Arrow Archery

The most important piece of gear that a hunter who hunts from a tree stand can have is a safety harness.

Do you wear one?

Hunting with a safety harness is common sense. Let's face it, hunting from a tree stand can be dangerous. You may think that since you are in a climber that you don't need one, but accidents can still happen. Should a cable fail, or some other mechanical malfunction occur, what's to stop you from taking a 20+ foot drop to the ground?
My safety harness is the one piece of gear that I am always double checking to ensure that I have before I leave for my hunt. I do this, because I have forgotten my harness in the past, and I have to tell you that I just wasn't comfortable sitting in the stand. The risks are great, and something as simple as nodding off during a hunt could be the last thing you do. Besides your safety harness, you also need to make sure that you have a good point to anchor it to the tree. I love the cinch ropes that come with the API tree stands. They are adjustable, easy to put up, and offer great security.
Many years ago, I heard stories of a hunter on the property near us that fell from a stand and died. He was missing an arrow from his quiver, and it was suspected that he had fallen while taking a shot.
The following year, a good friend of mine took a fall from his tree steps, and ended up with a pretty nasty concussion. He was wearing his safety harness, but was untethered at the time, because he was transitioning from his hang-on stand to his tree steps. This can be one of the most dangerous times of your ascent or decent. The time where you are transitioning from your steps to your stand. He didn't remember much of what happened after the fall, but did remember losing his balance, and reaching back for his stand. Appearently he missed.
So it is important to make sure you are tethered before making the transition from steps to stand. And don't untether until you have transitioned from stand to steps at the end of your hunt.
This is one piece of gear that you don't want to skimp on. The safety harnesses that come with your tree stand are typically junk, and should be thrown away. I recommend a lineman style harness, or a vest style harness. I have been hunting with a Seat of the Pants harness that I have owned for years.

There is nothing unmanly about wearing a safety harness. It's just common sense. In some states, such as Arizona, the use of safety harnesses is even included in Hunters Safety courses now. If you own a cheap harness, or no harness at all, then take a look at some of the deals below.