I swapped my old climbing rope for a 16-strand static line on a big oak removal

I was taking down a 90-foot white oak in Springfield last week and decided to try something new. My usual 24-strand dynamic rope had a lot of bounce when lowering big limbs, which made it tough to control. The static line had almost no stretch, so I could set my friction exactly right and place every piece exactly where I wanted in the drop zone. Has anyone else made that switch for big takedowns and noticed a difference in control?

2 comments

2 Comments

nora_wells581mo ago

Oh man, that's the move right there. Static line is a total game changer for rigging. I made the switch a couple years back and I won't go back for removals. The control is just so much better, you can really trust your friction setup. It makes those big picks feel smooth and safe.

the_robin1mo agoMost Upvoted

Totally get the love for static line but it's not always the best call. Dynamic rope still has its place for shock loading on really heavy picks, especially if you're dropping big wood into a tight lay. Static can transfer too much force to the anchor in those cases.