able to let all you weight hang from the rope.

Now imagine falling a short distance and coming to a sudden stop. YIKES!!!


Had a friend, several years ago, have me do this experiment. Needless to say, the next day I bought a safety harness.



Worth the trouble, I guarantee it!

you can still wear a harness and not have to get a vest. that's what I use when I use one.

Ok people, thanks for all the reasons "Why I shouldn't get a belt" but I really like them for hanging stands and quick hunts. I don't plan on falling asleep or jumping out of the tree. And Im sure the people that have died or gotten hurt didn't plan on doing that either. Im knocking on wood right now but all I wanted was a website where I could get one. What did they do 15-20-30 years ago? Oh yeah that is right, they made sure they didn't fall out of the tree.

Great - just wanted to save a few minutes of pain for the inevitable:wink: