A Beginner's Guide to Tree Climbing Equipment: What You Need to Know

Whether you’re an arborist inspecting a tree, a cat rescue company, or a tree-climbing hobbyist, you need high-quality tree climbing equipment to scale tall trees safely. If you’re just getting started, what tree climbing gear and equipment do you need to stay safe as you learn?

What Is Tree Climbing Equipment?

You need the proper tree climbing safety equipment to protect yourself from falls and to improve your comfort while in the tree’s branches. A harness and safety lines are essential fall protection, while using foot spikes and gloves can make it easier to climb without slipping.

Tree maintenance companies are some of the most frequent customers for equipment for tree climbing. Workers with tree maintenance and removal companies often use tree climbing safety equipment to protect themselves as they work. It is a tree company’s duty to ensure that their workers have the appropriate equipment to climb trees safely on the job.

Essential Tree Climbing Gear and Equipment for Beginners

If you’re just getting started climbing trees, you’ll need your own gear to practice safely, including:

Climbing Harness

Your harness is essential for fall protection. It includes straps that fit around your legs and chest with a seat area that sits low to prevent you from falling out of your harness if you flip upside down. Be sure to get a harness rated for tree climbing.

Tree Climbing Rope

You can get started with tree climbing on a static cord rope, but you need to be careful not to strain the rope so it doesn’t break. More advanced climbers often choose a dynamic line for more fall protection, as they generally climb higher.

Carabiners

You need to clip yourself and any gear you’re carrying to the rope. Use heavy-duty carabiners to protect yourself in case of a fall.

Lanyards

Also called a flipline, a lanyard attaches to your harness, loops around the tree, and clips back to your harness.

Ascenders and Descenders

Also called a prusik, this cord ties into a knot that reduces friction on the main rope line.

Importance of High-Quality Tree Climbing Equipment

Cheap tree climbing equipment isn’t necessarily bad, but it is usually lower quality and can wear out much faster than more expensive and popular brands. Carabiners, ropes, harnesses, and other safety equipment in poor condition can lead to falls from tall trees that can cause life-changing injuries or even death.

Don’t just look for “tree climbing equipment near me” online to find a local retailer for your basic tree climbing equipment. Even as a beginner, you need to climb safely. Contact a local tree climbing company to ask about their supplier.

Contact Greenshields Industrial Supply for Your Tree Climbing Equipment

When you need tree climbing equipment in the greater Seattle area, visit us at Greenshields Industrial Supply. We have over 70 years of helping our neighbors find the equipment they need. Contact us today to learn more about our tree climbing equipment at our store in Everett, WA.