Ladder Treestands, do they ALL have fabric seats now?

Jay

Jay

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Hey guys;

I bought two Big Game Guardian XLT two man tree stands from Cabelas & discovered they are fabric seats afterwards.

VERY hard to see on the label where it noted that they were fabric seats, but when I looked online it did say in the description Flex-Tek...

I returned them. And while I was there, I had a look and discovered ALL the tree stands have fabric seats now!

I'm going to guess these do not last as long & that's the reason the manufacturers have gone this route?

Can anyone recommend a decent ladder tree stand that doesn't have a fabric seat, at a reasonable price?

Thanks

Cheers
Jay

The box...
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The online description...
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The wife stitched me up a padded cushion for my tree stand. The stand stays up and the cushion comes home in the off season.
 
I've got a couple of rivers edge 1.5 man latter stands, they have the mesh seat similar to a deck chair. Comfortable and have left them out a couple seasons with no ill effects
 
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I assembled one of these stands for a friend today. The seat was a massive pain in the a$$!

We are both of the opinion that the manufacturers are making them with these fabric seats to reduce their lifespans. Whether it's the sun that damages the seat or a squirrel, these tree stands won't last as long as those with metal seats...

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Jay said:
I assembled one of these stands for a friend today. The seat was a massive pain in the a$$!

We are both of the opinion that the manufacturers are making them with these fabric seats to reduce their lifespans. Whether it's the sun that damages the seat or a squirrel, these tree stands won't last as long as those with metal seats...

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Click to expand...

Metal is cold and hard. I would guess customers want something more comfortable?

Looks like it wouldn't be hard to rig up some sort of replacement seat once that one does bite the dust? Could even make it a metal seat at that point? (Although I was thinking pressure treated plywood)

That said I've got one of those "gravity chairs" with the mesh fabric and bungee cords down the side, it's like 10 years old and has been out in the elements (not even under cover) for that whole time and the only issues are burn holes from embers around the fire, so maybe they're more resilient than you think?
 
Jay said:
I assembled one of these stands for a friend today. The seat was a massive pain in the a$$!
Click to expand...

I bought the same model not realizing it was the fabric seat and had the same experience in assembly. I have been too worried about falling through it and it has sat partially assembled in my store room. I was going to leave out on my deer property year round but concerned about the fabric deteriorating. I couldn't return it and need to put it up, will talk to a welding buddy to see if a replacement seat can be easily fabricated .
 
Solid wood seat on mine. Took one afternoon to build. German style Hochsitz made with local spruce poles and a chainsaw. And it was free except for a few spikes!
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We have 4 river's edge double stands here at my small farm, been in the bush for about 6 years never taken down. Seats are fine and wouldn't hesitate to buy another. I had something chew a little corner on 1 stand but it's fine and never happened again. The pool noodles I use for the arm rests and shooting rails are a different story, I replace those every year. Same with the original camo paded arm rests and shooting rails, chewed to hell the first season. Have several of the older metal stands with just cushions and would never buy those again. Only problem I don't like with the double mesh seat is if you have a partner next to you and the heavier of the 2 move the other is bouncing all over the place, that's what my daughter tells me when I turn to look behind us..........LOL
 
I also have a big 16' high platform that I put a blind on and have 3 of the cabela's elite swivel chairs in it. Super comfortable and nothing ever chews the mesh on those chairs either. I leave them in the blind from m8d September until I can get them out of the bush in January, then they are in my barn next to a layout blind all winter until spring then get put in a field for 2 months for turkeys. Layout blind ends up chwed and m8ce make nests in it but nothing has touched the chairs??? I've had 2 of them since the grand opening of cabela's in Ottawa and the newer one is 2 years old.
Not sure why but nothing bothers to touch them?
 
I live in an industrial area so maybe it varies, but you’d have a hard time finding someone in my area that didn’t know someone with a welder. Little expanded metal, maybe an old bed frame from the side of the road if extra support was needed, and a rattle can.
 
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This stand is one of the ones I was talking about. Went out this morning and took a pic while I was there. Only one out of 4 that was ever touched by something. Happened the first season and never again. Pool noodles are a different story, as you can see above. All 4 have been in the weather 6 yrs straight. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another with this style seat. I don't really sit in the metal seat ones anymore, these are way more comfortable.
 
I've got the 1.5 man versions of these, and like Fergie.17 said i would not hesitate to buy more after leaving these out for a few years.
 
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