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Dave Conrad
Take it to the Limit
By Dave Conrad
Nov 4, 2005, 06:53

EVALUATION: LOC-ON 'LIMIT"
by Dave Conrad

Loc On Limit

When it comes to treestands, the name LOC-ON is synonymous with the oldest name in treestands. I have been bowhunting for close to 30 years and I remember LOC-ON being one of the first treestands to be marketed successfully. The memory of the LOC-ON name was rekindled last year when I purchased a tract of hunting property. While walking it one day I found an old treestand and ladder. It had been there for many years, so many in fact that the ladder and stand started to become part of the tree. I carefully climbed the ladder and was surprised to see that the ole stand was a LOC-ON LEM. Amazingly all that needed to be replaced was the chain connector, which had separated due to the expansion of the tree. This, combined with the fact that over the last eight years a Big Ben has survived the perils of each season, confirms LOC-ON as a well-built treestand.

So when I received the new redesigned Limit I immediately unpackaged it to review the features. To start off with the stand is extremely light thanks to the aluminum platform and frame. Weighing in at 7 pounds makes the stand ideal for backpacking into remote areas or moving quickly between setups. The Limit is a well thought-out stand and is of a basic hang on design. This Limit stand configuration consists of a platform, seat, nylon coated cables and mounting strap.

Overview

The platform on the Limit measures 17” by 26”, not overly large, but wide and long enough to permit a comfortable shot in any direction. I feel this because it is adequate to position your feet at least shoulder length apart. The platforms expanded grate and exterior frame design allows for silence as well stability while shifting weight in the stand. The grate design, while shedding weight, also doesn’t obscure your view as animals pass below your stand. The platform is held in place by two anchor points. The first is by a base plate anchored with a couple bolts secured into the frame base. The second by two nylon coated cables anchored on each side of the platform and then attached into the seat frame. The greatest feature of the stand is the lightweight for easy portability.

The 20” high seat is a fold up type, made of Cordura and features a padded front. The Limits padded front is easy on the back of your thighs and keeps the seat from pinching into them. It is comfortable enough for an extended morning or evening hunt. Now remember the stand is designed to be lightweight and portable and the fore mentioned features accommodate this extremely well. Pushing the seat front backwards against the tree with your hand can quickly retract it. It is also easy enough to be retracted just by pushing the back of your legs against it while standing. I prefer this method as I can stand without taking my hands off my bow.

Testing

I quickly found out just how easy the stand was while placing it in one of my favorite hunting spots. The Limit comes with backpack straps making it easy to tote to my stand site. The lightweight made it easy to haul the seat up to its perching position as I ascended to the correct height. I first had to adjust the strap to the correct length by loosening the cam system. I made the strap length long enough so that it would easily wrap around the tree. I then positioned the stand flat against the tree and connected the hook into the seat anchor. Pulling on the other end took up the slack through the cam system. I continued moving the strap end back and forth, which drew the stand close to the tree. When all the slack had been taken up I then pulled the platform down securing it to the tree. I finished anchoring the stand to the tree by applying pressure to the base of the tree by stepping down onto it. This drew the stand down removing any slack that may have remained in the anchoring strap.

Stepping out onto the stand I check it for stability. Shifting my weight from side to side revealed no creaks or unwanted noises. The coated cables also diminished any sounds my pant legs made moving across them. This instilled my confidence in the stand, as I felt comfortable knowing it wouldn’t spook any game while positioning for a shot.

The stand will support a hunter weighing up to 275 pounds. This is above average based on the stand weight of only seven pounds. That is a ratio of almost forty to one, exceptional when the industry average is in the range of 20 to one.

The portability of the Limit is another feature of the stand that makes it worth its weight in gold. The backpacking straps combined with the lightweight 7 pounds makes the Limit almost unnoticeable. It also packs flat so it won’t be cumbersome as you add a pack onto it. I combine this with my bow and a couple of Cranford's EZY-Climb screw in steps in the backpack and the total package comes well in under that magical range of under twenty pounds.

Conclusions

For a portable hang on stand it has all the features that a bowhunter would want. The seat comfort is a little on the lean side do to the limited padding. But maybe I am being unfair as it is mainly design for portability. You should still have no problems spending a morning or evening hunt in the stand. The stand is painted a dull black which masks it well when combined with the camouflaged seat. The overall weight is perfect and although lightweight the design of the platform is still stable. The cam over buckle system is simple and is a quick means for attaching the stand to the tree. Combined with a light set of climbing sticks or screw in steps and you can see why the Limit makes for a great portable stand system.

For the Entire Loc On Line: Loc On Treestands