Best mic stands for stage use/on the road?

Tired of these s*&tty mic stands...My band doesn't take care of them and I just want a few good stage stands that will last more than a year on the road(tripod type).  Any suggestions?

> My band doesn't take care of them ... more than a year on the road...  Any suggestions?

Get a new band?

A year of gigging on a $20 stand ain't bad.

A year of gigging on a $20 stand ain't bad.

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Yeah I wish...More like a stand every couple weeks.  I'd be happy to find a stand that would last a year.

Get a new band?

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Considering I have to train every member that comes in the group for a good three to six months before they are at gigging level (not many Zimbabwean style marimba players in these parts)  I'll stick with the members I have till they burn out one by one and get replaced...(like the stands!)

You know what would work well would be some kind of rubbermaid box that was long enough to hold mic stands.  That would be sturdy enough for the trailer but not $300 like those SBK cases.

TAMA MS205 Boom Stand:
http://www.tamadrum.co.jp/product/other.php?series_id=31&area=2&year=2009&cat_id=5

> TAMA MS205 Boom Stand:

Price-fixed at $55, which seems like a lot.

But TAMA is a drum company. Drummer hardware usually lasts a while even under severe beatings.

And the user reviews on MusiciansFriend.com all say roughly "last stand you'll ever need".

i use these stands:
http://www.atlasmicstands.com/details.cfm?PN=MS-12CE

with these booms:
http://www.k-m.de/BOOM-ARM.3+M597bc69e544.0.html

great combo and good stability for not having legs.
however, if you really torque on the boom set knobs, they will get harder to tighten over time. just like any normal fastening/tightening system

If you are willing to go to a heavy base these are nice:
http://www.bswusa.com/proditem.asp?item=MS7625

They break down with a quarter turn so they store flat. 

For a boom arms I like the posi-lok stuff:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/BoomMiniTele/
It uses interlocking teeth more like drum hardware.

+1 on the Tamas.  I'll never buy a different brand sub $100 stand again.  They used to be sold at Sam Ash 10 yrs ago under Sam's "Groove Pack" brand.  I still use those 10 year old stands (although they haven't seen much mileage in the last 6 years, home studio only).  These stands disappeared for a while until Tama took them over.  Those were dark days....    My only complaint is that they are chromed to matched Tama's other hardware, but they used to be black.

For those in the UK I have been using some British made stands by a company called Giraffe.  They do some rather horrible plastic stands.  But if you search their catalogue for the all metal stands, I have found them seriously robust (enough to hang a Coles 4038 from) & in the rig we use we have stands that are 3 years old that operate like new.  Even better they are sensibly priced !!!!

One other useful tip.  Invest in some of those bags that are a bit like a long tool roll.  They hold about 5 stands each in individual pouches.  That stops the black paint coming off so the stands don't look rusty & horrible after a month.  It probably also goes some way towards preserving the stands as well.  hey don't cost much but are VERY worth it.

Invest in some of those bags that are a bit like a long tool roll.

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I've never seen these...anyone know where to find them?

On Stage Stands makes a good inexpensive bag to carry the stands in nicely. I've had one for about 5 years now and its still going strong.

I'd say the best stands are K&M for tripods and those round base ones with the three sections (Atlas I think)
They are a bit pricey but they will last a long time.

Sometimes www.northernsound.net has deals on the k&m's

After all my yammering about quality...I went with these:
http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/OnStage-Stands-Mic-Stand-Package?sku=452062

I'll go another few months in bliss I suppose... ;D