10 Best Climbing Tree Stands — Your Hunting Success Depends on Equipment! (Spring 2023)

The Summit Treestands Goliath SD Climbing Treestand is another tree stand for big guys and allows for up to 350 lbs of weight. Only a single individual can use the stand at a time, unlike the Jayhawk 20′ Hunting Tree Stand. However, you can find an attribute that features in both options where the backrest for the seat is concerned. The non-aluminum components of the stand feature camouflaged colors so the stand can blend with trees and be less likely to spot from a distance. You should try and get clothes that are the same color as that will make you less conspicuous to passing animals.

The manufacturer got innovative when trying to quiet the sound of aluminum as noise scares away animals. They solved the noise problem by including expanding foam in some of the areas that squeak at the slightest shift of weight. Weight-wise this product is not the lightest aluminum option on the market, but you can still put it on your back without too much hassle. 21 lbs weight is not much to complain about.

While you may not like the expensive pricing of this gadget, you get all the accessories you need to use the tool in one go. These include RapidClimb stirrups that attach to your boots and help you get to the desired height before you can attach your seat. As such, this item represents excellent value for money.

What makes it special?

• Relatively lightweight
• Comes with accessories
• Handles up to 350 pounds
• Camouflaged colors make it hard to notice
• Barely emits any noises

What cons did we find?

• Expensive

Our last two mentions are products by the same manufacturer, and as such you will find some similarities between them. The manufacturer has already established themselves as a source of quality tree stands which is why this Titan SD Climbing Treestand presents itself here. Most of the body is made from durable aluminum components which have been painted to blend in with the look and feel of nature.

In addition to the above, the stand features a comfortable foam padded seat which could make up all the difference. After all, it’s hard to take a clean shot of that deer if your backside is in pain. Also, you get a backrest. It is easy to walk past this device due to the camouflage cover of the seat and armrests.

With a weight capacity of 350 pounds, you are all but guaranteed the seat would hold its own even with heavier users. Also, the full-body fall arrest system is something to write home about. After all, safety comes first.

What makes it stand out?

• Durable
• 5-year warranty
• Comes with backpack straps
• Easy to accessorize with a few options from the manufacturer

Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?

• Expensive to buy

If you are looking for something with steel construction, this option could be your go-to. The fall arrest system provided by the manufacturer is one that locks both the platform and seat into place after you’ve set it up on a tree. Speaking of the seat, this particular one has a one-inch thick seat padded with foam. In addition to that, you also get a padded backrest and armrests. Thirty-three pounds is not something most hunters would struggle to carry. However, it is a tad heavier than most of the stand’s counterparts mentioned on our list.

If pricing is an influential factor in your decision to buy a tree stand, this is more affordable than most at less than 100 dollars. If you are capable of spending more, you can get accessories such as the tree standing harness at a bit of extra cost. The whole package folds down to make it easier to strap on your back and ferry to your destination.

Why is it special?

• Inexpensive
• Sturdy steel construction
• Folds so you can carry more easily

What are the flaws?

• Heavy construction

If you find hunting a lonesome activity due to the one-person tree stands, you can opt to purchase this tool that will allow two people at the same time. This way, you get to do your favorite activity while still enjoying some company. As such, this device has to be able to cater to the weight of two people. Consequently, you get a 500-pound weight rating with the purchase of this stand. The Jayhawk 20′ Hunting Tree Stand also incorporates a ladder to make climbing easier. However, this makes it difficult for a solo person to do the setup of the device.

Also, to support that much weight and still incorporate a ladder, the device has to be heavier than most. Currently, it stands at about 122 pounds, and that makes it a chore to carry around. For you to fully enjoy the experience, the manufacturer incorporated two cup holders in addition to two accessory hooks. The only thing you will need to share is the seat, and it still features enough room for both of you to sit comfortably.

Once the upper jaw system locks onto a tree if will only move when you have deemed it right to do so. For comfort, you get both armrests and a flip-out footrest. Also, with a weather defender coat, you can leave the stand in the rain for a few days and still find it in pristine condition.

With so many metal parts, it comes as a surprise that there are virtually no sounds coming from the device. The self-lubricating nylon washers make this possible by eliminating metal on metal contact.

Why did it make our list?

• Fits two
• Holds a relatively massive amount of weight
• Weather sealed
• Comes with accessories for two

What is not ideal about it?

• Is expensive
• Heavy

Another climbing tree stand for archery presents itself in the form of the Monster Hang-on Treestand by Millennium Treestands. The platform measures 24” x 37” which should be enough space for your hunting needs. All you need to do is attach it to a suitable tree trunk. A unique feature of this particular product is that you can adjust the distance of the seat to the platform depending on your height and body type. This makes the tool more comfortable to use for a larger variety of people.

Also, most of the construction of the seat is made of aluminum. You would consequently expect the monster tree stand to be a chore to lug around. In truth, however, this is one of the lighter purchases on the market. You will also likely spend a lot of hours in different kinds of weather as you wait for that deer to come along. It, therefore, helps that the powder coat finish is durable and will help the tool last even longer.

A backrest is incorporated to make your wait comfortable.

What are our favorite features?

• Lightweight
• Sturdy aluminum construction
• Powder finish for protection of the aluminum components

What could be better?

• Pricey

Seemingly, this option is more expensive than the last two, but you still get great value for money. As you would expect of a lightweight climbing tree stand the seat is meant for a single individual and measures 14″ x 12″. Also this device features a 6-point fall arrest system just like the XOP-XTREME OUTDOOR PRODUCTS Vanish Evolution Treestand. As such, both the seat and the platform are adjustable. A good thing to take note of is the 350-pound weight rating. This is heavy-duty and thus should be enough for most individuals.

Also, while taking the weight into account, check the weight of your bow as the device has an in-cast bow holder. The tool’s offset bracket only has four contact points. This is still sufficient for most leaning trees, and also, the design is patented. You should find this tool to be one of the easier ones to carry around. At only 11 pounds that weight might even be barely noticeable on your back. This is contrary to what you expect of steel construction products.

Perhaps a significant downside of purchasing this item is the extra costs. The tool may already be expensive enough for some of you. However, to fully enjoy the device, you might need to purchase some of the accessories on offer. This significantly raises the cost. Nonetheless, you don’t have to buy all of these at the same time.

What are its best features?

• Lightweight
• Comfortable seat
• Leveling capabilities on leaning trees
• Multiple accessories available
• In-cast bow holder

What could be improved?

• Cost is significantly raised by buying all accessories

If you want to own this aluminum climbing tree stand you will have to pay about two times what you would pay for the Guide Gear Hang-on option. Nonetheless, you won’t have to deal with some of the DIY modifications we mentioned above. As you can see from the image, the stand is green, enabling the portable stand to blend in with the environment. If you couple this with a camouflage outfit you will be undetectable as you wait for a deer to come skipping along. Also, this piece of equipment is rated heavy duty as it allows for up to 350 of weight.

Rather impressive is the leveling system incorporated by the manufacturer into this piece. For one, you get the six-point bracket. What this component does is allow the user to angle the stand so that he/she remains level even when the tree slants slightly to the left or right. Of course for this to be possible all six points of the bracket don’t have to be touching the tree. You are good to go with about two points being in contact with the trunk. The seat, as well as the platform, can also be leveled to varying upwards and downwards degrees. It just depends on your most comfortable sitting position.

If you look carefully at the image, you will see the seat is reasonably thick. The tri-layer foam components make this more comfortable to sit on. Also, with the backpack straps incorporated, all you have to do is put it on your back and be on your journey. You would think these features would end up making the device heavier but instead you get a lightweight item totaling about 12 pounds.

What makes it stand out?

• Lightweight
• Impressive leveling system
• Comfortable seat
• Green in color to blend in with the environment

Which disadvantages must you keep in mind?

• Even with the leveling system, the stand is still uncomfortable with a forward-leaning tree

The Rivers Edge RE556 Hang-On Tree Stand is another popular choice among hunters. You can get the tool for about 130 dollars or more if you choose to pick up some accessories also. Even from the image provided, you can tell that the platform is vast and it has a footrest. This ensures you have enough space to stand and shoot whenever you need to without sacrificing on comfort. Also, where shooting is concerned, you might want to lift the seat and armrests so that you have more wiggle room.

The maximum capacity of the tool is 300 pounds so you should make sure that both you and your gear don’t exceed that limit. If you overload the gadget you might find yourself hurtling towards the ground after the platform gives way. You also use straps to attach the tree stand to trunks. These straps remove the possibility of metal coming into contact with other metal pieces and causing a ruckus that would scare any roaming deer away.

In addition to the above properties, the stand has components that bite into the trunk of a tree to ensure maximum support. This is made possible by an aggressive lever-action, and as such, it eliminates any need for secondary and/or tertiary straps.

What are its best features?

• Relatively affordable
• Sturdy construction
• Noiseless

What could be improved?

• Falls on the heavy side making it harder to ferry

At the sub 100 dollar price point this is one of the cheaper options in our line-up. As such you may find yourself wondering if it’s even worth the purchase at all or is it one of those items that fall apart after minimal use. Quality-wise this is quite a substantial investment for the price and one that you are unlikely to regret.

The first benefit of owning this tool is its lightweight nature. Being in the woods means you won’t have your car to take you from place to place. You will have to rely on your trusty two feet, and they tend to get tired quicker the more weight you put on them. Despite the steel frame, this particular gadget manages to maintain its weight at just 18 pounds which makes it a lightweight purchase. As such if you can strap it on your back, you won’t find it so hard to hike the distance to your hunting ground.

Unfortunately, the manufacturer seems to have dropped the ball by not including straps to make it easier for carrying on your back. Nevertheless, this is something that you can easily correct with a little ingenuity. The weight capacity as we have mentioned above stands at 300 pounds. Where you feel you are heavier you can switch the ratchet straps for something stronger so that the device is better able to bear your weight. This is a fix that has been used to great success by some of the previous users of the gadget.

Also, people have noticed the padded seat to be a little thin. This is yet another thing you can modify to make use of the gadget more enjoyable. As such, with a 100 dollar budget and minimal DIY knowledge, you are good to go with this option.

Why is it special?

• Inexpensive
• Solid construction
• Lightweight
• Relatively large foot platform

What are the flaws?

• The seat may not be comfortable over a long duration of time
• Does not include backpack straps

This is a more expensive option than the last one. On paper, not much is different from the other option except for maybe, of course, the four-point safety strap. If you compare the platform to others provided by different manufacturers, it might look a bit small but if you couple this with the fall arrest system it becomes one of the most stable tools you’ll ever use. Sound deadening technology is used in making this tool and as such setup is as quiet as it can be. As a result, any motion while you are atop the stand is unlikely to send deer scampering away.

The finish of both the seat and the aluminum is the same in this model as it was with the Titan SD Climbing Treestand. Also, with the accessories that you get as extras when you purchase this tool, you will find climbing trees an easy task. Where weight is concerned the item weighs in at about 26 pounds.

What stands out?

• Camouflage finish
• Comes with accessories
• Sound deadening technology

What cons did we manage to find?

• One of the priciest tools thus far