A tree stand consists of a standing platform and a seat that are connected by a strap or a cable. Having one is essential for a hunter so height won’t be a limiting factor during hunting. It has to be wrapped around the diameter of the tree securely with either a thick cable or cord.
The function of a tree stand is to elevate hunters and give them a better vantage point when hunting their prey. Hence, hunters can aim better and get a good view of the forest below without their presence being noticed by the prey. That said, you want to make sure that safety measures are taken (such as using a tree stand harness).
Moreover, it has more benefits than the conventional tree stand as allow hunters to be in a mobile areas together with the ability to climb trees.
Hence, it basically saves your time and energy from climbing the tree with the old-fashioned way to hunt. The aspects to consider when purchasing your very own stand is the type of seat-whether full seat or a basic stand, size of platform, capacity, weight and stability.
Therefore, do check out this review to make your best climbing tree stand choice.
Top 5 Rated Climbing Tree Stand for Hunting Comparison Table
| Name of Product | Weight | Holding Capacity | Setup | Quietness | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X-Stand Deluxe Hunting Climbing Tree Stand | Light | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | $$$ |
| Ol Man Multi Vision Steel Tree Stand | Heavy | Moderate | Easy | Quiet | $$$ |
| Summit 180 Max SD Climbing Tree Stand | Heavy | High | Moderate | Quiet | $$$ |
| Lone Wolf Hand Climber Combo Tree Stand | Light | High | Easy | Quiet | $$$ |
| Summit Viper SD Tree Stand | Light | Moderate | Easy | Moderate | $$$ |
X-Stand Deluxe Hunting Tree Stand
X-stand’s hunting tree stand is made from strong aluminium construction hence it is solid, does not rust easily and will last for a long time. Weighing just 10 lbs, it is lightweight thus making it portable as it is easy to carry and does not take up much load.
Also, it folds flat so you can easily fold it to be packed after use. Due to this fold-flat feature, you will only spend a short time in packing and unpacking it. Also, this solid stand comes with a built-in backpack with straps for easy transportation of the tree stand.
The armrest and seat bar on other other hand are padded, light and provides maximum comfort so you can sit for hours without feeling sore when hunting. The seats are also adjustable if you don’t need the seat for instance, you can push it to the back. It slides quietly when adjusted so it won’t distract you during hunting.
Moreover, this product holds up to a capacity of 300 lbs so you don’t have to worry about your weight together with the hunting gear from affecting the tree stand. It is very sturdy and stable on the tree so your safety is guaranteed and there is a very low risk of you falling down.
The instructions to assemble are poorly printed so you are advised to watch videos and do some self-learning or refer to the customer service. The setup is not too hard if you understand the operating mechanism of this product.
Apart from that, the shoulder straps and safety harness are not too comfortable hence, if you require added comfort, you can separately purchase a harness and strap of higher quality. The harness and straps are vital to ensure your safety when hunting and climbing the tree.
The rubber coating on some parts of this product minimizes the noise hence providing a better hunting experience. Also, there is a lot of leg room on the platform for more comfort and so you can hunt better by getting a more accurate aim as you can easily adjust your position.
Lastly, this hunting gear operates on spring loaded pin method, which is not the best method because it is slightly tedious as you have to hold the pin out, lift and tilt the stand and feed the cable to connect it.
Suitable for :
- Spring loaded pin method
- Large platform room
- Padded armrest and seat bar
Ol Man Multi Vision Steel Tree Stand
This tree stand has a 3 way versatile design to match your hunting style which in return provides the best hunting experience for you. The designs are the classic ol man straight bar, a reversible gun rest and a foot rest to accommodate both gun and bow hunters.
Weighing 29 lbs, this product is quite heavy compared the products thus making it a little tedious to be carried around for a long period of time. However, if you have no problem handling the weight, this product is one of the top rated stand to begin with.
Built with strong steel construction with a matte gray finish, it is very solid and secure hence being durable. In terms of safety also, this product has thick and strong cables so it is totally safe as it provides a strong iron-like grip on the tree so you don’t have to worry about falling down.
Nevertheless, it is still important to wear safety harness despite how safe and stable the product is deemed to be. The straps and safety harness of this product are cheap and of moderate quality but they still function well and serves their purpose. If you want added comfort, you can separately purchase straps of higher quality.
Moreover, this product is a quiet which is perfect for hunting so the prey won’t get scared off as they are not aware of your presence on the tree. Hence, you will have a higher chance of catching your prey and have a productive hunting session.
This product is easy to use if you have the basic knowledge on how to work a tree stand hence it is perfect for beginners. Also, there is a lot of space and leg room to sit and hunt with variable position as it has a large platform area and is able to withstand a weight capacity of 300 lbs.
Besides that, this product is equipped with a comfortable mesh seat so you can hunt for a long period of time. These seats also are able to slide backward towards the tree hence giving you access to the whole lower section so you can get a better aim when either gun hunting or bow hunting.
Suitable for :
- Comfortable mesh seat
- 3 way versatile design
- Large platform area
Summit 180 Max SD Climbing Tree Stand
Summit’s hunting tree stand comes with a complete set of 4 point-safety harness which is the rapid climb stirrups, hardware, rope and straps. All these 4 items are of high quality and specially designed for your safety when hunting using the climbing tree stand.
This product is made from aluminium construction hence it is solid and strong thus able to last for a long time if taken good care of. It also makes minimum noise when you are hunting so no creaking sound will give your location away to your prey.
Moreover, this tree stand can withstand the weight up to 350 lbs and offer a comfortable vantage point with a bit more room and capacity than the conventional tree stand. Hence, bigger-sized hunters are recommended to get this product for maximum efficiency.
Also, it is quite heavy as well, as a compensation to its big and roomy platform area so if you are large-built and strong enough to handle a little extra weight, this product is a good choice for you. It even has an extended top-frame that is beneficial and convenient for tall hunters.
Not only that, this product is equipped with an adjustable height, reversible surround seat that allows you to adjust your seat according to your own preference. The seat can also be reversed to face the tree if you don’t feel like using it.
On the other hand, the seats are made of a comfy, reversible foam with backrest so if you are planning to hunt for long hours, you can achieve maximum comfort with these comfy foam seats. The seats are also warm and soothing and has a special pocket where you can rest your cold hands in during a chilly day.
In terms of variety, this comfortable stand is good for both bow hunting and gun hunting. For bow hunting, you should remove the front bar meanwhile for gun hunting, the bar provides a perfect gun rest.
Besides that, the seat storage is tedious to handle when you pack up as the seat does not fold with the stand. You are advised to remove the seat when packing according to the user manual however, it is hard to reattach it if you plan on resuming to hunt on a different tree.
Suitable for :
- Adjustable, reversible and warm seat
- 4-point safety harness
- Extended top-frame
Lone Wolf Hand Climber Combo Tree Stand
Weighing just 18 lbs, Lone Wolf’s tree stand well known for its lightweight properties hence making it easy to carry and handle. The stand is also light and convenient so you don’t have to leave it up for a long time as you can always take it up and down according to your liking.
Apart from that, it comes with a TMA approved 6-pt fall arrest system which is a full-on body harness to ensure your safety when hunting on the tree. It is a must to wear the safety body harness and hence to promote this, Lone Wolf’s safety harness is tangle-free, comfortable and secure for the hunter’s added convenience.
The platform is made out of full size one-piece cast aluminium that is very solid and strong. Not only that, the platform offers enough room for an average hunter to reposition themselves to take a good aim to hunt. Therefore, the platform is moderate sized as the little extra leg room is given up to ensure its portability.
This product withstands a weight capacity of 350 lbs hence this tree stand is suitable for large-built hunters and is believed to be able to hold the weight of the hunter himself and his hunting gear.
A backpack strap and a bungee strap is included with the purchase of this tree stand so you can get up the tree stand with ease. However, the straps and harness are made from hard pliable plastic which is not comfortable so you can purchase separately straps of higher quality.
Moreover, this product also comes with a traction belt system which allows you to adjust the tree stand to any tree at a certain precise angle thus making it easy to climb past limbs or traverse from one tree to another.
On the other hand, the seats are constructed from contoured foam seat pads that is adjustable according to your own liking to ensure you can get the maximum comfort when hunting. Not only that, this climbing tree stand is good for bow hunting as there is a bow holder that accommodates most parallel limb bows.
Despite poor instructions, this product is easy to assemble and dissemble as it folds up flat so you can strap it to your back when transporting with maximum convenience. The side straps, cushions and climbing cables are not pre-assembled however you can still easily assemble it on your own.
Suitable for :
- Contoured foam seat
- Backpack and bungee strap
- TMA approved 6-pt fall arrest system
Summit Viper SD Tree Stand
Summit’s Viper tree stand features Summit’s Sound Deadening Technology (SD) to further enhance concealment hence creating a quiet, no-noise product that is an advantage when hunting as your prey won’t be aware of your presence.
If this product makes a lot of noise, the upper and lower pieces of this tree stand is not properly positioned hence producing noises. Also, if you are planning to bow hunt, you can actually remove the gun rest to further minimize the noise.
Moreover, it comes with a 5-channel aluminium platform which consists of a padded and adjustable seat and a multipurpose solid front bar which assists you in climbing and acts as a gun rest when gun hunting.
The seats on the other hand is reversible and comfortable as it has great padded cushions so you can spend long hours hunting in the forest without getting sore. You can also adjust the height and position of the seat according to your own preference.
However, the seat of this product rides quite low so it is hard for you to get out of the seat once seated. Hence, it is a little tedious for you to take aim when hunting as it is difficult to rise and reposition if you plan to take a shot. The seats are extremely comfortable no doubt, but slightly defeats the purpose of hunting.
Besides that, Summit’s stand is equipped with a 4-point safety harness which is the rapid climb stirrups, all necessary pads, hardware, ropes and straps. This whole hunting expedition with this product is safe as long as your follow the safety measures and wear a safety harness.
This product is easy to assemble and use if you follow the user manual provided. You can also pack this tree stand easily from place to place as it is lightweight, weighing only 20 lbs. Hence, this product is portable and easy to carry.
The coating on the support cable and the plastic stirrups comes off easily so you should handle it with great care so you don’t have to frequently change it. Also, the straps provided are decent and have good elasticity but not padded. Thus, you can get other straps individually of higher quality for higher comfort.
Furthermore, it can hold up a weight of 300 lbs so you don’t have to worry about your weight together with a hunting gear if you are large-built. The platform of this tree stand is also roomy to ensure your comfort and so you can easily reposition yourself to get a better aim when hunting.
Suitable for :
- 4-point safety harness
- Summit’s SD technology
- 5 channel aluminum platform
- Padded and adjustable seats
The 5 recommended products were chosen using the following criteria:
- The weight is rated from light to heavy.
- The holding capacity is rated from low to high.
- The setup is rated from easy to hard.
- The quietness is rated from low to high.
Weight
The weight depends on the size of its standing platform and seat. The lighter it is, the easier it is to be carried around during hunting.
It is also easier to fix a lighter product on the tree and for the tree to support the stand without being damaged. Also, light tree stands can be folded flat easily so it won’t be tedious to move from one place to another to hunt.
Holding Capacity
The holding capacity is the ability to withstand a certain amount of weight. Tree stands with higher holding capacity benefits large-built hunters as it can withstand their individual weight together with the weight of their gear.
Not only that, you can also store your guns and bows for hunting with higher capacity without worrying about toppling it over. The ideal weight capacity of a climbing tree stand is 300-350 lbs.
Also, you will need gears like rangefinder and binoculars to hunt. These gears aren’t light so it’s great if you could factor their weight in before making a decision.
Setup
The setup on the other hand is rated from easy to hard. The complicated ones to be setup are usually the ones with advanced technology and with many new features such as reversible seats .
Beginners are advised to look for stands with easy setup and operation. However, if they want an advanced product, they can always refer to the user manual or watch videos on Youtube on how to operate it for hunting according to your preference.
Stealth
Stealth is the ability to function without making any noise if possible. A quiet and stealthy product is preferred as the hunters won’t be distracted when hunting.
In return, the hunted animal for example the deer, also will not be aware of the hunters presence above so you have a higher chance of getting a good shot.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, choosing a best climbing tree stand for hunting purposes is not simple. Aspects such as weight, holding capacity, setup, quietness and price should be taken in consideration.
Therefore, I hope my reviews helps you make your choice in choosing the best climbing tree stand according to your own preference.