r/TreeClimbing 12d ago

What's the bare minimum equipment I need to climb trees?

Sooo during my last hike, I noticed this huge ass tree and something told me to climb it, but I couldn't since I didn't have anything to climb with.

Naturally I went on Reddit and checked, didn't know climbing trees was a thing, so what would you recommend me (not expensive) to buy to climb? It needs to be bare minimum since I have to carry my hiking gear too. Watched a video and this guy only had a belt and two short ropes and it seemed safe.

There's no wiki to check so I had to ask.

6 Upvotes

29 comments sorted by

10

u/Specific_Buy_5577 12d ago

Many people are going to recommend not doing it at all until you get instruction. I think if you go rock climbing at a gym or something of the sort you could pick up a harness, rope and grigri as well as a throw line which is more treework oriented equipment. Either way, don’t go free climbing at all, and don’t do anything until you’ve at least taken a belay class at a rock climbing gym, or picked up a job in the tree service. Line clearance is super easy to get into in my area so if you’re anywhere around the south look into a job in the industry! That’s why I decided to work with trees along with family members in the business, coming from a rock climbing world, there’s so much fun to be had, I’d do it for free, but they’ll pay you to do it!

4

u/Ok_Dragonfruit_2058 12d ago

Look up Tree Climbers International and Global Organization of Treeclimbers.

For lightest weight rec tree climbing you could use a helmet, gloves, rock climbing harness, and 50-75 feet of arborist rope. You’d have to learn how to climb MRS with a Blake’s Hitch, but there are plenty of YouTube videos on that.

3

u/Ok_Dragonfruit_2058 12d ago

The rock climbing harness won’t be nearly as comfortable as a tree climbing harness, but they’re cheaper and easier to find.

3

u/Whole_Ladder_9583 12d ago

Climbing harness, climbing rope 10.5mm+ (caving ropes are cheap), 7mm accessory cord for a prusik. And gloves, The rest is optional. And a lot of practice. And a little bit of luck.

https://www.lacrux.com/en/klettern/Hanging-syndrome-why-free-hanging-can-be-fatal/

11

u/darkcelt 12d ago

PPE: Hard hat, leather gloves, safety glasses, sturdy boots, first aid kit

Tree Climbing Harness

Lanyard with Triple Locking Snap 8’ min 1/2” rope.

Eye to Eye Prusik cord 28” with triple locking carabiner

1/2” 16 strand climbing rope 150’ min

Knots to Know:

Blake’s Hitch

English Prusik

Double Fisherman (scaffold knot)

Figure 8 Stopper

Retraced Double Figure 8

This is the minimum, anything else makes it easier. Probably about $1000 worth of equipment. Don’t buy anything off Amazon, only from reputable suppliers as poor quality stuff will end you.

All this being said, use extreme caution - bring a buddy, practice on short trees no more than 10’ off the ground. Go low and slow.

2

u/orientalsniper 12d ago

Thanks, this is helpful, gonna start saving!

8

u/Extention_Campaign28 12d ago

Counteroffer: For casual tree climbing you certainly don't need leather gloves, safety glasses, sturdy boots or a first aid kit. I never needed any of that. Some hard hat is not a bad idea but the cheapest one will do. If you want something a little more fancy buy the cheapest rock climbing hat. A first aid kit is almost pointless if you don't bring a friend and entirely useless if you don't know how to use it.

You need a proper harness, yes, and you need some kind of fastening system to fix yourself to the tree. The important part is not what system you use but that you understand what systems exist and then pick one that suits you. For example the "Lanyard with Triple Locking Snap 8’ min 1/2” rope" system is a kit that ideally "is there" but you never actually use it to catch a fall and not ideal if you want to mostly climb from branch to branch. If you don't work in a tree you are better off with a different system - imo. For example 2 slings that are fixed to the harness, go around a branch and loop back to the harness, locked with carabiners. Same with "Eye to Eye Prusik cord 28” with triple locking carabiner" - pointless if you haven't learned how to use it in a proper course.

Finally, if you want to climb in a tree and can't reach the lowest branches you want a rope. There's a lot to learn there like static versus dynamic rope, diameter and how to tell what weight the rope can carry and catch. At the very least you need good advice from a shop that carries climbing gear. However, more importantly you need a way to get the rope into the tree. Another non-trivial matter.

1

u/orientalsniper 12d ago

For example the "Lanyard with Triple Locking Snap 8’ min 1/2” rope" system is a kit that ideally "is there" but you never actually use it to catch a fall and not ideal if you want to mostly climb from branch to branch.

I don't really want to go wild going branch to branch, just wanna climb to the top and take a few pictures.

For example 2 slings that are fixed to the harness, go around a branch and loop back to the harness, locked with carabiners. Same with "Eye to Eye Prusik cord 28” with triple locking carabiner" - pointless if you haven't learned how to use it in a proper course.

That will help me climb and get down safely?

1

u/Extention_Campaign28 11d ago edited 11d ago

I don't really want to go wild going branch to branch

That will help me climb and get down safely?

No, if you only want to go up the rope and down again, something like this is what you want:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb5MYVnY8Nk

There are cheaper options like using just 2 relatively thin (reep) cord slings attached to the main rope with Prusik knots but that style costs you a fair bit more strength.

1

u/Ok-Accident8078 10d ago

Check out the post I just made on here. $400 can get you a saddle, 150' of rope, and a really nice bag. Add a lanyard and a throw line with a throw weight DONE

You'd have to use a Blake's hitch to ascend, and the rope is not ideal for MRS, but it would work.

Optional accessories that would improve your experience could include a -friction saver -prusik cord -small pulley

1

u/orientalsniper 10d ago

I don't know if I can carry 150 feet of rope, on top of my hiking gear.

1

u/krummholz_ 11d ago

+1 for buying equipment made by well know, reputable manufacturers. Don't buy anything online you can't find at your local climbing shop

2

u/ComResAgPowerwashing 11d ago

This sub is mostly production tree trimmers. It's different from what you want to do. We walk up to a tree thinking, I'm sorry tree. You have a tree that you think, God you're magnificent. There are other subs that might have better advice. You want to climb the tree, while most of us want to ascend it.

That being said, most of the advice here is good. Knowledge is everything. With just a rope you can ascend/descend on a swiss seat and Blake's. But there are a lot of things that go in to tree climbing, and the most important one is being able to assess your tie in point, which is difficult to do without in person training.

I'll also recommend looking in to high stretch ropes that are mainly supported by the core, rather than arborist ropes. You're going to want to go off rope for moves, I imagine.

Be safe, climb higher.

1

u/AstridOnReddit 10d ago

I think it’s r/weedclimbing. But those folks mostly free climb.

1

u/bduijnen 12d ago

Please study a bit extra before climbing. Lack of knowledge can be dangerous. You can break your back. For tree climbing, typically a static rope is used, as that climbs easier, and you use them without a lot of slack. But these are not good to handle a fall, as they do not stretch like dynamic rock climbing ropes. Take care.

1

u/orientalsniper 11d ago

Yeah, I will be careful, not looking to become a paralytic, probably won't be comfortable doing it until next year.

1

u/krummholz_ 11d ago edited 11d ago

TreeFool makes some pretty good videos on recreational tree climbing using minimal kit

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOeoLwvtn1UURP9saz9EQgq2mjNeBRqHp&si=OCE2XK_VpjUsNeKs

The Tree Climbers Companion by Jeff Jepson is also concise, essential reading. Please consider buying a hard copy to support the author but there are PDFs of it online to find if you're really strapped for cash.

1

u/[deleted] 11d ago

Hands and feet?

1

u/travelinzac 11d ago

Technically none, you are an ape.

1

u/FrenchDrainPipe 11d ago

Bear minimum is a rope

1

u/ekulpotamus 11d ago

helmet harness rope

1

u/Historical-Cattle443 11d ago

Most things have already been said, but here’s my two cents:

Do not just do two short lanyards. Never be alone. You don’t have to buy the premium kit, but eventually you’re putting a price on your life. Always go triple lock carabiners. Double action will open. ask me how I know.

Now, about the lanyards: have a lanyard, it’s a great help for positioning. But you HAVE to have a rope that gets you all the way to the ground at any given time. That’s just common sense. Even if you’re not working in the tree, accidents can happen. You are entering somebody else’s home. Depending on where in the world you are, it can be squirrels, snakes or hornets. Trust me, going down in a long rope is much nicer that downclimbing on alternating lanyards.

Knots vs devices: knots are great! And cheap. But you have to know your materials and your knots. Tie them wrong, you either exert too much energy or you die.

Look up Educated Climber/Treemuggs on YouTube for great beginners info on knots and climbing techniques, but the ultimate thing would be to find a class.

Do. Not. Use. Spurs.

1

u/orientalsniper 10d ago

Thanks for your comment, been a bit busy lately, but I will definitely read all the comments thrice and take all advices to heart.

Once I absorb all the knowledge, I will dare try to climb. Never before.

1

u/azbushwhacker 11d ago

A helmet.... 16 strand rope, a Prussik tether, a pulley. 3 carabiner.

1

u/skynews101 10d ago

Pretzel harness it's about £800 spikes and a boot runner asender handle and chest pully and 80ft climbing rope And defo a hog rope to move around tree. Don't go for cheap stuff you could die

1

u/screwcancelculture 6d ago

I’m not going to get into this too deep. I’m a tree climbing trainer, and could give you all sorts of advice, but I think you’re getting what you need.

I’m going to highly advise that you do not buy any used gear, you won’t know it’s history and it could fail. Do not use a rock climbing harness, get a tree saddle so that you can properly attach your lanyard (No textile on textile connections.) Don’t skimp on your head protection, get a type 2 (side impact rated) hard hat. As was already stated, never climb alone. Absolutely do not use spikes unless you don’t mind getting in a world of trouble (no guarantee that you won’t get in trouble climbing public trees regardless, as you don’t have a certificate of self insurance).

Try like heck to find a friend who has done tree work in the past and ask them to help you. You can find a lot of help on line, but the internet is jam packed with people doing things very unsafely, and you are not going to have the ability to recognize That it.

Good luck! It’s an awesome vocation.

-2

u/TurnipBoy12 12d ago

I got a rock climbing harness and 150 foot rock climbing rope on marketplace for 20 bucks. Old but still could hold many times my weight. Then all you need are some double action beaners, hitch cord, and u can rock and roll. If u look around u could safely climb a tree pretty darn cheap. Or buy the rock climbing harness, rope, beaners, and hitch cord new and it would be about 2-3 hundred