i think it has a lot to do with the type stand you have and the type tree you are planning to climb. I have an API Grand Slam Magnum since i weigh about 250 lbs and when i climb a soft wood like a pine, my stands really grips great and the blades dig in snuggly to the tree. But when climbing a harder bark tree in the oak family, the stand will tend to slip a little if you do not get it snug enough around the tree when starting up giving you an uneasy feeling. I have been able to overcome this by making sure the tree has a certain diameter and my blades on the stand are sharp and pointed.
