To me, yes it means something. It means that the product was tested and verified to meet TMA standards in order to keep people safe.
Yes and no. I would be comfortable in the fact that the stand met certain standards and should be safe from a design and manufacturing standpoint. However I may not feel safe if, for example, the platform is too small for my liking.
TMA approved to me means out of the box the thing should be safe to use. After you use it the first time then it should be ME inspected.
Yes it means something to me. It means I would possibly give that treestand a shot. If it is not TMA approved, I would never consider it. Sota, TMA stands for Treestand Manufacturers Association. They are involved with treestand safety. Click here for their site.
Yes it I value the fact that an outside source with an interest in safety has reviewed the stand. Even with that it is important that every hunter inspect his or her equipment, especially stands and fall protection gear. These items are exposed to the elements and are load bearing. They should be inspected carefully. We have a few "affodable" stands we buy from Sportsmans Guide, they are heavy but comfortable. They are not designed for run & gun style hunting and we generally leave them in place where possible. Every season we inspect them thoroughly and maintenance them. Usually just new straps, sometimes a wire brush & some paint, and inspect all welds/cables. Fairly straight forward stuff but makes you feel better when you're stepping on that platform in the dark.
For a treestand to be TMA rated for 300# it needs to withstand a static load of 1000#, so yes, it means something to me!
1000 pounds? That sounds a lot better than what I read on another site. I read if the stand is rated for 300 lbs, it held 600 lbs. I certainly like the 1000 lbs better! Just out of curiosity, where would I find the TMA standards? Their website isn't very informative and states I'd have to contact them and, if I read it right, purchase a copy of the standards.
