Tree Stand Harnesses
How to Choose a Tree Stand Harness
A tree stand harness is a full body hunting harness with a shock-absorbing tether that connects to a tree strap above your head, so a slip from the stand ends with you hanging upright instead of on the ground. Malta Hunting makes four, all rated by the manufacturer and drop tested by Intertek to ASTM F2337.
Pick the Hunter's Elite for all-day padding and gear storage, the Ultralight for the lightest pack-in setup, the CORE for an essentials-only harness, or the Youth Ultralight for supervised young hunters.
Compare the four Malta Hunting tree stand harnesses
| Harness kit | Rated capacity | Harness weight | Buckles | Sizes | Patterns | Third-party test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter's Elite | 300 lb | 4.6 to 4.9 lb | Steel quick-connect, chest and legs | S-M, L-XL, 2XL, 3XL | Black, TrueTimber Kanati, TrueTimber Strata | Intertek, ASTM F2337-20 (2025) |
| Ultralight | 300 lb | Just over 2 lb | Aluminum quick-connect, chest and legs | S-M, L-XL, 2XL, 3XL | Forest Green, TrueTimber Kanati, Strata, Shadowbark | Intertek, ASTM F2337-20 (2025) |
| CORE | 300 lb | 2.0 to 2.2 lb | Steel pass-through legs | S-M, L-XL, 2XL | Coyote Tan | Intertek, ASTM F2337-22 (2026) |
| Youth Ultralight | 150 lb | Just over 2 lb | Quick-connect, chest and legs | One youth size | Forest Green, TrueTimber Kanati, Strata | Intertek, ASTM F2337-20 (2023) |
Every kit ships with a tree strap and a deer drag and suspension relief strap. Each harness has a shock-absorbing tether and sewn-in lineman's loops. Capacity means you plus your clothing and gear.
How to choose a tree stand harness
- Weight rating. Add your body weight, clothing, pack and bow or gun. Adult kits are rated 300 lb, the youth kit 150 lb.
- Size. Use the waist ranges below over your hunting clothes.
- Weight and bulk. The Ultralight and CORE weigh about 2 lb; the Hunter's Elite adds a lumbar belt, MOLLE webbing and gear lanyards at under 5 lb.
- Buckles. Quick-connect chest and leg buckles go on faster with gloves; pass-through buckles keep the CORE simple and light.
- Quiet. All four use quiet materials; the Hunter's Elite covers its metal buckles with elastic sleeves.
- Climbing system. Pair the harness with a lifeline or lineman's strap, or buy a hunt essentials pack that includes both.
Tree stand harness size chart
| Size | Waist | Typical height and weight |
|---|---|---|
| S-M | 22 to 46 in | About 4 ft 10 in to 5 ft 8 in, 130 to 180 lb |
| L-XL | 26 to 49 in | About 4 ft 10 in to 6 ft 2 in, 160 to 240 lb |
| 2XL | 30 to 52 in | About 5 ft 2 in to 6 ft 8 in, 190 to 280 lb |
| 3XL | 30 to 53 in | About 5 ft 6 in to 6 ft 8 in, 260 lb up to the 300 lb capacity |
Measure your waist over the clothing you hunt in. The bands overlap on purpose: if you sit on a boundary in late-season layers, size up.
Inspection and retirement
Inspect webbing, stitching, buckles, the tether and the tree strap before every hunt and retire anything cut, frayed, burned or not latching. Malta's manual retires a harness five years from purchase and requires replacement after any fall. Store it dry and out of the sun.
