Youth Ultralight Tree Stand Harness Kit
The Malta Hunting Youth Ultralight Tree Stand Harness Kit brings the Ultralight construction down to one youth size for hunters up to 150 lb. Built by Malta Dynamics, LLC of Malta, Ohio, the same manufacturer behind its industrial fall protection harnesses, it keeps the breathable back, shoulder, and leg padding, the 1 in webbing, the lightweight quick-connect chest and leg buckles, and the stretch shock-absorbing tether of the adult harness, scaled to a smaller frame at just over 2 lb, so a young hunter will actually wear it.
Intertek tested the youth harness to ASTM F2337-20, the Standard Test Method for Tree Stand Fall Arrest Systems, in June 2023: a 220 lb torso dropped 6 ft feet first was arrested at 1,225 lbf, the face-first drop at 891 lbf, and the harness also passed the dynamic strength, climbing belt, suspension relief device, and label tests plus an added 50 lb drop. Each kit ships with the harness, a 2 in wide tree strap, and a 1 in suspension relief strap that doubles as a deer drag, in Forest Green, TrueTimber Kanati, or TrueTimber Strata. Any hunter under 16 must be instructed before each use and accompanied by a supervising adult at all times.
| Fit Point | Youth Ultralight |
|---|---|
| Size | Youth, one size |
| Capacity | Up to 150 lb, hunter plus gear |
| Adjustment | Chest, leg, and waist straps |
| Intended user | Young hunters supervised by an adult |
The Youth Ultralight comes in a single youth size with no height or waist chart. Adjust the waist slide bar, the chest buckle, and both leg straps snug over the clothing the young hunter will wear in the stand, then pull-test every buckle. The 150 lb limit includes the hunter, clothing, and everything carried on the harness. A hunter who is over 150 lb, or who cannot get the straps snug, needs the adult Ultralight in S-M. Under 16, a responsible adult must instruct before each use and stay with the hunter at all times above the ground.
Who Needs This Product
The Youth Ultralight Tree Stand Harness Kit is the fall arrest system for the young hunter in your camp: a first-season youth hunter on a ladder stand, the mentored bowhunter who has outgrown sitting in a ground blind, or any hunter up to 150 lb whose adult harness hangs loose no matter how far the straps cinch down. A harness that fits is a harness that gets worn, and a harness that gets worn is the only one that works. It is the right choice for parents, grandparents, mentors, and youth hunting programs who want the same tested construction as the adult Ultralight, in a size that sits where it should on a smaller frame. The Malta manual puts the adult in charge: a hunter under 16 must be instructed before every use and accompanied by a supervising adult at all times while climbing, descending, or in the stand. The harness, tree strap, and tether cover the young hunter once at the stand. To keep them connected from the moment they leave the ground, pair the kit with the Two-User 30 ft Reflective Lifeline so mentor and youth climb the same tree connected, or buy the youth size inside the Ultralight Hunt Essentials Pack with a lifeline and lineman's climbing strap.
Features
Sized for a young hunter
One youth size with a smaller torso, shorter leg straps, and a 150 lb rating, so the shoulder straps sit on the shoulders and the leg straps sit on the legs instead of sliding around a cinched-down adult harness.
Tested where youth weights live
Beyond the standard 220 lb drops, Malta asked Intertek to drop a 50 lb weight 6 ft on the energy-absorbing tether. It arrested at 779 lbf and the fall indicator deployed, confirming the tether works at the light end of the youth range, not just at adult test weights.
Stretch shock-absorbing tether
The elasticized tether off the back of the neckline stays short in the stand and stretches to reduce arrest force in a fall. The fall arrest indicator deployed visibly and permanently on every Intertek drop, so a used harness cannot be mistaken for a good one.
Lightweight quick-connect buckles
Low-profile quick-connect chest and leg buckles snap closed with an audible lock that a supervising adult can hear and pull-test, and they open fast so a young hunter can get in and out of the harness without a struggle.
Breathable, quiet, just over 2 lb
Open mesh padding on the back, shoulders, and legs with 1 in webbing keeps the harness light and cool enough for a youth-season sit in October, and soft, quiet materials do not clink or rustle at the shot.
Complete kit, tested as a system
Ships with the harness, the 2 in wide HEA1000 tree strap, and the 1 in HEA3000 suspension relief strap that doubles as a deer drag. Sewn-in lineman's loops and a built-in gear lanyard carry over from the adult Ultralight for the day the young hunter learns to hang a set.
A supervising adult, every climb, every sit. Per the Malta Hunting Safety manual, any person under 16 wearing a Malta harness must be instructed before each use and accompanied by a supervising adult at all times, especially while climbing, descending, or on any platform above the ground. The young hunter must be attached to the tree from the moment they leave the ground until they return, using a lifeline or a lineman's climbing strap together with the tree strap and tether. Never connect the harness to any part of the tree stand, climbing sticks, or tree limbs, never exceed the 150 lb limit of hunter plus gear, and after any fall return the harness to Malta Dynamics for replacement.
Compliance Standards
ASTM F2337-20
Standard Test Method for Tree Stand Fall Arrest Systems. Intertek (Cortland, New York, ISO 17025 accredited) tested the youth harness June 23 to 26, 2023 under report 105469468CRT-001. Seven line items passed: feet-first dynamic performance (1,225 lbf), face-first dynamic performance (891 lbf), dynamic strength with 22 in of harness stretch against a 24 in limit, the climbing belt test, the suspension relief device test at twice rated capacity for 2 minutes, a client-requested 50 lb feet-first drop (779 lbf), and labels and instructions.
Declaration of Conformity MDL1PO379
Malta Dynamics, LLC declares the youth harness kit in conformity with ASTM F2337-20 (June 26, 2023), verified at Level 3, an independent third-party laboratory accredited to ISO 17025, naming Intertek at 3933 US Route 11, Cortland, New York. The youth harness carries no ASTM F1772-17 declaration; that specification is declared on the adult Ultralight only.
Manufacturer labels and 5-year retirement
Each harness carries the orange ASTM warning label with the year of manufacture, capacity rating, part number, size, and the required retirement warning. The label set passed section 11.5 of ASTM F2337-20, and the manual sets the service life at five years from the date of purchase.
User requirements
The manual allows unaided use only at 16 or older. Youths and minors under 16 must be instructed before each use and supervised during use on all safety aspects by a responsible adult, and must be accompanied by that adult at all times above the ground. The supervising adult reads the manual, watches the required video, inspects the kit, checks every buckle, and sets the tree strap.
Typical Applications
How to Use
The supervising adult reads the Malta Hunting Safety instruction manual and watches the required Ultralight instructional video (QR code in the manual), then instructs the young hunter before every use. The sequence below summarizes the manual and does not replace it.
- Adult inspects. Check the webbing, stitching, both leg buckles, the waist buckle, the tether, the fall indicator, the tree strap, and the suspension relief strap before every use. Do not let the young hunter climb with any component that is damaged, worn, or not working correctly.
- Don and buckle. Put the harness on the young hunter and snap the waist buckle closed. Listen for the complete snap, then grab both sides and pull sharply to confirm it is locked. Bring each leg strap between the legs, left strap to left buckle and right strap to right buckle, snap, and pull-test each one with no clothing caught in the buckle.
- Adjust snug. Slide the waist adjustment bar until the harness is comfortably snug over the clothing the hunter will wear in the stand, then snug each leg strap and the chest buckle. Make large adjustments with the harness off and lying flat, and shake it out by the waist buckle so no strap is twisted. If the straps bottom out before they are snug, the hunter needs a different size.
- Set the tree strap. Wrap the tree strap around the trunk, pass the tail through the loop at the end of the tether, and weave it through the knurled slide bar buckle as shown in the manual, leaving at least 8 in of tail beyond the buckle. Pull it tight to the tree and test it by yanking the tether.
- Height check for the youth, not the adult. With the young hunter standing on the platform, position the tree strap at or above their head level. When they sit, the stretch tether should have no slack between them and the tree. If it does, move the strap higher so they can get back onto the platform after a fall.
- Climb connected, adult present. On a fixed stand, use a lifeline or a lineman's climbing strap on the sewn-in loops so the hunter stays attached from the ground up, and stay doubly attached while stepping into the stand. On a climbing stand, attach the tether and tree strap at the ground and advance them with each move. The adult accompanies the hunter the whole way.
- Carry the relief strap. Keep the suspension relief strap in an easily reached pocket on the young hunter, never clipped to the tether or relief loop in transit. Practice stepping into it near ground level together before the season.
- Plan the recovery together. Carry a whistle, phone, or locator beacon, tell someone where you are hunting, and rehearse how the adult will help the young hunter back to the platform or the ground. After any fall, use the relief strap to stand and keep the legs moving while waiting for help.
Inspection and Retirement
The supervising adult inspects the harness, tether, buckles, tree strap, and relief strap before each use, per the Malta Hunting Safety manual. Remove the kit from service for any of the following.
- Webbing: cuts, frays, burns, chemical or UV damage, broken fibers, or heavy abrasion anywhere on the 1 in harness webbing, the tether, or the straps.
- Stitching: pulled, cut, or broken stitches at the tether, lineman's loops, relief loop, or any load-bearing seam.
- Buckles and slide bars: cracks, bends, or corrosion in the quick-connect buckles, buckles that will not snap and lock, or buckles that release under a sharp pull.
- Fall indicator: a deployed indicator on the tether means the harness has arrested a fall and is finished.
- Labels: the tether label with the year of manufacture and the 150 lb capacity must remain attached and legible.
- Fit: a hunter who has grown past 150 lb, or whose straps can no longer be made snug, has outgrown the harness even if it is undamaged.
- Age: remove the harness from service five years from the date of purchase (keep your receipt), or five years from the manufacture date printed on the tether label if the harness was handed down or the proof of purchase is lost.
Retirement triggers: any fall, a deployed fall indicator, any of the damage above, outgrowing the 150 lb limit, or the five-year limit. The Youth Ultralight is designed to arrest a single fall only. After a fall, return the harness to Malta Dynamics for replacement by calling 800-494-1840; a nominal fee applies. Never modify, repair, sew, or cut the harness. Clean with a damp soapy cloth and store dry, out of direct light, away from heat and chemical vapors.
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Technical Specifications
| Type | Youth full body tree stand harness kit (tree stand fall arrest system) with stretch shock-absorbing tether, lightweight quick-connect buckles, and sewn-in lineman's loops, one youth size |
|---|---|
| SKU family | MHE4104. Forest Green: HE4104. TrueTimber Strata: HE3104-1. TrueTimber Kanati: HE2104. The 04 suffix is the youth size in the Ultralight numbering. |
| Capacity | 150 lb maximum user weight including clothing and gear (manufacturer rating) |
| Standard | ASTM F2337-20 Standard Test Method for Tree Stand Fall Arrest Systems (Declaration of Conformity MDL1PO379, June 26, 2023) |
| Test report | Intertek 105469468CRT-001, issued June 26, 2023 (model listed as the Ultralight Youth Size): feet-first drop of a 220 lb torso from 6 ft, maximum arrest force 1,225 lbf, torso retained and supported 2 minutes, fall indicator deployed; face-first drop from 6 ft, maximum arrest force 891 lbf, passed; dynamic strength drop from 6 ft passed with 22 in of harness stretch against a 24 in limit; climbing belt test passed; suspension relief device test at twice rated capacity for 2 minutes passed; client-requested 50 lb feet-first drop from 6 ft, maximum arrest force 779 lbf, passed; labels and instructions passed |
| Materials | 1 in high-strength webbing, breathable mesh padding, lightweight quick-connect buckles, sewn lineman's loops and gear attachment webbing, steel tree strap hardware |
| Buckles | Lightweight quick-connect chest and leg buckles; adjustable slide bar at the waist |
| Tether | Stretch shock-absorbing tether sewn at the rear neckline, adjustable length, with fall arrest indicator and manufacturer date label |
| Padding | Breathable mesh padding at the back, shoulders, and legs |
| Included | One Youth Ultralight harness, one HEA1000 tree strap (2 in wide, 0.6 lb), one HEA3000 suspension relief and deer drag strap (1 in wide, 0.2 lb), printed instructions with a QR link to the required safety video. Lineman's climbing strap and lifeline sold separately or in the Ultralight Hunt Essentials Pack (youth size available). |
| Patterns | Forest Green, TrueTimber Kanati, TrueTimber Strata |
| Sizes | Youth, one size, up to 150 lb; hunters over 150 lb move to the adult Ultralight (S-M through 3XL) |
| Unit weight | Just over 2 lb, harness only; complete kit ships at about 5 lb |
| Service life | Single-fall product. Remove from service after any fall, after a deployed fall indicator, when the hunter exceeds 150 lb, or five years from the date of purchase (five years from the manufacture date on the tether label without proof of purchase) |
| Manufacturer | Malta Dynamics, LLC, 210 13th Street, Malta, Ohio 43758, sold under the Malta Hunting brand |
| Warranty | 1 year from the date of installation or first use against factory defects in workmanship and materials, original purchaser only (Malta Dynamics) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Malta Hunting Youth Ultralight Harness Submittals and Documentation
Youth Ultralight Harness Spec Sheet (PDF)Key features, part numbers by pattern, kit contents, fit and supervision rules, and a summary of the Intertek testing and declaration. Compiled by Fall Protection Distributors from the manufacturer's manual, test report, and declaration. Youth Ultralight ASTM F2337-20 Test Report (PDF)Intertek report 105469468CRT-001, June 2023: feet-first 1,225 lbf and face-first 891 lbf drops, dynamic strength, climbing belt, suspension relief device, 50 lb drop, label review. Youth Ultralight Declaration of Conformity (PDF)Malta Dynamics declaration MDL1PO379, June 26, 2023: ASTM F2337-20, Level 3 independent ISO 17025 laboratory verification by Intertek. Malta Hunting Harness Instruction Manual (PDF)Adjusting the harness, tree strap attachment, suspension relief strap, use with climbing, hang-on and ladder stands, youth supervision rules, safe-use rules, care, and warranty. Malta Hunting Straps Spec Sheet (PDF)Component spec sheet for the included HEA1000 tree strap and HEA3000 suspension relief and deer drag strap, plus the HEA2000 lineman's climbing strap.Compatible and Related Products
- Malta Hunting Ultralight Hunt Essentials Pack. The youth harness kit, or any adult Ultralight size, bundled with the 30 ft reflective lifeline and the lineman's climbing strap.
- Malta Hunting Two-User 30 ft Reflective Lifeline. Two prusiks and two carabiners on one rope so mentor and youth climb the same tree connected.
- Malta Hunting 30 ft Reflective Lifeline. Single-user prusik lifeline with a twist-lock carabiner for stands up to 25 ft.
- Malta Hunting Ultralight Tree Stand Harness Kit. The adult version of this harness, rated to 300 lb in S-M through 3XL, for the hunter who has outgrown the youth size.
- Malta Hunting Hunter's Elite Tree Stand Harness Kit. The full-featured 300 lb harness kit for the mentor who sits long hours and carries the gear.
- Malta Hunting CORE Tree Stand Harness Kit. The entry-level Coyote Tan adult harness kit, tested to ASTM F2337-22.
- Malta Hunting Hunter's Elite Hunt Essentials Pack. Hunter's Elite harness kit with lifeline and lineman's strap.
- Malta Hunting CORE Hunt Essentials Pack. CORE harness kit with lifeline and lineman's strap.
- Hunting Safety department. Every Malta Hunting tree stand harness, Hunt Essentials Pack, and lifeline in one place.
Specifying Tree Stand Safety Gear for Your Camp?
Outfitting a youth mentoring program, a family camp, or a lease with young hunters in the rotation? Tell us how many hunters, their ages and sizes, and the stand types, and we will match youth and adult harness sizes, two-user lifelines, and lineman's straps so every hunter is connected from the ground up and the whole order ships together.
Call 863-703-4522 to talk to a fall protection specialist.
Reviewed October 2026 by Fall Protection Distributors against the Malta Dynamics instruction manual, Declaration of Conformity and Intertek test report linked above.
