The Best Ladder Tree Stands On The Market

My young hunting buddy Mike outgrew me. It wasn't that he grew up, got a driver's license and discovered girls, although all those things happened. Mike, who later played on the offensive line for a college football team, literally outgrew any tree stand I had when his weight neared 250 pounds.

We were lucky, very lucky. After one afternoon hunt, we met as planned at dark at a field edge, to walk together back to my truck. We started driving and Mike said something like, oh yeah, I almost forgot to tell you, but you know that stand I was in? It seems like those cables, the ones that go from the seat to the platform, are sort of giving a little.

I'd realized Mike was getting bigger. I was driving a small pickup then, and it had seemed that Mike was stuffed into the passenger side. But weight limits on tree stands? I'd never given it a second thought.

I checked the rating on my portable, hang-on stands, and was surprised to learn that they were only rated to 250 pounds. In addition, some were fairly old. What was I doing, letting my friend's son or anyone, use an old portable stand that could be replaced at a reasonable price? And why take chances with the weight limit? Mikey weighed 250 pounds, but that did not include his boots, clothing and pack, which held his binoculars, thermos and lunch.

Single-person ladders are rated to 300 pounds, and two-person stands commonly rate to 500 pounds. The man and a half stands are rated to 350 pounds. If you're a heavyweight division hunter, you have to consider the total of your weight, clothes, boots and pack. You should also consider the roominess of the stand, which translates to your ability to move in it and make a shot. Two-person stands also give you and your friends the ability to mentor and assist other hunters, the old and the young.

There were several common complaints about two-person ladders they weren't high enough and they were too expensive. Sportsman's Guide has blown those complaints out of the water with the Guide Gear 17-foot 2-Man Stand. It comes with two safety harnesses. The full platform (40.5" x 28.5") and individual flip-up (17" x 15"d.) mesh seats provide comfortable room for two.

The Guide Gear 18' Big Boy XL Ladder Tree Stand is 18 feet high and has a 300-pound capacity. The platform is 30"w. x 30"d. and the seat is a generous 30"w. x 15"d. It comes with a flip-up padded shooting rail and ratchet straps for securing to the tree.

If you have a spot for a higher stand, take a look at the Guide Gear 22-foot Double Rail Ladder Stand. It stands 22 feet high and has a 300-pound capacity. The platform is 18"w. x 21"d. and the padded seat is 19"w. x 14"d.  It comes with a flip-up shooting rail and a flip-up seat, and the double-rail design adds tons of stability.

To make your Stand even better, you can find a wide variety of accessories like blinds, seats and more.