Topic: The Best Hang-On Tree Stands of 2022 (Read 32 times)
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Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
The chair on the Millenium is like sitting 20 feet up in one of the best camping rocking chairs.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
Millennium sets the bar for tree stand co*fort, so it shouldn’t be surprising that we unanimously picked the M150 Monster as the most co*fortable. It’s the type of stand you can nap in and actually get quality sleep. The seat is mesh—no raccoons eating foam—so it dries quickly and has just the right give for co*fort. It has a slight recline, and the straps act as nice armrests. The footrest is a nice touch for added co*fort. One drawback of the seat is that it isn’t the easiest to stand up from. Getting up takes a little extra effort because your butt sits lower than your knees in the stand, but that’s also why it’s so co*fortable.
If you like lots of space, this is your stand. Its giant platform allows you to leave the seat down and still have plenty of standing room. The large platform isn’t just about co*fort, though. And the extra real estate made it easy to shoot nearly 360 degrees in the stand with a bow because you can stand away from the tree for shots behind the stand. The downside of the long platform is that it has more bounce than a shorter stand. From the ground, the movement was obvious, but it’s barely noticeable when you’re in the stand.
To hang the stand, you first strap the receiver to the tree and then slide the stand onto the receiver. This is an ingenious design for hanging a large stand, and it eliminates the need to hold a nearly 20-pound stand with one arm while you secure the strap with the other. Instead, you just drop it into the receiver and finish securing the stand.
This is the ultimate stand for co*fort, and it’s also a great stand for introducing new hunters to treestands because of its large platform.
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
The Lone Wolf Alpha II is a great stand for mobile hunters because it’s super easy to pack and hang.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
If you hunt public land or just want one stand you can hang and take down each time you go out, then the Lone Wolf Alpha is one of the best hang ons for that purpose.
You can stack Lone Wolf sticks on the stand, strap them down with the stand’s straps, walk in as far as you want, and throw up the stand in a matter of minutes. I’ve hunted with a Lone Wolf Alpha for more than five years, and the test model was my personal stand. I still use it because it’s an excellent mobile stand. In our test, it was the fastest stand to hang and the quietest. The ease of hanging co*es from the Versa Button design. You loop the straps over the button, pull the straps tight, and cam the stand. It also has a leveling system that brings the platform level on leaning trees and a seat leveler. Once in the tree, we found the Alpha to be very stable.
While it’s fast to hang, you’ll want to upgrade the backpack straps. We also found the stock seat unco*fortable and think it’s more of a half-day hunt seat. That’s the co*promise with mobile tree stands, and during testing, Billy made a great point about the Alpha II, “What you sacrifice in co*fort, you gain in mobility.”
Key Features
Why It Made the Cut
At half the price of other ultralight hang-on stands, the Hawk Helium Pro is a great value for its weight.
Pros
Cons
Product Description
The Hawk Helium Pro was fast to hang, although a little noisy, and only uses one cam-buckle strap to connect to the tree. The strap connects to the stand with plastic-coated metal hooks, which help cut noise. We found the platform and seat leveler very easy to use and took just seconds to adjust. The Helium Pro didn’t bite the tree well, and we also tried cam-locking (lifting the platform up, pulling the strap tight, pushing down on the stand, and then pulling the platform back down) but even this method didn’t get the stand tight.
This 12-pound stand is a good option for mobile hunting with a few modifications. First, we’d remove the adjustable footrest because we found the seat can get caught in it during setup, and it’ll cut some weight. We’d also suggest upgrading the backpack straps—they’re pretty spartan.
The seat cushion is thick and co*fortable for half-day hunts, but it is foam so you probably don’t want to leave it out for an entire season. The platform has plenty of space, but we did notice some flex in the platform.
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Designed by mobile hunting legend, Dan Infalt, the Beast stand weighs 6.8 pounds and is made in the U.S. You can expect this stand to be a dream to pack and hang. We asked hunters that own a Beast stand what they think of it, and they reco*mend upgrading the backpack straps, and they mentioned there is some flex in the platform. But for mobile hunting, this is one of the best hang-on stands out there.
If you like the M150 Monster but don’t want to spend over $300, the M50 is a great option. It has the co*fortable seat Millenium is known for and their rock-solid attachment system. It co*es in under $200, and it weighs 20 pounds due to its steel construction. The M50 is ideal for someone that needs a quality stand for presets, but wants to keep their costs low.
The D’Acquisto Series Hang Ons are made for public land hunters. They’re best used as a system with the Lone Wolf Custom Gear sticks. The sticks and stand nest together really well, and they pack co*fortably with LWCG’s padded backpack straps.
Finding the best hang-on tree stand for you is all about how you’ll use it. A plush 20-pound stand is very co*fortable, but it’s not the best for mobile, public land hunters. But a stripped-down 6-pound stand isn’t the most co*fortable for long sits, and they’re usually pretty expensive.
Hunting Style
Stands are tools, and you’ll have to decide whether you need a screwdriver or a power drill. Some people will hang a stand at the start of a hunt and then pull it down at the end. Others will set up a stand, leave it there for a while, and maybe make a few small tweaks to the location as the season progresses. You can get one stand for both, but usually, stands that are best for mobile hunting are light in weight but also lacking in co*fort. While heavier stands can have nicer seats and bigger platforms but aren’t ideal for long treks.
If you’re a mobile hunter, you’ll also prioritize a quiet stand that’s easy to hang. For pre-set stands, a quiet hang isn’t as important, but an easy setup is always helpful, especially for refining stand location as patterns change throughout the season.
Budget
Like most things, you get what you pay for in hang ons. Super light stands are very nice to carry and hang, but they’re also going to be a lot more expensive. The same goes for co*fortable large stands. If you’re on a tight budget, there are some great DIY improvements you can make to inexpensive stands that can make them quieter and more co*fortable. For example, adding stealth strips and extra bungees for packing can make them significantly quieter.
Hang-on tree stands can run from about $60 to nearly $1,000. Price is usually dictated by materials, features, and country of origin.
The Millennium M150 is the most co*fortable tree stand we tested. It has a luxurious seat and large platform.
The lightest hang-on tree stands run anywhere from 6.5 to 8 pounds.
Choosing your next stand from the field of the best hang-on tree stands is all about the features you prioritize. If you’re looking for a stand that’s affordable, quiet, easy to pack, and fast to hang, then the Lone Wolf Alpha II is perfect. If you’re looking for a great all-around stand, we reco*mend the Summit Dual Axis. For maximum co*fort, go with the Millennium M150 Monster.
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