First set of climbing gear

[Mr_Brushcutter]

Hi

I got my NPTC in tree climbing a few weeks back and i've been looking around the net trying to put a kit together. I've come up with the following list of kit, how good a choice is it? All the stuff CE and got its own serial numbers? Is it a similar set up to what anybody else has?

ISC Locksafe 3 way mongoose 30KN karabiners

Williams T22 wide back half harness

Personal first aid kit

Yale XTC pluse 16strand 13mm rope in a 145' lenght soft eye in one end

Work positioning laynard (just a rope at the mo hope to get one of the fancy pedzel ones later on)

2 Beal split tails 1.5m

3 prussic loops (knotted rather than continus loop)

Husqvarna climbing helmate

Thanks for any input.

 

[MasterBlaster]

It's always good to have more than just one climbing rope. I keep three at all times, only using two with the third as a back-up.

 

[Mr_Brushcutter]

So get another lenght of XTC then? i supose it would be very useful to have in a rescue 3 situation.

 

[clearance]

Where is your spurs?

 

[MasterBlaster]

I would try out different ropes, maybe. All three of mine are different.

 

[KentuckySawyer]

What does NPTC stand for?

I've always been fine with a 120' rope, but then most of the trees I'm in have at least one limb by 60'. Your area might be different.

Why so many ropes, Butch?

 

[fwf]

You don't give much of a clue as to what or why you are climbing. Are you an arborist, logger, recreational climber, etc?

Your name, Mr. Brushcutter, could imply you do a lot of removals. If that is the case, then, as clearance suggests, a set of spurs would be as or more important than more rope.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Why so many ropes, Butch?

Like I said, the third one is in a new state, and is just a back-up. I routinely use two (even three) ropes when trimming big trees. When I'm in the top, I'll set another rope somewhere to expedite my movement throughout the tree.

A climber needs to have at least two ropes on hand.

 

[pantheraba]

A climber needs to have at least two ropes on hand.

I agree. I usually bring my second rope up once I get the primary one set. I consider the 2nd one an escape rope in case something happens to my first..and I also use it for repositioning or balance when limbwalking...as well as use it for a backup rope for my descent.

MB, I know about burning rope when it goes thru a crotch too fast...it looks like you burn yours on the stove!!! or is that "stove-top splicing" ?

 

[Mr_Brushcutter]

What does NPTC stand for?

I've always been fine with a 120' rope, but then most of the trees I'm in have at least one limb by 60'. Your area might be different.

Why so many ropes, Butch?

National profiencey test counicl. In the UK you must get an NPTC for thing like chainsaw use/ climbing befor you can do them. You get a little photo ID card showing the units you get. For some things such as top handled chainsaws you have to show the card to a dealer before you can buy one.

At moment recreational climber moving into arb. I'm mainly going to be doing pruning work. I do have a few removals this summer so i may get a set of spurs because i really like using them.

Going to be climbing ceaders and oaks mainly.

 

[jason j ladue]

clearance has a good point. you will want spurs. if not now, soon. they really are irreplacable when you need them. get a wire-core flipline to go with them. these items will not be a cheap up-grade. you probly know, but you may expect to pay 150-200 quid($300-400- though those figures are based on the american market). expensive, but well worth the expense. sounds like you are off to a fine start. best of luck. have fun. stay safe. and oh yeah, blaster is right- get more rope. xtc is fine line.

 

[clearance]

Mr. B. You have to show i.d. to buy a 020 (ms200)?, you have to show i.d. to climb? do-gooders gone beserk. I was born in Yorkshire but I am glad I live here. Here anyone can buy any chainsaw they can pay for, anyone gets a job climbing if they show the boss they can do it. In Canada you have to have i.d. and a test to drive or buy a gun, which is reasonable, I hope it doesn't get like that here but it will cause most of our politicians are lawyers. Anyways, like Butch I have a few ropes but I only climb with the one I need, according to length.

 

[Thor's Hammer]

My twopence worth -
MB's right, have more rope. buy another 120" rope and cut it down to 2 short ropes, as these will get a lot more use than your long rope. also using a long line in small trees is a pain. I love rope bucket bags, very good for keeping rope out of the ????. Buy a used set of spikes, as you probably wont need them to much to start with. should be plenty of guys looking to upgrade down in herts, and an old pair of kliens will be ideal to start.
Willans is a good harness, but try out some other makes at the shows, as their becoming a bit old hat now.
buy diffarent colour or shape Krabs for each job. smaller ones for your strop are good.

 

[tinman44]

My twopence worth -
MB's right, have more rope. buy another 120" rope and cut it down to 2 short ropes, as these will get a lot more use than your long rope. also using a long line in small trees is a pain. I love rope bucket bags, very good for keeping rope out of the ????. Buy a used set of spikes, as you probably wont need them to much to start with. should be plenty of guys looking to upgrade down in herts, and an old pair of kliens will be ideal to start.
Willans is a good harness, but try out some other makes at the shows, as their becoming a bit old hat now.
buy diffarent colour or shape Krabs for each job. smaller ones for your strop are good.

??? what for ??? thats bad advice i think. what will you use the two short ropes for? i've got 2 ropes 120' climbing 1 rope 150' lowering/rigging and would kick someones ars for cutting them into. i also have 2 250' ropes that were used for pulling distribution lines that were retired due to their use. those are used for what i think your suggesting him to cut a perfectly good rope. almost every job i've done i've used almost entire 120' rope

 

[MasterBlaster]

Short ropes come in handy, especially for crane work.

 

[Thor's Hammer]

Domestic style treework in the uk has much smaller trees. lots of connifer/hedge topping. small 60" rope will get a lot of use.
Trust me. I'm a Doctor.

 

[teressa green]

short rope is good advice ,if your still new at the game you wont want to be rushing into the big stuff til your confidence level builds,60 ft rope would be ideal for most domestic work ,always handy tho to have a couple ,i too have 3 ,2 short ones at 60 ft ,90 ft ,and 160 ft,plus a few long lanyards ,dont climb with gear on your harness that you wont use ,

 

[iain]

komet alli spikes, light and heavy duty topping strop a good bull rope 14 mm min for lowering, a couple of small wedges whilst learning the trade may stop topped timber sitting back toward you ,stihl 020 top handle, personally i use the comet harness once tried you'll be hooked, pole strop

 

[fiddlesaw]

I have been climbing now for just a couple years but can attest to the smarts of having a cable core line. Had a branch force my trim saw into my climbing lanyard just three weeks ago and sliced 75% thru. Scared the crap out of me, but I did have my steel core. Good point Jason...