What's best Tree Stand for First Timer

[Holmes Cycles]

Hey guys, been bow hunting for years but I have never owned/used a tree stand before. The past couple years I have been doing Public and Draw hunts and alot of them have no Blinds or setups.

So basically I'm looking for advice on the best overall tree stand for using on Public/Draw hunts. So it'll need to be easy to move/remove everyday, non marking or damaging to tree and able to be carried through the woods while hiking.

Not looking for the top line/top tier setup, just something reliable, meets criteria above, and simple stupid

Thanks

[BTLowry]

Saddle would check all of those boxes but starting from nothing may require a greater investment than the next choice

2nd would be hang on and sticks but not as easy to move/remove every day

[TN_boy]

Hawk Helium series sticks and stand are a good beginner investment. As you get more addicted you can invest in lighter options.

[Texas Grown]

Total weight of stand and sticks would be the first criteria in my stand selection. The more it weighs, the less you're going to want to carry it. Second is comfort. If you're not comfortable sitting in it, the more exhausting and stress it puts on your body. And the less you will want to sit for long periods of time. Some stands have you sit in an upright position the whole time, and can enduce stress. Others will allow you to slouch a bit. But can leave you unready for a shot.

When setting up, I try to make it so that the game will be off to my left side to shoot, to minimize movement. I'm right handed. But there are times when I have to stand and turn. Make sure your stand is quiet and don't squeak.

[Low Fence]

Saddle (to me) trumps all…. But at a significant investment! Lock on are my second favorite for mobile and versatile. They are the 2 option that allow you to hunt an area and not hunt for a tree to hunt from

sticks… as bad as I dislike the hawk, they probably are the best beginner and budget friendly

of it’s too heavy and cumbersome you won’t:

go far
be still
enjoy it
continue to use it


lone wolf/novix or millennium would be my choices if in a stand. I don’t like the way mart stands or anything that says muddy on it

good harness and quality lineman belt make it 10000x easier…. Those come at a price as well, just know that going in

from nothing a loc on set up mid grade $600+ to $1000 top end

saddle from scratch what I call mid grade $700 to $sky’s the limit

[Trumpkin]

I was not a saddle fan, as much as I tried to like it. I move too much.

Went to an XOP Vanish Evo and Hawk Helium sticks. Much more effective and versatile system for me. No complaints, except overall weight, and that I've bent the step out on one of my sticks.

[Low Fence]

I was not a saddle fan, as much as I tried to like it. I move too much.

Went to an XOP Vanish Evo and Hawk Helium sticks. Much more effective and versatile system for me. No complaints, except overall weight, and that I've bent the step out on one of my sticks.

There’s really nothing even good about the helium sticks except the price. When I find them on crazy sales or clearance I’ll grab them for permanent sets but they pack horrific, heavy, kick out and hurt my hands climbing

Novix mini wins for me in $ to usable. There are very few ever so slightly better…. At an extreme price increase. I use the single step, cause I hate doubles…. But they make doubles as well. Different flavors for everyone.

had i known with the minis and cable aider I could go higher and almost 1/2 the weight of the 3 step I would have gone that way with my loc on ( and will if I ever use it again)

[Trumpkin]

There’s really nothing even good about the helium sticks except the price. When I find them on crazy sales or clearance I’ll grab them for permanent sets but they pack horrific, heavy, kick out and hurt my hands climbing

Novix mini wins for me in $ to usable. There are very few ever so slightly better…. At an extreme price increase. I use the single step, cause I hate doubles…. But they make doubles as well. Different flavors for everyone.

had i known with the minis and cable aider I could go higher and almost 1/2 the weight of the 3 step I would have gone that way with my loc on ( and will if I ever use it again)

No doubt, the hwak helium sticks are not the same as Lone Wolf sticks... but I have not had kick out issues with them or hand pain (are the steps cutting your hands or something? You can make a fixed loop of tubular webbing to drape over the top of a double step stick to use as a moveable aider also.

[MooseontheLoose]

The stick portion of this thread has piqued my interest. Got some for and some against the helium sticks

Any other stick recs out there? Looking at potentially adding some to the arsenal for a few different setup ideas I have this year.

[Trumpkin]

The stick portion of this thread has piqued my interest. Got some for and some against the helium sticks

Any other stick recs out there? Looking at potentially adding some to the arsenal for a few different setup ideas I have this year.

Had a buddy send me some LWCG sticks and those things are AWESOME. Just expensive! The Novix sticks look pretty nice, bur I have no experience with them. Hawk Heliums are what I'veused most, but their customer service is lacking with my bent step issue so far.

[Texas Grown]

I've got the aluminum version of Rapid Rails tree steps. Much lighter than the steel ones. But still a bit bulky. Very quick to put up. And I've felt very secure climbing them.

[Low Fence]

My old lone wolf set up and saddle up for comparison 19 lbs vs 11.5lbs and go higher. I’d swap to the minis if I ever use LW again.

those are the novix mini with cable aider. Make double step too. I just don’t like them

[whakm]

I went to the Tethrd Skeletor sticks with my saddle set up and so far they're doing a great job. Much better design than the heliums and didn't break the bank.
I'm not carrying all over tarnation so their weight is fine and they are very stable.

[BWebster87]

i will tell you that XOP makes some really good climbing sticks and have some really nice stands and they are on the budget friendly side for price but the quality is there that is for sure. Check them out for either a lock on or a saddle they choice is yours www.XOPoutdoors.com

[rolylane6]

Saddles don't have to be expensive. Look up sit drag and the mods you can do to it. I bought mine 6 years ago for 20 bucks and added padding and a daisy chain to it. I still use it. I'm sure there's more comfortable options but I've been using mine for awhile and I can hunt for hours out of it with no issues. I use hawk helium sticks and a homemade platform from and old treestand I already had.