The new member in Warren and Sweat's product line uses a rubber-like belt held by a cam loc latch at each end to attach it to the tree. Named the Monarch, it is a 2-piece stand (platform plus hand climber/seat) made of aluminum that has been welded at every joint. With the Monarch you'll never start the day with an Uh Oh - because there aren't any parts to remove, loosen or lose!

Warren and Sweat trademarked the attachment belt as the "Barkbiter Belt". It is about 1 inch wide x ½" thick and has "teeth" spaced about 3/8" apart. In fact, it reminds you of a very heavy-duty rubber timing belt like is used to drive the camshaft on some overhead cam car engines. Like a timing belt, it has reinforcing strands embedded in it to make it strong and to keep it from stretching. The belt is printed with a US patent number ... so it appears that Warren and Sweat thought it was a pretty good idea ! I have to agree with them, as I feel the belt possesses most of the best attributes of a number of the more common attachment systems. The belt is quiet (since it can't clank against a tree like metal), it has tremendous grip on the tree (since it conforms to and squeezes the tree), and it is secured to the stand without using any loose hardware that can be lost. 

The portion of the platform and handclimber/seat that rests against the tree is a fairly traditional Vee shaped blade. Warren and Sweat have named their blade design the "BearHug Blade". It has some serrations that give it better grip, yet does not have sharp "teeth" that could do more damage to a tree.

To attach the platform or handclimber/seat to a tree, you pull on the end of one of the cam loc latches to open it, pull that end of the belt out, wrap it around the tree, and then secure it again by closing the Cam Loc latch. The latch is designed that once closed, the tension on the belt caused by your weight further tightens the latch, thereby making it nearly impossible for it to open while climbing. One comment here is that you can't baby the latches! They require a good bit of force to open or close them, although this may be an unspoken safety feature (you wouldn't want them to pop open if your sleeve caught on one of them!).

The Platform:
The platform is 20 inches wide by 27 inches long, and as mentioned earlier, the platform is fully welded such that it is essentially one solid piece. The only other parts to the platform are the two cam loc latches themselves (including one bolt per latch - that acts as the attachment and pivot point), and 4 bolts that hold a spacer. All of these bolts are locked in place and don't need loosened or tightened during everyday use of the stand. (Note: Safety precautions do require routine inspection of the condition and tightness of all hardware, but these bolts are pretty much maintenance free). The Monarch also includes a pivoting footrest. It can be positioned "down" to prop your feet on while sitting, or can be pivoted to the "up" position to get it out of your way during attachment etc.

The Handclimber/ Seat:
The upper half of the Monarch is a handclimber/ seat combination. It is attached to the tree with a Barkbiter Belt and BearHug blade in the same manner as the platform. It has two rubber coated arms that stick out from the tree plus a horizontal bracket that connects the two arms together about 5" away from the tree. A one-piece camouflage seat is provided that has a cushioned seat and back section made in the form of an "L". The vertical "back" section has three nylon straps with buckles that are used to attach it to the horizontal bracket. The seat portion is generously thick, and has 2 straps attached to its front edge with loops formed at the end of the straps. During climbing, the loops remain free, and the seat hangs downward from the horizontal bar. This gives you room to stand on the platform facing the tree without the seat interfering. When ready to sit, you slip the loops over the ends of the rubber coated arms forming the seat. 

Climbing is accomplished in generally the same manner as any other climbing treestand: 1) Tether the handclimber/seat to the platform with the supplied rope (so you can't drop the platform and be left hanging with just the handclimber/ seat section.); 2) Strap your feet to the platform; 3) Grab the two handclimber arms and rest your forearms on the handles; 4) Draw up your knees to detach the platform from the tree, raise it up the tree, and then step back down - reattaching it to the tree; 5) Repeat. Once at the desired height, the handclimber is to be secured to the tree with the supplied strap with tensioning buckle. 

Performance note:  I am just under 6 feet tall and although I am a little longer connected than average, I would not be considered "tall". I have used many climbing aids in the past, but have never used one that had "handles" like the Monarch. I used it a little differently than the instructions stated, and was so astonished at the distance I could climb without repositioning the climbing aid that I decided to measured it. By first raising the climbing aid above my head then doing a "pull-up" with the platform, I could move the platform 27" up the tree. Without moving the climbing aid, I then did a pushup and got an additional 22". That is 49" total without moving the climbing aid! To put this in perspective, you could get to a 16 foot hunting height in 4 moves of the climbing aid!

Following are my comments on several characteristics that I consider important when rating a climbing stand.

Stability/security: 
I would rate the Monarch near the top in this category. The Barkbiter belts do just that -- they "bite" into the tree and grip it to make the platform and climbing aid very secure. When I bounced up and down on the platform during testing (close the ground), the only noticeable movement was that the platform sprung a small amount (like a diving board). I intentionally shifted all my weight to one side and one corner of the platform, and the stand barely moved. It also never exhibited what I call the "corkscrew tendency". (This occurs on some stands when you place all your weight on one side of the platform, it tilts slightly, then the stand tries to rotate around the tree like the twist on a corkscrew.) I believe this phenomenon is most evident in stands where both attachment points to the tree are blades. The blades have little grip on the tree rotationally, and can allow it to corkscrew. For this reason, flexible attachment systems (like the belt) have the upper hand in the stability category. 

Quietness:
The Monarch scores high in this area also. The rubber belts are inherently quiet both while packing through the woods, during attachment to the tree, and during climbing. Since the stand is fully welded, there are no joints that can twist and screech. I did locate two potential noisemakers, but both can be nearly eliminated with the correct technique. 1) You need to control the position of the buckle on the foot strap at all times. The strap is very secure, and gives you good control of the platform while climbing, but it has a large metal buckle that can "clank" against the rungs of the platform. For the same reason, this strap has to be kept tight when packing the stand. 2) You must keep one hand on the cam loc latch handles when you shove the belt in or pull the belt out of the latches. Otherwise, the cam teeth partially engage with the belt, and swing the handle against the hollow metal tube into which it is inserted. Wrapping the back of the latch handle with rubber tape so that metal would not contact metal could easily stop this one. 

Comfort:
I was very pleased with the Monarch in this regard. The seat is well padded on the bottom and on the back, and is extremely comfortable. Since it is a sling type seat, it supports your weight evenly, avoiding sore spots below your hip joints after prolonged sessions in the stand. Warren and Sweat have also installed flexible "stays" in the seat bottom that prevent it from squeezing you too tightly. The "climbing handles" act both as arm rests and hand holds as you sit in the stand, giving you additional comfort and an added sense of security.

Shoot-ability:
The Monarch allows you to shoot firearms easily in both the sitting and standing positions. The model I tested did not provide a gun rest, but the armrests provide a good place to prop your elbow for a stable shot. For bowhunters it will probably be best to stand for the shot. You can shoot while sitting - although the sacrifice you make for the comfort of the arm rests is that they somewhat restrict your ability to shoot in all directions while sitting. However, when standing, the bow limbs clear the armrests nicely. When standing and shooting toward the tree, it is easy to give yourself more room by detaching the seat loops from the "handles" and letting the seat hang vertically near the tree.

Compactness/Size/Weight - during backpacking:
The two pieces of the stand nest together in to a fairly compact package for backpacking. Backpack straps are supplied, and they include a chest strap the snaps together to keep the straps from slipping off of your shoulders. The foot strap makes a nice lashing strap to secure the platform and climbing aid to one another. By pulling it very tight, the stand is kept quiet during backpacking. Since the stand does not fold flat, it does stick up slightly from your back, and you must duck a few extra inches to clear overhanging limbs. At 24 pounds for the whole package, the Monarch probably is about average in weight. However, this weight it what makes the stand solid, sturdy, and safe. 

Knot/limb avoidance:
Every tree was not destined to be a telephone pole. In fact, the ones positioned exactly where I want my stand always seem to have some deformity that makes them harder to climb! For this reason I add this category to my testing. 

The stand design allows you to tilt the belt away from the tree approximately 8 inches to make room for it to be slipped over knots, bumps etc. The belt is also sufficiently stiff that it can be negotiated over most obstacles without getting caught. I would prefer it if the Monarch was a little less "toe heavy" to make it even easier to avoid obstacles, but it is good as it is.

Tree Size Limitations:
I tried the Monarch on a range of trees to see how it fit. 

Small (28" circumference/ ~9" diameter) ash: At 9" diameter, this tree was too small. The BearHug blade on the platform has a radius at the center of the Vee that fit almost perfectly around this tree. That means that the blade touched the tree many places instead of at two places on each side like it was intended. This reduces its ability to bite into the tree and makes it unstable.

Medium (36" circumference/ ~11 1/2" diameter) ash: This tree was slightly below the recommended minimum, but the stand worked very well on it. The blade on the platform touched at two points, and the tree was clear of the radius at the bottom. It climbed well and was very stable 

Large (58" circumference/ ~ 18 ½" diameter) maple: The diameter of this tree was within about an inch of the true maximum for the Monarch. It worked well and was stable, but you are simply out of Barkbiter belt. Remember that you must keep about 3" of belt in front of the cam loc latches for safety. The latch system depends on having all 5 of its "teeth" engaged with the belt. You also don't want to be connected to the last several teeth on the belt - in case they tear away.

Note:  The manufacturer recommends a minimum tree diameter of 14". This testing is for information only, and doesn't condone use outside of the manufacturers' recommendations. I gauge the fit of any tree stand on each tree as an individual. One 14" diameter tree may work perfectly, where another is not suitable. This is because all trees are not round or straight. If an oddly shaped tree makes the platform blade seat poorly, then don't climb that tree!

Aesthetics:
The stand is fully coated in a non- glare powder coated finish (brownish gray in color). It has an attractive camo pattern on the front of seat and backrest, with the back in brown.

Parts and accessories included with the Monarch:
Platform
Handclimber/seat
Foot strap
Footrest
Backpack straps
Single strap chest belt/ safety harness.
Safety video with hunting scenes.
Strap to secure stand to tree once in the desired position.
Tether that attaches handclimber/seat to platform 

Specifications:
The Monarch - Model #8011
Weight limit: 275 pounds including gear.
Platform Size: 20" x 27" plus footrest.
Weight: 24 pounds 

Ratings: Design /Durability/Ruggedness: 4.5 of 5
The stand works very nicely, is stable, and solid.

Appearance:  5 of 5
A good looking stand.

Packaging/Instructions: 5 of 5
The Monarch shipping box is bright white and triangular shaped with color pictures of various views of the stand. The box puts a sense of intrigue to the stand even before you open the box. The box also demonstrates to a potential buyer that the stand can be nested into fairly small package. 

The instruction book is very thorough, and includes an exploded view of the stand with each part labeled and assigned a part number. It also includes a number of pictures that help clarify assembly procedures, and stand usage.

Value: 5 of 5
Long list of included items. 
Food for thought: "A climber can always be used as a hang-on, but not visa-versa"

To buy or review this stand go to www.awesomehunting.com

For information on these and other products contact:

AwesomeHunting.com
PO Box 822
Church Hill, TN 37642
Toll Free:  1-888-906-6087
Fax:   1-423-357-9688

Email: steve@AwesomeHunting.com
Web Site: www.AwesomeHunting.com

Email: steve@AwesomeHunting.com
Web Site: www.AwesomeHunting.com