Latest Updates
LocOn Treestands LLC manufactures lightweight hang-on treestands including the Spirit, LEM, Limit, and Windwalker models, some weighing as little as 6 to 8 pounds. Cable failures have caused serious injuries across multiple treestand brands, with manufacturers recalling thousands of units after cables released during use or attachment straps failed catastrophically.[1][2][3]
LocOn Product Line
LocOn manufactures several hang-on treestand models marketed as extremely lightweight for portability. The Windwalker weighs just 7 pounds with a 14″ x 24″ platform, while the Limit weighs 8 pounds with a 17″ x 26″ platform.
Attachment System Variations
LocOn stands use different attachment systems including chains, ropes, and straps to secure the platform to trees. Replacement cables are certified for 1,250 pounds tensile strength, but certification doesn’t prevent failure from corrosion, abrasion, or improper installation.
The Ultralight Weight Question
At 6 to 8 pounds, LocOn stands are among the lightest ever manufactured. Extreme weight reduction often means thinner materials, smaller platforms, and less robust construction—all potential failure points under hunting loads.
Chain Attachment Concerns
LocOn LEM models use chain attachments to secure stands to trees. Chains can corrode, develop weak links, slip on smooth bark, or fail at connection points where links attach to the platform.
Rope System Degradation
LocOn Spirit models offer rope attachments marketed as lighter and quieter than chains. Rope degrades from UV exposure, moisture, friction against bark, and chemical contamination from scent products or insect repellents.
Strap Attachment Failures
Some LocOn users prefer strap systems for quick setup and light weight. Fabric straps can fray, stretch under load, slip when wet, or fail at stitching or buckle points during use.
The Cloth Seat Problem
Multiple user reports describe LocOn’s original cloth seats as uncomfortable, with hunters modifying seats or replacing them entirely. Aftermarket modifications can compromise structural integrity and create liability questions about who’s responsible when modified stands fail.
Platform Size and Stability
The Windwalker’s 14″ x 24″ platform is extremely small for a hunting stand. Limited platform size restricts movement, makes drawing weapons difficult, and increases risk of stepping off the edge during position changes.
Expanded Metal Platform
Newer LocOn models feature expanded metal platforms marketed for better footing. Expanded metal can deform under repeated use, develop sharp edges that cut boot soles or ropes, and collect ice that creates slip hazards.
Replacement Parts Availability
LocOn advertises all replacement parts in stock to rebuild stands rather than replace them. Long-term dependence on a single manufacturer for safety-critical components creates risk if the company discontinues products or goes out of business.
The Business Continuity Question
LocOn claims to be “the oldest name in treestands” but went out of business at least once before relaunching. Hunters using decades-old LocOn stands may struggle to find replacement parts for deteriorated components.
Common Treestand Failure Modes
Across all brands, treestands fail when attachment cables break, welds crack, platforms collapse, seats detach, or mounting hardware fails. Any single failure point can send a hunter plummeting regardless of the stand’s reputation or age.
Long-Term Use Risks
User forums describe hunters using the same LocOn stands for 20 to 30 years. Metal fatigues, welds crack, and materials degrade over decades—stands that were safe when new become dangerous after years of use and exposure.
User Modifications
Many LocOn owners report modifying seats by cutting cloth, adding plywood, drilling holes, and installing custom hinges or cables. These modifications may improve comfort but can compromise structural integrity and void warranties.
Weight Capacity Concerns
LocOn’s extremely lightweight construction raises questions about weight capacity margins. Stands engineered to minimize weight may have less safety margin between rated capacity and actual failure loads.
The Noise-Weight Trade-off
Hunters choose rope or strap systems over chains for reduced noise and weight. However, quieter doesn’t mean safer—silent attachment failures are just as catastrophic as noisy ones.
Tensile Strength Versus Real-World Use
Certified 1,250-pound tensile strength assumes new cables under controlled testing conditions. Real-world cables face corrosion, UV damage, abrasion, and shock loading that reduce actual strength below certification numbers.
Product Liability Standards
Manufacturers have legal duties to produce treestands that are reasonably safe when used as intended. That includes adequate testing, proper materials, robust attachment systems, and clear warnings about weight limits and maintenance.
Contact an Attorney
If you were injured in a LocOn treestand fall and believe equipment failure contributed to your accident, contact a product liability attorney immediately. Preserve all failed components without attempting repairs, photograph everything thoroughly, save purchase records, and gather complete medical documentation.
References
1. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2016/Global-Manufacturing-Company-Recalls-API-Outdoors-Tree-Stands
2. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2006/hunting-tree-stands-recalled-for-collapse-hazard
3. https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2022/Big-Game-Treestands-Recalls-2021-The-Captain-Hang-on-Treestands-Due-to-Fall-and-Injury-Hazards