The Best Tree Stand Safety Harnesses

Tree stands are a very worthwhile investment for deer hunters. But their benefits are worthless without proper safety equipment. Suspending yourself a story or more off the ground requires top-notch equipment to keep you attached to the tree and, in the event of a fall, safe and able to recover.

Here’s what makes a harness worth using and how to select the one that works best for you. We will be breaking this article down into two sections. First, what makes a good hunting safety harness. The second part will cover our recommendations for bowhunters, bigger hunters, women, and children. Follow along to find out how and why we decided on the best hunting safety harness.

Features of a Good Hunting Safety Harness

What makes a good hunting safety harness? There are several safety features that all need to work reliably and in harmony to be a practical safety harness. While the designs may vary from harness to harness, a hunting safety harness features straps that will keep your body positioned upright in case of a fall. For example, a rock-climbing harness doesn’t provide the needed support for you to climb back onto your stand (i.e., self-recover).

Starting from the lowest point, your harness needs adjustable leg straps. These sit around your upper thighs and provide a seat paired with the lineman’s belt. This lineman’s belt will also be attached to a set of shoulder straps. Between these shoulder straps (about where your shoulder blades meet) will be a tree tether. This strap will have a carabiner that you attach to your tree belt. The tree belt loops around the trunk itself, and will keep you upright and off the ground if you slip or your stand gives way. These straps should be wide enough not to cut off circulation, and all the buckles and fittings should be easy to adjust and use with gloved hands preferably.

An adjustable tree strap is just as important.  You have to be safely and securely attached to the tree as well.  It’s not just the harness that you need to be focused on.  Many hunters leave their tree ropes or tree straps in the tree all year long but this can cause deterioration to the tree strap, causing it to fail in the event of a fall.

Safety harnesses are NOT one-size-fits-all.  Different body types and weights require different sizes.  Manufacturers’ measurements may vary from product to product, but be sure to never exceed the weight rating for the safety harness. Most treestand safety harnesses do not come with a lineman’s climbing strap, which allows you safely hold yourself in place while hunting treestands or climbing sticks.  This is a must-have for anyone hanging treestands to ensure you’re tied off at all times.  A lineman’s climbing strap can be purchased separately with ease and they’re relatively cheap.

The Best Safety Harnesses for Hunting

Now that we’ve covered what makes a good hunting safety harness, it’s time to list our picks as to the best hunting safety harnesses for different people/situations.

1.  Hunter Safety System X-1 Bow-Hunter Harness

The very nature of bowhunting requires your gear to be tight to your body. Having your string catch a loose strap or buckle would be as uncomfortable as it would be embarrassing. The Hunter Safety System X-1 Bowhunter is an incredibly well thought out lightweight harness for all seasons. The X-1 is built with simplicity in mind, so there are no additional pockets or pouches to add bulk to the harness. The quick release buckles are low profile, and even the straps are kept to a minimum.  The smaller waist buckle and waist strap is ideal for bowhunting.  This harness is one of the most popular from Hunter Safety Systems, and it’s obvious why. Any hunter looking to cut down on bulk, especially archers, would do well to pick up this harness.

2. Hunter Safety System ProSeries Safety Harness

A hunting safety harness needs to be comfortable; otherwise, it’s less likely to be worn. That’s just the truth, and being a “trophy-sized” hunter doesn’t mean you need to be uncomfortable or risk your health to hunt in a tree stand. The Hunter Safety System ProSeries Harness is an excellent option for bigger guys. Available in 2 and 3x, this vest-styled harness gives the advantage of eight pockets to carry extra gear and your phone in the case of a fall. The mesh material will keep you cool and comfortable if you are one of the lucky hunters that get to start the season when it’s still temperate out. Speaking of the mesh material, the harness is also infused with ElimiShield to control your scent while hunting. While anyone can purchase this harness, it needs recognition for larger hunters.

3.  Hunter Safety System Lady Hybrid Treestand Safety Harness

Most hunting safety harnesses on the market are designed around male proportions. While these can be adjusted for women, having a harness specifically designed for the size and shape of lady hunters cuts the adjustment time down significantly. The Hunter Safety System Lady Hybrid Treestand Safety Harness delivers all of the benefits of their ProSeries harness but it is cut for a female frame. The lineman’s buckle is slightly smaller than on other harnesses, but it also appears smaller due to the increased hip padding around the belt. As we mentioned in our last suggestion, this product also comes with ElimiShield technology and a USB port to store battery packs and charge your phone. Available in the Mossy Oak Bottomland camo pattern, this is one sharp-looking harness.

4. Hunter Safety System Lil’ Treestalker

There is nothing better than getting a child into the woods on their first deer hunt. We take pride in fitting them with their first deer rifle, and we should do the same with their safety gear. Hunter Safety System has come up repeatedly in our lists, so it should be no surprise that the Youth Lil’ Treestalker makes the list for our best kids harness. Designed for kids between 50 and 100 pounds, this harness can grow with your young hunter. The Mossy Oak vest is lightweight and cuts down on loose straps that become playthings for younger hunters. The two front pockets provide great hand warmers or storage for gummy bears when the munchies strike (and they will strike). Just like the rest of Hunter Safety System’s line, these harnesses are coated with scent covering technology and feature quiet close buckles. Personally, the quiet buckles aren’t our favorite, but the overall value of this harness makes them a decent compromise.

5.  Summit Treestands Men’s Pro Safety Harness

For those of us that like a clean, purpose-built harness, the Summit Pro is the option. Summit makes outstanding climbing stands, so it would stand to reason that they take the same level of commitment to making the safety harnesses too. The harness doesn’t have any storage pockets; instead, it has military-inspired MOLLE webbing to attach whatever pouches you want or need, specific to your hunt. If you are like me and carry way too much extra gear while hunting, the padded shoulder straps keep the fatigue from setting in while sitting in the stand.  Vertical climbing loops are engineered into this design to ensure you can stay tied to the tree when hanging treestands.