Beginners Climbing Kit

TrevMcRev

I continually get emails from people asking what do they need/I recommend they need as a basic kit to get started climbing with.

So i figure we build a thread that I can link people back to where they can get unbiased advice from the wider community rather than a sales pitch.

Where would you start?

What is the minimum kit required to work aloft safely?

What would you not worry about to begin with?

Drouin Tree Service

Harness,Spurs,lifeline,polebelt,prussic,caribineer,sawstrap.And bag to put it in.

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Drouin Tree Services | Excavator Hire - Drouin and SE Gippsland | Landclearing Melbourne

Cole

helmet nice chinstrap one, handsaw and tree climbers companion. maybe a cambium saver, we should be teaching good habbits right

FlashD

I think the bare minimum would be a saddle, a rope, a lanyard, and a hard hat.
A step up would be a split tail system, carabiners, handsaw, spurs, etc. One thing I would stress to a person just getting into the trade is that if they're really going to make a career of this, they need to get a good saddle. One that fits correctly, comfortably, and that they can see working out of for hours on end. Nobody said this to me, so I bought what fit the budget and now regret it. I could have spent $50 more and gotten a much nicer saddle and now really wish I would have.
One more thing, gotta get them a copy of the Tree Climbers Companion. That bood is priceless.

Cole

id say you would need a few biners to start wouldnt you flash. Handsaw is a must i reckon... far better for a begginer than a chainsaw. and one of those small soft zip-up first aid kits there like $20

MrDiesel

When i started TAFE they made us use screw gate biners so we would continually look at them on a changeover to make sure they were done up. It worked for me i naturally check the biners all the time.

What about a good quality brain bucket. I got a Pacific but with sweat it started to smell in under a month. I belive the Petlz hats dont get this problem as much

codytreebrah

i say the cambium saver is a must. my boss has been doin this for 20 years and he ruined his shoulders climbing.and hes only 40. i want to be climbing for a long time. gotta make sure your not wearing yourself out and a cambium saver definatly helps prevent that.

MrDiesel

Eye protection which doesnt interfere with heaing protection

Good quality pads for the spikes

codytreebrah

i have a petzl. they breathe good when its hot and if you clean them out once and a while (SPRAY NINE works really good) they wont smell like a hockey helmet.

Drouin Tree Service

Helmets,glasses etc are PPE not a climbing kit.Keep it basic IMHO

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Drouin Tree Services | Excavator Hire - Drouin and SE Gippsland | Landclearing Melbourne

Apocalypsse

NMIT pretty much banned screw gates for climbing. They wont let you climb with one at all.

For the kit basics I'd go with:
Harness
Lifeline (35 metres) + flipline with self locking carabiner or snap lock on a spliced end (6ft)
Self locking carabiners for lifeline and flipline (maybe a spare carabiner as backup or for tools like handsaw)
Cabium saver, not too big as they aint going to climb a Mountain Ash to start with.
Prussic loop for lifeline
Depending on how they want to attach their flipline either a mechanical device or what I use, micro pulley and prussic cord with eyes splices (double fisherman sucks for this)
Tree Climbers Companion

Thats the basics of what you really need to start learning to climb. Dont need spurs in a learn to climb kit.

Drouin Tree Service

Need spurs to block down a take down thou,I agree better to learn to CLIMB without but there in a basic kit.

__________________

Drouin Tree Services | Excavator Hire - Drouin and SE Gippsland | Landclearing Melbourne

Apocalypsse

Begineers generally dont do removals though, at first its getting you up the tree and used to climbing with rope and harness. At TAFE its 2nd semester you only start climbing with spurs. Also the price tag on them is higher than what most harnesses will cost you.

Cole

but when it comes down to the bottom line, how much would you like to spend, money is the biggest factor i have found when buying kits for ppl ....ive fitted out 25+ guys with kits same old argument i guess everyones diffrent

FlashD

Nope. If you really want for someone to truly enjoy modern advances in climbing, let them start climbing tail-tied. It's the most basic and bare essentials you could get (Cheapest). If they don't want to learn that way, step them up to split tails (Enter carabiners). If they don't want to body thrust, get 'em a micro pulley. It's all about up-sales. I, personally, learned to climb tail-tied on a blakes hitch, then got a split tail, and now climb on whatever knot happens to be the flavor of the week with a micro pulley. I can really say that I appriciate the system I have now and not to mention, I have a ton of respect for our forefathers who pioneered this industry.

Apocalypsse

Exactly, some people may need a few other things while others dont, always need to ask what type of climbing they are going to do.

Down here in Aus we dont get taught to climb on the Blakes Hitch, sometimes during climbing basics a few students give it a crack but we always climb on an english prussic.

Cole

I think HR prussic cord is going to be industry standard soon in aus if it isnt already, the blakes is a great knot and idea and works perferctly fine, but its 2009 i started a new climber with a valdotain tresse on a hitch motion climber, he got used to it after three weeks, he thanks me today for starting him out on it instead of the english prussic, i do close approach tree trimming training(climbing) for australian arboriculture training and contrating and all of the guys i come accross they all start out using what ever the others guys on there crew have... thats just how i have found it in aus, thats how it was for me i was lucky enough to be exposed to technical and modern stuff when i first started.

FlashD

I wish that were the case here. I learned to climb in an arboriculture class here at Kansas State University. What we learn is decided by a group from the Kansas Arborist Association according to what they use and what they feel we should use. It works for the sake of the class as maybe one or two of the 30-40 students in the class MIGHT continue climbing. Sorry to get off track. Just thought the differences in training were interesting.

Alby

I agree with all that is said. Really, work with what feels good for you. I think working within your boundaries is a good start, hand saw is a must, even now I feel that you can control things much better when you are learning and working where you can hear what the wood is doing. Start small and work out if you want to tackle bigger jobs.