Rock Vs. Tree.....

[budroe69moni]

i've been searching the net for climbing
gear and i'm becoming very confused!!!!
there's tree climbing gear, rock climbing
gear, caving gear ect.........
there seems to be different ropes and
'biners for each disipline......
what's the deal???????
can i use rock climbing rope in trees????
let me know,
budroe

 

[treeguy347]

Rock climbing ropes are dynamic rope. That means that they stretch. This is necessary to absorb a climbers fall. That much stretch tends not to be beneficial in a tree where fall arrest is not quite as critical. Arborist ropes have some stretch for this purpose and wont be as bore jarring (or potentially deadly) as a true static (non-stretch) rope, but are static enough for use in footlocking, ascending, etc.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Most of our gear has been adapted from the rock/cave world. They trade stuff off to, but you will find that there are specialty stuff that the other discipline does not have a use for.

The Pantin is an example of a cave tool that did not go anywhere that we are keeping in production.

Cordage is one of the few examples of products made solely for the tree trades. MAny are still caryovers not designed for our use. No Samson made the Zingit just for trees and NER did the Fly.

Now they are seeing our willingness to spend money on good gear so the next few years will be a heady time for us gear nuts. Designers thinking of stuff for our applications, listening to us!

 

[M.D. Vaden]

Its amazing how dramatic tree work is.

People can hardly sit inside. Half the neighborhood comes out to watch at times.

Maybe a line of arborist rope should evolve, not just from rock and cave stuff, but from bungee jumping.

That would make for really dramatic viewing!

M.D. Vaden
Beaverton, Oregon

 

[NeTree]

Most "rock" climbing ropes don't particularly like the types of knots that arborists use. You're better off just getting purpose-made rope and equipment. Also, most climbing supply places sell biners with plain or screw gates - stay away from them, too. Get the positive locking type.

There's plenty of people here who will help ya get the right stuff the first time, no sweat.

Erik
[email protected]

 

[treeguy347]

I found and visited a new arborist supply store in the area and above the Petzl Spirit carabiner is a card with the price on it that had in big letters "NOT FOR HUMAN SUPPORT" It's interesting that us rock climbers love to use those for lead climbing for fall arrest, but they are not accepted for that use in the tree industry. It's best to stay with posi-lock though.