Although tree stands are critical in providing you with a better view of your target and helping you in taking a direct shot, they can prove to be a dangerous tool in hunting and put your life at great risk.
This is merely due to the fact that an average hunter hangs a tree stand about 17-20 feet high in the sky. This greatly amplifies the risk of the hunter falling down and suffering from fatal injuries.
Thus, Tree Stand Harness is essential to prevent you from falling and keep you safe and secure at all times.
Tree stand harnesses come in different shapes and sizes with each having its own unique characteristics. If you are a novice hunter and do not know which harness is most suitable for you, you have come to the right place!
In this article, we will list down the best tree stand harness available on the market. We have compiled our list after extensive research and keeping in consideration the reviews of hunters who have actually used them.
Thus, you do not need to worry as we will surely find the best one for you!
Best Tree Stand Harnesses
1. Hunter Safety System Pro-Series Harness Best for Hunting USB Port Included Adjustable Straps Eight Pockets to Keep all your Gear ElimiSheild Scent Control Technology 300 lbs. Capacity 3.06 lbs. weight 2. Summit Treestands Pro Safety Harness Lineman’s Rope Included Padded Shoulders MOLLE Design Lightweight TMA Certified 300 lbs. Capacity 3. Hunter Safety System Ultra-Lite Flex Harness Lightweight 300 lbs. Capacity 2.0 lbs. Weight Pockets to keep Hunting Gear Mesh Cell Phone Pocket Portable 5-Year Warranty ElimiShield Technology 4. Muddy The Safeguard Harness Lightweight (1.9 lbs.) Easy to put on Quiet Does not Restrict Blood Follow Tether Allows 360-Degree Movement 300 lbs. Capacity 5. Tree Spider Speed Harness Bungee Tether Prevents Fall Absorbs More Than 40% of the Shock Ario Nesh Back adds Extra Comfort Adjustable Straps Extremely Flexible 300 lbs. Capacity 6. Hunter Safety System HSS Lil' Treestalker Youth Treestand Safety Harness Lightweight (2.5 lbs.) Safe for Children Adjustable Straps ElimiShield Scent Control Technology Seat Belt Style Quiet Buckles Suspension Relief System 50-120 lbs. Capacity 7. Hunter Safety System Women's Contour Safety Harness Especially Designed for Women Adjustable Comfortable ElimiSheild Scent Technology 5-Year Warranty 2.5 lbs. Weight 300 lbs. Capacity
1. Hunter Safety System Pro-Series Harness
Features:
- Brand: Hunter Safety System
- Weight: 3.06 lbs.
- Capacity: 300 lbs.
If you are a hunter looking for a classic harness to use with your tree stand, then this one is for you! The Hunter Safety Pro-Series Harness does not only satisfy TMA’s safety guidelines but also boasts a five-year warranty.
This surely assures the users of its reliability and durability. In addition to this, it is made up of extremely lightweight fabric and consists of a ventilating mesh which has reduced the weight of this model by more than 40% compared to the other harness models previously introduced by Hunter Safety System.
Moreover, the Hunter Safety System Pro harness has also a number of impressive features including an adjustable strap as well as suspension relief straps.
It also comes with a new charging USB port that allows you to charge your devices in the middle of nowhere while hunting.
However, what is most unique about this harness is that it has not one but EIGHT pockets to fit in all your necessary gear.
There is also a binocular strap in the harness to help you easily carry them.
Furthermore, similar to the other Hunter Safety System products, this harness is also equipped with ElimiSheild Scent Control Technology.
This technology consists of an integration system added to the fabric of the harness which reduces your body scent and limits the risk of you being spotted by your target animals.
Thus, this harness comes in very handy for hunters using tree stands. In addition, it is also very easy to put on and comes with a very helpful instruction manual and a DVD manual, teaching you how to properly wear it.
The only downside to this is its price. This harness is one of the most expensive ones on the market and the price increases if you wish to purchase a larger size.
Moreover, many have complained about the sizing running small. Nonetheless, with its impressive features, it is one of the best harnesses available on the market.
2. Summit Treestands Pro Safety Harness
Features:
- Brand: Summit Treestands
- Waist Size: 28″ to 35″
- Capacity: 300 lbs.
No list about tree stands and hunting gear can be complete without including a product from Summit Tree stands. This brand is truly a reputable brand and its products never disappoint.
Similar is the case with their Pro Safety Harness. With a maximum capacity of 300 pounds, this harness comes in three different sizes: large, medium, and small.
In addition to this, it comes with the Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment (MOLLE) design that allows hunters to carry as many accessories as they want with them.
The Summit Tree stands harness is TMA certified. It comes with a very strong 8 foot long lineman’s rope that strongly holds the weight of up to 300 pounds.
The nylon-made comfort torso straps clinch the harness to your body, and the Prusik knot plays a major role in maintaining a quiet fit, which is extremely useful in ensuring the hunters remain undetected by the prey.
Moreover, the shoulder pads add to the comfort of the harness and ensure hunters can wear it for long periods of time without any discomfort or irritation.
In addition to the comfort of this fit, the Summit Tree stands Pro harness is also extremely reliable with a one-year warranty. It is also very easy to put on and remove with the quick-lock buckles that ensure a hassle-free attachment and detachment.
The only downside is that some hunters have complained about the leg buckles being too long and not snapping together. Apart from this, the Summit Tree Stand Pro Safety Harness is of great quality.
3. Hunter Safety System Ultra-Lite Flex Harness
Features:
- Brand: Hunter Safety System
- Weight: 2.0 lbs.
- Capacity: 300 lbs.
The second harness by Hunter Safety Systems on our list is the Ultra-Lite Flex Harness. Weighing only 2 pounds, this is the lightest harness introduced by Hunter Safety Systems.
This makes it very portable and easy to carry from one place to another. Moreover, it comes with a very comfortable mesh design with a snug fit that adds to the lightness of the harness and makes it extremely flexible, allowing every kind of movement.
The 1.25 inches of upper-body webbing and the shock-absorbing tether also reduce the bulkiness of the harness and ensure that users feel safe wearing it.
The Ultra-Lite Flex Harness comes with a number of accessories including adjustable straps, a lineman’s climbing rope, and an instruction manual along with a DVD to instruct the users how to properly put it on.
However, its most unique feature is that it is the only harness on the market with a mesh cell phone pocket. This allows you to keep your mobile phone with you while hunting and you can call for help in case of any emergency.
In addition to this, the harness also eliminates the risk of you dangerously dangling from the tree stand and allows you to wear it for long periods of time, without any discomfort.
Similar to the Hunter Safety System Pro Series Harness, this model is also equipped with ElimiSheild Scent Control Technology. This technology consists of an integration system added to the fabric of the harness which reduces your body scent and limits the risk of you being spotted by deer.
Moreover, its color and pattern easily get camouflaged by the trees. Thus, this harness comes in very handy for hunters using tree stands.
The only drawback to this harness is that is not very long-lasting compared to the others and gets worn out quickly. Moreover, despite being extremely lightweight, this harness is very large in size.
Nonetheless, it is a harness loved greatly by hunters all around the world as it ensures portability and comfort.
4. Muddy The Safeguard Harness
Features:
- Brand: Muddy
- Weight: 1.9 lbs.
- Capacity: 300 lbs.
At number four on our list is Muddy the Safeguard Harness. This is the lightest tree stand harness available on the market with a weight of only 1.9 pounds.
However, what is most remarkable about this harness is that despite being lightweight, it is one of the strongest with a maximum capacity of 300 pounds.
Moreover, it is made up of padded nylon that brings great comfort to the users and makes it a very convenient choice for hunters who are likely to wear it for long periods of time in a hot jungle.
Muddy the Safeguard harness also comes equipped with a number of impressive features. These include a lineman’s climbing rope for safety and a suspension relief system that adds to the comfort of the hunters by reducing the pressure being placed on their bodies.
Moreover, they also consist of additional straps to hold your hunting gear, such as binoculars, compasses, and range finders. The harness’s extremely flexible tether also ensures 360-degree movement and makes it an ideal choice for all hunting activities.
However, what we love the most about this harness is that it does not restrict the hunter in any way. Not only is the hunter free to move but also the leg straps are extremely comfortable and allow a good flow of blood.
This feature is rare in most of the full-body harnesses available on the market. In addition to this, it is easy to put on and does not make any sound, helping hunters remain concealed from their target.
The only drawback to this is that the Muddy Safeguard Harness is not very adjustable like the others on our list. Many users have found its straps to be stiff and hard to adjust.
Nonetheless, with its one-year warranty and impressive attributes, it is still a good harness to use with your tree stands and we hope it will not disappoint you.
5. Tree Spider Speed Harness
Features:
- Brand: Tree Spider
- Weight: 2.5 pounds
- Capacity: 115-300 lbs.
At number five on our list is the Tree Spider Speed Harness. As the name suggests this is one of the most agile and secure harnesses available on the market.
Despite being extremely lightweight, it has a weight capacity ranging from 115 to 300 pounds. Built with aluminum and covered with polyester pads, this is not only comfortable and secure but also one of the most durable and sturdy harnesses.
Moreover, the Ario Mesh back adds extra comfort and protects hunters from any kind of back pain when wearing it for long periods of time.
In addition to this, the harness is designed to fit any body type with adjustable straps and flexible chest buckles. These ensure that every body shape and size receives the best possible fit.
The leg straps also reduce the pressure on the user’s body and make sure the harness is not too stiff and allows flexible movement.
Other impressive accessories included in the purchase are a highly efficient suspension relief system, an informative instruction manual to help hunters easily put it on, and an aluminum power link carbineer.
What makes the Tree Spider speed harness stand out is its care for the hunters’ safety.
It is equipped with a shock-reducing technology that absorbs more than 40% of the shock if a user suffers from a fall.
However, it is unlikely that the hunter will have to face such an unfortunate situation as the bungee tether protects you from falling and gets you back onto the tree stand safely.
The only drawback of this harness is that it does not have a very long lifespan and gets worn out quickly. In addition to this, it is not very portable like the others on our list. However, despite all this, it is a very reliable harness that is bound to keep you safe at all times.
6. Hunter Safety System Lil’ Treestalker Youth Tree-Stand Safety Harness
Features:
- Brand: Hunter Safety System
- Weight: 2.0 lbs.
- Capacity: 50-120 pounds
The Hunter Safety System HSS Lil’ Youth Harness is the perfect tree stand harness for young kids. Contrary to popular belief, it is actually safe to take kids on hunting trips and allow them to use tree stands with a reliable and secure harness.
Designed with a weight capacity of 50-120 pounds, the Lil’ Treestalker harness is ideal for young kids. In addition to this, it is extremely lightweight with a weight of only 2 pounds, making it the best choice for kids.
Most of the features of the HSS Lil’ Youth Harness are the same as the adult HSS harness. They also come with padded shoulders and adjustable straps.
Moreover, they also have extra 2 pockets for the tiny hunters to keep in their hunting accessories. It has a suspension relief system that reduces pressure on the young hunters’ bodies.
It is also equipped with ElimiSheild Scent Control Technology that reduces your body scent and limits the risk of you being spotted by your target animals.
However, this model comes with a few extra features that were designed to especially ensure the safety of young kids. This includes a built-in webbing and seat-belt style tight buckles and straps.
Furthermore, the HSS Lil’ Youth harness also has features that allow the hunters to remain concealed from their prey. They have quiet buckles that make little noise. Moreover, its color and pattern can easily camouflage with mossy oak trees.
The only downside to this is that the sizing is sometimes too loose for kids and the straps are not that tight.
Nonetheless, with the right adjustments to the straps, this Lil’ Treestalker Youth harness is ideal for young kids using tree stands while on hunting trips with their parents.
7. Hunter Safety System Women’s Contour Safety Harness
Features:
- Brand: Hunter Safety System
- Weight: 2.5 lbs.
- Capacity: 300 pounds
As the name suggests, Hunter Safety System Women’s Contour Safety Harness is specifically designed for women. It is engineered in such a way that it perfectly fits the curves of a woman’s body.
Being the recipient of the NRA’S Golden Bull’s-eye Award, it is the epitome of reliability, comfort, and durability. With the right fit panels, it maximizes the level of comfort and ensures that female hunters can flexibly move around in the harness without suffering from any discomfort.
In addition to this, it comes with two very large pockets for lady hunters to keep all their necessities in. These pockets are also useful in keeping their hands warm.
This harness also comes with a lineman’s climbing rope, deer drag, and suspension relief system to ensure safe use. Moreover, the harness is extremely convenient with upper-body webbing and a shock-absorbing tether, which greatly reduces the impact in case of a fall.
Similar to other Hunter Safety System products, this harness also ensures that the hunter remains undetected by the deer.
The ElimiSheild Scent Control Technology reduces your body scent whereas the buckles and straps are designed in such a way that they do not make much noise. Thus, this reduces the chance of hunters catching the attention of their prey.
Moreover, the harness boasts a five-year warranty, assuring the users of its durability and reliability.
The only drawback of this harness is that it is not well padded. Keeping in mind that it is designed for women, it should have been more padded, especially near the thighs.
Nonetheless, it is still a great option for female hunters as it is one of the few harnesses on the market designed especially for women.
Buyer’s Guide
Every year, we lose a large number of our hunters due to injuries caused by falling off the tree stands. To avoid such unfortunate accidents, a tree stand harness is a must-have hunting gear accessory.
However, the real task is to find the most suitable harness for yourself and your body types out of the plethora available on the market.
Thus, in this buyer’s guide, we will be discussing the most important attributes of a harness that you must consider before making your final purchase.
Each and every one of these attributes together makes the perfect harness for you:
Weight Capacity
The first and foremost thing you must consider before purchasing your tree stand harness is its weight capacity. Tree stand harnesses available on the market comes in different sizes with each supporting different weight capacities.
It is paramount that you choose the harness that is suitable for your weight to avoid any unfortunate accidents. Thus, before purchasing any harness measure your weight and limit your options accordingly.
Do not include a harness on your list even if you are only a few pounds above its weight capacity. This is the area where you do not want to take any risk, as you would be putting your life in the hands of a harness.
Choosing a harness with a lower weight capacity than your weight can greatly increase the risk of you falling and, thus, risking your life.
It is ideal that you choose a harness with a maximum capacity of at least 300 pounds.
Lightweight
Another important factor to consider is the weight of the harness itself. The lighter the harness is, the more suitable it is for the hunters to carry them, as they already carry a lot of stuff on their backs, including the tree stands.
Carrying a heavy load can cause severe back pain as well. Thus, it is essential to travel light on hunting trips. And for this reason, you must choose harnesses that are lightweight and easy to transport.
Heavy harnesses can result in great discomfort. An ideal weight for a harness would be around 2 pounds.
Comfort
It is crucial that your tree stand harness should be comfortable to wear. Hunters spend hours on tree stands while hunting. Thus, the harness needs to be extremely comfortable for them to wear for long periods.
Choose a harness that is well-padded and allows a good flow of blood. In addition, it should fit your body’s shape and include a suspension relief system.
Moreover, the harness must be made from fabric that prevents overheating and ensure the user can breathe well. A well-designed harness made from good materials can play a key role in preventing injuries.
Flexibility
Another important attribute you must keep in mind when purchasing a harness is its mobility and flexibility. Hunters require a lot of movement in order to get a good shot at their target.
And for this reason, harnesses must not be stiff and should allow easy movement. You must choose harnesses made from light materials that are not rigid to allow you to move freely.
In addition to this, the adjustability of the harness also contributes to its flexibility. The straps and buckles of the harness should be adjustable for you to get a more comfortable fit that is most suitable for your body shape and size.
These adjustable straps also ensure your safety by ensuring that the buckles and straps are clamped tightly around your body.
Durability
The durability of a safety harness is a key element that one must consider before making their final choice. A harness is the most important part of your hunting gear, especially when using tree stands as they are the ones that protect against injuries.
Therefore, hunters must not put their lives in the hands of just any safety harness. They must choose one that is from a reputable brand and is known for its durability and reliability.
Moreover, the material used on the harness must be of top quality. Good quality harnesses prevent suffocation and overheating, and allow air in and out of the harness. This ensures that hunters remain hydrated and do not suffer from breathing difficulties.
Noise / Scent Control
Tree stand harnesses are used by hunters while on hunting trips. The most important rule of hunting is to remain hidden from your prey and to catch it by surprise.
And for this reason, your harness must be completely quiet and avoid anything that could catch the attention of your prey. It is recommended to purchase harnesses with buckles that do not make sound and ones with scent control technology.
Deer have a good sense of smell and they detect predators through their scent. Thus, harnesses that reduce the human scent are good for hunting purposes.
Safety
The main purpose of a harness is the safety of the hunter. Thus, only purchase harnesses that are TMA certified and satisfy safety guidelines.
This is a criterion in which you do not want to take any risk as it can put your life in danger. Only purchase the harness once you are fully satisfied with the safety measures it offers.
FAQs
Q: How often should you change your harness?
It is advised that you check the condition of your Tree Stand Harness before every hunting season. A single tear or worn-out part can compromise the reliability and durability of your safety harness.
If it is in perfect condition then you can continue to use it. Nonetheless, it is advised that you replace the harness after every three to four years.
Moreover, you must also take certain steps to maintain your harness. Never bleach it as it would ruin its color and, thus, its ability to camouflage. Wash it with simple soap, and do not leave it in the sun for too long.
Q: Do you always have to wear your harness?
As mentioned before, most hunting accidents are caused by tree stand accidents. Statistics show that more hunters lose their lives by falling from treestands than in accidents involving guns and animals.
Thus, it is advised to have your harness at all times while you are high up in the sky on your tree stand. It is for your own safety.
Q: How to attach your safety harness to the tree stand?
One of the most commonly asked questions is how to safely attach your tree stand harness to your tree stand. Firstly, find a tree strap with a Prussik knot.
Tie one end of the strap with the tree and slide the carbineer tightly around the height of your head. Use the Prussik knot to adjust the length of the cord and allow more flexible movement, according to your preference.
Conclusion
Tree stand harnesses are truly a crucial part of your hunting gear. They are the key accessory that is responsible for your safety. Thus, in order to prevent yourself from unfortunate accidents, it is advised to wear a safety harness at all times.
However, it is challenging to choose the best one out of the thousands available on the market. There are a number of factors one must consider in order to choose the most reliable and secure harness.
For this reason, we have listed down our top seven harnesses that are available on the market. Our list has been compiled after extensive research and testing.
Our top pick is the Hunter Safety System Pro Series harness for its quality, durability, impressive features, and reputable brand. This is a harness that is yet to disappoint hunters. Hence, it is an extremely good choice.
Nonetheless, all these harnesses have their own unique features and are ideal for hunters with different requirements. You must choose the harness that is most suitable for you and satisfies your requirements.