The lightest hang-on/lock-on tree stand in 2024 is the M7 Microlite Treestand from Millennium. It keeps things to the bare minimum without sacrificing functionality for weight.
In 2024 there have also been a couple of new additions which I’ve included below:
- Millennium Treestands M7 Microlite Treestand – 8.5 lbs
- Lone Wolf Assault II Hang-On Tree Stand – 11 lbs
- Hawk Run and Gun Helium Ultra-Light Hang-On Treestand – 11.7 lbs
- XOP – Air Raid Evolution – 12.3 lbs
- Millennium Treestands M60U Ultralite Hang-On Stand – 13 lbs
- Lone Wolf Alpha Hang-On II Treestand – 14 lbs
Read on to get an in-depth review on each tree stand.
What should you value in a lightweight hang-on tree stand?
Ease of transport (mobility)
If you’re going hunting and you don’t have a lot of space, weight comes at a premium.
The best climbing tree stands are undoubtedly the lightweight ones which don’t compromise on quality.
Take into account the tree stands dimensions too. Although they’re light, sometimes they have difficult shapes which makes it hard to get about.
Durability & reliability
Some of the lightest hang-on tree stands – sadly – are made only to be light without maintaining quality.
I’d recommend getting a tree stand built of steel or a solid aluminium. Steel is far more durable and won’t buckle as fast under a sustained weight over time (you may be in your tree stand for quite a while!). Aluminum is a reasonable alternative which weighs less if you really want an ultra-light tree stand.
Check the maximum weight
Check the maximum weight on the tree stand you want to buy and consider whether it suits your needs. A platform which holds up to 300 lbs should be good enough for one person.
Adjustability
Tree Size (Diameter)
Before you buy your hang-on tree stand, I’d recommend getting a measure on the trees in your area. Seems obvious, but all tree stands have a minimum and maximum diameter, ranging from
Tree Size (Angle)
Sometimes you might find the perfect location for your tree stand, but the trees are at a strange angle to fix your tree stand. Has that ever happened to you?
On tree stands from some brands, you now have two dials which will allow you to level out your platform and your seat on a horizontal plane.
Comfort
Platform size
You want a good platform under foot. It makes your shots more reliable and makes it more comfortable to have somewhere to rest your feet when you’re sat in the tree stand for hours.
Also, does your platform lend itself to moving it around? Check to see if it folds flat and has reasonable dimensions on the go.
Seat size & materials
There are many different sizes. What’s most important really is that you can comfortably sit there for a long period of time. Also, some models have fold-up seats in case you want to make a standing shot.
Noise
A noiseless tree stand is actually more and more popular as hunters are scaring off game. If there’s any noise from your tree stand when setting it up, moving around or positioning to shoot, any game within a 100 yards is going to get spooked.
Safety
If you want your tree stand well off the floor then safety is important. A good tree stand might have an incorporated rope and carabiners to help you get up and down. It may also have locks to keep you in your place so even if you become unbalanced for any reason, you won’t be going anywhere!
Treestand type
To choose the right type of stand for you, two main factors come into play; the type of trees in your area and your style of hunting.
Climbing tree stand
Climbing tree stands are for hard-wood areas where typically the trees have little to no branches on them and are tall and straight.
The climber is nice and portable; the idea is that you pack it up and move. It suits runners and gunners who like to stay on the go while they’re hunting.
- Sharpshaft Content: best climbing tree stand on the market
- Sharpshaft Content: lightest climbing tree stands on the market (11 lbs)
Lock-on/hang-on stand
Hang-on stands consist of two parts: a receiver which attaches to the tree, and the actual tree stand (fold-out seat and platform).
The beauty of this design is that you can buy multiple receivers and leave them strapped to trees you’ve scouted out in your favourite areas.
It’s a little less weight to carry every time you go out, and it’s a little less hassle to set it up. I’m a big fan.
The downside is obviously that if you don’t have a receiver with you to fix to the tree, you can’t put it up. That’s why the climbers are the ‘mobile’ option.
The hang-on stand really comes into its own in areas where the trees have a lot of thick difficult branches to them.
Branches make it difficult to setup a climber, but you can position a hang-on around the branches (to a degree, you might need to chop a little bit).
It doesn’t need to take too long to set up a hang-on either, once you’ve had a little practice.
- Sharpshaft Content: best hang-on/lock-on tree stand on the market
- Sharpshaft Content: best safety harness for your tree stand
Lightest Hang-On Tree Stand Reviews 2024
Millennium Treestands M7 Microlite Treestand Review – 8.5 lbs
Credit where it’s due, it really is unbeatable if you like to move from place to place while hunting. For that reason alone I’d have it in my arsenal.
Millennium actually has a patented ‘comfortMAX’ design which they use on all their tree stands. Where on other models it’s excellent, I’m not saying that this one isn’t comfortable, but it certainly isn’t at the same level.
It’s a hang-on tree stand, great for hunters who need a lightweight, mobile stand which sets up quickly.
The platform holds up to 300 pounds, and measures 20.5-inches wide and 26-inches deep and is relatively comfortable. The countered sling seat folds up to provide enough space to make stand-up shots too.
They market this tree stand as noiseless, which couldn’t be further from the case. Once you’re set up it’s okay, but to fix it to the tree and take it down again it makes some serious noise when metal hits metal.
Millennium does include a ‘safeLink’ with the tree stand. SafeLink is a 35-foot rope with a Prusik knot and carabiner designed to help you get up and down the tree stand without too much trouble.
Pros
- Great for mobile hunters
- Easy to get up and down thanks to SafeLink
Cons
- No seat angle adjustment
- Despite what they say it’s actually a very noisy setup which may scare game away
>> Check Price on Amazon <<
>> Check Price on Cabela’s <<
Lone Wolf Assault II Hang-On Tree Stand Review – 11 lbs
The seat has a built in bow holder which is nice, although perhaps it could be slightly better positioned as it’s quite low.
This stand is particularly good at getting in between those gnarly branches, and fits trees from 4 inches to 22 inches in diameter.
It works with the EZ hang hook although I don’t recommend it as it won’t save you much time because the stand is just so light, and it’s only useful with straight trees.
Like the Lone Wolf Assault II, it could be more comfortable because it’s such a small design. If you’re going to spend all day sat on this tree stand, I recommend considering buying an extra seat pad for more comfort.
Pros
- Great for mobile hunters thanks to light weight
- Don’t scare away game thanks to silent setup
- Great to get into difficult trees
Cons
- Has a cheap feel to it and may not last for long
- Doesn’t work on all trees due to reduced diameter
>> Check Price on Amazon <<
>> Check Price on Cabela’s <<
Hawk Run and Gun Helium Ultra-Light Hang-On Treestand – 11.7 lbs
Both the stand and sticks are straightforward to use. Unlike some of the tree stands on this list, it works to its billed capacity of 300 lbs.
It also seems stable and secure when going up or down a tree.
Pros
- Strong, stable, lightweight hang-on tree stand
- Comes with four light helium climbing sticks
- Great for mobile hunters
Cons
- Invest in a seat pad!
>> Check Price on Amazon <<
XOP – Air Raid Evolution – 12.3 lbs
They’ve built it to be flexible and last longer, too. It supports a massive 350 lbs in weight, and it has UV treated polyester attachment straps. It’s a very sturdy build. It also works on branchy, crooked trees.
Perhaps a downside is that on the new version, it’s now impossible to collapse it entirely. It stays open about an inch more than the previous design, but it’s not essential.
They’ve built this tree stand to integrate with XOP climbing sticks.
Pros
- New design for comfort and security
- Very quiet system (love this!)
- Excellent on crooked trees
Cons
- Doesn’t collapse as far as the old version
>> Check Price on Amazon <<
Millennium Treestands M60U Ultralite Hang-On Stand Review – 13 lbs
On the M60U you have the integrated interlock leveling system to adjust the horizontal level of both platform and seat. Plus, you have an additional footrest.
You’ll have no problem putting up and taking down this hang-on either thanks to the CamLock receiver which makes it really easy.
The M60U also has a fold-up seat, and includes the Safelink rope with Prusik knot and carabiner to help you in and out of the tree.
It’s built to hold up to 300 lbs of weight, and the platform measures 24 by 33 inches with a 20-inch seat.
Where we found both Millenniums lacking was in the noise department. Silence is obviously so important and packing and putting up these stands has a lot of metal o metal action.
Pros
- More comfortable than the M7
- Adjust your seat position with leveling technology
- Easy to get up and down thanks to SafeLink
Cons
- Quite noisy which may alert nearby game
>> Check Price on Amazon <<
Lone Wolf Alpha Hang-On II Treestand Review – 14 lbs
It has a solid-feeling design, but I also like that the cables and parts are all replaceable should I need to in the future. This USA-manufactured tree stand seems a quality build.
The platform is a good size and feels sturdy when you’re on it. It folds up really well too for storage.
The overall consensus is that this is a comfortable seat, meaning that you’d be happy to spend long days sat up a tree waiting for a buck.
It does have metal buckles which – like the other entries – makes it a little noisier than you would hope. Several buyers counter this by covering the buckles with other materials.
Pros
- Versatility: it fits a wide range of tree shapes and diameters
- Comfortable for long sessions
- Solid made in USA design and good customer service
Cons
- Noisy metal buckles which may alert nearby game
>> Check Price on Amazon <<
>> Check Price on Cabela’s <<
So what’s the lightest hang-on tree stand out there?
The lightest tree stand I’ve found currently available is the the M7 Microlite Treestand, at 8.5 lbs. It was previously the X-Stand Ground Seat, that weighed an incredibly light 3 lbs, however it go recalled for manufacturing issues and it had a poor design.
I love all Millennium designs. This one included, although it must be said that they have sacrificed some standard features to get the weight so low on this model.
If you don’t mind a tree stand for a few extra lbs, I’d recommend upgrading to the M60U, or swapping over to Lone Wolf’s Alpha Hang-On II.
Nonetheless, the M7 is simply awesome for hunters who like to stay on the move.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do tree stands normally weigh?
Hang-on tree stands and climbing tree stands differ lightly in weight, the climber normally being the slightly heavier of the two. The hang-on tree stands included in this article – at the lightest end of the market – weigh in anywhere from three to 14 lbs. Light doesn’t necessarily mean high quality however, as if you take the Summit range as a well-known, high-quality example, their offering ranges anywhere from 15 to 26 lbs.
