Your platform is where your feet live all sit. A bigger platform is easier on your feet; a smaller one is lighter on your back. That's the main trade at every price.

I stand on the platform that came in my XOP complete kit. Two things from my first season: if I'm not conscious of my foot placement, my arches hurt, and how the platform is oriented makes some shots far more comfortable than others. The platforms below are researched from the makers' spec pages.

The quick comparison

Tiers here are by price, not a ranking.

XOP Edge XOP Invader Tethrd Predator V (Regular)
Tier Budget Mid Premium
Weight 5.4 lb 2.6 lb 3.4 lb without strap
Platform size 13.75 x 11 in 12 x 11 in 11.8 x 11.5 in
Post or I-beam height 9.5 in 10 in 10.5 in
Material Cast aluminum Aluminum, anodized and powder coat High pressure die cast aluminum
Weight rating 350 lb 350 lb 300 lb
Leveling Fully leveling Fully adjustable Adjustment knob for leveling
Approx. price, Oct 10 2026 About $100 About $150 About $190 (XL about $210)
Where to look Amazon (Edge and Mutant kit) Amazon Tethrd

Specs and prices are from each maker's product page, last verified October 10, 2026: XOP Edge, XOP Invader, Tethrd Predator V. Prices are approximate.

Correction: an earlier version of this page compared the Tethrd Predator CFX using a retailer's dimensions. Tethrd's CFX page now redirects to the Predator V, so we swapped in the Predator V with Tethrd's own numbers.

Budget: XOP Edge

XOP lists the Edge at 5.4 pounds, a 13.75 by 11 inch cast aluminum platform, a 350 pound rating, and full leveling. It's often sold in the XOP Edge and Mutant kit.

Why buy it: the biggest standing surface here at the lowest price. What you give up: the most weight. SaddleDude's review of the Edge also calls out the weight.

Mid: XOP Invader

XOP lists the XOP Invader at 2.6 pounds, a 12 by 11 inch platform, a 350 pound rating, and full adjustment, with integrated stick attachment points.

Why buy it: less than half the Edge's weight while keeping a 350 pound rating. What you give up: a little less room for your feet.

Premium: Tethrd Predator V

Tethrd lists the Predator V Regular at 3.4 pounds without the strap, 11.8 by 11.5 inches, rated to 300 pounds, with a traction tread, an angled front edge, a MOLLE tab for carrying it on your saddle, and a 1/4-20 thread under the post for accessories. The XL is 15.75 inches wide and 4.4 pounds.

Why buy it: a wide XL option and features built for saddle carry. What you give up: price, a lower rating than the XOP pair, and it's heavier than the Invader.

Questions hunters ask before buying

  • Will it fit my boots? Compare platform width to your boot. The Predator V XL is the widest here at 15.75 inches.
  • Carrying it. The Predator V's MOLLE tab slides into 1 inch MOLLE webbing per Tethrd. The Invader is small enough to go in a pack per XOP.
  • Known issues and recalls. We checked CPSC recalls on October 10, 2026 and found none for these three platforms. XOP's only CPSC recall we found was a 2019 climbing stick, not a platform.

Foot placement

If I'm not paying attention to where my feet are on the platform, my arches hurt. On long sits I change my hanging height and position so I'm not stuck in one spot, but the danger is moving around too much. Small changes, picked carefully.

Tethrd's guide says sore feet the first few hunts of each year are common and that boot choice makes a difference.

Platform orientation and shot angles

Be very conscious of how your platform is oriented relative to the shots you can physically make. Almost no shot is impossible, but some angles are far more comfortable. For me, directly behind is surprisingly comfortable, and off-shoulder side shots are possible but take practice.

Tethrd recommends setting up so your likely shot is on your strong side (left for a right-handed shooter) and hanging on the underside of a lean.

What going cheap risks

  • Weight. In this group the cheapest platform is the heaviest.
  • Rating and instructions. Never buy a platform without a published weight rating.
  • Size. Too small can be hard on your feet.

Platform buying checklist

  • Weight rating covers you plus gear
  • Platform size your boots fit comfortably
  • Leveling for trees that aren't straight
  • Weight you're willing to carry every hunt
  • Attachment method you can run quietly in the dark
  • Practice setting it at low height before season

Other good options

This section is researched, not first-hand. These are well-supported alternatives to what's above, with sources.

  • Ring of steps. A strap with several small steps. The XOP Orbit is aluminum, and Bullman's ring of steps is another option. Steps let you pivot around the tree but give you less to stand on. Tethrd's Saddle Hunting 101 guide says both work and that they find a platform more comfortable.
  • Platform on your top stick. Some hunters stand on a stick with a large top step instead of a separate platform. Fewer pieces, less room.

Safety first

This part is researched, not first-hand. The Treestand Manufacturers Association safety guidelines call for a full-body fall-arrest harness every time you leave the ground, including the climb up and down, attached the way the maker says, inspected before every use, and replaced after any fall or past its expiration date. They also recommend practicing at ground level, carrying a way to call for help, and having a plan for getting down after a fall. For saddle hunters, Tethrd's Saddle Hunting 101 guide says the same idea in saddle terms: be connected to the tree from the moment you leave the ground. A lifeline or ropes-up system, like the Hunter Safety System Lifeline, keeps you clipped in from the ground to your hunting height. Tell someone where you'll be and when you'll be back.

FAQ

Which platform here is lightest for the money? Of these, the XOP Invader: XOP lists it at 2.6 pounds with a 350 pound rating, at a middle price.

Do I need a platform, or can I use steps? Tethrd says both a platform and a ring of steps work, and that they find a platform more comfortable.

Why do my feet hurt on a saddle platform? Mine do when I'm not paying attention to foot placement. Check your stance, adjust height, and give your feet a few hunts to adapt.

Safety reminder: attach your tether before stepping onto the platform, stay double connected during the transition, and follow the platform maker's instructions.

Sources