That one piece of gear...

Rook on my rope bridge and pinto pulley on it below the hitchhiker 2. Pulley helps tremendously with tending slack and I can tie into the rook with a chest harness for ascents. No need for a homemade tether on the HH. I believe the rook also helps prevent the carabiner from side loading, since I've never had the problem but gave read on here that others have.
 
The Sena when working with other climbers, groundies, the wife or daughter. It helps leaps and bounds with safety and communication. HANDS DOWN.... Literally no more waving and yelling to get their attention.

After that I would have to say my rope wrench system. I say system because each piece works with each other to make it work. Take one out and it might only be as good as the old taught line!!! or worse!!!
 
I can only get it down to 2 things. Foot ascender and knee ascender. You gotta have both to ropewalk SRT.
 
Omni block on a tenex loopy sling. It's adjustable for stairstepping, takes everything from small negative blocks and down in force, zips, midlines, redirects, etc. I used it today to suspend a dead 9-5" thick, 15' long pine limb hung up in a camphor tree while I did a solo cut and chuck. I really had no idea what I would use it for until I got up in the tree, but I knew it was all I needed.

All that srt ascender/rope wrench stuff is assumed for me because I'm a relative newb. If you gave me just a rope and saw you'd be entertained by some on-the-fly learning/wheel reinvention.
 
TheTreeMD said:
Now a days... I'd say my quickie has become integral. As well as a DMM ring with a accessory carabiner for redirects.
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Those are two items that lived on my ride until I determined an oval quick link could do both those items work. Potentially at the same time in certain instances. ; )
 
I second the Powerscender. I wear it on every climb, whether spiking up a tree for removal or in pruning when I'm not digging in with my spikes at all. It's great in combination with a Haas for long ascents, but it's also convenient by itself, when I just need to move upwards 5'-20', either srt or ddrt, and I don't want to mess with additional ascending devices. The spikes are always there if I get in a jam, or if I want to walk out on a big limb I'm removing. The device itself is flawless.
 
Nish said:
I second the Powerscender. I wear it on every climb, whether spiking up a tree for removal or in pruning when I'm not digging in with my spikes at all. It's great in combination with a Haas for long ascents, but it's also convenient by itself, when I just need to move upwards 5'-20', either srt or ddrt, and I don't want to mess with additional ascending devices. The spikes are always there if I get in a jam, or if I want to walk out on a big limb I'm removing. The device itself is flawless.
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Dude... every climb? Also, removing big limbs on prunes. Come on now.

I have no doubt that you are comfortable on your spikes. If you can run around in a large tree all day and not cause any additional unnecessary damage I guess do it, but I really doubt that you never stab the tree. I don't get in binds very often and stabbing into the trees I am pruning is just not something that I would consider a viable solution. Why not just wear a foot ascender and do it the right way when you aren't removing?
 
SomethingWitty said:
Dude... every climb? Also, removing big limbs on prunes. Come on now.

I have no doubt that you are comfortable on your spikes. If you can run around in a large tree all day and not cause any additional unnecessary damage I guess do it, but I really doubt that you never stab the tree. I don't get in binds very often and stabbing into the trees I am pruning is just not something that I would consider a viable solution. Why not just wear a foot ascender and do it the right way when you aren't removing?
Click to expand...

I do have a little strap on foot ascender I can wear over my soft climbing shoes, but how much damage I cause to a tree really comes down to how much time I take to be careful--that time can be spent in either switching out gear, or just careful climbing and line set up. I generally do right by the trees and the clients, but I'm impatient towards religion. It isn't necessarily sinful to leave the occasional scuff or shallow spike mark in the thick bark of a loblolly, or on the fast growing wood in the upper canopy.
 
Nish said:
I do have a little strap on foot ascender I can wear over my soft climbing shoes, but how much damage I cause to a tree really comes down to how much time I take to be careful--that time can be spent in either switching out gear, or just careful climbing and line set up. I generally do right by the trees and the clients, but I'm impatient towards religion. It isn't necessarily sinful to leave the occasional scuff or shallow spike mark in the thick bark of a loblolly, or on the fast growing wood in the upper canopy.
Click to expand...

No major argument here, it's just a thought.

There are a lot of legacy loggers around these parts. Loggers and linesman. Quite a few people have tripped out on me working spikeless. The customer (and the neighbors) can't see how you stand, just what you're wearing when you go up.
 
Books, forums, industry events, tutorials and videos. Whenever someone asks where do you start if you want to climb trees. I immediately say "I'd start with a book". Because I find with all the knowledge I have obtained most situations can be figured out with multiple effective ways
 
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