By Jayden Mark
Hunting blinds, call it a hunting hut, hunting enclosure, or hunting shelter, we know what you’re looking for. This review is based on an understanding of what hunters need. So whether you’re into deer hunting or bird hunting, for that matter, bow hunting or gun hunting, you’ll find the best selection of hunting hides or stands of every description, right here in one fully comprehensive review.
I know that hunters all have unique needs and requirements. For some a popup, portable hunting blind is the most convenient solution. What about camo hunting blinds, elevated deer stand or tower blind, or an enclosed deer stand. There are many names for the various hunting stands and blinds or shelters. They all have their uses and I’m going to try keep things as simple as possible. One thing is for certain, we’ve done some really in-depth research to find only the best hunting blinds and stands. Of course, the term best hunting blind is open to interpretation. We can’t all agree on which is really the best. So we’ve looked for a wide selection, and then scrutinized the products on every level.
By comparing customer reviews, manufacturer specs, along with an assessment of the general quality and usability of the products, you can be sure that these are all top rated hunting blinds. This should take the stress out buying a hunting blind. You can rest assured that the homework has been done for you. Basically, all you need do is take look at our hunting blind review and choose the one that best suits your needs.
As far as your budget goes, we’ve made a concerted effort to accommodate everyone. Some of the hunting blinds in this review are amongst the very best that money can buy. Others are the best for people with a limited budget. While the cheaper hunting blinds in this review can’t quite compare to the very expensive options, they offer a good level of quality and functionality, making them a fantastic alternative at a lower cost.
In the end, I’m certain that hunting enthusiasts in search of the best hunting blind (for their individual needs) will find the ideal product right here. Because I believe that all these hunting blinds are the best in their respective class, I will mostly have good things to say about the products. Though, it’s important to be objective and offer the best insight as to what you are buying. So, if I feel that some aspects may not be the best, or hear of issues that some users have found to be lacking, I’ll certainly point this out. My job is to present you with the options available to you, offer the facts, then leave the final decision to you.
To make your search for the best hunting blind or stand as easy as possible, the article has been divided into three sections:
This means that if you know exactly what you’re looking for, you can scroll to the heading that describes the hunting blind that you’re looking for. If you’re new to hunting blinds, or aren’t exactly sure which type of blind is your best option, I’ll provide a brief description of each hunting blind category that we’ll be reviewing.
These are all ground hunting blinds. The fundamental difference, when comparing them to tower blinds and tree stand blinds, is that you are not elevated, you are hunting on the ground.
Many enjoy the thrill of being in close contact to the deer and other wildlife. This is could be the main reason why adrenaline seeking hunters prefer ground hunting blinds. They are more suited to open areas (plains and light forestation) where you have a good line of sight. So densely wooded areas aren’t that great for a ground hunting blind.
Ground Hunting Blinds
1. Ameristep Outhouse Ground Hunting Blind - 1 Person
The general consensus amongst those who have used this popup portable hunting blind is that the Ameristep Outhouse is excellent for its price. What this tells us is that it has some limitations, but I feel that you won’t do much better in this price range.
In some ways, it can compare well to hunting hides that cost much more. Bottom line, this is one of the best value for money 1 person ground hunting blinds. Space is tight, so it really is for one person. It also seems to be a huge hit amongst bird and wildlife photographers.
The material is a 50% blend of polyester and cotton, making for a very durable and lightweight (8-pound) blind. The guys at Ameristep advertise this as a waterproof hunting blind, but this seems to be only partially true. You won’t get soaked in the rain, but expect a few leaks. It also has no floor, you’re in the dirt.
The compact, lightweight design is fantastic as far portability goes, but things are a little tight. A footprint of 60” X 60” is great for gun hunting, but bow hunters have expressed their reservations about the size. Using a bow, you’ll probably have to lean out one of the windows. The height is comfortable enough, at the tallest point it is 78”. The roof angle is steep, but you’ll need crouch or sit, when close to the windows.
It has a zipper door for easy access and four generously sized windows with zippers and replaceable shoot through mesh. This offers really good ventilation and plenty of positions through which you can shoot. The general design is truly sublime. Perfect camo, combined with a smooth dome shape, with no corners, allows you to be perfectly hidden from prey. The ShadowGaurd coating gives a matt finish, preventing shadows and silhouettes which further improves the camouflage effect.
The way the Ameristep Outhouse pops up quickly and easily is also one of its really great features. After a little practice, you should be able set up the hunting hide in less than a minute. The advertising literature states 30-seconds, which may be possible if you’re a real whizz. The poles are sewn into the fabric, which helps a lot in making this so easy. Though, this also means that I can’t tell you whether these are fiberglass or steel poles. Specifications on the Ameristep website give no indication as to material used for the poles.
More than just great value for money, the Ameristep Outhouse 1 person ground hunting blind is wonderfully portable and practical. I like the tough nature of this product and the ease with which it pops up. The final word, in my opinion: this hunting blind defies its price. Cheap enough, but certainly not cheap and nasty.
2. Ameristep Care Taker Ground Blind, Realtree Xtra - 2 Person
The Ameristep (2 person) Care Taker ground blind shares many traits of the smaller, 1 person, Out House that we’ve just reviewed. It is obviously larger, and has a square shape with a dome roof – instead of the rounded sides used for the smaller hide.
Dimensions for this 2 person hide make it quite spacious, ample for two people – width: 69”; Height: 66”. I have to say that the roof height is not the best, especially for tall guys.
The widows are nothing short of amazing. They offer an enormous opening on three sides. The wall with the door has no window. Shoot through mesh is also provided and the zippers allow you to open the windows as little or as much as you need.
The camo Durashell Plus fabric is certainly tough and keeps you properly hidden from deer. Because this is a fairly large, four-sided hunting hide with more poles, it takes a little longer to set up than its smaller stablemate. None the less, the Care Taker RealTree Xtra is a breeze to set up, given its more complex design. First time around, it might take a bit longer (around 5-minutes). But once you get the hang of it, you should be able set up, and take down the Care Taker in 3-minutes or less.
Waterproofing is similar to the other Ameristep in this review. So you can expect a few drips in heavy rain. On the whole, it remains quite comfortable and can withstand a good amount of wind. This hide also has Shadow Guard to eliminate shadows and silhouettes.
One thing’s for sure, the Ameristep Care Taker RealTree Xtra is fantastic value for money. It’s designed for easy setup, and is as durable as anyone could want. As an affordable, good quality, 2 person ground hunting hide, this is undoubtedly one of the best around.
3. Barronett Blinds BC350BW Big Cat Pop Up Portable Hunting Blind - 3 person
Having all that extra space is a real blessing and, as a tall person, I am more than impressed with the generous height. The large size is not all that sets the Barronett 3 person Big Cat from the rest of the pack. There’s some innovative design that many hunters will appreciate and this is a fantastically durable hide.
Although 3 people will fit inside the Barronett Big Cat, I feel it’s more of an extra-large 2 person hide. This makes it really great for bow hunters. With an amazing foot print of 70” X 70” (90” elbow room), and a more than comfortable height of 80”, you will be enthralled by all the space you have inside.
To my mind, the windows are the real crowning glory of this hide. Not only do you have a virtually unrestricted 360° view, but the windows are completely silent when opening or closing them. Unlike zippers, that make a noise that can easily frighten the deer away, the Barronett has a unique design – sort of like a super-engineered zip lock. The only downside to the windows is that they only open to two sides. So while you can see every angle, you can’t shoot from all sides.
The solid fiberglass poles are lightweight and tougher than most. These are supported by a steel hub for extra strength and it is easy to erect. I’ll definitely call this a popup hunting hide, despite its large size. I suppose 19-pounds isn’t too heavy when you take into account the size of this hide and the thick durable material. Portability is enhanced by backpack straps.
Although it is fairly well waterproofed, the Big Cat will develop some drips during prolonged, or heavier, rainfall. This might be the only thing that is less than perfect. But then again, how many hunting hides are really 100% waterproof. The choice of either Blades or Backwoods camo finish is great.
You couldn’t ask for more really. The Barronett Big Cat is one of the largest popup hunting blinds that you can get. The balance between a lightweight portable design and tough durability is truly sublime. For a large blind that can easily fit onto your backpack, it’s about as tough as gets. A remarkable hunting blind with room to spare.
4. Barronett Blinds PT550BW Pentagon Pop Up Portable Hunting Blind - 4 Person
If the enormous size of the Barronett Big Cat hasn’t impressed you, then Pentagon 4 person hunting blind surely will. It shares all the innovation and durability that makes Barronett blinds so popular, with even more space inside.
The pentagon (five sided) shape maximizes every square inch of space and allows for perfect 360° visibility. So the already big, 90” X 90” footprint is even more usable, providing 96 inches of elbow room. Ironically, this hide (which is the second biggest in popup range from Barronett) offers the least amount of headroom. At a height 72”, most people should have no problem standing up inside the Pentagon hide, but it’s a full 8 inches less than the other Barronett options.
The window design is excellent, about the best, and it shares the silent zipper-free opening, that makes Barronett hides so exceptional. There are a total of 9 trapezoid windows, with replaceable shoot through mesh, but only two peak windows. This hide has the same heavy-duty material as the other Barronett hunting hides, as well as the really strong solid fiberglass poles and metal hub. It weighs a very reasonable 20-pounds, making it wonderfully portable for its size. The Barronett Pentagon is super easy to erect and is a genuine popup hunting hide.
The Barronett Pentagon can compare to any of the Barronett hides in terms of outstanding quality and great design. These are all amongst the best popup hunting blinds. Where it differs, is in the amazing pentagon design, which is both spacious and provides perfect all-around visibility.
5. ALPS OutdoorZ Delta Waterfowl Zero-Gravity Layout Blind
Like so many, I’m a huge fan of the ALPS brand. These guys take design and durability to new levels. It, therefore, comes as no surprise that the ALPS OutdoorZ Delta Waterfowl is like no other 1 person hunting blind. It is probably the most comfortable hunting blind ever invented and requires basically no setup at all. The OutdoorZ Zero-Gravity blind is completely preassembled, just lay it out, knock in the stakes, and it’s ready for use.
The stakes are amongst the best I’ve seen and will work perfectly in ice. What really blows me away is the ultra-comfortable zero-gravity seat. It is suspended for complete comfort and even has a headrest.
You can sit for hours without cramping or stiffness. Despite the suspended comfort, this seat can handle an incredible 300 pounds and there’s enough space for a big guy to hunting perfect comfort.
This hide also has a bunch of handy pockets and loops for great gear storage. You’re sitting really close to the ground, which helps a lot for camouflage and it has a pretty big footprint: 9-feet and 10-inches in length and a width of 7-feet and 5-inches. It folds into a nifty size, easily fitting onto your backpack: 43” X 26” X 8”. Though it is a bit on the heavy side at 23.5 pounds. We should take into account, when looking at the weight, that this includes the seat and a sturdy steel frame. It’s one of the best hunting hides when it comes to outstanding durability and design.
The ALPS OutdoorZ Delta Waterfowl hunting hide is a departure from the conventional. It’s not a hide that you can stand in. It is designed for you to sit in absolute silence, with the highest level of comfort for as long as it takes to get the perfect shot. It takes no time to set up or take down – everything just folds into shape. Even if a sit in hunting hide isn’t your thing, you have to admire the total genius that has gone into this design. Not to mention the unbeatable quality that is synonymous with the ALPS brand.
These hunting blinds provide an elevated structure that gives a long distance view over the area. Very popular for bird hunting in open plains, they are also great for deer hunting, where there the trees aren’t too dense.
These are large, heavy structures, usually made of steel or aluminum. They take quite a bit of time and effort to erect, this makes them permanent or semi-permanent structures. One of the important things to look for in a tower hunting blind is its sturdiness. They can be quite high off the ground and you want a good footing.
Tower Hunting Blinds
1. X-Stand XSTP756 The Alcatraz Tripod
From the initial impression, anyone can see that a lot of thought has gone into the design of this tower blind. The bulging shape maximizes the space inside and the great camo walls and roof are nothing short of amazing.
The tripod stand gives a height of 16’ and there are number of design features that really enhance the hunting experience. The helix tubing offers an exceptionally ridged structure, with a Weather Defender powder coating for added durability. Another great feature are the Stealth Silencers that prevent creaks and groans which can so easily alarm your prey.
The hide enclosure is something that will be of huge benefit to both bow hunters and gun hunters alike. The unique shape and window positions are the secret behind this. The 42” X 42” octagonal platform is already quite spacious. Though the really cool thing is the way it bulges at the side walls, providing a really fantastic 77” width at the widest point. This is what makes all the difference for bow hunters.
The windows are also near perfect in their positioning. The lower windows make it easy to shoot downward and the upper windows allow for straight shooting from a standing position. It has a swivel mesh seat with 360° rotation, and the backrest folds down for standing shots. With a 350 pound weight baring capacity, you know you’ll be perfectly safe at that height. The enclosed shell provides a high level of comfort, protecting you from rain, snow, and wind. There’s a door with a zipper for easy access and weather resistance.
This is a reasonably heavy steel tripod tower hunting hide, weighing 157 pounds. Whichever way you look at it, the X-Stand Alcatraz Tripod is one of the best tower stands around. It is more comfortable than most. The X-Stand is also quieter and provides a high level of comfort.
2. Landmark Permanent Hunting Blind Tower
The Landmark permanent hunting blind is designed to be left out in the rain, sun, and snow year in, year out. It’s a strong and heavy structure that takes quite a few hours to set up, so you won’t want to be taking it down unless you absolutely have to. An important fact to keep in mind is that the tower and blind are sold separately. This also means that you can just buy only the tower and use another blind, or construct your own. As much as I like the optional Landmark blind, it has been received with mixed reactions.
The Landmark tower stands at 10-feet tall. Supported by four upright metal legs, with plenty of reinforcing, this is a really sturdy tower. Heavy-duty anchor stakes are supplied to secure the tower to the ground. At the top, you have a very generous 6’ X 6’ steel mesh platform. You access the tower by means of steps at an easy angle. The top half has hand rails and it has a landing platform with rails on two sides. All these safety features make it a great hide for kids. The Landmark tower stand has been met with a massive thumbs up from the majority of customers.
The permanent hide, on the other hand, has not impressed everyone. But most seem to feel that is a really great hide. No one can disagree that its spacious dimensions are amongst the best – 6’ X 6’ floor space with vertical walls. Unlike hides with sloping sides, all of the interior space is perfectly usable. The dome roof offers a little over 7-feet of headroom at the highest point. All in all, you can’t beat this one for spacious luxury. It’s a fantastic hide for bow hunters.
The hide is made from top grade marine tarpaulin material. I read one customer review that called this junk, which made me wonder. You really can’t get a more durable or waterproof material. This is what is used for yacht construction after all. I can’t help but wonder if this guy had an agenda. With this one exception, all agree that this is a mighty tough, and perfectly waterproof hide.
The windows and doors seem to be something that you’ll either love or hate. I really like the design. All the windows are huge. They provide an unrestricted view and an excellent shooting position. The widows and door slide open, either vertically or horizontally. This makes them blissfully silent and give you the best versatility when hunting. This should be great for anyone. Though some have said that access is tricky, I’m not sure why.
The Landmark 10’ hunting tower is undeniably one of the best of its kind. It’s wonderfully stable and can handle the elements for years and years. While most feel that the huge blind is also one of the best, there are some that disagree. It is incredibly roomy and offers great all around visibility. For those who may feel the hide to be lacking, you always have the option of fabricating your own (open or closed) structure and you can probably find many similar sized hides that you can attach to the 36 square foot platform.
3. Texas Hunter Deer Hunting Blind
I doubt that a more durable tower hide exists. At a weight of just over 350-pounds, you can be sure that this means plenty of heavy-duty, high-grade materials. This is, undeniably, one of the toughest permanent deer hides that you can get. It’s not the tallest, but is possibly the strongest.
The tower provides a platform 4-feet high, with a shooting height of 8-feet. The tower and roof are made from galvanized steel for long term durability. For added weather resistance the tower has a tough powder coating. The box-like hide is far superior when compared to those made from fabric, and better than even tarpaulin hides.
Solid, ultra-heavy-duty Starboard XL siding means you have a solid, weatherproof hide that requires no maintenance. Perfect protection from the elements that will outlast just about any other.
The sliding door and windows are also virtually indestructible and quiet. The windows have both solid and clear panels. Fitted into deep track sliders, the windows open to provide 360° access for viewing and a great height from which to shoot. The roof height is 6’ 3”, which may be okay for most people, but not the best for taller guys. The floor space measures 4’ X 4’. Again, this is quite adequate but not the best.
The biggest attraction to the Texas Deer Hunting Blind has to be its virtually indestructible design. Set it up, and leave it there for years. There’s no need for painting and other regular maintenance. The windows are also way better than the average soft fabric type common to most hides.
As the name suggests, these hunting hides are used in trees, and attach to a tree hunting stand. This gives you an elevated hunting blind, without the need for a tower stand. Some tree stand blinds include the tree stand, while others are sold only as the hide that is designed to fit a particular type of open frame tree hunting stand. Some can be a bit of a hassle to access and not all designs are that quiet. They can creak when you move about.
When selecting the best tree stand hides, we’ve paid attention to these factors and looked for the better designs that offer a great hunting position, without giving away your secluded position.
Tree Stand Blinds
1. Millennium Treestands Blind
This is a very practical design, using durable materials. It weighs only 13.25 pounds and is very portable. While the Millennium tree stand blind is designed to fit Millennium tree stands, it can work with some other brands of tree stands.
The Millennium B1 blind measures 37.5” X 26” X 3” and will fit onto any of the Millennium L-series ladder stands. When I checked out the product on Amazon, they seem to have got the weight and dimensions completely wrong. I’m going with the specs I found on the Millennium website, these are the correct dimensions.
The fabric used seems to be very tough and weatherproof, with a great camo finish. Access is via a zipper door and it has a number of window configurations. Though the windows are quite small in my opinion. You can always use this hide with top open, which will give you an unrestricted view and any shooting position you choose.
This is the perfect accessory for the millennium ladder tree hunting stand. It provides a great camouflage position and a good deal of protection from the elements. It’s quite portable and very easy to set up.
2. Guide Gear Universal Hunting Tree Stand Blind
The Guide Gear Universal hunting tree stand hide has received top ratings from a multitude of hunters. I think this has a lot to do with the wonderful price and exceptionally light weight. It’s certainly one of the best when it comes to portability. The universal design is also a big plus. The Guide Gear blind will fit onto just about any hunting tree stand or tripod, sized for a 2 person stand.
The material seems to be a little light and flimsy, though it does look like it can take some punishment and won’t rip too easily.
The only issue I have with this lightweight material is that it may flap around a bit in strong winds. The plus side is that you won’t notice the weight when carrying it in your backpack. The Guide Gear Universal hunting tree stand blind weighs an astounding 16-ounces!
It’s roomy enough for a 2 person hunting tree stand, measuring 45” X 160”. The hide doesn’t have a roof, it’s more like a concealing skirt for a tree stand. It does, however, block out the light. So there will be no shadows, or silhouette to give away your position. Access is easy enough through a zippered 36” bi-directional door.
You will be hard pressed to beat the fantastic affordability of this very practical hunting tree stand hide. Furthermore, it is one of the most portable and includes everything you need to attach it to any hunting tree stand or tripod. Any hunter looking for a fairly basic but very competent and cheap tree stand hide, will be suitably impressed with this product. Its popularity speaks volumes.
Jayden Mark has gained a wealth of knowledge about safety protocols in industries while working in a steel mill as well as a welder in the construction industry. He is the content editor for comfortworkboots.com where he shares his insights and expertize in his related field.
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