Kraft Geek Music Stand Review: Is This the Best Portable Stand for Musicians in 2025?

If you have ever had a wire music stand collapse mid-set or pinched your fingers while packing it up, you know the struggle.

Musicians are always hunting for the "Goldilocks" stand: something sturdy but light, and professional but portable. Recently KraftGeek sent me their Capsule Music Stand to test out. After spending a few weeks using it at gigs, lessons, and around my studio, here is my honest verdict.

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by KraftGeek who sent me the stand and accessories for free. However, the opinions in this post are my very own honest opinions in hopes of helping you decide if this is a good buy for yourself.

Pick up a Capsule Music Stand here, and use code SGM for 15% off!

First Impressions: The "Goldilocks" Stand

Right out of the box, the KraftGeek is different. It's slick, solid, and lacks the familiar rattle of the flimsy folding music stand we're all used to. It isn't heavy or cumbersome, but it has a reassuring metal construction.

Not heavy, not to light, not too wobbly... it's juuuuust right!

I'm a natural tinkerer and found the Capsule stand very easy to figure out without instructions. The company does include very easy to follow instructions to help you out.

What I Loved (The Pros)

After putting it through the paces at gigs and in my home studio, here is what stood out:

• Pedalboard Friendly (Huge Plus!): As a guitarist, this is my a great feature. The base allows you to slide the legs right under a pedalboard or sit flush against the back. It doesn't fight for floor space with your board or cables.

• Quick Setup: I even timed myself and I was able to set the stand up in 23 seconds including removing the stand from it's gig bag, unfolding it, and setting my iPad on the tray.

• Rock-Solid Stability: I never once worried about this tipping over. The stand does tend to wobble once it's at it's height, but the wide base keeps it stable on the floor.

• Transparent Clips: The music clips are clear, meaning they don't block the notes or lyrics at the bottom of the page (as long as you place them correctly).

• Portability: The stand offers the stability of a solid-back stand but folds down into a compact package that is easy to carry. You also have the option to purchase a carrying bag for the stand to keep it protected if you travel often with it.

Room for Improvement (Not all Cons, just what I would change)

While the stand is fantastic, there are a few design choices that kept it from being "perfect."

• The Tray Doesn't Swivel: Unfortunately the music holder section is locked into one position. If you often move around while playing, or have a need to swivel the music around to see from different spots (as I do), this is one limitation.

• Clip Limitations: The clear clips are great for sheet music or thin books, but they don't extend far enough for thick binders or piano manuals. If you are playing from a heavy "Real Book," the clips won't help much in keeping the book opened.

• Plastic Knobs: While the body is solid metal, the adjustment knobs are plastic. They work fine and seem sturdy, but I do wonder how they would hold up on a tour being tossed around a truck.

• iPad Attachment: I generally gig with my iPad and wire stands always make me nervous. Even thought the Capsule Stand is very stable and I do feel like this would be great for holding an iPad on the music tray, it would be great to have a built in clap to secure the iPad right to the tray. For me, the FlexyMount was more cumbersome to set up, and became one extra thing to set up that wasn't worth the time.

A Note on Accessories: The Light & Flexy Mount

KraftGeek was kind enough to also send me their LumiLight stand light and FlexyMount for devices.

• The LumiLight: It is bright and attaches easily. It does requires 3 AA batteries or a constant USB-C connection which is fine for me but something to keep in mind if you prefer a rechargeable battery.

• The FlexyMount: The FlexyMount is a cool addition and offers the extra option of attaching an iPad to the top of the Capsule Stand. I did have some trouble with the one I received as the angle-adjustment screw was tough to rotate, and even when tightened, it didn't feel secure enough for my heavy iPad Pro. I do not think this is necessarily a design flaw and I might have just gotten a bad unit.

The Verdict

Who is this stand for?

• Gigging Guitarists: Especially if you use a pedalboard and play in tight bar/club setups.

• Tablet Users: Whether you place an iPad on the music tray, or use the FlexyMount to securely clamp the iPad to the stand, this is a great option for you.

• Teachers & Students: Perfect for a quick classroom setup or a compact home practice space.

Who is this NOT for?

• Pianists with Large Books: If you play from thick manuals or oversized binders, the clips likely won't hold them.

• Heavy Annotators: If you need to write on your music constantly, the skeleton-style back might be tricky without a hard backing added.

Will I use this?

• Definitely! I often need a music stand in my home studio/office that can be easily stored away and set up when needed since space in the studio is limited.

• I can also see myself using this for different gigs I play and for my student recitals.

Final Thoughts

The KraftGeek Capsule is a thoughtfully designed, modern piece of gear that solves real problems for gigging musicians. It is stable, incredibly fast to set up, and looks professional on stage.

If KraftGeek releases a Version 2 with a rotating tray and rechargeable light, it would be the undisputed king of portable stands. Even as is, it has earned a permanent spot in my studio and is now my go-to stand for gigs.