The Best Tree Stand for Achieving the Perfect View of Your Target

There are a few methods to bagging the best bucks. Some hunters stalk their prey while others hide and wait for their prey to come to them. A hunter in the trees requires, among other equipment, the best tree stand to accomplish their tasks.

With so many styles to choose from, it can be difficult to find the best tree stands to fit your style.

In any case, for you as the hunter, the choice is yours. We discovered through our research what features make up the best tree stand.

Contents

THE BEST TREE STAND TO HELP YOU

BAG THE BEST BUCK

trees

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The best tree stands are comfortable and easy to use. With a little help from some climbing equipment like screw-in steps, a climbing tree stand may be the best for you. Because of their lightweight build, they can be used anytime.

In contrast, ladder tree stands are semi-permanent and allow for the hunt to begin without much hassle or noise.

Hang-on tree stands are the most versatile of the family, being that they can latch on to just about any size of a tree. These tree stands are much heavier though, so hiking with them may be a chore.

WHAT IS THE BEST TREE STAND?

You may begin to see that each of these styles has its benefits and drawbacks. Some are more versatile, while others are more mobile. So, what is the best tree stand to use? For many, it is the ladder tree stand.

man climbing on tree

image by unsplash

A favorite of modern hunters, they can be quite useful in the hunt. These tree stands will sometimes also allow for multiple hunters.

Keep in mind, the terrain and trees you deal with as a hunter may bring you to a different conclusion when it comes to style. So here we’ve listed the top nine best tree stands of each of these styles.

THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF THE TREE STANDS: IS EXPENSIVE BETTER?

deer on the forest

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In a market economy, it’s easy to be swayed by large price tags. For the tree stand, a high price generally indicates comfortability or versatility. These products often have padding. They also generally allow for a larger field of view. Many come with extra hardware like gun rests or separate equipment.

The value of the tree stand isn’t necessarily direct concerning these variable, but their value is not based out of branding. In our research of the best tree stands, we not only considered the abilities of the tree stands but also the value that had been placed on them.

HOW WE REACHED OUR TOP NINE BEST TREE STANDS

man looking on trees

image by unsplash

This and other factors helped to lead us to our conclusion. There are key features of a tree stand that makes for a positive hunting experience. As in any other item, these features lead us to understand the pros and cons of each product.

Our top best nine tree stands rank highly in each of these categories.

Key features of a tree stand

Some tree stands have ladders while others require a climbing kit. The best tree stands have a gun rest either attached to it or attachable. The cheapest tree stands you can buy essentially are just a chair with a strap to use on the tree.

Other tree stands are full box blinds that either enclose the hunter or provides camouflage on the bottom of the bucket.

The most expensive tree stands are permanent structures made to allow the hunter to find his prey in a well-known area. Climbing tree stands are limited to small trees but are lightweight and portable. Lock-on tree stands are also lightweight but are much harder to travel with.

The most comfortable and stable stands are ladder stands since they are made to rest against a tree. It is recommended that these stands are still used with climbing gear. These stands are not as portable as the others, so they are generally placed ahead of time.

The pro and con

For any tree stand, it is always a pro to be comfortable. That means the seats are made with good material and houses useful tools. A gun rest is extremely useful when lining up your shot.

Many tree stands have this feature included. Something to consider is the portability of your tree stand. As mentioned before, some styles of tree stand are made to be hiked up a hill and placed in a tree.

These are made with lightweight materials, which means they are often not as comfortable.

OUR COMPARISON

We searched far and wide for these specific products. Taking in the information we gathered from reviews and cross-referencing them with our research, we found the best products out there so you don’t have to.

Here are our top nine best tree stands.

1. BIG GAME TREE STANDS SPECTOR XT LADDER STAND


BIG GAME LS4950 Spector XT Tree Stand, 17′ Two Person Ladder…

  • Adjustable, Padded Shooting…
  • Flip-Back, Large Seat
  • Deep Foot Platform for Wide…
  • Flex-Tec seat and backrest

This two-seater ladder stand is a favorite of hunters who prefer not to hunt alone. Featuring a padded shooting rail that is adjustable for ease of usage. The large seat also flips back, allowing for the hunter to get into position easily.

The patented Flex-Tec seat and backrest are the main feature of this product. Overall this tree stand is quite invaluable when it comes to usability and comfortability.

Pros

  • Adjustable shooting rail

  • Features comfortable and maneuverable seating

  • Seats up to two people

Cons

  • Lacking in padded seating

  • Heavyweight

  • Lacks camouflage

Where to buy

2. GUIDE GEAR TOWER TREE STAND

This tower tree stand is effectively a command center for all the hunter needs. Allowing for two people to be seated comfortably, this tree stand also has quite a bit of room around the edges.

Standing at 12 feet tall, this tower tree stand will give you all of the views around you. Made out of strong steel, this tree stand will last for years.

Featuring 360-degree swivel seats with padded armrests and full box shooting rail, this tree stand is efficient and usable.

Weighing in at 145 pounds, this tree stand is quite difficult to carry around, but with its strong design, it will last being left out during the whole season.

Pros

  • Strong design

  • 360-degree swivel seats

  • 12 feet tall

Cons

  • Weighing in at 145 pounds

  • The seats stay side by side

  • Lacks camouflage

Where to buy

3. MUDDY DELUXE UNIVERSAL BLIND KIT


Muddy Deluxe Universal Blind Kit

  • Camo finish for increased…
  • Universal application
  • Country of Origin: United…
  • Muddy Outdoors

This ladder tree stand makes the hunter invisible right up until they take the shot. Made with a camouflage finish, this blind kit will blend right in your surroundings.

The bucket design allows for one hunter to have all of his equipment with him on the hunt and not fear any loss in the underbrush. As a bonus, this kit is easy to assemble, so for the efficient hunter, this may be the best tree stand.

Pros

  • Easy to assemble

  • Made with a camouflage finish

  • Strong bucket design

Cons

  • Lacking in a shooting rail

  • Lacking in padded seating

  • Heavyweight

Where to buy

4. BIG GAME WARRIOR ELITE 17′ LADDERSTAND ULTRA-WIDE


BIG GAME Warrior Elite 17′ Ladderstand Ultra-Wide, Flex-Tek…

  • The Warrior Elite is 17′ Tall…
  • Foot platform: 18″ Wide x 10″…
  • Ladder sections: 3 single Rail…
  • Safety Harness: one 4-pt….
  • Stand weight: 44 lbs. Weight…

Pros

  • 24 inches wide seat

  • 17 feet tall

  • Wide range of possible positions

Cons

  • Lacking in padded seating

  • Especially small footrest

  • Heavyweight

This tree stand may be the best tree stand for the wider of our folk. At 24 inches wide, this seat can sit anyone comfortable. At least as comfortable as the fabric type seating it features can be.

The Warrior Elite is 17 feet tall, so it provides quite a bit of visual to your hunting grounds. Sitting against your tree, you will have that 17 feet of view at a 180-degree span.

The top step of the ladder also acts as your footrest. With the added U-bar, this footrest allows for a range of positions when shooting your rifle. The stand also includes a safety harness and shooting rail.

Beautifully crafted and padded for comfort, this shooting rail is great to use when tagging your buck.

Where to buy

5. SUMMIT TREESTANDS SUMMIT VIPER STEEL CLIMBER


Summit Treestands Summit Viper Steel Climber

  • Steel frame holds up to 300…
  • Uses quickdraw cable retention…
  • Includes summit rapid climb…
  • The classic summit Viper at a…

The Summit Viper Steel Climber may be one of the nicest looking climbing tree stands in our list. Its ergonomic design should be easy to use when inching your way up the tree.

The steel frame holds up to 300 pounds, so with good climbing gear, there’s no fear of tumbling out of the tree. Standing is no problem because of this strong design.

This stand is set apart from its competition with all the bells and whistles it has. Even with the added shooting rail, this climbing tree stand is only 29 pounds making it an easy carry up to the hunting grounds.

Pros

  • Holds up to 300 pounds

  • Added shooting rail

  • Easy to carry

Cons

  • Highly technical design

  • Small footrest

  • Doesn’t include a ladder

Where to buy

6. X-STAND TREESTANDS DUKE SINGLE PERSON LADDERSTAND


X-Stand Treestands The Duke X 20′ Single-Person Ladderstand

  • Stand height: 20′ to…
  • Platform size: 18″ wide x…
  • Seat size: 22″ wide x 16″…
  • Weight Capacity: 300 lbs.
  • Stand weight: 79 lbs.

The X-Stand tree stands at the height of 20 feet, allowing for a greater view of the surrounding hunting grounds.

Similar to the Big Game Warrior Elite, this tree stand also features a U-shaped top step that acts as the footrest. Its seat is much more comfortable, although it is for a smaller hunter.

Made for one person, this tree stand is great for the solo hunter who carries little gear with him/her. Featuring a padded shooting rail, this tree stand is efficient at doing its job of holding the hunter up and allowing for a shot to be made easily and effectively.

Pros

  • 20 feet tall

  • Padded shooting rail

  • Wide range of possible positions

Cons

  • Lacking in padded seating

  • Small footrest

  • Heavyweight

Where to buy

8. LONE WOLF ASSAULT HANG STAND


Lone Wolf Assault II Hang On Tree Stand

  • The leanest of the light…
  • The 26″ x 19.5″ platform…
  • The perfect hang-on stand for…
  • In Cast Bow Holder…
  • 350-pound weight limit; Fits…

This hang-on stand is the most efficient on our list because of its low weight and essential gear. Weighing in at only 11 pounds, this tree stand is easy to carry up or down the trail.

With a whopping 350 pounds of holding weight, this tree stands provides great support for the hunter in the trees.

Featuring a bow holder, this hang-on tree stand is a specialty for hunters who prefer the quiet approach. Only limited by its strap, this tree stand will fit onto 4-inch to 22-inch trees.

Made to last and made to maneuver, this tree stand is the best tree stand for the traveling bowsman.

Pros

  • 350 pounds of holding weight

  • Featuring a bow holder

  • Weighing in at only 11 pounds

Cons

  • Will fit onto 4-inch to 22-inch trees

  • No backrest

  • Lacks shooing rail

Where to buy

9. MILLENNIUM TREESTANDS M50 HANG HUNTERS


Millennium Treestands M50 Hang-On, for Hunters

  • HUNTING ON THE LEVEL: The M50…
  • SAFELINK: Millennium is…
  • COMFORTABLE PLATFORM: The…
  • SMART CONSTRUCTION: The M50…
  • MEASUREMENTS: Built to hold up…

This tree stand features a patented system called the InterlockLeveling system that uses a CamLock receiver to hang on the tree. It’s also quick and quiet to use, allowing for an easy way to level the platform without any tools.

Committed to safety, this hang-on tree stand uses a 35-foot rope with a knot and carabiner. You can safely ascend and descend this tree stand. This tree stand is comfortable and ergonomic, so making the shot is easy and effective.

Weighing in at only 21 pounds this tree stand is also quite easy to transport.

Pros

  • Weighing in at only 21 pounds

  • Quick and quiet to use

  • Comfortable and ergonomic

Cons

  • No backrest

  • Does not hang on smooth bark trees

  • Highly technical design

Where to buy

THE BEST TREE STAND

The best tree stand is determinable. If you’re a hunter who prefers to move around, then your choice may be the climbing tree stand.

If you prefer the cheaper route, then the ladder stand kit may be the best one for you. As the hunter, the choice is yours to make. Check out these products and let us know what you think in the comments below.

Featured image by: Amazon

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