Buckingham Webbing Friction Saver

The Buckingham webbing friction saver is a length of heavy webbing with a large ring on one end and a small ring on the other, set over a union so your rope runs through the rings instead of over the bark. It cuts wear on the tree and on your line, and it makes the climbing system run smoother on every advance.

How it works on the job

Install the saver over a sound union with the throw line, pull it up, and run your climbing line through both rings. The small ring follows the large ring when you retrieve it, so the saver comes down without leaving a tangle in the crown. Size the webbing so the rings sit close together without binding on a thick stem.

Compared with tying in directly over bark, a webbing saver keeps sap, grit and heat off your rope. That adds up over a season of moving-rope climbing, and it also keeps the cambium from getting burned by a line running back and forth all day.

Webbing has a flat profile that spreads the load over more bark than a rope saver, which is kind to thin-barked species. It also lies flat in a gear bag and does not hold a set the way some rope bodies do. Many climbers keep one in the kit even if their main saver is adjustable, simply because it is light and quick to install.

Inspection and fit

Check the webbing for cuts, glazing, chainsaw nicks and UV fade, and look at the stitching and rings for wear grooves before each climb. This is life-support gear. Use it only within the manufacturer's instructions and ANSI Z133 practice, inspect it before every climb, and retire it when in doubt.

Webbing savers suit moderate stems and climbers who want the lightest option. If you work big leads often, compare adjustable models in our friction savers range.