Wesspur beginner's kit vs piecing gear out?

Every climber has a pile of gear they'll never use except the first time they used it and said "Nope". I'm also in the "Piece it out" camp. Certainly talking to Gap Arborist or Wesspur and doing a custom kit is a great idea too.

Harness, helmet, rope, throwline (go with 2mm or less), 2 throwbags (try a 10 and a 12 oz), 4 double/locking D shaped carabiners, a 15' piece of 11mm double-braid arb line, a CMI Micropulley and 8' of Epicord 9mm (make two split-tails) and two Dan House rope sleeves.

Climb DdRT or MRS with a Blake's Hitch to get off the ground, keep it simple. Build a lanyard with the 15' 11mm line, use the Epicord for the friction hitch on the lanyard. Use a 5 gallon bucket for your throwline storage. Tree Motion S Light is a good choice. If you go less expensive you'll probably upgrade later and will have a second "guest harness".

See who has the Dan House sleeve, super simple to install and retrieve cambium/rope protection. Use the tail of your rope as a second DdRT system with the second sleeve.

There are a lot details to climbing safely, keep your variables low, be conservative on your rope anchor choices, keep the rope at the limb/trunk union when you set lines.

Ask questions on the 'Buzz. Reach out and find rec and pro climbers in your area. Take it all in small bite-size chunks, grow your capabilities and gear collection as you learn from experience why you need a specific piece of new gear.
-AJ
 
Welcome to the forum, Speedcrab. There are a number of us on here who are rec climbers and not pro arborists. But the advice and gear choices cross over pretty much completely. I will second the various opinions to go with the best you can afford. A fine quality tool or piece of kit is a friend from then on, after the price is long forgotten, but buy too cheap and you might regret it every time you use it. There are excellent affordable rec saddles of high quality, like those from New Tribe, but a caveat is what shape you are. Many rec saddles tend to be single suspension point in front and if you are a bit heavier above the waist like some of us older guys, then the tendency is to tip over backwards. Climbing becomes something of a fight to stay upright on the rope. More expensive pro saddles are usually suspended by bridges with the two suspension points, on each end of the bridge rope or strap, over on each side further back towards your centre of gravity. Climbing and balancing when at rest is so much more relaxing in a saddle like this and well worth the extra cost if you want to seriously pursue climbing. I started four years ago and quickly moved from a single point New Tribe up to their pro-level Onyx saddle with rope bridge and have thanked myself ever since. Right, well, good luck. I am sure you will like it here on the Buzz. There are literally centuries' worth of experience represented by the forum's senior membership and they are a wonderful and colourful bunch, scattered all over the Globe. Check out older threads and the video section, and also the numerous videos up on youTube that a lot of the fellows have uploaded. Start low and slow, and have fun.
 
Pricing gear out.

I'm missing the lanyard and the friction savers.
Is this the usual starting price for gear?
 

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I'm not quite sure what you mean by "usual starting price." Could you clarify?

I noticed you had a mini throw line bag listed. I've never tried stuffing a throwline into a small bag, but I'm sure it's no substitute for a throwline cube. I have 3 throwlines. One is in a proper cube, one is in a bucket and one is in a smallish collapsible laundry hamper that I had. I'll use a cardboard box before I use a tiny bag. Also, a second throwline is invaluable for when your first gets hung.
 
Speedcrab said:
Pricing gear out.

I'm missing the lanyard and the friction savers.
Is this the usual starting price for gear?
Click to expand...
That seems about right however some sites you can get a discount code.


A couple of opinions on your gear. I use true blue as a rigging rope and love it. It is supple and has great hand. However if you ever decide to go to SRS you'll likely be looking for another rope. If that's an option in the future and you don't want to buy another rope it might be easier to get a rope that works well for both styles.

Second, your throw weights, depending on what type of trees your climbing a 10oz will often not come down with rough bark. However it does fly really well and helps with higher shots. My personal go to is two 12 oz weights in case one gets stuck or I need to set two throwlines and a 16 oz for double bagging to isolate a limb.


That's what works for me anyways, good luck.
 
Jehinten said:
That seems about right however some sites you can get a discount code.


A couple of opinions on your gear. I use true blue as a rigging rope and love it. It is supple and has great hand. However if you ever decide to go to SRS you'll likely be looking for another rope. If that's an option in the future and you don't want to buy another rope it might be easier to get a rope that works well for both styles.

Second, your throw weights, depending on what type of trees your climbing a 10oz will often not come down with rough bark. However it does fly really well and helps with higher shots. My personal go to is two 12 oz weights in case one gets stuck or I need to set two throwlines and a 16 oz for double bagging to isolate a limb.


That's what works for me anyways, good luck.
Click to expand...
What rope would be more versatile?
 
Dan Cobb said:
I'm not quite sure what you mean by "usual starting price." Could you clarify?

I noticed you had a mini throw line bag listed. I've never tried stuffing a throwline into a small bag, but I'm sure it's no substitute for a throwline cube. I have 3 throwlines. One is in a proper cube, one is in a bucket and one is in a smallish collapsible laundry hamper that I had. I'll use a cardboard box before I use a tiny bag. Also, a second throwline is invaluable for when your first gets hung.
Click to expand...
I guess I'd seen older forum threads and expected a little less money on initial investment but now that I think about it I think that was with lower priced harness, helmet.
 
Speedcrab said:
What rope would be more versatile?
Click to expand...
One of the Yale or Sampson 11.7mm double-braids, they go by many different names, Yale Ropes: Blue Moon, Arrowfrog, Prism etc. Sampson Ropes: Tango Ivy, Silver Ivy etc.

Color/pattern variations of the same construction and diameter line. Highly versatile for DdRT/MRS and SRT/SRS
-AJ
 
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Speedcrab said:
What rope would be more versatile?
Click to expand...
moss said:
One of the Yale or Sampson 11.7mm double-braids, they go by many different names, Yale Ropes: Blue Moon, Arrowfrog, Prism etc. Sampson Ropes: Tango Ivy, Silver Ivy etc.

Color/pattern variations of the same construction and diameter line. Highly versatile for DdRT/MRS and SRT/SRS
-AJ
Click to expand...
I agree with the listed ropes, not my personal choice for SRS but I've seen Yale 16 strand used for both as well.

For MRS that full 1/2" rope will be easier to grip but your hands can get accustomed to gripping the 11.7mm
 
You can never have enough rope (eventually). Sure 12 strands like true blue are far from modern popular choice for climbing lines (for a good reason), safety isn'y one of them. *IF* you were to cut costs, i'd say cutting cost on a climbing line (as long as its a legit tree climbing rope) isn't money down the drain as you can still find many uses for it down the road (lowering line, cutting it up to make other gear out of it like lanyards, but you'd likely enjoy learning to climb on a better rope. I agree that Yale 11.7 or = is a great choice...
 
I started out with a WesSpur kit 2 1/2 years ago and they let me customize the heck out of it. At least at that time the listed kit was I believe 10% off the price of the individual items; they let me switch out whatever I wished and just applied the 10% discount to the total.

So I see no reason not to go the kit route, unless a reputable retailer is offering a better overall deal at the time (15% off everything or whatever).

Hmm, I think this is my first post on TreeBuzz :-)
 
BurOakTom said:
I started out with a WesSpur kit 2 1/2 years ago and they let me customize the heck out of it. At least at that time the listed kit was I believe 10% off the price of the individual items; they let me switch out whatever I wished and just applied the 10% discount to the total.

So I see no reason not to go the kit route, unless a reputable retailer is offering a better overall deal at the time (15% off everything or whatever).

Hmm, I think this is my first post on TreeBuzz :)
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exactly why I said to call them. They are a super legit stand up company, they have personally blown my mind when I reached out to them about one of my passionate "ideas". Not only did they go above and beyond they made direct contributions to it
 
evo said:
exactly why I said to call them. They are a super legit stand up company, they have personally blown my mind when I reached out to them about one of my passionate "ideas". Not only did they go above and beyond they made direct contributions to it
Click to expand...
they have standing 5% discount code as well. type "arborist" in to the promo code.
 
Speedcrab said:
Pricing gear out.

I'm missing the lanyard and the friction savers.
Is this the usual starting price for gear?
Click to expand...
around $1,000 is expected for being fully equipped. Things I don't see on your list:

foot ascender
handsaw

Is there any local tree supply vendor in your area? like within a 2 hour drive? might be worth it to find a local vendor where you can go try on some harnesses. Some vendors by me have a small tree lashed up in their display area and you can hang/sit in the harnesses to try fit. The big internet companies are not the only game in town.
 
With the sale going on right now for Sherill and Treestuff what else should I grab?
I'm looking at the Yale Blaze for my climbing rope.It's listed at 11mm.

I added another 12oz throw ball and a second throw line but still not sure what to do about the lanyard or climbing saw.
Couldn't find the Epicord.
I went with the Yale Blue Moon 11.7mm
 

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Are you looking for a handsaw for removing "nuisance" branches when you climb or for more serious pruning? I used an inexpensive folding saw for years. I like that it stows in a cargo pocket. It's on a tether so I can't drop it. I don't use the handsaw that much (because it was crappy? or because I have a chainsaw on me?)

For limited use, a small folding saw can suffice. And you don't have to fool with attaching a scabbard to yourself.

When I was at the Stihl dealer the other day, they had a Notch handsaw that looks like a Silky Zubat knockoff. For under $50, I bought it. Haven't really used it yet as I'm still figuring out how I want to attach the scabbard.

I've never bought a lanyard, just assembled my own from components I already had - snaphooks, rope and rope grabs.
 
Speedcrab said:
With the sale going on right now for Sherill and Treestuff what else should I grab?
I'm looking at the Yale Blaze for my climbing rope.It's listed at 11mm.

I added another 12oz throw ball and a second throw line but still not sure what to do about the lanyard or climbing saw.
Couldn't find the Epicord.
I went with the Yale Blue Moon 11.7mm
Click to expand...
I'd stick with the Blue Moon but go up to 150' length. Add a spliced or sewn eye to one end. Likewise, I would move up to 200' for at least one of the throwlines. Switch out the 10 oz for a 14 oz weight. Have something to keep your throwline in?

Epicord is there, try searching again: Epicord Go with the 9.3 mm with two stitched eyes. You'll have pick the length; 26" - 30" depending on the hitch you want to use.

I see you have the micropulley combo, so you are climbing MRS to start with? I would consider a DMM Hitchclimber pulley instead. More versatile and can be used with a Rope Wrench if you decide to go SRS in the future.

For a lanyard, I would assemble one using this combo as an adjuster on 12'-15' rope of your choice with a sewn eye on each end. Some of the ropes in the lanyard combos are good choices: the HTP Addiction, Lava, Sterling TriTech, Ocean Poly. The hipSTAR Flex system is great but expensive; you could buy just the replacement lanyard they offer - stick with the thinner 11.5mm. I'd stay away from mechanical adjusters to start with.

Friction saver if you are climbing MRS?

Carabiners?

Foot ascender?

Caritool for your harness to carry stuff?
 
I rec climb but also take care of my own trees, and a great folding saw that is capable of real work is the Silky BigBoy. It has a hole in the handle for a small lanyard and I hang it on the saddle when not using it. Despite its size, it doesn't weigh very much. Also, a tip an arborist told me was to keep your lanyard a completely different colour rope from your main climbing lines, to avoid confusion when you are learning to climb and move around at height. This was timely advice because I was going to simply cut off a chunk of the climbing line I bought and use it for a lanyard.
 
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