Discover All You Need To Know About Arborist Tree Ropes
Scaling trees and felling branches can be dangerous, especially when working at a height and operating tools such as chainsaws and hand saws. Rope is an essential piece of arborist equipment to keep the user stable while completing their task.
There are various rope types that a tree surgeon will use, so knowing the characteristics of each type is crucial, as specific jobs require certain rope types. At Gustharts, we explore the different types of tree ropes and which knot is best for a secure fastening around a tree.
Table of contents
What type of rope do tree surgeons use?
How thick should tree climbing rope be?
How long do tree climbing ropes last?
What is the best knot for tying around a tree?
Get to know your arborist knots
What is tree rope?
Tree rope is an essential piece of equipment an arborist needs when felling tree branches at a height. Climbing rope and rigging rope are the two main rope types that arborists will use. An arborist must choose the correct rope type for their specific task, as it can help to make their job easier and safer.
If an arborist needs to scale a tree to fell branches, they must use climbing rope as it is the most suitable rope type for working at a height. Climbing rope supports the arborist’s weight, securing them to the tree while allowing them to control their pitch safely.
To safely lower large trees and branches to the ground, rigging rope is the more suitable option due to its higher tensile strength. Rigging rope has a dynamic construction that allows for more elasticity, making it easier to lower branches to the ground while keeping the arborist safe.
Arborist rope is designed specifically for arborist tasks, which is why general rope is not suitable or safe for felling trees and branches. Climbing and rigging rope has the correct construction for the task at hand and provides more durability and abrasion resistance, keeping arborists safe when performing their job.
What type of rope do tree surgeons use?
Arborists often use climbing or rigging rope; however, these types have different qualities and specific purposes. Climbing rope usually has a static construction, while rigging rope is constructed with a dynamic structure. So, what exactly are the differences between static and dynamic rope?
Static rope
As the name suggests, static rope is quite rigid and perfect for arborists when ascending trees or securing equipment. It has very little elasticity, providing arborists with outstanding control and stability. Static ropes are best used in situations that require little stretching and immense control, such as ascending a tree, hauling heavy loads or lowering injured climbers.
Dynamic rope
Dynamic ropes are designed with greater elasticity to absorb forces during a fall and prevent serious injuries to any climbers. If you are working at a height, a dynamic rope provides a safety buffer for any arborist in the event of a fall. Dynamic rope is a better option for securing loose tree branches, as its elasticity evenly distributes weight to keep them in place securely.
Throwlines
A specialised type of tree rope, throwlines are thin, lightweight ropes essential for placing climbing and rigging rope. Throwlines are attached to a throw bag before being thrown into the tree around a suitable limb, enabling the user to pull the working rope into the tree to establish a secure attachment for safe working.
How thick should tree climbing rope be?
Climbing rope is often thinner than rigging rope, ranging between 11-13mm in size, as this ensures that weight is kept to a minimum and friction is balanced. Arborist climbing ropes help support body weight and allow arborists to ascend and descend with excellent control.
Rope that is smaller than 11mm will not provide sufficient friction, increasing the risk of the rope slipping and causing a rapid and uncontrollable descent, whereas rope thicker than 13mm will provide too much friction and increased workload.
Conversely, rigging rope has a larger diameter than climbing rope as it needs to be stronger to manage the tree branches’ weight effectively. Ranging in size up to 20mm, the size of the rigging rope you will need depends on the size and weight of the branch you are lifting. Typically, the larger and heavier the branch, the bigger your rigging rope needs to be.
How long do tree climbing ropes last?
The maximum recommended lifespan of your climbing rope is 10 years after the manufacturing date; however, depending on how often it is used, it may last fewer years.
Abrasion and energy absorption are two of the main causes of rope deterioration, which can shorten the lifespan of your rope. Sharp edges from rocks or other objects can cause the fibre to tear, and if enough fibres are damaged, the rope’s performance is severely impacted. Every time a rope is loaded, it loses some of its energy absorption, potentially resulting in the rope snapping in the event of a fall.
The recommended lifespan of your rope correlates to how frequently it is used. Below highlights the lifespan of a climbing rope in comparison to its use:
- 10 years – Rope that is scarcely used will last for up to 10 years
- Up to 7 years – Your rope is rarely used, around twice a year
- Up to 5 years – Rope used sporadically, about once a month
- Up to 3 years – For routine use of several times a month
- Up to a year – Rope is regularly used approximately every week
- Less than a year – Your rope is used constantly, daily or every other day.
What is the best knot for tying around a tree?
While there are numerous arborist knots that you can learn, there are some knots that are commonly used in arborist work.
Alpine Butterfly
Useful for creating a secure loop in the middle of a rope, the Alpine Butterfly makes an attachment point for loading branches. If loaded heavily, this knot may be difficult to untie.
Anchor Hitch
A reliable knot, an Anchor Hitch can be used with a carabiner to securely attach the climber to the climbing rope.
Bachmann Knot
A friction hitch, the Bachmann Knot is tied to the rope with a a round cross-sectioned carabiner and can be used to reset a friction.
Basket Hitch
The Basket Hitch involves making a closed loop from the rope.It can be thrown over a branch to provide an anchor point.
Blake’s Hitch
A Blake’s Hitch knot is one of the first knots that any arborist should learn, as it helps to ascend and descend ropes easily. When tying a Blake’s Hitch, a Figure 8 or Double Fisherman knot should always be used as a safety knot.
Bowline Knot
Known as the King of Knots, the Bowline knot is renowned for its capacity to hold heavy loads when lowering branches. The Bowline knot can secure loops around objects and is simple to untie.
Clove Hitch
One of the oldest types of knot, a Clove Hitch is made by two consecutive single hitches. It is an effective way of securing middle sections of rope that cross over an object.
Cow Hitch
Also known as a Lanyard Hitch, the Cow Hitch is very similar to a Clove Hitch but has a reversed second half hitch. It can be used to securely attach a rope to other objects.
Double Fisherman’s Knot
Verily commonly used in arborist work, the Double Fisherman’s Knot is a secure and reliable way of joining two ropes together.
Figure 8 Knot
A quick and convenient stopper knot, the Figure 8 is tight enough to stop a rope slipping but can still be easily undone once work is completed.
Overhand Knot
Another simple and effective stopper knot, the Overhand Knot can stop the end of a rope from unravelling.
Prusik Knot
Similar to the Bachmann, but without the use of a carabiner, the Prusik Knot is a reliable knot for ascending and descending rope.
Quick Hitch
As its name implies, a Quick Hitch is a very easy to tie knot and is suitable for pulling up a second rope.
Taut Line Hitch
A Taut Line Hitch is a loop knot that can be tied around a line and adjusted to maintain tension.
Water Knot
Also known as a Ring Bend and tied similarly to an Overhand Knot, a Water Knot can be used to join two webbing ends together.
Zeppelin Bend
A Zeppelin Bend is used to join two ropes together. It is a popular alternative to a Double Fisherman’s Knot as it presents a lower risk of the ropes jamming.
Find all your arborist essentials at Gustharts
Tree rope is essential when climbing trees, so after reading our guide, you should know which kind of rope is best for your specific task. If you are looking for additional arborist climbing equipment, why not make safety paramount and browse our range of arborist climbing helmets and harnesses?
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