Buyer's Guide
Arborist Rigging Equipment Buyer's Guide
From rigging ropes and pulleys to lowering devices, rigging plates, friction savers and complete rigging kits, this guide covers the full arborist rigging equipment range at Gustharts — helping tree surgeons choose the right components for safe, controlled timber lowering and sectional dismantling.
What is Arborist Rigging Equipment?
Arborist rigging equipment is the suite of tools used to control the descent and direction of timber sections during sectional dismantling and tree removal. A complete rigging system typically includes a rigging rope, rigging pulleys or blocks, a lowering device, rigging plates or rings as load distribution anchors, slings for natural stem anchors, and a friction saver to protect the anchor point. The rigging system allows a climber to lower sections of timber safely to a ground crew without dropping or free-falling material.
Rigging Ropes
Arborist rigging ropes are high-strength, low-elongation lines designed for the dynamic shock loads generated when a timber section is cut and swings on the rigging system. Rigging ropes are available in 12mm, 14mm and 16mm diameters - larger diameters have higher minimum breaking strengths for heavier timber loads. STEIN, Teufelberger and Yale produce the most widely used rigging ropes at Gustharts. Key specs to check: minimum breaking strength (MBS), elongation at working load, and fibre type (polyester for low stretch, Dyneema for lightweight high-strength).
Rigging Pulleys and Blocks
Rigging pulleys redirect the rigging rope and create mechanical advantage in the lowering system. Single-sheave pulleys are used for basic redirect and change-of-direction applications. Double-sheave pulley blocks provide 2:1 or greater mechanical advantage for moving heavy timber loads with less effort. ISC, DMM and Rock Exotica produce professional rigging pulleys and blocks for arborist use, rated to the working load limits required for timber rigging. Sheave diameter affects rope wear - larger sheaves extend rope life in high-cycle rigging operations.
Rigging Plates and Rings
Rigging plates and rigging rings distribute load across multiple attachment points at the top of the rigging system, preventing a single anchor point from taking the full shock load of a falling timber section. A rigging plate accepts multiple carabiners for rope, pulley and sling connections in a compact unit. Rigging rings (also called rigging slings and soft rings) offer a flexible anchor that positions optimally around irregular stems. Both are used at the main anchor point and at redirect positions through the rigging system.
Lowering Devices and Portawrap
A lowering device is used by the ground crew to control the descent speed of rigged timber sections. The Portawrap is the most widely used arborist lowering device - a friction-based unit that wraps around a spar, stem or rigging point, allowing the ground crew to control descent with a single hand. More advanced mechanical lowering devices including the ISC Ezy-Lower and NOTCH Notch'r provide controlled descent at higher working load limits for large timber sections. Choosing the right lowering device depends on the maximum section weight being lowered.
Friction Savers and Rigging Kits
A friction saver - also called a rope saver or false crotch - protects the bark at the main rigging anchor point from rope abrasion, and reduces rope wear during repeated loading cycles. Available in textile and steel ring designs, friction savers are set in the crotch and the rigging rope runs through them rather than directly over the bark. Complete arborist rigging kits containing a rope, pulley, lowering device, slings and hardware are available at Gustharts for teams setting up a rigging system from scratch.
Setting Up a Safe Arborist Rigging System
A basic arborist rigging system for sectional dismantling: 1. Identify a rigging anchor point - a sturdy live crotch or stem at least twice the diameter of the section to be lowered. 2. Set a friction saver in the crotch. 3. Thread the rigging rope through the friction saver and attach to the section with a running bowline or rigging knot. 4. Run the rope down through a redirect pulley if required. 5. Attach the rope to the lowering device at ground level. 6. Cut the section and control descent on the lowering device. Never exceed the working load limit of any component in the rigging system.
Pairs Well With
- Arborist Rigging Rope — high-strength lines from STEIN and Teufelberger
- Rigging Pulleys — single and double sheave blocks from ISC and DMM
- Rigging Kits — complete arborist rigging systems from STEIN
- Rigging Slings & Strops — webbing and adjustable slings for timber rigging
- Chainsaws — STIHL top-handle and rear-handle models for dismantling work