When I first caught the gear-addiction bug about seven years ago, I remember consistently being surprised or excited about a brand-new piece of climbing or rigging kit that I had no idea was even in development. After years of compulsively [...]

Since its initial launch in 2012, the Pfanner Protos Integral Helmet has been building a reputation as one of the premier personal protective equipment (PPE) items in the world of industrial safety. The “integral” refers to its integrated ear, face [...]

Every once in a while, you have the opportunity to meet someone you have long admired. For whatever reason, these meetings often are disappointing. But not always. I recently had the opportunity to meet Dave “Niceguydave” Stice at TCI EXPO [...]

The best climbers in the world can’t carry out complex rigging plans without the actions of their ground-crew mates. All photos courtesy of the author. There are few aspects in tree work that require coordinated teamwork. Efficient climbers can perform [...]

“The best investment is the tools of one’s own trade.” – Ben Franklin As a production climbing arborist and trainer, I am often presented with the question of “What tools do I need to do the job?” Unfortunately, there is [...]