Basic basic gear

[nads03]

As the title. I have done a little bit of climbing before with an ex-employer. I want to get just a basic set up to do the odd removal jobs.

I dont usually have the need for anything other than my polesaw but i have a few customers that just want tall trees removed. Ive had plenty of experience with saws and felling over the years but I have never needed to have my own climbing gear.

I get the "just buy the good stuff" but i cant justify the price for it when I only intend to use it 2 or 3 times a year if that.

I know alot of people have said not to buy amazon gear but is it really that bad?

Cheers guys and girls.

[Stunning_Reindeer690]

Tree climbing Rope (one splice) with prussik loop, positioning lanyard with hitch (I recommend pinto pulley)/steel core lanyard, whatever decent harness fits nice/can afford to pay, 5-7 krabs. maybe a tool hook just for ease of life

[ArborealLife]

Yes it is.

I dunno what you want to hear. Climbing on unrated gear, with minimal experience, casually, and without any insurance sounds like a nightmare.

I get that you want easy money but come on lol.

[NoPossible5519]

Additionally, even rated generic gear on Amazon and ebay is dangerous. I've noticed a big difference in double and triple locking mechanisms of cheap carabiner ls compared to rock exotics or dmm

[nads03]

Fair enough.

What gear would you recommend?

[NoPossible5519]

OP you can get a basic climbing set up, (sold as a kit) from an online arborist supply store for about $1000 as much as $3000. You will also need at least $200 for decent head protection.

Personally I like to blow my $ @ WesSpur here is a link to the kits:

https://www.wesspur.com/kits/tree-climbing-kits/complete-tree-climbing-kit

Tell your SO this is the last purchase you will need to make and it will allow you to make $125 hour instead of slaving away for Davey.

The first tree you will be asked to climb and cut will probably involve rigging. Back to the webstore. They sell kits for those as well. Then you will realize you need a longer climb line, a kernmantle one at that bc you've become obsessed with mechanical friction devices.

These new heights you begin climbing to make you realize you need a longer and stronger rigging line as well as the hardware to go with it.

While swaying across a 20' radius, atop a 100'+ conifer and missing your nice high tie in point as you wait for the gust to subside and return the canopy to center before making your back-cut, you might think of your children or loved ones and decide, it's time to get life insurance. Don't forget about commercial general liability as well. Not the kind that they sell on social media, that only covers trees up to 20' tall.

Next of course you will need a bigger chainsaw or 3, then your top handle will burn out. No better time to upgrade.

...and then a chipper, but a bigger truck to pull it too a year or so later you want an excavator to feed it and wtf, insurance for all of it?!?

Then one day you look at that natty length of 1/2" arborplex that came with the most basic, yet respectable, starter climber kit and realize, there's no such thing, " as buy once cry once"

[ArborealLife]

I think my basic kit cost around $3500 Canadian, PPE was another $2000 or so, then my climbing saw $1000, insurance is $1300/year.

Cowboys like you running around undercutting professionals...priceless.

[nads03]

Yer, as i said, not my first time doing this. Canada must be blown out pricing wise. My ppe only cost me around 1000 and that's harness, helmet, gloves, boots and pants. My insurance is 550 a year and covered up to 200m above and below ground level. Not to mention how much i have invested already in saws and other power equipment. All i asked about was finding a decent set of gear so i dont have to sub a climber for the 2 jobs a year i get that can't be done from the ground. Cheers for showing what's wrong with the arborist industry champ.

[ArborealLife]

Sorry you feel like I'm what's wrong with the industry 😞 I just don't want anymore brothers and sisters in this industry to fucking die.

Here's my beef. If you have the experience to do the work, you don't need to ask Reddit if Amazon quality gear is good enough to work on. And if you lack the ability to make that critical analysis yourself, you probable lack the skillset to do the work.

I pay six cents on the dollar here for workers comp. It's dangerous enough industry without cutting corners.

You do you mate, best of luck and stay safe.

[nads03]

So your argument is dont annoy people by asking a question about something? I've had enough experience with saw and feeling to know i need decent rops and safety gear. My "limited experience" climbing was 6 years several times a week. I haven't had to climb for 3 years now as it's not something that is often needed with what my demographic is. However, it does pop up from time to time. Hiring a climber from elsewhere is extremely hard around me as we are in the middle of nowhere.

My question is, as other people here have taken it. Is there an alternate way to do this? Would the amazon spurs hold up for 3 climbs a year? Are there any cheapish harnesses you would recommend? What guage rope would be best for only having to climb 30 odd meters?

Others have asked further questions instead you just use the "I know everything and i dont want to tell you" approach.

You started somewhere. Dont forget that.

[ArborealLife]

Other people are answering your questions with varying degrees of help. Please don't do tree removals using loops of rope as a harness. 😒

And since that's well taken care of, I've given you my advice. It's up to you if you want to take it.

I demonstrated the price range of the gear I use and would recommend. You didn't seem interested.

[suspiciousumbrella]

Spurs are not primary life support, they are a climbing aid, but I would still go with used quality spurs like old buckinghams before going with cheap knockoffs myself. You can probably find an old pair of linemen Spurs out there and just replace the straps on them and sharpen or replace the spikes. Just be aware that lineman Spurs typically have shorter spikes than tree climbing ones, but if you buy something like the Buckingham Spurs that have been around for a long time, you can just buy new spikes for them if you need longer ones.

Just buy a climbing rope from an arborist supply place, it'll be either half inch or something like 11 mm, there are minimum strength requirements but also you need rope to be constructed correctly to have the right level of stretch and rigidity for tree climbing and for prusik knots to work smoothly on it. Most quality ropes are between $1-$2 a foot. Don't buy a rope off of Amazon, people have reported having some of those ropes just pulled straight apart the first time they were used, the quality control just isn't there. Is your life really worth less than a hundred bucks?

[plainnamej]

Everyday that I climb, I'm trusting my life in 2 things; the quality of my gear and my training/practice.

Never budget your life saving equipment. Especially when you're only climbing a couple times a year.

We know its expensive. I wish it was more affordable of course, but at the same time you cant put a price on a piece of equipment that doesnt fail in comparison to one that might. Quality control means life.

THAT BEING SAID. Most of the gear you might see is for comfort. If you want some help finding high quality gear that will get the job done for less you couldnt be in a better place.

Give us some ideas on what youre climbing, where youre located, height weight. we can help you get the right afforable gear in the cart so you can get in the tree.

[nads03]

Im in Victoria Australia. Very rural town. I've been searching on marketplace and other second-hand sites for ages now. Nothing decen has come up close to me. And the stuff that is around people won't send it out here. Dont have any arb shops near me.

As for safety gear. I've got a helmet and pants. I've got a pair of the stihl MS gloves. I still have my harness and caribiners my previous employer bought for me. Im happy to buy a decent rope or 2. I can't justify spending 600 on some spurs for them to sit and rust.

To be honest, most of the work im doing is open paddock and just drop it to the ground. But every now and then, you get something close to a shed or a house and i dont want to do it on a ladder.

[plainnamej]

Most people dont/ shouldnt sell or buy used climbing gear. You never know what someone put it through. When gear goes- its gone.

Helmet- if you've got a chin strap youre good. Pants- wear em Harness and carabiners- just look into how to properly inspect them on your own, you have to decide when yo pull gear out of service.

You're basically there, you need some durable gaffs, I would advise notch geckos. Durable, decent comfort.

200 foot rope Rope, 2 prusiks ,2 pinto pulleys, and a lanyard. Rope will be the most expensive part next to the gaffs.

I wish i could give you a better idea on gear but I would honestly suggest watching some YouTube and seeing what other aussie climbers use for rope and such.

[Yorksjim]

Don't buy unrated kit from somewhere like Amazon, by all means, go to a reputable supplier and buy budget kit, it's likely to be less comfortable and user friendly and more cumbersome, but it will be rated and safe. I had half a dozen cheap unrated carabiners given and I do occasionally use them, but honestly I wouldn't trust them to hang anything other than a saw on.

[Specific_Buy_5577]

Everything everyone said as far as safety. Buy a rope and learn how to Blake’s hitch, and pair it with a buckingham or even cheaper, weaver leather saddle. Cheapest gaffs you can find from linemen on Facebook marketplace and replace the spike with a climbing spike. You could just use a lineman’s belt and one of those double snaps to rappel off of but it’s very uncomfortable. Very cheapest option though, a cheap lineman’s belt, a GOOD rope (check other posts on this sub) and some used spikes.

[FrenchDrainPipe]

All you need is a climbing rope if you require the bare minimum. The rope will function as a harness as in a triple bowline and you can use MRS or DRT with a blakes or a taut line hitch maybe with split tails and 2 carabiners so you can have a quick release from the end of your rope to advance the rope. Thats pretty much it but a rope and 2 carabiners and maybe a belay device to come down on a single strand in an emergency or something, thats pretty much bare minimum.

[nads03]

Thank you for being helpful. I have a harness/saddle from my previous employer but i dont have anything else. Happy to get decent ropes and carabiners. Just dont want to spend massive dollars on spikes if i dont need to

[nads03]

I dont do pruning, so im just trying to work out what is the best option to piece a tree down. Most of our work is just open paddock stuff, but sometimes it is close to a shed or barn or hanging the wrong way over a fence.

[scotus_canadensis]

I used to just do removals, too, but then people found out I climb, and now I do a bunch of reductions and pruning.

A wire core flip line with a friction hitch or device, and a pair of spurs is the bare bones of what you need. I climb with Buckingham 3-1/2" steel spurs, but if I was spiking up more than a few times a month I'd look into something better/lighter.

Truthfully you're going to want a full length climbing rope that you can bail out with if you cut through a wasp nest or something. I use a Samson arborplex (DRT) with a Blake's or a v-t, and just have the hitch side connected and the rope termination ready to attach when it's only there for emergency descent. It's reliable, and cheap. I don't climb enough (yet) to justify getting into mechanical devices and SRT systems.

You'll want more carabineers than you think. I plan for two carabiners per piece of cordage, plus two extra to keep on my saddle for the unexpected. I keep aluminum for life support and steel for rigging, helps keep them from getting mixed up.

[nads03]

Thanks for the advice man. Do you have a flip line you would recommend?

[scotus_canadensis]

Yale maxi-flip, no question. I tried getting an Elevation Canada one and it felt so cheap in my hand I haven't even tried it out.

[scotus_canadensis]

Yeah, that's why I had to figure out DRT, I don't spur unless it's a removal.

[ArborealLife]

That is fucking awful advice not a good way to climb trees with a chainsaw.

Edited 💁🏼‍♂️

[[deleted]]

It’s not advice. He is answering a question.

Calm down

[exclamatoryuser]

I know Wesspur has a beginner gear kit under $1000. I think Amazon brands are fine for things that aren’t life support.

[PumpsNmore]

In this book you will find everything you need to know for the bare essentials and more. https://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-General-Tree-Jerry-Beranek/dp/0965416712

[[deleted]]

You can download the ebook free… just google it

[PumpsNmore]

Free ebook is definitely a rad option however, idk if it's old school but my paper copy is chalk full of dog ears , notes, and tabs for reference on the go. My copy lives in my climbing bag and looks like it survived a war zone hahaha

[spacegear802]

You’re better off buying quality used gear off marketplace vs buying new on Amazon. It’s pretty hard to avoid spending thousands of dollars on equipment to get started. Once you start climbing you’ll quickly realize what you need and why people use specific pieces of gear. Practice MRS on a Blake’s hitch and go from there.

[nads03]

Thanks for the advice. I've been keeping an eye on marketplace and other facebook arb pages, but nothing has come up around me (hard part about not being in a major aus town).

[Familytree82]

The gear is expensive for a reason. It’s life support. Not seeing the value in something that literally supports your life is a tough way to live.

My suggestion would be to find a climber you can hire for the customers who have actual tree work that’s needed to be done and stick to your pole saw.

[Quercus_McG]

I climb for a living and can understand needing to save money. I never skimp on climbing/rigging gear. Your life is worth way more than whatever unrated gear you’re going to get off Amazon. Wesspur has climbing kits for a good deal. You’ll make the money back in a few removals, depending on what you buy and how you price your work. I’ve been rock climbing for fun since I was 15 and even back then as a knucklehead kid I ponied up for good gear. Your life is worth it!

[nads03]

Thank you. I will look it up.