I am looking at this again. If I can find a solid strap on step and I climb with my tether and linesman this should work on most straight trees. I have tried just about every step on the market, Cranford, Pioneer, Squirrel, Treehopper and Apex. All were tried with Daisy Chain/ Truckers hitch and tree step strap. The Treehopper worked OK, all the others hinged making the steps unstable. When I tried the Apex steps and a daisy chain/truckers hitch the steps were not tight enough.
But the Apex with a tree step strap work the best. The problem is threading the long strap through the buckle and attaching the steps with gloves on.
I have a possible solution comming. CGM is making me some straps using the AustriAlpin frame buckles. I hope they get the steps as tight as the strap and buckle. They will be quick attach and weigh less then the buckle. They will look something like this.
View attachment 100396
Should be quicker, attach with gloves and and save some weight.