I find that the more I play with the stepps the better my ability at installing them with the proper tension gets. There is a slight learning curve on the installation of the stepps, but when the proper installation is achieved, the safety of them is second to none! Over the last 9 years of "saddle" hunting I have used lone wolf sticks, leverage sticks, bolts, cranfords, ameristeps etc. and this system is quickly becoming my favorite due to its combination of safety, weight, height attainability, customization, and the fact that they can also be used as a saddle/sling/harness platform. At just over 8 lbs I can be very mobile with their pack-ability, safely climb 20'+ quietly and efficiently, and have a saddle platform. As most others on this forum, I will continue to tinker, modify, and innovate my current setup not because I have to, but its just the way I, and probably most of you are! I will continue to research, experiment, modify, and learn from the rest of you to become a more effective "saddle" hunter!