Written By John VanDerLaan
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At Deer Hunting Guide, we are hunters just like you. We know how important it is to find a durable lightweight tree stand that is not just easy to transport around, but also easy and comfortable to sit in. From seat comfort and lightweight design to platform size, there are plenty of factors to consider.
We've spent many hours in tree stands and have tested some of the most popular hang on stands on the market for a number of different criteria, then prepared full reviews to help you pick the right one for your next hunt.
Here are our top picks.
The Complete List
How We Tested The Hang On Tree Stands
We tested tree stands over several days. The first day we hung all of the stands, then we returned and climbed into the stands in varying weather conditions to test the quietness of the stand in varying temperatures, as well as the comfort and safety in wet conditions.
Meet The Test Team
John VanDerLaan: John spends hundreds of hours every year hunting out of tree stands with both archery gear and firearms. He has harvested many deer out of tree stands and knows what it takes to have a successful tree stand set.
Jesse Gillotti: Jesse hunts over 100 days per year and almost exclusively in a treestand. He has successfully killed numerous large bucks from these stands.
Ron Parker: Ron is primarily a bowhunter and he also hunts over 100 days per year from these tree stands.
We used our extensive experience and expertise to test and rate these stands on the following criteria.
You can see the results of our testing in the reviews and recommendations below.
Portability
The first test we performed was for how easily and quietly the stand could be transported through the woods. Each tester rated the portability on a scale of one to five, with five being the best.
Ease Of Setup
We then tested how easy each stand was to set up in the tree. We tested and rated this after we had the climbing sticks attached to the tree so that the sticks didn't have an influence on the rating. Each tester gave a score between one and five for ease of setup, with five being the best.
RELATED: How To Hang A Hang On Stand
Comfort
Once the stand was set up, each tester spent a couple hours in the stand to simulate a hunting situation and rated the stand for comfort. They took into consideration the height of the seat, the seat cushion, and the legroom. Each tester rated the comfort of the stand on a scale of one to five, with 5 being the best.
Noise
For our noise test, we stood up in the stand, folded up the seat and shifted our weight from one foot to the other, trying to make noise. We then started from a seated position, stood up with our bow, drew the bow and shot at a target to see if the stand would make a sound. Each tester rated the noise of the stand on a scale of one to five, with 5 being the least amount of sound.
Reviews And Recommendations
Below you will find REAL reviews written by REAL hunters of the hang-on tree stands that we actually use for deer hunting every year.
Best Overall: Millennium M100U Ultralight
The M100U Ultralight found its way to number one on our list this year because of its comfort and light weight. It is one of the lightest tree stands that we use on a regular basis.
It is the little brother of the M150 Monster, but it is still plenty big enough and features the ComfortMax seat that we have come to know and love.
The seat, complete with backrest is really comfortable and flips up out of the way when you are standing.
The lightweight aluminum construction keeps the weight down to 13.5 pounds, making it really easy to transport these to your favorite tree for hanging.
The M100U is one of the quietest stands to hang that we have ever used. It is ideal for sneaking in close to bedding areas for a hang and hunt, without being detected.
Even though it is super lightweight, it still has a 300 pound weight capacity.
We have some guys on staff that use this stand with the optional shooting rail, which makes an ideal rest for hunting with crossbow or firearm.
Features:
- CamLock Chain Receiver
- ComfortMax Contoured Sling Seat
- Folds Flat For Easy Backpacking With Included Straps
- Roomy 38" X 20" Platform
- 20" X 16" Seat
- 17" Seat Height
- Full Body Harness Included
- Safe Link Included
- Super light weight: 14.5 pounds
Test Results:
- Portability: 5
- Ease Of Setup: 5
- Comfort: 4.5
- Noise: 5