Mastodon Rigging Rope, 1/2 in. 12-Strand

Mastodon rigging rope is a 1/2 in. 12-strand braided line built for lowering limbs and small wood rather than for climbing. The single-braid construction is easy to inspect and quick to splice, which makes it a practical choice for a crew's everyday lowering line.

Where a 1/2 in. rigging line fits

Half-inch line covers most of the pieces a typical residential crew lowers: limbs off a spar, tops on small trees, brush bundles over a roof or fence. It runs smoothly through a mid-size block and around a porta-wrap, and it is light enough that a groundie can flake it out and pull it back without a fight.

Twelve-strand braid has no separate cover, so every strand is visible. Cuts, fused spots and pulled strands are easy to find, and the rope splices with a simple bury, so you can put an eye in the end for a running bowline alternative or a sling.

Working limits and care

Rigging line takes shock loads, and a piece that free-falls before the rope catches it can load the system far beyond the weight of the wood. Size the line, block and anchor for the piece, keep drops short, and let the groundie run friction instead of locking off. Check the manufacturer's rated strength and working load before you plan a big pick.

Wash grit out with plain water, dry it out of the sun and store it in a bag. Retire it when strands are cut, glazed or stiff. Do not climb on rigging rope. See our climbing rope range for life-support line.