We just bought a tree stand last week that I'm not particularly pleased with, but was affordable and seemed solid and will hold up the tree, and then I saw this post.

Thank you: looking at these, I've realized that the stand will be covered anyway, no one will see it, that the "solid but not aesthetically pleasing" stand was 20$, and that, really, this is our first tree and I have so much else to do with the extra 100$ that could have been spent on a tree stand that will be covered anyway!

Thanks for making me much more satisfied with what I've got. :)

My roommate used to cut and notch a dowel that fit between the tree and the wall. Then he'd run a length of twine from a small eye hook in the wall, around the tree, and back to a second eye hook. It was kind of like a horizontal tent pole set up to hold the tree in place. Yes, it left three small marks on the wall, but the dog or cat couldn't take the tree down (and cats make it their mission).

Actually, I have many childhood Christmas memories of the cat up the tree, the tree toppling down and breaking ornaments, and my dad swearing a blue streak. Seems a shame to miss all that.

I have the swivel straight, which works fine for the 11' trees we get. I slide the base into a large galvanized bucket which visually balances the top heaviness of the tree and also catches any overflow of water. I still wire the tree to the wall.

I bought #7 from Target. The men working at the Christmas tree lot hated my guts for it. I'm pretty sure my husband was cursing me under his breath. The problem is the holes are a bit too small for the bolts. Turning them is pure hell, (even for the strong, tree-lifting men at the tree lot.) It comes with a little plastic attachment that should make each bolt easier to turn, but the tree men had to use pliers.

As we left the lot, the guys said "come back next year...just don't bring that tree stand."

I threw out my 'wobbly old stand of yesterday' last year. Seeing the price of these, I kind of regret it. The old one was a bit annoying, but it worked for 20 years and cost under 10 dollars.

Maybe I'll do as my grandparents did and use a bucket filled with wet sand.

I like the stupidly expensive number 5. Too bad it's so pricey. It would look cute with our new fakey we bought this year. I guess the tree skirt would cover it anyway. Another reason not to spend a bundle on a tree stand!

I've been using the (#1) Swivel Straight for eight years now, and I still love it. The pedal has become a little sticky over time, but still works fine. I usually buy 6' trees, and put them up myself, no problem. I cut a piece of foam rug padding to fit underneath, to protect the wood floor underneath. It's easy to water too, with a indoor plant watering can (with a long spout), and holds a lot of water. I cover the stand with a piece of crushed velour fabric, loosely wrapped around. It looks really nice. Highly recommended. No more swearing when putting up the tree!

I had #1 for a few years (bought used) and I never got the hang of adjusting it just right. It took too much fiddling and was frustrating.

Now I have one like #5, but with four legs and it is GREAT. I also got it used for probably under $10, i forget. The skirt covers it.

I'd like to see one with a long funnel for adding water so you don't have to crawl under the tree and get needles in your hair and spill half the water.

Oh wait, I do not have the exact brand of #5 and I didn't even look at the price before posting my comment! I had no idea. But mine is some other brand with legs that are flat bars that rest flat-side-down on the floor. I couldn't find a photo of it anywhere on the internet. Weird.

I have #3 and it's fantastic -- spendy but totally worth it. I got mine at the local Ace Hardware. Much easier to get the tree to stand straight and holds plenty of water so you don't have to fill it every day. I now have a very mischievous and athletic young cat however, so I won't be able to have a tree until he gets old and fat.

I have #7 from Target. Works well enough although it is hard to get the tree level, and hard to get more water into it without spilling. I use our Hario tea kettle to water the tree - the long spout is easer to reach into the holder. It took me a few years to figure out that the tree needs to be watered almost every day. This year we have a puppy, so I think I'll forget the tree. I have enough trouble keeping her from gnawing on the coffee table.

I have number 5. I bought it at a thrift store for 3.29 cents 6 or 7 years ago. They are made just up the road a piece from me..... I would NEVER have another tree stand after this one. It is perfect and very easy to use. It's so expensive normally because it is heavy and very well made. I will never need another tree stand in my life.

Want to keep the cats away? Invest in a The cat will learn before you do so prepare yourself to be startled often. ;)

Son of a...HTML fail. Anyways, the missing word is Ssscat.

I bought one like the Orvis (#3) ten years ago when I was living in Germany. It was my first tree stand, and was more expensive than I expected (though cheaper than it seems to be now!), but it was the only option available.

At the time, I resented the expense, but now I love it. It's much sturdier and easier to use than the flimsy ones I grew up with in my parents' house (which looked like #5).

Have seen good heavy ones in thrift stores. One, early in the year, was vintage, folded up it looked like a rocket; passed on it as I don't put up a tree. Some remorse as it 'looked cool'. Good chance if I'd bought it, there'd be buyers remorse. Wish there were ideas on what to do with a stand the other 11 months of the year.

#3. Really? That much $$$ just to avoid ANY effort?!

We have #4 in red (purchased from Amazon a couple of years ago) and I love it. It's heavy and substantial and so pretty. I usually don't put out the tree skirt right away so we can enjoy the stand for a bit. (And because the dog sometimes knocks the tree skirt askew, landing a corner of it in the tree stand where it wicks up all of our precious tree water!)

I think you all are a bit crazy. I was introduced to a new product at the 2012 Southern Christmas Show in Charlotte, NC that is far and away the best Christmas Tree stand on the market. Its called the "Simple Treestand" by Treestand Logic, LLC. Its from a company in Asheville, NC, its made all from recycled material and its made in the USA...yea! It uses a tension system, not a pressure system, to support a Christmas Tree up to 9' tall. Its quick, easy, and when you see it, you'll agree that the design makes sense. Great for my apartment!! www.simpletreestand.com.

I immediately focused on # 2, but only a fool would pay $200 for a Christmas tree stand.

Mine, which I have had for years, is a crost between # 1 and # 7. Plastic, and I think it cost around 9 or 11 dollars (10 years ago?). In fact, it cracked a few years back (of course I found out only after the tree was in it and the water in the stand, or rather, the next morning, all over the floor). I went to search for another one but I refused $19 for it and most that I saw (at Home Depot) had only 3 screws (in a single row) while the old one had 4 screws in 2 rows (so 8 total).
I figured there must be a way to fix it. I cut out a circle the size that would fit inside the stand, out of an unused peel&stick tile, I applied a really good epoxy blue and I pressed it to the "floor" (the inside of the stand). I also applied the glue all around it and after it dried, I flipped the stand upside down and I applied another layer onto the crack from the outside. Well, some 5 years later, it still works fine. I already have this year's Christmas tree in it. I am very proud of this fix. :-)

DON'T BUY #8 (OMEGA)!!!! We bought it last year because it's Canadian and we were being loyal, blah blah blah, and it looked super easy to use. FALSE! It's plastic, you have to cut all notches down to the trunk to fit it in, the "screws" are plastic and not very secure, and to water the tree is hell. Our tree was slowly dying because there wasn't enough room for water (we watered three times a day!). When we finally took our tree out, there were one billion needles left in our living room.

Nooooo come on! I just bought my stand last week, and now you're giving me this? T_T

As a side note, I love love LOVE #2, but who in their right mind spends $200 on a Christmas tree stand?

...maybe me. >.>