You simply set the tree in the stand, press several times on a foot pedal, and the five very sturdy plastic claws, looped together with a heavy-gauge metal wire, tighten down against the tree trunk to set it in position. This means average-size and smaller trees, around 6 to 7 feet tall, can be set up with just one person. The Cinco Express is a better (and bigger) version of the typical stand, with a stable design, large reservoir, and a quick-release screw that makes adjustments easy. Krinner is one of the most popular brands and one to watch – its stands require no fiddling with screws while trying to keep your eight-footer upright. Just place your tree in the open stand and pump the foot pedal until the claws have firm contact to the trunk.

A stand should have a sizable water reservoir to prevent needles from drying out and falling all over the floor. Available in a variety of patterns and in white, festive red, gold and silver, no matter what baubles or tinsel you've decided to decorate your tree with this year, you can still make it match. We tested the Krinner on two trees: a 6-foot-8 tree, which we put up unassisted, and a bigger 8-foot-4 tree, which was easier with a second person. Honestly, I was astounded at how quickly and easily I got my tree into the stand—and at how evenly the mechanism rights the tree.

The majority of the Krinner’s reservoir is enclosed, and there is only a small space near the trunk for watering.

Cinco’s improvement to this standard system is that each screw has a release lever so it can be quickly snugged up against the trunk and then tightened for only the final turns. We recommend every family that purchases a live tree also choose one of our real Christmas tree stands. Some products may be delivered straight to your door from one of our suppliers and these products will be labelled within the product description.If they offered something the Krinner stands didn’t, we would certainly consider them, but it appears they’re essentially inexpensive, inferior imitations. However, with colder weather, you may not want to make the journey outside, and luckily there's also a good choice online. Think of this as a particularly good version of your basic tree stand—you still have to crawl underneath to secure the trunk while someone helps hold the tree from the top, but at least you’ll spend a little less time down there. If you’ve opted for a real tree instead of an artificial one, and you want to avoid that seasonal struggle, the Krinner Tree Genie XXL is the best stand available. This tree stand offers a hands-free method of securing the tree using an ingenious, easy-to-operate foot pedal that grips the trunk and gets it vertical in seconds.

The continuous cable guide of the single cable operation guarantees the equal claw pressure around the trunk. But definitely not difficult, and it held a lot more water [than other stands], as I remember, which is nice. Sometimes tinsel isn't enough to create the look you are after, and why should the tree be the only thing to light up? As long as you can heave the tree into the Krinner’s open jaws, you may be able to manage it on your own. One reviewer notes it 'lasted all December without the tree becoming lose', what you'd expect from a sturdy Christmas tree stand.To prevent the stand’s claws from coming loose, the foot pedal can be locked in place by sliding the red button down. Petite tabletop trees, in general, are less than four feet tall and have a trunk diameter of three inches maximum, so you'll only need a modest tree stand to match.

This traditional-looking gold colour stand has three securing bolds and is suitable for trees with trunks up to 11cm in diameter. The outer plastic construction holds one litre of water, to keep your tree hydrated and healthy, essential for glossy green needles.

We’ve put together an amazing range of gifts to help you make your presents stand out from the rest. The bases for Christmas trees are usually plain, which is why our Christmas tree skirts are a wonderful way to add some extra decoration. By supplying your freshly cut Christmas tree with water, it remains hydrated and revitalised throughout Christmas. The opening to the basin on this tree stand itself is fairly narrow, but the indicator, located on the opposite side of the tree stand from the foot pump, tells you when to refill with water and when to stop filling, eliminating the need to peer into the basin. The Tree Genie Steel is all metal and has tubular legs, and the wooden Kopenhagen has a sleek nordic design.