MARK CHISHOLM, CTSP

Favorite item in my gear bag: My Double-Bungee Rope Walking System. It’s the easiest system to enable me to ascend a large tree. The first one I created was to climb my first redwood in 2002 with Gerald Beranek and an amazing team to prune the World Famous Tree House (in Piercy, California). Jerry had ropes installed from the ground to about 260 feet high, and this system allowed me to climb to the top without a break.
Primary climbing system: I’m a 50/50 split, depending on the situation.
What else I like to carry: Everything I carry daily serves a purpose regularly. I try to go as light as possible, but I will never hesitate to bring whatever gear could assist the climb, for example, a second SRS device or special redirect.
Favorite nongear item: Communication systems.

 

BEAR LEVANGIE

Favorite item in my gear bag: Falteimer ThrowlineCube. Best quality, period. I still have and use my original.
Primary climbing system: SRS and MRS – use interchangeably.
What else I like to carry: I don’t leave the ground without one or two webbing slings with carabiners, one extra pulley, one extra eye-n-eye cord.
Favorite nongear item: I adore my Stoggles RX safety glasses and Forah nontoxic, no-smell sunscreen.

 

JOSEPHINE HEDGER

Favorite item in my gear bag: MT ringSLING (Teufelberger), because it’s a versatile piece of equipment and I can use it in so many different situations. I can make an anchor, a redirect, a lanyard, all from this one piece of equipment.
Primary climbing system: Both SRS and MRS.
What else I like to carry: PulleySAVER (Teufelberger) for an MRS anchor and the flmblCLIMB (Teufelberger) for an SRS anchor. These two pieces of equipment make moving around the canopy easy, while protecting the tree. I use them daily and wouldn’t climb a tree without them.
Favorite nongear item: Water bottle.

 

MICHAEL KORZENSKI

Favorite item in my gear bag: My favorite is the Rope Runner Pro (Notch). It has been in my bag since 2021 and is still one of my most-used devices. I try all the new toys that are on the market, but it feels natural to be climbing on the Rope Runner.
Primary climbing system: I’m using SRS 90% of the time.
What else I like to carry: I’m using the new Skylotec rope winch. It saves me so much energy. Always have my Audax (hydration pack) on to keep hydrated, and will always have my Distel Climbers in my bag.
Favorite nongear item: My dog Ella. It’s so nice having my dog with me on the job site. Also, I use the Batwing bag from Reecoil, and it’s been great for me.

 

ANDY JONES, BCMA, CTSP

Favorite item in my gear bag: One of my new favorite kit items is the Petzl Twin Release Pulley Kit. I have mine set up with 200 feet of 10mm Sterling HTP and use it quite often for cable installation jobs. We cable all the time, and this system has dramatically expedited our tensioning systems. 4×1 mechanical advantage systems are not new, but the release lever and additional control bollard make this system so easy to operate in the canopy. We’ve also been playing around with it in rescue-training scenarios.

Primary climbing system: SRS. My favorite device to climb on is the original Rope Runner (Notch), but the Akimbo 2 (Rock Exotica) is typically what I climb on. I spend a good amount of my tree time doing hazardous removal, and it’s in these situations that the (Rock Exotica) Akimbo 2’s compactness and easy on-and-off the rope characteristic is indispensable. When pruning or cabling, I prefer the smoothness of the Rope Runner. I rarely climb MRS, but I always have a Petzl ZigZag on 50 feet of rope on standby for V-rig situations!
What else I like to carry: That’s such a hard one! I’m going to cheat and give two. 1. Husqvarna X-Comm Active headsets. We’ve been running these comm systems for several years now, and I can’t imagine not having everyone on the team outfitted with these – dare I say it – essential-for-PPE units. 2. My DMM Captain Throwing Hook kit paired with a Petzl GRIGRI +. This setup is essential for climbers working in wide-spreading canopies, or on properties where there are numerous trees to be climbed within close proximity to each other. It is excellent for canopy traversing, V-rig setups and retuning from long or unstable limb walks.
Favorite nongear item: My Milwaukee PACKOUT Tower for all my climbing gear is crucial to my organizational existence, so it’s hard to argue with that. If we were going to go with a textile – not including chain-saw pants – then I would say the REI-branded Sahara sun hoodie.

 

KATE ODELL, CTSP

Favorite item in my gear bag: The ISC UltraLink, because it is easy to use, super strong and extremely versatile. I primarily use it as part of a transitional canopy anchor, but it’s great for redirects as well.
Primary climbing system: Most of the time I will ascend SRS and work on MRS, but I also will do just SRS pretty often.
What else I like to carry: Two slings, a short and a long. They can be used for absolutely everything, and they’ve gotten me out of so many pickles.
Favorite nongear item: Skinnies sunscreen! It’s from New Zealand, and it’s easy to put on, even covered in tree grit!

 

JOEY GENESEO, CTSP

Favorite item in my gear bag: My Notch RC Grapple. It was a birthday gift from my coworker, and it’s really special to me. It doesn’t come up often, but when it does, it feels like the most important piece of gear I have. Just making that impossible gap possible with help from a friend. That’s what this industry is all about.
Primary climbing system: SRS.
What else I like to carry: I climb mostly on my Akimbo 2, but I always keep my original Akimbo on me as a backup (both Rock Exotica). I keep a few slings, including my trusty multi-sling, and some rings for canopy anchors, and I always carry a t-wrench in my Notch Ditty Bag on my saddle. You never know when you have to touch up your saw on the go.
Favorite nongear item: I keep a little blue toy guy on my saw lanyard. Two other guys on the crew have similar ones. We all do a lot together as a team, and it’s a nice reminder that there is always someone there who I trust.

 

ASHLEY FOX, CTSP

Favorite item in my gear bag: Of course, the basics are in my bag (when it all fits): my DMM Kinisi and Courant Kalimba! The MVP of my harness is the ring prussik on my lanyard, because it will extend my lanyard’s reach (in single-rope configuration) by 2x! I also just got the new ISC Reflex that I cannot stop raving about – it runs just like the (Petzl) Zig Zag and fairleads beautifully compared to the Zig Zag + Chicane (Petzl) combination.
Primary climbing system: I’m typically on SRS, but both systems have a time and a place!
What else I like to carry: I will always have a sling and (life-rated) carabiner on my harness because of the versatility. I can set quick redirects, make a foot hold, extend my reach, create mechanical advantage and really anything you can think of.
Favorite nongear item: I always have my Women’s Tree Climbing Workshop bracelet on. On the inside of the band is written, “Know what you know and know what you don’t know.” It’s a great reminder of hope and joy paired with being sensible. I would also never climb without Atlas gloves and long sleeves (preferably TRUEWERK).

 

JEREMY MCCOMBS, CTSP

Favorite item in my gear bag: CMI Loop Runners. I rarely go aloft without at least one. Need a quick redirect or a better rope angle? Check! Maybe a better grip on a branch you’re cutting off? Check! So many uses, they can’t all be listed here! They’re light and can be tied up compact enough you barely know they’re on your harness. I tell everyone in my classes that they are a low-cost tool that quickly becomes indispensable.

Primary climbing system: I am living proof that old dogs CAN learn new tricks! I now climb SRS on Courant Kalimba with a Rock Exotica Akimbo almost every climb! I started out on a taut-line hitch on Arborplex in an MRS (but quickly changed to the Blake’s hitch) back in 1995 (more than 30 years ago!) and moved my way up to a Distel Hitch and micro-pully setup fairly soon after. My go-to for about 15 years was the hitch climber system on Poison Ivy rope (Yale Cordage) until I attended a climbing seminar in Santa Rosa, California, in 2015, and saw how an SRS ascent was accomplished with so little effort; it was a no-brainer! As a trainer, I have climbed on almost every device out there, though I always choose my Akimbo (Rock Exotica) over and over … but I just got an ISC Reflex, so we shall see!
What else I like to carry: I put my CT Quick Step on before I even get the rest of my kit out. As far as I’m concerned, that little guy should be in every bag, no matter if whether you still climb on a Blake’s Hitch or use the most modern devices! I almost put it in the loop-runner spot up top, it’s so important to me. There have been many times that simple device significantly reduced fatigue on an all-day climb. If you don’t use one (you know who you are), get one right now! It will change your life as a climber.

I will add a Hitch Climber Pulley, (DMM), a hitch cord and a couple of extra carabiners if I’m going up a big open-canopy tree for the day. It comes in handy for utilizing the tail of my climb rope for a secondary tie-in point out on those long limbs.
Favorite nongear item: I usually climb with a good pair of nonslip gloves (Milwaukee Cut Resistant or similar) just to reduce abrasions and minor cuts to my hands. I spend time in the trees and in the office or classroom, so I don’t like to let my hands get as beat up as I did 20 years ago.

 

SARAH HOOD-RECANT

Favorite item in my gear bag: My Akimbo (Rock Exotica) is one of the best pieces of gear I’ve ever used! It’s versatile and so easy to attach midline that when dragging tail or ghosting through redirects, I’m always able to maintain control and stay secure when deploying it. I received my Akimbo from my first tree-industry mentor, and use it on practically every climb! I always keep it on my harness.
Primary climbing system: My primary stationary rope system is my Akimbo. My primary moving rope system is my Hitch Climber, 8mm Armor-Prus Hitch Cord (Donaghys) and two DMM carabiners.
What else I like to carry: I will always climb with a secondary system on my harness, either my Akimbo or another hitch-climber setup. If something happens to my primary system, I have a backup! I also carry one or two webbing slings and a carabiner. Redirecting through carabiners for me is much easier, and I often find myself at the tips of branches where angles are interesting.
Favorite nongear item: One of my favorite pairs of pants is the TRUEWERK T1. For the summertime, when it’s the double threat of hot and humid, they air out and dry incredibly fast. For the fall and winter, I have no trouble adding an additional layer underneath them for those chilly days. They’re great all-around pants for me.

 

ISAAC LADORE

Favorite item in my gear bag: I always go into a tree with at least one climbing sling. I truly believe that they’re one of the most multi-purpose components you can have on your saddle. I use them as climbing redirects, temporary gear stations, for speed-lining and as a third arm for securing those pieces that you don’t want to rig, but you also don’t want to handhold. One of my favorite ways to utilize them is as a temporary step/footloop while on an awkwardly angled limb. Having that one extra point of leverage can elevate your work positioning and give the core a break. Recently, on a massive crane job, my spur foot straps blew out on me. What saved the day? Good old-fashioned cinching the spur back to my foot with my climbing sling. They will solve problems you hadn’t even considered as possibilities. My favorite climbing slings to use are the Kong Aro Bull slings with their Ergo Carabiners. I’m a big fan of the weight and durability of the slings and find them easier to manipulate while aloft. However, that’s not to say that these are the only slings to buy; there are tons of options out there. Simply having a multi-use sling that lives on your saddle can really expand your options and elevate your climbing.
Primary climbing system: SRS is my primary climbing system, but I still frequently will do an entire tree MRS. They both have their strengths, and oftentimes there’s great value in utilizing a hybrid of both styles while operating in one tree.
What else I like to carry: So, there’s two key items that I want to shout out. The first being the Reecoil Deploy Trauma Kit. The speed at which you can access (entirely one-handed) life-
saving supplies is unmatched by anything else I’ve come across. There’s a measurable confidence in how I climb and operate now that I run one on my harness. An arterial bleed can render you unconscious in under a minute. I personally would rather not waste valuable seconds fumbling with my trauma kit when I need it the most. Regardless of the kit you’re running, everyone should have one on their harness and everyone should practice using it. Take that tourniquet out of the plastic wrap and prep it! The other piece of kit is the ISC Nessie, an incredibly elegant, zero-fluff piece of gear that simply works. For long lanyards, which I often like to run, I haven’t encountered anything that tidies up a system better. Even when equipped with a short lanyard, the fins are super handy for temporarily stowing my clasp, slings, really any piece of kit that fits. I know that some people don’t like the top horn (or head) of the Nessie, but it’s easily removed, as there are no rules against modification. Super easy to use, easy to modify and easy to set up in multiple configurations. Big fan of the Nessie. I think it’s a bit of a game changer.
Favorite nongear item: Has to be a chest bag. There are tons of different brands and styles out there, so just find one that meets your organizational needs and looks pretty! I rarely climb without one, because it keeps so many important things in one easily accessible place without interrupting my climbing system. Sunscreen? Beef jerky? Trail mix? Notebook? Phone? Band-Aids and Superglue? Electrolytes? Yeah, it’s all in there, out of the way and easy to access without clogging up pockets that are already under my leg-loops. If you don’t climb with a chest bag (especially for those all-day trees), I highly recommend trying it out.

 

Thank you to everyone who participated!

Disclaimer: Product recalls can occur at any time. We strongly encourage all climbers to inspect their gear daily, review manufacturer-provided product information for compatibility and compliance guidance and stay informed on current product recalls, safety notices and updates directly through manufacturer communications and official online resources.