Hang-on tree stands give hunters more mobility than a ladder stand and more flexibility than a climbing treestand. Whether you’re hanging a preset or doing a hang and hunt, the appeal of a hang-on stand is undeniable. Because these stands are so popular, the options are prolific.
From small companies making innovative stands to large manufacturers that provide high-value stands, you have a ton of choices, and this review represents just a handful of the best. Due to supply issues, we weren’t able to test all of the best stands, so this isn’t a complete list. But, this is a list of the best hang-on tree stands we were able to get our hands on, with a thorough review of each that includes how they perform on different trees, how quick they are to set up, how quietly they set up, and how easy they are to pack.
- Best Overall: Summit Dual Axis
- Most Comfortable: Millennium M150 Monster
- Best for Mobile Hunting: Lone Wolf Alpha II
- Best Lightweight: Hawk Helium Pro
How We Tested the Hang-Ons
We tested tree stands over two days in northern Virginia. The first day we had spitting rain all day, which helped us test platforms for their grip and seats for how much they held water.
The Test Team
Billy Philips: Is an urban bowhunter who has the opportunity to hunt 365 days a year and takes full advantage of those opportunities with 150 days spent in a stand or saddle.
Josh Philips: Like his brother Billy, Josh is a four-season bowhunter with over 100 days spent in stands and saddles each year.
Scott Einsmann: Outdoor Life‘s gear editor and experienced mobile hunter.
Using our combined experience, we tested each stand uncer the following protocols:
Packability
We started the test with the packability test, and we set up each stand in its pack configuration. Then, a tester carried the stand through the woods. The two testers who weren’t carrying a stand stood along the trail and listened for any noise made by the stand. We also carried the stands through thick woods to see if any parts caught on brush. Each tester gave a score for packability from one to five, with five being the best. The packability score was based on the stand’s comfort, maneuverability, and noise.
Speed
We timed how long it took each tester to set up each stand on a straight tree with a 14-inch diameter. To do that, we pre-set two climbing sticks, and each tester started at the base of the tree. Using a lineman’s belt and harness, they climbed the sticks and hung the stand. Once the tester was on the stand, the timer stopped. You’ll see this time in the key features section of each stand.
Noise
While we speed tested each stand, two testers stood on opposite sides of the tree and scored the perceived noise level on a one to five scale (five is the quietest).
Comfort, Stability, and Shooting
After each stand was in the tree, we tested them for comfort and stability and shot our bows from the stands. We gave each stand a comfort score on our one-to-five scale, with five being the most comfortable. We judged comfort sitting in the seat but also considered the stand’s comfort while standing. We defined stability as movement felt while on the stand. So, any wiggle or bounce was noted as we moved around on the platform. We also shot from the stands from seated and standing positions to gather notes on the shooting experience.
Varying Trees
We tested each stand on trees of different diameters as well as straight and leaning trees.
Best Overall: Summit Dual Axis
Key Features
- Weight: 16 pounds
- Tree Diameter: 8 to 20 inches
- Uses two ratchet straps
- Comfort Score: 5
- Noise Score: 4.5
- Setup Time: 3 minutes 56 seconds
Why It Made the Cut
The Summit Dual Axis is a quiet stand that’s rock solid on the tree and has a seat made for serious hunters and all-day sits.
Pros
- Bites the tree exceptionally well
- Easy to go from seated to standing
- Silent once attached
Cons
- Not ideal for mobile hunting
Product Description
While we were testing the Summit Dual Axis, the one phrase we repeated several times was: “This is a really nice stand.” It is. We found the stand easy to hang with the two included ratchet straps. It was fairly quiet during setup, with the only real noise coming from the ratchets. Once on the tree, it was silent, and we felt confident the stand would stay that way once exposed to the elements because each connection point has Teflon washers. Summit advertises Dead Metal Sound Deadening Technology, which fills portions of the stand with expanding foam. We tested that tech by tapping our metal wedding bands against the stand and were impressed with the dull, muted sound rather than a high-pitched “ting.” The Dual Axis bit the tree better than any of the stands we tested, and it was the most stable. It bit the tree so well that when we removed the straps, it stayed connected to the tree, and we had to pull it off.
The seat is the show stopper of the stand. Now, this isn’t a seat that’s built to rock you to sleep. It’s a seat that keeps you comfortable while you’re waiting for a shot opportunity. We especially liked how easily we could transition from sitting to standing. We’ve all sat in stands with seats that are like comfy recliners, but getting out of them is just like getting out of your favorite chair—it takes effort and a groan. That doesn’t work for bowhunting. You need a chair that is easy to stand from and puts you in a good posture for seated shots. That’s what the Dual Axis seat offers. If you need to raise up for a shot, it’s very easy to pop up. Also, if you like to stand, when you flip up the seat, it turns into a comfortable backrest. The seat locks in the upright position so it won’t unexpectedly drop on you. To unlock the seat, you lift up and ease it down. We all found the seat very comfortable and thought it was good to go for an all-day sit. An interesting thing we discovered during testing is that the seat makes for an nice knee rest for saddle hunting, and if you scaled the stand down just a little, it would make for a great saddle platform.
At 16 pounds, the Dual Axis is a little heavy for a hang and hunt, but it could fill that role. We think it shines for presets and as a semi-permanent stand. With the comfortable seat, easy hanging, and rock-solid stability the Summit Dual Axis was the best hang-on tree stand we tested.
Most Comfortable: Millennium M150 Monster
Key Features
- Weight: 19.5 pounds
- Adjusts to leaning trees up to 15 degrees
- Platform Dimensions: 24 inches wide and 37 inches deep
- Comfort Score: 5
- Noise Score: 4
- Setup Time: 3 minutes 56 seconds
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
- Comfortable
- Giant Platform
- Easy to hang
Cons
- Some movement to the stand
Product Description
Millennium sets the bar for tree stand comfort, so it shouldn’t be surprising that we unanimously picked the M150 Monster as the most comfortable. 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 comfort. It has a slight recline, and the straps act as nice armrests. The footrest is a nice touch for added comfort. 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 comfortable.
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 comfort, 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 comfort, and it’s also a great stand for introducing new hunters to treestands because of its large platform.