The price seems to be a hard headed item for arborist....
I know lots of climbers that don't want to invest in a simple pantin, but drive a new business car every tree years and complain about elbow problems from working the ropes......
I know a lot of people investing in al sorts of smartphones, laptops, dvd players and giant tv screens...but when they have to invest in materials making the daily job easier they have to think 3 years about it.....
Don't spend your monney stupid, be smart and spend it where you can make your daily job easier and more efficient. That will sure help you work longer and with more fun in the trees. It's a lot of monney but when you have enough jobs for it it will def be worth the inevestment.
If you don't have small trees to prune, a small chipper that needs some debranching every now and then before the wood properly fits, clients that have small trees that needs to be cut down in summer when all the neighbours are enjoying the sun and don't want to be aggitated with the noise of a two stroke....and much more reasons but perhaps the most important...if you def want to inhale exhaust fumes and pull start a saw for every branch...don't buy it !
Dont get me wrong, I don't want to sell this little bugger, there's absoluetly nothing in it for me.
I just personally think a lot of arborist do themselves short and keep on spending a lot of energy while there are more efficient ways to get the job done....
But hey.....thats only my 2 cents
Climb safe and think smart !