Ladder stands are great for the beggining archer, or for any hunter who wants to slip into his stand quickly and quietly, just be sure you have some backdrop cover or you'll be easily busted. They should be on sale this time of year. I usually buy from the Sportsmans guide but Gander Mt has a wide selection i'm sure.

One thing to think about is, at least in general terms, where you're going to put your stand. Some ladder stands are more portable than others. Some of the biggest take a quad to move into the woods and a couple of people to put up. Others are light enough for one person to pack in and set up. Light weight often comes at the expense of platform size and creature comfort though. If you're going to put your stand in one place and generally leave it there, you'll be happier with a larger stand with comfortable seating. Downside, you won't be moving it mid season without a major disruption to your hunting area.

I go with the inexpensive ladder stands. You can buy more then one, and have them set up before the season starts. I suggest a good safety harness, and practice from the stand well before the season starts.

I don't recall the brand names, but we've had great service from the basic 15 foot single ladder stands that we have acquired over the years. Some we bought on sale that were priced at $49.