Tree Climbing Systems Explained and Compared - PLUS DEMOS

Wonder how to go from a Blake's Hitch to a Hitch Climber Pulley? Or how to climb SRT/SRS? Or what makes SRT better than DRT rope climbing? Nick Bonner from TreeStuff covers tree climbing systems from basic to complicated in this in-depth demonstration.
00:00:00 - Intro
00:01:03 - Definitions
00:01:31 - Blake's Hitch
00:04:34 - Tending Blake's Hitch
00:05:50 - Hitch Climber System
00:08:14 - Mechanical DRT
00:10:20 - SRT Intro
00:11:14 - ZigZag & Chicane
00:13:34 - Rope Wrench System
00:15:42 - SRT/DRT Comparison
00:19:34 - Rope Runner Pro & Akimbo

[@MPH-iq5md]

As a new/learning climber, this video is a fantastic reference and explainer of the basics. Thank you.

[@TreeStuffdotcom]

Glad it was helpful!

[@rckingracer]

Same here went on a tree trimming job and didn't know the hip thrusting to go strait up, man my arms are so tired from pulling myself up then synching the slack

[@DP-ol1wh]

I will be watching this over and over. Invaluable demonstration. Appreciate you sharing your knowledge.

[@Daniel08353]

This was inspiring to know the capabilities; expenses; and techniques to work with. This helped get a better perspective of arborist equipment expenses; and what expense should be prioritized over another of lesser advantage. Thank you!

[@kennethsizer6217]

That was spectacular! A very fast "history of climbing technology" 👍👍👍

[@j1bbzz_328]

I've only just passed my climbing ticket and your videos are such a great help

[@MiguelGarcia-rv3nj]

This is the kind of information I was in need to definitely take the extra step to start my project THANK YOU !

[@scoutmaster-s8860]

This is an extremely helpful overview!

[@mward0001]

Wow! Great job showing these options. Thank you for this clear video!

[@ChrisTietjen_00]

Excellent video. Very comprehensive, logical and easy to understand. Thanks!

[@TreeStuffdotcom]

Glad it was helpful!

[@wileymitchell4438]

Great informative video. So far the best I've seen as far as explaining these methods/devices. Thanks!

[@TreeStuffdotcom]

Thank you!

[@nicolejohnson8415]

Ok, so as the spouse of a climber who climbs old school I'm learning for Christmas gifts. He's been climbing for almost 10 years now drt (thanks for explaining that) and is talking about adding a zigzag to his whole system. Obviously I'm trying to learn, but I was curious if he uses spikes. If a foot ascended would still be helpful for him even if he continued with the double ropes for now? If that makes sense. Climbing is running his body down and I want to make it easier on him without throwing too many tricks at the old dog haha

[@BigBlackTruckDave]

Always Great to Rewatch!

[@bwrightaway2877]

I bought all my gear from you guys and I love every bit of it! I'm just a hobby climber that does his own tree work... kinda. I have an arborist friend that got me in to climbing so he'll normally come help when I get the saws out. I have lusted over a rope runner pro since they were on pre-order but I just can't bring myself to pay that kind of money for a hobby. One day I might do a tree job or two to start recouping some of the hundreds of dollars I've spent.

[@justinlimitededition7457]

I'm in a similar boat... Hundreds of dollars on just a hobby. Girlfriend doesn't love that 😂

[@daddycatnaps3756]

I'm just getting into trees. I've been helping my buddy who is awesome at it. This video helped me understand sooooooooo much. Thank you

[@johnchan6191]

Wow, super gr8 demo vdo on drt & srt. So many ways 2 go up on rope w/ prusik & mechanical devices. Thx 4 sharing on Utube.

[@rwmagnus]

One of the BEST instructional videos ever. Subbed you and look forward to learning more.

[@TreeStuffdotcom]

Awesome, thank you!

[@jasondavis1453]

this is an awesome video I was wondering about foot looping with the Blake's.

[@TreeGirlDesigns]

Great Video Nick! Always nice to see you in Action! ❤️ Fl

[@TreeStuffdotcom]

@Mark Grever Some say hes an 'action star'

[@richiemitchell2576]

Just wandering what does he use a chainsaw or climb for fun?

[@1point3ie99]

Really great videos for those that are starting out (like me).

[@scottwickersham2408]

Thanks! This is really helpful! Keep it up!

[@Usapalms]

This was the video I’ve been looking for 🌴🤙🏽

[@PuertoRicoTm]

Been climbing on a hitch climber system learning SRT this weekend excited

[@glenrobinson9963]

I really appreciate this information I am a total newbie and I'm going to sign up for climbing class in a couple weeks after watching your video

[@TreeStuffdotcom]

Best of luck! Stay safe.

[@negicraft7700]

This video is very useful 👌👍 so good information ..thank you

[@peterstechmusicandtrees9053]

I’ve used Blake’s Hitch since I was a kid! If you don’t want any extra equipment in the tree, the Blakes Hitch is the way to go. I climb DRT most of the time. Interesting fact, my uncle invented it.

[@TreeStuffdotcom]

Wow!

[@jm3363]

Well done being concise and informative.

[@TreeStuffdotcom]

Thank you!

[@TimberTrainer]

Great job on a thorough overview of climbing systems Nick. Dare I say your best informative video yet? The lever action devices got skipped, but are not as intuitive to use.

[@TreeStuffdotcom]

Wow, thanks!

[@johnchan6191]

Gr8 vdo. Thx 4 sharing on Utube. 1st 2 get, the Akimbo.

[@julianalderson3938]

Found the blakes hitch would run real nice an stop. Small prusik cord always stopped me, but when wet rope really haft to pull on it to give me more line. Cheers old stuff always good to know. Maybe a vid on the harness an system as one. Tryed it bad for the plums but does work fine. Thanks bro.

[@egildosteklein9702]

Muito bom, parabéns pela grande demonstração dos equipamentos !

[@harambereincarnate]

Thank you guys

[@connorcaneva6726]

I like how he is talking up the zig zag so much yet it has a safety recall on all of them

[@verteup]

I've seen zig zags put on slack snap machines and they slip at 1,100 lbs and if you put a stopper in them they break at 5,400 lbs. Very strong device and very simple to use. I have a zig zag pro with hundreds of hours of climbing on it and it has never given me a bit of trouble. They are very well made.

[@neekniggit3606]

@@verteup I don't know why the zigzag gets so much hate. I've had mine for years without issue. As a matter of fact I gave Stihlborn his.

[@enjoyyourlife2518]

@@neekniggit3606 I totally agree . Tell me thats not what you call junior 🤣. Change it to Sue at least

[@pfv3462]

I know you shouldn't load the zigzag sideways, but in a tree with all the branches you can never rule it out. I still go for the ISC ROPE WRENCH and the DMM HITCH CLIMBER ECCENTRIC with a prusik cord! The DMM HITCH CLIMBER ECCENTRIC with a prusik rope for DRT is much more compact and can be midline atachet and cheaper!

[@boywithdrone09]

It was the zigzag for the old one because it had a safety issue with the chain the newer ones don’t have that

[@richardurieric8502]

thank you for sharing

[@JoeshmoFishing]

Great job!

[@philosborn1840]

Just explaining all the different acronyms was a big help! One question, can I use a jet step instead of pulling the rope up as seen in the system @ 6:11 ?

[@TerrellWillams]

I absolutely loved this video! I’m going to go buy some more gear!

[@sternoptix]

superb thank you

[@TreeSawyer]

Really good video guys.

[@kazisorifulhoque2340]

Very nice video

[@ROGERWALDMAN]

great video !

[@roberthayward3840]

What harness are you using? Can I use my indoor rock climbing harness that I already own? I have a Black Diamond Solution harness. Thank you great video!!

[@MindRiderFPV]

Awesome. I can do the same with 2 GriGri and some prussik.. climbing gear. Thanks!

[@jessem1211]

@2:57 as you can see! Sometimes farting helps ascend too. Great vid!

[@rodolfogarza4109]

HaHa

[@Revelations-bc1vk]

Awesome 👏🏽

[@refaiabdeen5943]

Cheers Mate.

[@davidvannorsdall899]

Thank you

[@tracynethers2428]

I'm curious to know what state the video was made in. It looks like Massachusetts or New Hampshire. Let me know please, thanks.

[@eivindbjertnes8654]

I think a demonstration of O-rig system with DRT would improve an otherwise great video. I use O-rig every day and love it.

[@daveaskin1333]

Would you plls be kind enough to explain to this down under Kiwi.

[@Stevieray55]

Oh ya it's all awesome it was great to reflect on what I used to do for 30 yr

[@rtreborg8472]

Great video which includes a vast amount of useful information. I use a Hitch Climber system with foot assist on a DRT system. However despite trying various configurations for a Blakes hitch it invariably slips - which is not fun when it slips and you are using a foot ascender and need to be double jointed to recover! I have not been able to establish if it an issue with the way I do the Blakes hitch, or the materials for the Blakes hitch or the rope itself - diameter / type?. You mentioned a Petzl Zig Zag which should provide a better controllable system, but with the recall of this product it does not give any confidence - even when they eventually sort out the 'hitches' in the product. Thus coming to my question, what is the better mechanical alternative to the Blakes Hitch for a DRT Hitch Climber System to provide a reliable controllable method that doesn't slip? Note I'm trying to modify my present system with scrapping it and starting afresh! Following on from the above I think a video on common equipment problems that can be experienced by the climber and their possible causes, especially for a novice climber like myself.

[@TreeStuffdotcom]

Stick with the zigzag.

[@mightyconker3903]

Use a double Blake hitch. If one slips the other can engage. No extra tending

[@alexryherd9810]

Could you run drt and use a fliplime to climb the tree? Just using drt to descend the tree?

[@hankhill6373]

I'm a new tree climber I've only used the Blake's hitch a pressik and a few times I was able to borrow the zig zag and I liked it so much better than the pressik knot system. Much more smooth to repel and faster to set up. But all this info about the zig zag device being recalled is new news to me. Should I rethink getting a zig zag or just master the old school ways?

[@DP-ol1wh]

How long have you been climbing? Are you in a landscaper as well? I'm a landscaper and have been doing some large felling when I can and only what I'm 100 percent confident in. I've done some topping and fine removal from trees, but I enjoy it so much, I want to safely expand my capabilities. How much did a decent rig cost you?

[@paulmorrey733]

Thanks

[@lennmusicman]

Thanks for the video! Coming from a rock climbing perspective with a love for gear: why wouldn't you use e.g. a gri gri in combination with a foot loop and a jumar? A whole new world just opened up for me on different techniques for aid climbing

[@TreeStuffdotcom]

Good question! Thats how i started tree climbing but a RADS system is actually exhausting compared to using a foot ascender and or a knee ascender. Slow too.

[@joshuajohnson4396]

Awesome 👌

[@TreeStuffdotcom]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@JOEJOES4CR4]

Did anybody notice he farted.. 😄 minute 2:57 .. Wth im crying 😄😄😄

[@Hidden_Destinations]

Is the first configuration in this video a 1:1 or 2:1 MA?

[@Black70Fastback]

Thanks for video, this was very helpful! Is SRT always gear heavy?

[@TreeStuffdotcom]

Not more so than other gear!

[@AJ___USA]

Believe it or not but you could make a double Blake’s hitch from one end of the main line to the other side of the main line that will kinda look like a Z shape And the set up kinda acts like a pulley system and reduces the amount of force you have to use to pull yourself up, Also by using a double Blake’s hitch you won’t have to keep stopping to push up the knot, with the double Blake’s hitch you simply pull and the top knot will pull the bottom knot automatically

[@buynsell365]

Great Video. What size rope do you recommend I use to climb tree with?

[@TreeStuffdotcom]

1/2" is a good starting place.

[@Derek-qd3lx]

Can you use a rope wrench and the Zigzag together for the extra friction or is a shakene necessary?

[@Ak1Lonewolf]

It work .now petzl won’t cover it if there is ever a failure in the system when using the rope wrench instead of the chicane.i don’t know all the details about it but im sure the info can be found online.

[@mr.timjohnston546]

TAKE YA A YR TO GET UP WITH THAT 1ST DEMO!!

[@adrianlandaverde194]

Thks buddy

[@Cod_Moments]

What size rope is that?

[@DDPrzDDPrz]

Ok! I need some help hear I’m humbling myself. I have been climbing/line clearance/residential for the past 13 years I just now got out of the old D ring saddles and now have a rope bridge 😂 I use a Blake’s hitch and am trying to learn about using these things. I am very efficient in removing large trees and get made fun of by the young guys for my ancient set up but in my defense they can’t understand how I am so much faster but with years under my belt you just glance at a tree and immediately know exactly what to do where there still thinking or guessing. Any way what is the simplest setup I could get to start me down this path of mechanical descender/ascenders, oh and the pulley thing for the buck strap I have to research that to I still use a double buck strap 😬 once I can get my arms around the tree I just free spike till I tie in. Idk I’m new to all this fancy stuff and want to learn I’m getting older now and I’m starting to feel it.

[@SamGoku19]

What do you think of the spiderjack ?

[@alappuzhaarthunkal6413]

Bro , Which is good safety belt?

[@pesobucks4717]

Question what pully do you recommend for the "tending blakes hitch" i feel as if thats of the most comfortable ive done

[@TreeStuffdotcom]

Usually any basic pulley will. do, but something like a hitch climber pulley is much more versatile

[@pesobucks4717]

@@TreeStuffdotcom definitely see the versatility but i honestly only like the pull motion and pulling thats why i wanted to know that pully you used

[@jimmylsperry9952]

informative video

[@TreeStuffdotcom]

Glad you think so!

[@momorach6158]

Merci pour votre vidéo momo france

[@aliaskong1723]

Do you have the Morgan and Morgan injury hotline number?

[@politicianbusters573]

What is the size rope for petzl zig zag please

[@CondomWindmiller]

Gents looking to get myself a rope wrench full set up. What’s the recommendations?

[@zacharyclark6956]

Hitch climber pulley, and a 30" eye to eye prusick that is at least 1mm to 2mm smaller than the climb line you are utilizing. 2 triple locking carabiners, and a rope wrench. Very simple system. Very reliable.

[@zacharyclark6956]

The reason I say a 30" is for the vast mutitude of hitches you can test and tie. Look up the page "learning the ropes" on Facebook if you have one. They show a variety of hitches you can tie with ease and videos for each

[@jaykay643]

Maybe I missed it but what rope/dia are you using at the start of the video. I'm a newbie and not planning on using mechanical gadgets.

[@TreeStuffdotcom]

If you wont be using any mechanicals, check out a 16 strand 1/2" line.

[@mrtree1368]

I climb the way he showed first my whole career .probably the only younger guy climbing old school still

[@matthewbainborough5687]

I’ve climbed a moving rope system since I started. I don’t think I can ever switch to srt for a prune or removal but I just started using it for acceding a tree on a prune. Way way easier than mrs. It’s a game changer, especially with the time wasted isolating your line throw balling it.

[@TreeStuffdotcom]

Gettin it done safely, earning a paycheck. Keep after it!

[@richiemitchell2576]

I'm old school

[@enjoyyourlife2518]

@@richiemitchell2576 same but now im just plain old old , old n banged up , im looking for anything to make life easier . The big thing is to get trained using this new stuff . Time is money but money is no good if you hurt yourself or worse . Either way stay safe if its old school or learning an easier way .

[@resilientbeba]

I'm old school too, Blake's hitch is the only way I climb.

[@robertcussen8039]

FYI When using the tender on a simple drt with blakes dont let it get too high / out of reach, itll lock the blakes into going up only due to 2 sided tension and you cant break the tender you can get stuck.

[@rodolfoamador940]

Im a beginner what do you think about the unicender

[@bobrub]

Hi Nick, Why no mention of the UNICENDER by Rock Exotica, something wrong with it?

[@NickBonner]

Honestly I couldnt find mine when I shot this. Its a good device albeit having some wear issues for pro users. Excited for a V2!

[@benjaminlong9660]

@@NickBonner I think this is the first time I've commented on KZbin. I've searched for info about a Unicender 2 but I can't come up with much. I'd love to hear what you know about it. Also, thanks for the content! Appreciate all your work.

[@NickBonner]

@@benjaminlong9660 Its coming like the shark in a spielberg flick, you just dont know when and either do i. dun dun. dun dun. dun dun. dun dun.

[@baronweber6801]

What rope and saddle where you using in the video?

[@TreeStuffdotcom]

That is Notch Banshee and an older Sentinel Harness.

[@vkarabin]

Question, can you use a rope wrench with a zigzag in SRT mode …thinking about doing this in order to save some money

[@TreeStuffdotcom]

No, please do not do that. That is against the manufacturer's instructions for both the Rope Wrench and the ZigZag and could be dangerous.

[@BharatYadavboxeryad]

Is rope to rope 🤔good ? As we have so much friction...??? On the rope

[@ClimberinChrist]

Literally does everything except why I viewed. Lol wanted to see the rope runner as it comes down the rope

[@TreeStuffdotcom]

There is an entire series of videos covering the Rope Runner on our channel. kzbin.info/www/bejne/omPEp4mgj5ymg9k

[@p0klp0]

❤

[@meblake7359]

For the most basic climbing, why aren't you using a double blake's hitch? The second hitch is tended by the first and acts as a second level of safety.

[@jamesdurstine8892]

GOOD JOB CROWMAN

[@mikemccartneyable]

lol ... 2:58 ...headphones on, full volume 🤣😆🌬

[@treeclimber7000]

👍

[@leonardvirtue5753]

Nice.😆 😆.💪

[@wayneturner9395]

What about a system of muscularity and gymnastic skills to climb up a single or double rope to get to the top of the tree.

[@kayakmaccaz9256]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🇬🇧

[@georgyi78]

Нюню хороший молодец)👍

[@Shishou_Shi]

Can you single rope ascend without all the expensive gear? Foot support is great, legs are the strongest on your body.

[@sergiosantos7314]

Desse jeito, parece que a corda tem atrito maior ao ser puxada.

[@mightyconker3903]

HitchHiker all the way. Smoothest there is.

[@Operaatoors]

Seems like climbing trees with almost no gear is possible, although - I haven’t seen the first step - how to get the rope up there in relatively high branch?

[@Operaatoors]

Oops, no worries, I just needed to educate my self a bit, watching this channel videos, found a book mentioned “tree climbers companion”, where all the necessary vocabulary was found and turns out - this channel also have a videos how to throwline. 👌🏼

[@ricardonorton2383]

It's called a throw ball. A heavy sack on a guy line you toss it up. It falls down to earth you attach your line.

[@r1pperduck]

The zigzag and chicane seems like alot of work for something a petzl id can do for 225 bucks.

[@jmartinez2735]

2:57 Bro farted paused and looked at the camera. Lmao 🥹

[@TreeStuffdotcom]

Everyone farts bro.

[@krispymc77]

Awesome video bro. Only thing I query you on is your claim of mechanical advantage whilst using drt , im pretty sure it's not actual mechanical advantage where you gain pulling potential , the only advantage gained is having to move across half the distance of rope . Please correct me if I'm wrong, im not trying to be a dick.

[@TreeStuffdotcom]

its a 2:1 mechanical advantage. You only have to pull have your weight.

[@aekracing3726]

🇹🇭❤️👍

[@olivertaylor8788]

Just use a remote control winch to lift you to the top.Then work down.much easier, cheeper, faster.

[@TreeStuffdotcom]

Great idea

[@pfv3462]

@@TreeStuffdotcom these systems already exist to maintain wind turbines