This Arborist Rope Scared The S#!% Out Of Me

Tenex Tec is a polyester arborist rope that is rated to 83kN. It is hollow braid which means it's meant to be spliced. We tested this rope with one fid bury instead of two like it requires. We were able to get full strength out of it. When we pulled the last test to 85kN, the machine struggles to go past that so I stopped, thinking it wasn't going to break. Walked around my shield and then this explosion of 19,000lbf happens. I swear it feels like some of those breaks give off small shock waves. Read more about these tests and see our data on our blog www.hownot2.co...
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Tenex Tec 5/8" Tests
06:43 Prusik Cord on 1/2" rope Tests
09:16 Arborist saddle tests
13:02 Buckle Test
13:49 Bridge Plate Test

[@HowNOT2]

Our blog has the data www.hownot2.com/post/arborist-gear-1 Check out our new store! hownot2.store/

[@michaeljordan3109]

Awesome! Make more videos Ryan thanks ! 🤙

[@DiabloOutdoors]

I have something for you...PARACORD. This is not a main cord in rock climbing, but it's certainly one of the most versatile and useful cordages ever! The problem is that there is no strict regulation so the quality goes from one extreme to another. It would be awesome if you could do tests and explain the differences between military, commercial, and ultra-cheap ones.

[@scotttuck364]

As an arborist, I want to see a video testing when various friction hitches start to slip. Also would love to see a thermal image of the rope during testing

[@kingdommusic5456]

70kn = over 7 tons

[@Chuckjohn12]

Yes test more arborist gear. As an arborist it’s all super informative. One big thing I’m interested in is side loading a carabiner around a branch or log

[@danisprettygay]

Giorgio Fiori did a video on that. It's pretty wonderful.

[@timeorspace]

To be sure I use a Notch quickie shackle for choking anchors in trees, but there are times when a carabiner could be convenient. I am very curious to know if a carabiner which has an ANSI rated gate is super good enough when used as a choking anchor around a tree/bollard. If aluminum is a no, perhaps a steel ansi biner?

[@bradnotchad]

As an arborist I really appreciate you for this content

[@corygrossman1]

Omg me too youdabest ryan

[@SynthHofmann]

What he said

[@KyleParks]

Same

[@BS-fs9xb]

Likewise. Hopefully he'll continue to upload more of these videos with arborist equipment. That's a common harness we all know good to see it lives to upto rating.

[@BS-fs9xb]

I was relieved when he didn't break the notch rook on the bridge lol Wanted one for ages, i wouldve cringed

[@GuillaumeGris]

Have you ever tried filming you tests with a thermal camera to see exactly what part of the rope or gear gets hot?

[@buckmanriver]

send one in!

[@em0p0ny]

Who can send in a spare thermal cam??

[@asontehunsthanshhl]

thermal cameras are limited to 9 FPS because of ITAR

[@dustinbird2090]

@@asontehunsthanshhl So, I guess a thermal camera would get mostly a post mortem look after a pull...might get a few lucky frames during the pull as well.

[@tullgutten]

Only American is limited. Buy chinese for the same price and get almost double pixels and 3x the framerate. Reccomend infiniRay pro. I have a flir one pro and it is garbage and app totally suck, can't use one phone older than 2 or 3 years old as they remove the compatibility from the app..... And support ain't willing to help at all..

[@7kyro]

Yes! More friction hitches. Blake’s hitch, Prusik, Distel and Schwabisch, grapevine, taut line.

[@Corsonmcnash]

2nd!

[@jayfranklin14]

3rd! Add the Cornell and Michoacán

[@ShurikB93]

"Feel just the tip, it is hard as a rock." This channel always delivers

[@203_climber]

as a climbing arborist I appreciate this video ! i’m sure we all do

[@purdypart]

Ryan and extreme gear dude, thanks for including us, super appreciate all your work, as an arborist for 15yrs and a rock climber for 26 yrs, I've found your tests really fun, informative, and cool.... and def gonna shop your site... I've been trying to find those soft shackles on there but no luck, any help?? (i know that stuff is easy to splice, but i barely have time to sharpen my saws... Would much rather buy from you) Also, i could send in an older swivel i use on my bridge, and donate the same one new if you want to do another Arb specific vid

[@tomwilson8190]

Arborist here! Love it! break more stuff! try and get hold of a zigzag and. any of the other mechanical climbing devices that are getting more popular in the industry. Also at what point does a toothed ascender e.g pantin of jummar strip a rope !

[@scott6361]

That ascender one is great. Nugreen store used to have a video up of the second gen zigzag getting pulled against a rock and the swivel yanked out at 9k pounds.

[@salimufari]

Hell yeah. This was very helpful in showing how used gear breaks down over time & use. As an entertainment climber I would like to see testing on the lifelines & how the 'soft stop' attachments perform.

[@mr.wookiesack]

Does anyone else watch this, even though you don't climb or use ropes?

[@fugginrambo]

I've never even seen this channel but read the title and wanted to learn about something new. So yes ! Haha

[@takeohtyme]

I was an arborist for 16 years, never did (or going to do) rock climbing because NOPE, but love watching and learning.

[@eirikurarnason5095]

Yes

[@brabhamfreaman166]

Guilty. Never have. Never will (not by choice, just can’t)

[@inyoushoes]

I don't climb but sometimes during my work I'm basically hanging out of the window to caulk it, especially balconies windows, and my boss doesn't cares much about our protection so I had to buy some stuff myself after watching videos like this. I don't use climbing harness per se but I have highly modified working belt that can withstand up to 17kN. I mean, if I'd fell out of the window I'd still have a time to someone grab and rescue me.

[@pauloost59]

As a former climbing arborist that only climbes every once in a while. It's good to know that the gear does not degrade that hard if you keep it well maintained... Thanks you guys!!

[@camiloho7852]

Love the tree motion harness break test! I’ve seen more tie in / rigging points on trees fail rather than the gear itself. Would be interesting to break test branches / crotches of trees since they seem to be the weakest link in many scenarios.

[@jackjensen8689]

Nice video. Glad to see some arborist gear tested. Unfortunately some of the arborist and cell tower climbers have worked with sketchy companies where the training on their gear is less than good enough.

[@johns3106]

Don’t know about tower climbers, but my personal experience as an arborist (and talking to other guys) would lead me to believe that a BIG percentage of arborists receive little to no training before being told to “get up there and get the job done!”

[@ProblemSolver7]

Wow! you broke my heart breaking a great harness that I will never be able to afford. I am a volunteer as a tree climber with a disaster relief chainsaw team. I buy (or make) all my own gear. I enjoy seeing how well things hold up, it gives me a lot more confidence in the gear.

[@bigshukas]

Always wanted to see you test some arborist stuff.. good on you for "branching out" lol looking forward to more in the future. Thanks for all your work testing gear and making videos I know we all appreciate it.

[@jakubhostinsky4482]

I'm excited to see this, because I recently bought ultra-sling made from the exact TenexTec rope you shown. My is rated for 69 kN, so glad to see 77 kN in your test.

[@j2kerrigan]

Happy new years friends 💛 heres to a year of great climbs, huge whippers, and gear thats super good enough! 🍻

[@johnshipley1389]

Great video, thanks for testing arb equipment. Please do drop tests on rigging and anchor points

[@MichaelNeal]

Keep testing arborist gear, it might encourage more regular inspection/replacement of gear. Also it would be interesting to see tower load testing of dropping a 6 foot section of decent diameter trunk to test some of the rigging that is designed to catch it before it hits the ground. Arborists generally do this with bigger than 1/2 inch rope but would 1/2 work and how many times? Is static line better than dynamic for this?

[@johns3106]

1/2” rope definitely works! We use that diameter most of the time for lowering all but the biggest wood. It’s a lot nicer (easier) to handle than the bigger ropes, (especially for the climber) but it does have its limitations.

[@brianbarrett8739]

I always say keep the to 500 lbs. Yeah I've roped bigger. But it's a rule of thumb. The big factor is letting it run and slowing it down, not slamming it to a stop. It pays to have a guy on the rope that is good. Physics says that the force required to stop an accelerating mass approaches infinite. That is why locking off a large piece or a hard stop breaks things and can get someone hurt or killed.

[@justinsnyder6256]

As someone who has snapped tenex. That stuff sound like a shotgun when it lets loose. Interesting to see how it broke after you stopped pulling.

[@joakimyliruusi]

As a arborist this was crazy nice! Thank you very much. Subscriber right here!

[@nicknicholson3452]

I'm an arborist and I enjoy this channel because it helps me figure out new ways to connect ropes when rigging or tying and more... plus who doesn't like seeing gear destroyed. As for the rope bridges, I believe your results would be higher than real world since the attachment points on a saddle are 2ish feet apart rather than side by side like your quick links. That being said, in my experience most bridges end up retired from abrasion or saw nicks and probably never see much more than 2kn. I can definitely dig up some old gear to send it to see how the years of abuse have affected it.

[@paulgaras2606]

It’d be cool to see you test construction fall safety equipment.

[@zGilly9029]

I'm an arborist and have been watching for a while now, as soon as I saw testing arborist great I was super excited to see you branching out for sure

[@christopherbaker9261]

Love it, thanks for getting some arborist gear it there. I use everything you broke on a daily basis. Also thanks for adding arborist gear to the store.

[@bradleyclapper8378]

Love these tests on arborist gear. Thank you very much.

[@MikeDCWeld]

The sideways bridge plate test was pretty cool, especially considering how it flipped itself around after breaking. The confusion in your voice followed by relief when you figured it out was hilarious!

[@bigshukas]

Curious to see how meny views you get on this compared to regular break tests... I have a feeling you will gain a whole new sub set of subscribers 😉

[@dancutting8940]

Love the arborist material. That’s my focus, but I’m always looking for other fields to see what can cross over to tree climbing, and that’s how i came across your material. I’d like to see cross loading of snaps. They get used all the time instead of knots during rigging. That’s where the big loads are in tree work, so when I hear you say 4kn is good enough, I have to always come back to just the climber is good. It would also be interesting if you could work with TCIA or another group to gather used tree ropes from rigging and climbing. I’ve seen ropes break that look almost new and it would be interesting to see how much is on the failure side of the curve because of repetitive shock loading. You generally test max strength, but the manufacturers also have failure plots that I’ve wondered about. For example, would a rope really break at 50% load after 20 pulls?

[@megadosevitaminc8774]

Nice. Thanks for testing tree gear. Makes me feel alot better about my eye to eye hitch cords and stuff.. cool stuff.

[@DreIsGoneFission]

I was an arborist for a couple summers while I finished my engineering degree. Needless to say, I dig this content.

[@986kph]

was the prusik cord bee line?

[@arborvor]

Looks like Bee Line

[@thespradman]

Yep. At 6:49 there's a close up of the label, it's upside down but you can read it if you pause it real quick.

[@dustincurtis9418]

Yale bee line👍

[@codblkops85]

I am looking forward to more arborist rigging gear testing.

[@ushi120]

Guten Rutsch ins Jahr 2023. Thx to all of you, for all the good content. Stay safe and hope to see a lot more of your vids. Greetings ah

[@Hisslave1]

You guys are awesome! Thanks for testing the gear I trust my life and customer's houses to.

[@bradleyclapper8378]

Definitely like the idea I read a few times of setting up a go fund me to get some popular arborist gear tests done. I know A TON of the community will throw in what they can for it. I also know manufacturers have in the past been more than happy to throw in donation gear to informational things like this. I’d definitely reach out (if your already a supplier then you’ve already got a contact). If a go fund me is set up then start up a pull to find what the arborists out there would like to see tested with the funds we have donated. I know a HUGE cation right now is swivels with the DMM recall recently. My favorite thing to see in this video specifically is used gear. I don’t think people get the importance of replacing gear in a timely manner till they see the difference between a new piece of gear & a well used/moderately used piece of gear.

[@purdypart]

I also liked that the used gear was still breaking at pretty high kN, i prob replace my gear TOO often considering how bad some of that looked but was still pretty strong... Rigging gear that's worked and worn on the other hand, or ppe that's been subjected to shock loads, YES even if it doesn't look bad... Destroy and replace.

[@benwright5918]

Thank you for branching out into tree gear. I'm an arborist and I've been enjoying your channel for a while, keep it up.

[@darrenmoore2305]

Thank you,,, I'm an arborist,,and these videos are very cool to watch and gather info.

[@thespradman]

Thanks for doing this. I have a Petal swivel on the bridge of my harness... I'd be curious to see how hardware like that and that Notch rook pulley/ rigging plate hold up. I know these are all expensive pieces of gear so, again, I really appreciate you taking the time and spending the money to do this. I've used bee-line eye and eye cords in the past (currently using HRC by Teufelberger) and always wondered if they're super good enough... this is really helpful and gives some good peace of mind!

[@Des..Perado]

BeeLine is awesome stuff. The vectran core is self-abrading tough so it is wise to replace it at regular intervals, not just when the protective jacket starts to signs of wear. Obviously even used it is super good enough, but for $20 a hitch cord it really is easy to just chuck the old one and use a new one. Besides, there's nothing really as nice as a new fiction cord.

[@larrypostma2866]

The arborist gear is much more informative for me but I’ll watch you break anything and hit the like.

[@deadfishporter]

This is great! I just spliced myself a rigging sling with 5/8 tenex last week. Thanks for showing me that my gear is super good in a direct pull. But I'd love some tests with rigging on the drop tower.

[@timkirkpatrick9155]

Thank you! Very much appreciated! Yes more Arborist gear tests. Check out how we rig loads as well as us!

[@matthewfranzen1339]

Awesome...! I use all that stuff every day, I've an arborist for 40 years. I definitely will be purchasing gear

[@em0p0ny]

Wooohoooo! Arborist gear!!!!! Love it. Love the arborist vids

[@Evergreen1400]

2:09 I didn’t know they made rope out of dynema. I just kind of learned about the stuff a couple months ago because of a company using it for ballistic armor. It seems like some cool stuff. I’ve recently become interested in learning more about some of the products and chemicals that get used to make stuff that we use (ex: rope)

[@CaseySnyder]

Props to Arbsession for the stitching on the hitchcord!

[@Ch00chCharlie]

Really glad you broke the buckle. I have them on my hunting saddle. Never trusted them until now.

[@NoName-OG1]

As rec tree guy because I have more access to that than rock - I love the idea that you’ve crossed over here.

[@gertdrijfhout5216]

quickdraws! the differnt types and alll that good stuff, was surprised i could not find anything about them

[@trimbaker1893]

Man, your work makes my work less stressful. Thankyou. I have enough to think about in front of me, I don't need to worry about my kilonewtons exceeding my kilo threads.

[@waynedejong5525]

Awesome seeing all the different tests being done, keep it up Ryan!!

[@danielwendell542]

Love knowing the stuff I have used would have held if I had taken an air step. Love watching yall break gear in the name of science!

[@k2thah286]

Feeling pretty confident about Teufelburger rope bridges after seeing that old ass one breaking at 22kn. 🙌

[@rolandkeys8297]

I gave up arborist work many years ago here in the UK. we used Prusik loops tied with a double fishamans knot. we tested these at 20KN and had no slippage. we found that rock climbing techniques didn't relay work for tree climbing and work positioning. We found the Prusik not you used could become loose and the climber fall from the tree. Our safety margin on ropes was 5x stated for climbing ( 1 tone stated would fail at or above 5 tone) and 10 times stated for lowing roped ( 5 tone would fail 50 tone or above)

[@brendankober4379]

That break when settling reminds me of a time I was pulling a dock out on a braided rope. It was pulled out and when the truck went into park and rolled back a few inches the rope disintegrated. Three feet of rope that had pulled the dock out turned to dust.

[@kennethbonn6344]

This was sick. I use that same harness for work. Solid work

[@weaponsable]

such a cool video! just today i spliced that same tenex material into a rigging sling. seeing what it actually takes to break it fills me with confidence! have an upcoming Fir removal and will be negative rigging out chunks that will weigh up to 1500 ish pounds

[@timberhitchllc]

Thanks for breaking arborist gear! For the arboriculture professionals, also check out August Hunicke/Monkey Beaver, where he breaks more arb gear!

[@mickflury]

You guys should go back and do some more tests with those GM Climbing rappel rings. There actually to setup a rope retrieval cambium saver/friction saver and id love to know what they and other friction savers and flip lines break at.

[@OllyBoardy]

Love it! Would love to see some tenex in ultra sling configuration

[@WhiteleyBrandon]

The French VT had me cringing!! I’m a climbing arborist and appreciate this. Give me a peace of mind knowing my prusik is safe with my weight.

[@waynegriswold8953]

i really like the new subjects you touch on

[@lordofnothing.]

thank you Ryan!

[@benjaminnevins5211]

That second break was crazy.

[@wolverinebear5357]

I think you have lots of arborists an budding arborists who watch your channel, an like i myself iam we would love seeing more arborist gear tested, theres a captain hook from DMM that looks cool has a shackle an stuff, iam sure theres lots of gear to check out tho DMM rig caribiner

[@masonstansberry2625]

The rings are meant to used 2 per attachment for life support, hence why the bridge goes through two lower d rings. The rings you broke individually are meant to be used together.

[@BRENDANTHERED]

You guys should get a lazer thermometer and then you could record how hot the ropes and prusiks get, as they are slipping and after they break. Great content, thanks friends!

[@jasoncornish2904]

Love the test of the Cobra buckle!

[@martinfahrni5677]

Interesting demonstration, thanks a lot.

[@uploadsnstuff8902]

So, I know this is costly, and probably has already been suggested a few times, but having a thermal camera recording the gear stretch and heat up would be really cool. Not sure what data it could bring, maybe parts heating that do not break but would be next in line?

[@jakecarder6298]

I really enjoyed this video and sent it to friends! I’ll check out the website

[@mountainmandoug]

I am not an arborist, but I do use some spliced tenex for other things, so this was very interesting.

[@timeorspace]

I appreciate this content. I just spliced my own pocket rigging sling from this same rope. My sling relies on triple? Locking Brummel splicing and chokes through itself.

[@shorgravan]

Hey, I know it's an investment and more work, but all that heat talk made me think: it would be really interesting to see some of these tests through an infrared cam (to see which parts deformed). Wouldn't work on naked metal (because it's IR-reflective), but should be great on fibers.

[@user-cs1ne8gx9u]

I'd like to see more arborist and industrial gear.

[@andrewomalley2688]

nice video! I will be swinging by the website sometime after the new year to buy some arborist/tree climbing gear.

[@richardcorfield9926]

I use the locking Brummel on my hammock :-) Somewhat thinner rope. This definitely good reason to replace old climbing kit though.

[@kennethmikaelsson7990]

God to now about the harness have one and really happy with it..

[@sonofawsome]

What up! Arbo content, you da Boss! Thanks!

[@pierpaolourbano9150]

Yes I've just started getting to know about ropes, red look nice brother ♥️

[@lock0206]

I use the Treemotion harness myself. the back ring isn't for life support; attaching your chainsaw onto it instead :) would like to see you test cambium savers (stein), Wirecore flipline, Bracing system and rigging kit

[@TheGrizzlyBeer]

Interesting to see how much the back ring held... These are intended for your saw lanyard and not really to be used as a tie in of some sort

[@jahdawg321zieman4]

As a tree climber I have dropped some hefty loads into 5/8 tenex and the stuff is incredibly strong.

[@vieuxacadian9455]

Awesome job at every video !

[@balhatchet]

Absolutely down for arborist info

[@JD-mn8cx]

More arborist gear please!

[@donmckenzie4329]

Arborist vids are the best!

[@miguelcastaneda3080]

I climb on a Tree Motion so it is good to know that it holds up nicely :P

[@justinmakovsky2007]

Test arborist ascenders like the unicender, zigzag, roperunner etc

[@mishkamcivor409]

I'd love to see a destructive test of a Petzl Zigzag because we have one at work but I know there have been a few issues and recalls with certain versions, as well as perhaps a steel core flipline (I know yanks tend to use soft ones but I think seeing a steel one would be pretty interesting) if your setup is strong enough hah

[@imark7777777]

It's a great idea 2 Community separated by very little other than the gap to the ground.

[@t.r.4496]

I would like to see some D-rings broken from a Lineman's belt. Also some secondary's and what not.

[@BriceDyer]

Ever think about using a an IR camera to see temp changes as you load

[@rastavoima]

Now i know if i fall out of roof to roof fall to. thanks man very good videos want you make

[@AldenRogers]

You've gotta test an icicle knot to see if it can slip at all when tied properly.

[@samualbenedict5810]

I am an an arborist. Please break more arborist stuff. I’ll buy all the useful stuff extreme gear if they carry it. Thanks

[@charles_513]

I use a harness at work every day I've never trusted those metal buckles I was wondering about how well old school grommet harnesses stand up to the buckle type. Not really arborist related but you are testing harnesses

[@theeeldeal8470]

Shout-out to he guy who had his phone and hand right next to the machine making metal things explode.

[@nerymarroquin3073]

Watching this made me trust my gear even more, I had to see it to believe it 😂😂