Cinco (Good Tidings) Express C-152E (8 ft) vs Krinner Tree Genie XXL (94720)
Cinco (Good Tidings) Express C-152E (8 ft)
The short answer
Krinner Tree Genie XXL (94720) comes out ahead overall with 8.5/10 against 7.3/10 for the Cinco (Good Tidings) Express C-152E (8 ft). Cinco (Good Tidings) Express C-152E (8 ft) is stronger on value. Krinner Tree Genie XXL (94720) is stronger on stability & grip, ease of setup & takedown, water capacity & refilling, build quality & durability and safety & materials. At current verified prices, the Cinco (Good Tidings) Express C-152E (8 ft) costs about $103.09 less.
- Choose the Cinco (Good Tidings) Express C-152E (8 ft) if: Budget shoppers with trees up to 8 ft who want the fastest lock and takedown without paying Krinner prices.
- Choose the Krinner Tree Genie XXL (94720) if: Anyone setting up a live tree of 7–12 ft, especially one person working alone or someone with a crooked trunk.
Scores by criterion
| Criterion | Cinco (Good Tidings) Express C-152E (8 ft) | Krinner Tree Genie XXL (94720) |
|---|---|---|
| Stability & grip | 7.3Barely moved an inch in Reviewed's impact test, but it is a light plastic stand rated only to 8 ft. | 8.5The five-claw single cable gives equal pressure on the trunk (Bob Vila), and Popular Mechanics found the Deluxe version handles crooked trunks. No direct XXL impact or pull figure is published, so the score is capped at 8.5. |
| Ease of setup & takedown | 7.5Quick-release ratchet bolts speed up locking and takedown. Assembly takes an average amount of time. | 9.3One person locks the tree with a foot pedal, with no crawling or bolt-turning. WRAL (2013) found the release snaps open abruptly. |
| Water capacity & refilling | 6.51.3 gal with no indicator, which suits trunks up to about 5 in. | 9.22.5 gal with a level indicator, the largest reservoir here. It spills if overfilled (Bob Vila), and the float stuck in WRAL's dated 2013 test. |
| Build quality & durability | 6.5Polypropylene with galvanized hardware, so it won't rust, but plastic limits its lifespan. | 8.0German-made with a 5-year warranty and spare indicators sold, but the body and claws are plastic. |
| Safety & materials | 7.0Rust-resistant. Larger trunks need daily water checks. | 8.5The large reservoir keeps a live tree hydrated, which lowers fire risk (NFPA), and replacement parts are available. |
| Value | 8.5About $35 with a quick-release feature. | 7.0$129 at Krinner, $138 on Amazon, roughly 4x a plastic bolt stand. The price is justified for big trees and solo setup. |
Specifications
| Spec | Cinco (Good Tidings) Express C-152E (8 ft) | Krinner Tree Genie XXL (94720) |
|---|---|---|
| Tree type | Live | Live |
| Stand type | Plastic bolt stand | Cable-and-claw foot-pedal |
| Securing mechanism | Quick-release push-pull ratchet bolts + 3 galvanized pins | Foot-pedal ratchet tightens single cable with 5 claws |
| Max tree height | 8 ft | 12 ft |
| Max trunk / pole diameter | 6 in | 7 in |
| Water capacity | 1.3 gal | 2.5 gal |
| Water-level indicator | No | Yes |
| Primary material | Polypropylene plastic with galvanized steel spikes and bolts | Plastic body and claws with steel cable/gears |
| Stand weight | 3.25 lb | 18 lb |
| Rotating | No | No |
| Built-in outlets | No | No |
| Warranty | — | 5 years (per Krinner XXL manual) |
Cinco (Good Tidings) Express C-152E (8 ft)
Pros
- Fast lock and release
- Barely moved in Reviewed's impact test
- Galvanized pins help center the trunk
- Very low price
- Rust-resistant
Cons
- 1.3-gal reservoir is small for an 8-ft tree
- Light at 3.25 lb
- No water-level indicator
- No frills
A good low-cost choice for a medium tree. Keep an eye on the water level.
Full Cinco (Good Tidings) Express C-152E (8 ft) review →Krinner Tree Genie XXL (94720)
Pros
- One person can set up and plumb the tree
- Grips crooked trunks evenly
- 2.5-gal reservoir, the largest here
- Holds trunks up to 7 in
- 5-year warranty and replacement water indicators sold separately
Cons
- Priced well above bolt stands
- Plastic claws and pedal can break if misused
- The reservoir can spill if overfilled
- A 2013 test reported a sticking float and an abrupt release, which may predate the current design
The easiest big-tree stand to use, and the one we would buy for most live trees. You pay a premium for the setup and the large reservoir. Krinner's own store lists it below the third-party Amazon price.
Full Krinner Tree Genie XXL (94720) review →Both products are part of our guide The Best Christmas Tree Stands of 2026, where you can see every pick, how we score and current prices from each retailer.