a few months ago I remember someone posting a lightstand where the legs would easily fold up when you lifted it and when you would set it down the legs would expand.
Spencer, I have a 12' and an 8' Redwing Quickstand and they are very good stands for the purpose. The 12' is a newer version than the 8', because it is air cushioned. I got it from Adorama more than a year ago. Got the 8' used, so I'm no help there. The kwikstand is made by a different company and I've heard that they're junk. Quickstands work well on flat, smooth surfaces. Great for moving through the crowd at receptions or setting down and moving between church pews. On carpet, they often require a little finagling for the legs to open all the way. Even more finagling in grass and they can be problematic outdoors on uneven surfaces. I'll eventually get a stand with an adjustable leg for outdoor work. For now I use a regular stand outdoors more often than the Quickstand.
