5/8 in Bull Rope Rigging Sling

A 5/8 in bull rope sling is the size most crews reach for on routine removals. It is strong enough for a mid-size block and heavy limbs, yet light enough to carry several on a saddle without fighting them.

The everyday rigging size

Most rigging on residential removals lands in the range where 5/8 in is the right call. Use it to hang a block on a spar, choke limbs being lowered on a half-inch to five-eighths rigging line, or set a redirect. The spliced eye keeps the sling compact and lets you cinch it on stems of many sizes.

If you regularly bring down big wood, step up to 3/4 in for your block sling and keep 5/8 in for chokers. The heavy-duty slings page lists both.

Bull rope is built to be loaded and shock loaded day after day, and the slight give in it helps soften the catch when a piece is let run before it is stopped.

Keeping slings in service

Run a sling through your hands before each job. Cuts, chainsaw nicks, flattened spots, glazing and stiff sections are reasons to retire it. Pay close attention to the splice. Rigging gear takes shock loads that can far exceed the weight of the piece, so size slings with a generous working load margin, inspect before every use, and retire any sling that is cut, glazed, melted or crushed. Rigging should be planned and run by trained crews working to ANSI Z133.

Keep slings in a dedicated bag so they do not soak up bar oil or fuel in the truck.