Buckingham Throttle

The Buckingham Throttle is a mechanical friction device made for moving rope system (MRS) climbing, a hardware alternative to tying and dressing a friction hitch. For climbers who want consistent friction from the first climb of the day to the last, a device like the buck throttle takes some of the variability out of the system.

Why climbers move from a hitch to a device

A friction hitch is simple and cheap, but it changes during the day. The cord glazes, it gets wet, it tightens up after a long descent, and it needs dressing and setting. Climbers who work a lot of moving rope have been looking for hardware that gives the same feel every time, and that is the job of a mechanical device like the Buckingham Throttle.

The device manages the friction on your climbing line as you ascend, work and descend. Done right, it can make long days less tiring and descents smoother. Done wrong, any friction device can fail to hold. That is why the setup matters more than the hardware.

Buckingham has made climbing and safety gear for tree and utility workers for a long time, so the Throttle comes from a maker that knows how buckingham arborist gear gets used and abused on real jobs.

Setting it up correctly

Read the manufacturer instructions before the device ever touches a rope, and follow them exactly. They specify which ropes are compatible, how the device connects to your bridge, what accessories are required, and how it must be oriented. Rope diameter, construction and coating all change how a mechanical device grips, so a rope that works in one device may not work in another.

Test the setup low and slow, on the ground or just off it, before climbing. Check that the device grabs when you weight it and releases smoothly when you want to descend. If you are new to mechanical devices, get training from an experienced climber or a qualified instructor first. Life-support gear must meet the applicable standard and be used in line with ANSI Z133 and the maker's instructions.

Make sure your bridge, connectors and any tending pulley all suit the device and each other. A friction device is only one part of a system, and mismatched hardware can cross-load a carabiner or stop the device from working as designed.

Inspection and care

Inspect before every climb. Look for wear grooves where the rope runs, cracks, bent parts, burrs and anything that moves less freely than it should. Grit in the rope wears hardware quickly, so keep your line clean. Retire the device if it shows damage or excessive wear, or if you are unsure of its history.

Pair it with a clean, compatible climbing line and see what else is in our MRS devices section.

Who it is for

The Throttle makes most sense for working climbers who already understand MRS well and want to fine-tune their system. Beginners are better off learning on a friction hitch first, under supervision, so they understand what the device is doing for them.

It also suits crews that want to standardize systems, so that every climber's setup works the same way and a rescue climber knows exactly what they are looking at in an aerial rescue.