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Climbing Gear for Beginners — Complete Kit for Arborist Climbing and Rigging

Klätterutrustning för arboristnybörjare

Arboristbutiken |

What does a complete arborist kit cost? It depends on what you include. A basic DRT setup can be built for SEK 12,000–15,000. But a kit that covers climbing, positioning, securing, and simpler rigging from day one, with equipment meeting professional standards, will cost around SEK 35,000–40,000.

This guide is based on an actual equipment list — a complete kit we put together for an arborist who is about to start working. It covers climbing with an SRT system and the rigging tools you need to handle simple removals.

Climbing Section

Harness: Petzl Sequoia

The Sequoia is Petzl's arborist harness — designed for mobility in the canopy, with ventilated back and leg loops and quick-release buckles that work with gloves on. The 2026 version has updated attachment points. Price: SEK 4,200. This is a harness you buy once and replace after 10 years if it hasn't worn out before then.

The fit test is more important than the price. The harness should fit snugly without pinching the upper thighs, and the rope bridge should be in your natural center of movement. If possible, try it on before you buy.

Rope: Petzl Control 12.5 mm 60 m

Control is a 12.5 mm kernmantle rope with a factory-spliced eye in one end. It's a robust rope for SRT and DRT, soft enough for a prusik but stiff enough to hold its shape when throwing. 60 meters is sufficient for most trees. Price: SEK 2,954.

SRT System: Rock Exotica Akimbo + Turbo Foot

The Rock Exotica Akimbo is a mechanical SRT system — a combined ascender and descender that handles both ascent and descent with one and the same device. You ascend by pressing against the cam, descend with a progressive hand grip. It takes a day or two to get the feel for it. After that, climbing is significantly faster than with a prusik-based system.

The Akimbo costs SEK 4,386. To this, you add a Turbo Foot (right) for SEK 755 — a foot ascender that takes half of the ascending effort from the arms and distributes it to the legs. Combination: SEK 5,141 for a complete mechanical SRT system.

Positioning: STÍLÉO LANYARD and XS Lanyard

STÍLÉO from Courant is a complete positioning lanyard with a built-in swiveller and adjustment mechanism. The swiveller eliminates twisting during movements in the canopy, which makes a difference during intensive work. Comes complete with a carabiner. 3 meters, SEK 1,795.

The XS Lanyard in 4 meters (SEK 397) functions as secondary positioning or a safety line for descent and climbing in situations where you need an extra attachment point.

Friction Saver: Teufelberger fImblSAVER x2

fImblSAVER is a textile eye that protects the rope from direct contact with bark and branches at the installation point. A 1.25-meter fImblSAVER costs SEK 1,035 each. You'll want at least two in the kit — one for your climbing line and one as a spare or for alternative installations. Prices and condition are checked during each climb; textile wears out from bark.

Prusik Setup: Distel-straps and Powerloc-cord

Distel-Steel Weaver Straps are pre-knotted prusik hitches in a short design, intended for compact SRT configurations. Price: SEK 2,937 for the set. Powerloc Expert 5 mm prusik cord by the meter (SEK 9/m) is used for custom prusik loops and backup solutions. Five meters is enough for a good backup setup.

Carabiners

Three Petzl OK Triact (SEK 191 each) for attaching ropes, harness, and friction saver. Five Petzl AM'D (SEK 240 each) for positioning systems, side attachments, and rigging. All EN 362 certified with locking mechanisms. Total: SEK 1,773 for 8 carabiners.

Other Climbing Equipment

Palmu Rope Bag 32 L (SEK 676) — a rope bag designed by an arborist company for an arborist company. Keeps 60 meters of rope tidy without tangling. DMM Dyneema Quick Draw kit (SEK 705) for sling attachment. Unique Saw Lanyard from Tilia (SEK 192) — a certified chainsaw lanyard that attaches the chainsaw to the harness when working in the canopy. Otto Figure of 8 (SEK 173) as a backup descender and for rappelling during simple removals.

Helmet: Stein ARMORIS

The ARMORIS Helmet Kit costs SEK 1,496 and comes with a visor and ear defenders holder. EN 397 and EN 12492 certified — this means it meets requirements for chainsaw work and work at height. Not the lightest helmet on the market, but the shell is stable and the mounting system for the visor and hearing protection works without disassembling the entire helmet.

Handsaw: Silky Zubat Ultimate

Silky Zubat Ultimate with sheath, SEK 713. A handsaw in the canopy is not optional equipment — it's constantly used for branches that don't warrant a chainsaw. The Zubat Ultimate features Silky's MIRAI-I teeth with triangular grinding and cuts in both directions. The sheath is included in the Ultimate version.

Rigging Section

Climbing and rigging are distinct disciplines but are practically intertwined. If you need to remove a tree or part of a tree in a controlled manner, you'll need rigging tools. Here's the basic setup:

Rope: Sirius Bull 14 mm, 50 m

Sirius Bull is a 14 mm rigging rope with a factory-spliced eye in one end. 14 mm is the standard diameter for arborist work — wide enough for standard rigging blocks, sized for the loads a normal removal creates. 50 meters is sufficient for most jobs. Price: SEK 1,561.

Chainsaw: Micro Cylindre 2.1

The Micro Cylindre 2.1 is a lightweight top-handled chainsaw weighing 2.1 kg without chain and bar. It's designed for work in the canopy — light enough to hold with one hand for precision cuts, powerful enough for branches up to 20–25 cm in diameter. Price: SEK 3,600. It's not a saw for felling or trunk work, but for rigging and climbing at height, weight is crucial.

Rigging Block for 16 mm Rope

A rigging block (SEK 581) is installed at the removal point and redirects the rigging rope's direction. Without a block, direct rigging creates friction angles and wear against the bark. The block is the simplest and cheapest step towards controlled removals.

Throw Line: TOPLINE ULTIMATE 16640 + STEIN Folding Cube

TOPLINE ULTIMATE 16640 throw line (SEK 250) is a 1.6 mm weighted line with good throwing characteristics. The STEIN Folding Cube (SEK 535) is a foldable throw bag that replaces traditional throw bags — compact, easy to pack, and accurate enough to place the line in the correct crotch at 15–20 meters high after a couple of throws. You buy these two once.

Sling and Clips

Stein MI-O Mini-O Clip 3-pack (SEK 184) — compact quick clips for attaching rigging blocks and slings to trunks and branches. RobLine Gummicord 4 mm is used to hold blocks and lines in place during movement. Purchased by the meter, approx. SEK 7/m.

Complete Price List

Equipment Price (approx.)
Petzl Sequoia harness SEK 4,200
Petzl Control 12.5 mm 60 m SEK 2,954
Rock Exotica Akimbo SEK 4,386
Turbo Foot (right) SEK 755
STÍLÉO LANYARD 3 m SEK 1,795
XS Lanyard 4 m SEK 397
fImblSAVER 1.25 m x2 SEK 2,070
Distel-Steel Weaver Straps SEK 2,937
Carabiners (8 pcs) SEK 1,773
Palmu Rope Bag 32 L SEK 676
DMM Dyneema Quick Draw kit SEK 705
Stein ARMORIS Helmet Kit SEK 1,496
Silky Zubat Ultimate + sheath SEK 713
Saw Lanyard (Unik/Tilia) SEK 192
Otto Figure of 8 SEK 173
Sirius Bull 14 mm 50 m SEK 1,561
Micro Cylindre 2.1 SEK 3,600
Rigging block 16 mm SEK 581
Throw line + Folding Cube SEK 785
MI-O Mini-O Clip 3-pack SEK 184
Total (incl. VAT) approx. SEK 38,000

Training Comes Before Equipment

Nothing on this list replaces training. The Akimbo takes a couple of days to learn to handle safely. Rigging with a chainsaw in the canopy requires an understanding of load paths, friction points, and escape scenarios. CS30 or equivalent arborist training will give you the foundation. Buy the course before you buy a rope.

This equipment list is what you'll need once your training is complete and you start working. Not during training — courses often provide loaner equipment, and that's the right time to test different brands before you decide.

View the Entire Range

Do you want to put together a kit based on your specific conditions — tree species mix, driving, budget? Contact us. We have arborists on our team and can help you prioritize correctly.