Gator Frameworks ID Series Speaker Stand Set with Padded Nylon Carry Bag - 2 Stands (GFW-ID-SPKRSET) | Heavy Duty PA DJ Studio Equipment for Live Performances & Home Audio Systems

These are one awesome set of speaker stands. They look better IMO then the ultimate stands which seem to be fairly common. The system is completely self contained, or in other words there are no screws to get lost. When you use them you have to snap the legs away from the center post. When stored the legs have a clamping mechanism which keep the stand from flopping around. The carry bag is form fitted so you won't be able to fit anything else inside the bag like a mic stand. These stands are heavy. At first it seems like they're overly heavy, but when you compare them to ultimate stands the heft translates to durability in my mind.The lifting mechanism is amazing I have 40lbs speakers and they work quite well. There is a collar that helps you lower the stands when you're done with them. If you happen to release the piston lever without a speaker on top, it is somewhat difficult to lower it again (might take two hands for small build people). The legs are really nice looking, and I haven't had any problems with the red rubber feet falling off. They are also very gentle on gym floors.In other forums and reviews there seems to be people who think the plastic parts won't hold up to the rigors of the road. I would agree if a rental company was using these, however for band use and personal shows these are tough stands. The plastic in question is not the kind of plastic you find on cheap toys. It appears to be ABS which is the material used to make legos. This may seem an odd comparison, but when was the last time you saw a lego brick missing a peg? In other words I would relax about the plastic parts. As a final note these stands have no knobs. This means when your stand gets dropped, hit, or otherwise abused there's nothing to catch and break.