Gap Arborist Supply OP Friction Saver

The OP friction saver is a simple friction saver that sits over your tie-in limb so the climbing line runs on hardware instead of bark. It is a practical everyday piece of kit for MRS climbing and pruning work.

What a friction saver does

A friction saver separates your rope from the tree at the tie-in. That means less friction when you advance your hitch, less heat in the rope, and less damage to the cambium, which is a priority on trees that stay standing after the job.

Set it with a throw line over a sound union, run your climbing line through it, and check that it sits cleanly before you weight it.

Friction savers come in a few styles, including ring-and-ring, ring and pulley, and adjustable designs. A simple saver like this suits everyday climbing on straightforward tie-in points. If you climb on SRS, check the manufacturer's instructions before using any friction saver as an anchor.

Inspection and replacement

Look over the hardware for grooves or sharp edges and the strap or rope for cuts and wear before every climb. Retire it if anything looks doubtful.

Store the saver with your climbing kit and never use it in a rigging setup. Rigging loads can groove hardware and damage the strap in ways that make it unsafe for climbing.

See our full range of friction savers. Life-support gear must meet the applicable standard (ANSI Z133 and the manufacturer's instructions), be inspected before every use, and be used only by trained climbers.