Husqvarna Adjustable Friction Saver

The Husqvarna adjustable friction saver protects both your climbing line and the tree's cambium at the tie-in point. Because the length adjusts, one saver fits a wide range of limb and stem sizes, which makes it a handy everyday piece for MRS climbing.

Why use an adjustable friction saver

Running a climbing line straight over a limb chews bark, can damage the cambium, and adds friction that wears your rope and makes moving rope (MRS) climbing harder work. A friction saver gives the rope a clean metal surface to run over and keeps the rope off the bark.

The adjustable design lets you shorten or lengthen the saver to suit the limb, so the rings sit where they should and do not pinch together on a small union. That flexibility means you carry one saver instead of two or three fixed lengths. Compare other options in friction savers.

Pair the saver with a climbing line and hitch that are sized for its rings, and check that the rings let your hitch or knot pass through if you plan to retrieve it from the ground. A saver that will not release is a long climb back up.

Setting, retrieval and inspection

Most climbers set a ring-to-ring saver from the ground with a throw line, then retrieve it the same way when they are done. Practice the setup on the ground before relying on it, and make sure the adjustment is set and secured before you load it.

Inspect the rope or webbing for cuts and abrasion and the rings for grooves before each use. Life-support gear must meet the applicable standard, be used per ANSI Z133 and the manufacturer's instructions, and be inspected before every climb by a trained user.