A good tree stand only does its job when the gear around it behaves. Hammocks, hangers, footrests, hoists, climbing-stick carriers, and ground holders each solve a small problem that turns a long sit into a comfortable one. The right mix of accessories keeps your bow quiet, your gear organized, and your climb safer, which is what this lineup is built around.
A Closer Look At The Lineup
Kalkal Heavy-Duty Tree Stand Harness Strap, 3-Pack
Sadnyy Bow Hangers for Tree Stand 23 Inch
Summit Treestands Footrest Kit
Tomaki Retractable Bow Hoist 29.5FT
LJB J Hook Climbing Stick System, 2-Pack
LJB Ground Blind Bow Holder, 2-Pack
Taking A Closer Look At The Options
Tree straps carry the real load on every climb, so the material matters more than the price tag. The Kalkal set ships as a 3-pack of reinforced webbing straps with double-layer nylon stitching, designed to anchor your harness or platform to the trunk with margin to spare.
For hunters running a fixed-line setup or sharing a stand between a buddy and a spouse, having backup webbing on hand saves a wasted morning. Spare straps also cover the cut-and-retie cycle that comes with rotating stand locations during the rut.
Useful Touches
- Reinforced 3-ply webbing with double-stitched seams for high-load anchoring
- Three-pack format covers multi-stand setups or leaves a spare in the truck
- Quick-connect ends speed up tear-down when weather rolls in
- Universal fit works with most harnesses and platform straps on the market
Trade Offs
- Thicker webbing can run stiff in cold weather until broken in
- Color and stitching details are minimal, so field marking requires your own tape
Feature Snapshot
Made For
Tree stand hunters who rotate between multiple setups and want a backup strap on hand at all times.
Look Elsewhere When
Hunters chasing a single bow organization upgrade should look at the Sadnyy Bow Hangers covered in the next review.
Leaning a bow against a tree limb is how most hunters damage a riser or ding a sight. The Sadnyy hangers solve that problem by giving every bow in the group a designated hook within arm’s reach of the seat.
Each hanger folds down to roughly 13 inches and opens to 23, so they pack flat against a backpack strap or inside a frame pack. The metal hook design holds the bow by the limb or grip without pinching the string, which matters when you need to grab and shoot in low light.
Where It Helps
- Folding 23-inch design collapses for pack-friendly transport
- Pack options of 3, 6, or 8 pieces suit solo or group hunters
- Hang point keeps bow vertical and ready for a quick draw
- Locks into standard tree bark without screws or straps
Points To Note
- Bark thickness affects grip on smooth-bark species like beech or sycamore
- Hooks may rattle during the climb if not padded with a wrap
Quick Facts
Right Fit For
Still hunters who keep one or two bows rigged and want them within reach without leaning anything against the tree.
Swap It Out When
Hunters running a tall stick-and-stand combo who need climbing-stick carry hooks should consider the LJB J Hook Climbing Stick System.
Long sits punish feet and legs faster than anything else in the stand. Summit’s footrest kit adds a second platform below the main one so you can shift stance and stretch without standing up and spooking the deer.
Two size options fit the most common Summit aluminum platforms, with one model handling 4- and 5-channel frames and the other covering the wider 6-channel layouts. Steel platforms are not compatible, so verify your stand before ordering.
Benefits That Matter
- Two size options cover the most common aluminum stand platforms
- Lowered stance eases foot and leg fatigue on multi-hour sits
- Direct bolt-on to existing channels keeps the install simple
- Helps reduce the leg-shake reflex that spooks close-range deer
Worth Noting
- Will not fit steel-platform stands, so check your frame material first
- Adds a small amount of pack bulk when carrying the stand into the woods
Who It Suits Best
Aluminum-platform Summit stand owners who log multi-hour sits and want relief from foot cramping.
Consider Something Else When
Hunters using non-Summit aluminum stands should look at the Sadnyy Bow Hangers for a different category of upgrade.
Hoisting a bow up to a stand with a loose rope is the kind of chore that wastes daylight before a hunt. The Tomaki hoist replaces that tangle with a 29.5-foot retractable line that winds onto a hand crank, so you can pull the bow up cleanly and reel it back down at the end of the day.
Unlike a fixed rope, the crank handle keeps the line from snagging on branches and stops it from piling up at your feet mid-climb. For solo hunters running a stick or ladder setup, that control matters because there is no second pair of hands to hand gear up.
Noteworthy Benefits
- Crank handle rewinds the rope without manual coiling
- 29.5-foot length clears ladder and stick setups on taller trees
- Locks to a belt clip so hands stay free during the climb
- Reduces the rope-tangle tripping hazard common with free-hanging lines
A Few Limitations
- Crank housing adds bulk compared to a simple throw bag
- Mechanism can stiffen in freezing morning temps before warming up
Key Specs
Best Suited To
Solo hunters who climb solo and need a controlled way to pull a bow or pack up without a partner on the ground.
Reach For A Different Pick When
Hunters who need a strap-style safety anchor should look at the Kalkal Harness Strap 3-Pack from pick 1 instead.
Carrying climbing sticks into the woods gets old fast when they bang against your hip or scratch your pack frame. The LJB J-hooks solve that by clipping the sticks together so they ride as a single bundle, with rubber sleeves that quiet the metal-on-metal contact.
At roughly 5.5 inches long and 2.7 inches wide, the hooks fit any 1-inch square tube stick on the market, which covers the bulk of ladder and stick-step kits hunters already own.
Everyday Wins
- Carries two sticks as one bundle for easier hiking
- Rubber coating prevents bark scratches on the tree
- Compatible with any 1-inch square tube climbing stick
- Keeps hands free by clipping to a pack or belt loop
Things To Consider
- Hook tension can drift after a season of cold storage
- Larger 1.25-inch tube sticks require a different model
Quick Technical Notes
Whose Shelf It Belongs On
Mobility-first hunters who hike public land and want their sticks quiet, organized, and ready to deploy in one motion.
Skip It When
Hunters running ladder-style permanent stands have no need for stick carry hooks and should look at the Summit Treestands Footrest Kit for comfort.
Ground hunters know the pain of propping a bow against a blind wall where the limb picks up scent or tips over on a draw. The LJB ground holder sticks into the dirt like a tent stake and cradles the bow in a U-shaped top, keeping it upright, accessible, and out of the way.
The triangular bottom geometry spreads the load into the soil, so the holder stays planted when you pull a bow off quickly. The metal core with rubber coating means it can take repeated pulls without deforming or scratching the riser.
What Earns Its Place
- Triangular base drives into the ground with stable footing
- U-shaped top cradles the bow without pressure on the limbs
- Rubber coating protects the riser finish from scuffs
- Two-pack covers a primary and a secondary blind spot
Practical Considerations
- Rocky or root-bound soil limits how deep the stake can seat
- One-piece design means no replacement parts if the stake bends
Built With In Mind
Ground blind hunters running shrub-style or popup setups who want a quiet, planted bow rest instead of a leaning position.
A Better Fit Elsewhere
Elevated stand hunters who already use a Sadnyy Bow Hanger in a tree will not get value from a ground-stake holder.
Choosing Bow Hunting Stand Accessories That Actually Earn Their Spot
The best accessory is the one that solves a problem you actually have, not the one with the longest feature list. Start by mapping your hunt style before browsing anything. A still hunter on a ladder stand needs different tools than a run-and-gun public-land stick climber or a weekend ground blind sitter, and mixing those profiles is how gear piles up unused in a closet.
Compatibility matters more than brand loyalty. Summit’s footrest only fits certain aluminum platforms, and the LJB J-hooks only fit 1-inch square tube sticks. Always verify your existing platform, stand, or stick before ordering, because returning a mismatched accessory costs more than the gear itself.
Weight and noise compound over a season. A rubber-coated hook, a crank-style hoist, and a padded strap sound like minor details until you add them up across a dozen climbs. Every ounce and every rattle matters when you are 18 feet up and a deer is quartering toward your lane.
Hunting Style First, Gear Second
Run-and-gun hunters should prioritize the lightest, most packable accessories: a compact bow hanger, a retractable hoist, and rubber-coated stick carry hooks. Stationary hunters running a fixed ladder or hang-on stand should focus instead on comfort and stability: a footrest, harness straps, and a quiet bow hook. Mixing the two profiles is a common way to overspend.
Build Materials And Long-Term Reliability
Metal-core accessories with rubber or polymer coatings tend to outlast all-plastic designs in cold, wet, and rocky conditions. Look for reinforced webbing on straps, coated hooks on hangers, and powder-coated or rubber-tipped bases on ground stakes. The coating layer is doing two jobs at once: protecting the gear and quieting the contact points on the tree.
Key Considerations Across These Picks
Pitfalls Shoppers Hit
The most common mistake is buying accessories before the stand itself is dialed in. A bow hanger does nothing for a hunter whose platform wobbles, and a footrest cannot fix a strap system that slips under load. Solve the foundation first: straps, harness, and platform stability, then layer comfort and convenience accessories on top.
Where The Extra Money Goes
Premium-tier accessories tend to spend the upcharge on materials and quiet-operation features rather than flashy extras. Coated metal beats bare steel for noise, reinforced stitching outlasts single-pass seams, and crank mechanisms cost more than fixed ropes but eliminate daily tangles. For hunters who spend 20+ sits a year in the tree, those upgrades pay back through less time spent fighting gear and more time spent glassing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do bow hangers damage tree bark?
Most screw-free or strap-free designs grip without cutting into the cambium layer, which is the soft tissue just under the bark. For smooth-bark species, expect light scuffing that the tree recovers from within a season.
Can a footrest be added to any aluminum stand?
Only when the platform uses matching channel sizing. Summit’s kit covers 4-, 5-, and 6-channel aluminum frames, but other brands often need brand-specific footrest options or custom fabrication.
How long should a retractable bow hoist last?
With reasonable care, a hand-crank hoist runs several seasons before the rope shows wear. Inspect the line each fall and replace it at the first sign of fraying near the anchor point.
Are rubber-coated stick hooks worth the upgrade?
For mobile hunters, yes. The coating quiets metal contact on the bark and protects your pack frame from scratches, both of which matter more than they sound on paper.
Is a ground bow holder necessary for ground blind hunting?
It depends on your blind size. In tight popup blinds where space is limited, a planted holder keeps the bow vertical and out of the shooting lane, which makes follow-up shots faster.