i once was using a climing tree stand and i got about 30 feet in the air and some how it didnt catch onto the tree right i guess and i slid down to the ground at what felt like about 100 miles an hour, i didnt have any kind of strap on and was VERY lucky not to get hurt anymore then bruises and scrapes but it could have been much worse, and honestly getting into a tree now scares the crap out of me so i dont but i will say everyone is right on, where a harness not a waist band and dont use climers they suck lol