Minimal climbing gear

Or, a dictionary by the mouse!
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If I were to make a "minimum" list, I'd leave out the sling/biner and water bladder. Minimum would be the rest. "Ideal" is a whole different deal.

And the "minimum" would be to be able to do 1/10th of what Riggs does everyday without a "Atta boy" or slap on the back- FWIW.
 
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I'd leave out the sling/biner

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Mark, why are you leaving out the sling/biner?

Surely its applications as both a mini rigging device/quick re-direct is a good thing? When taking hand held branches the sling/biner is important?......stops your wrist being bent at weird angles when you cut the branch.

Without it, when you cut and hold the branch sometimes moves away at an unexpected angle and twists your holding wrist in an awkward fashion.

I also use the sling/biner as a quick re-direct in awkward work positioning situations when you have a suitable branch to re-direct your climbing line into above?
 
Minmium is minimum safe operations IMO. However there is minimal optimal requirements. I think Tom's list falls into what i would clasify as minimal optimal.

My guys are outfitted as far as personal gear goes as such:


Helmet/basic PPE
Harness
Rope w/2 biner
Split tail
Lanyard
Handsaw
Throwline/s
Firstaid kit
Spikes(depends on application)
And im adding whistles


All rigging equipment goes with the truck.
 
Looks spot on alves, what about a rescue knife for cutting through rigging or climbing line in a rescue situation?

Totally agree with you on the sling/biner 'foothold' glens, have used it like that as well particularly on cabling installations.
 
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This is my minimum list:

Helmet/basic PPE
Whistle
Harness
Rope w/snap or biner...split tail is optional
Lanyard
Handsaw
Sling/biner
Water bladder
Throwline/s

What would you eliminate from this? The water container could be discussed when the heat goes down.

[/ QUOTE ]

Spikes and footlock prussik. The prussik can also be considered a sling/biner combo.

I'd probably remove the bladder as minimum gear (I don't have one), but I think it could be a good thing.
 
I guess that "minimum" means differnt things to different folks. For me, a re-direct, footloop, ascending line... would all be added after the "minimum" has been met. I'm reading this thread with the idea of what I would require a climber to have to do a low-level task. Rigging gear, cambium savers, rope-walking systems... would all be great, but not required. I've seen many great climbers work day in and day out with a rope, harness, PPE, chainsaw/handsaw, and that's about it. Requiring all climbers to have footloops on a daily basis would be extra to me.

A footlock prusik or pair of ascenders wouls be in the minimum for me as well.
 
I was thinking (ok no jokes ) as for some new guys and girls starting out this is a great list. As it has grown to what we all use and consider minnimal gear so will their gear with the more time in trees. To Tom this is a good list startin out then let them rock and roll on the rest.
 
yeah for minimum gear a
saddle
biners/ snaps
flipline
split tail
common sence
hand saw that fits what ever brand of blades i buy

i provide climbing lines unless they get abused
glasses
hearing protection
hard hats


i think strap and rigging biner is not basic and its in my rigging tote if they need. we also have a large water cooler for summer that gets filled before they leave.
 
I think the answer depends on your point of reference.

For a new hire I would expect only a desire to learn and no exageration(?) about skills and ability, a proper tree climbing mind set. (common sense?)

For a contract climber I would expect him/her to bring everything he/she might need to get the job done right, the previous lists pretty well cover that. If they show up without a handsaw or throwline or something basic they can expect an immediate pay cut.

I've always had alot of respect for someone who brings thier own saw wrench.
 
My list for minimal climbing gear needed to safely perform tree work would be

1)rope capable of safely holding your weight in case of a fall.

If you happen to be making cuts in the tree your most likely going to need.

2) Something sharp to cut branches with amd someway to safely carry that sharp tool.

3)another rope to lower cut branches with.

4)common sense

Everything else are simply accesories that make the job easier.
 
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Water bladder

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Could we please stop calling it a water bladder! it's really weird and I for one don't like it.

A bladder is something you unconciously store your urine in.

A nice little plastic bottle is good for storing water in. Not a friggin bladder!

Adopt a Redneck accent and repeat these words - 'Hey guys am just goin down the pig farm, ol bubba says he's got me a new bladder from that hog he was guttin yesterday, yee haa, alrighty I got me a bladder'.
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I think you are right Angus. However, I think that Tom is asking about what is the minimum gear requirements for a climber to own when you hire a subcontractor or similar situation. Not that every piece mentioned has to be on the harness at all times. Just the idea that you need to have at least these items when you show up to a job that you may have never seen before. (I think?
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Hmm if its a climber on my crew, who is using my ropes, LD, BS, etc. I would say the list doesn't even come close to minimum equipment that a subcontractor requires.

If the discussion is based around: [ QUOTE ]
the minimum gear requirements for a climber to own when you hire a subcontractor

[/ QUOTE ] then 5 pages of discussion have diverted from Tom's original question, without any furthur definition.
[ QUOTE ]
what I would expect a climber who was on my crew to have as a basic climbing kit.

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Without reading too far into it -
Are we talking about climbers on a Global, Country, State or Region level?
Are they Self Employed or Company Climber (following a S.O.P)?

Each combination of these has different requirements, and even though the discussion is talking about the very basic equipment, the basics change considerably from Region to Region, and whether the climber is Self Employed, or following an S.O.P.

Regardless of locality, if I were running a checklist on a climber, a water bladder would not be on the list. There is no reason why they can't hydrate through many other ways - Why only a bladder?. But since there is no definition to the conditions the climber will work in, I can't offer any reasons without obvious "What if's..." .

For the sake of furthur interesting discussion, it would be interesting to see any difference in opinion once we are all discussing the same thing.
 
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