DMM Hitch Climber Pulley

The DMM Hitch Climber pulley is a climber pulley designed to sit below a friction hitch and tend it as you advance. It became one of the standard pieces in arborist moving-rope systems because it makes slack tending smoother and the hitch easier to manage.

What the Hitch Climber does

In a moving-rope system, the climber advances by pulling slack through a friction hitch. The hitch climber pulley sits right below the hitch on the rope. As you pull the rope's tail, the pulley pushes the hitch up, so the system tends slack smoothly without you having to reach up and manage the hitch by hand.

That is why it caught on. Before pulleys like this, climbers often tended hitches by hand or used a simple ring setup. The Hitch Climber made climbing smoother and faster and kept the hitch dressed and aligned through the day.

It also helps keep the friction hitch from rolling or getting pulled out of shape, which makes descents more predictable. Many climbers find that their hitch grips and releases more consistently with a hitch-tending pulley in place.

How it is set up

The pulley has multiple attachment holes. A typical setup attaches the friction hitch cord and the bridge carabiner through the pulley, with the rope running over the sheave. Exact setups vary, and the friction hitch you use, such as a Distel or VT, affects how the system behaves.

Learn the setup from a qualified trainer and follow DMM's instructions. A small mistake in how the hitch cord is attached or how the carabiner is loaded can turn a reliable system into a dangerous one. Practice on the ground at low height before you climb with a new system.

Choosing a climber pulley

The DMM hitch climber pulley is popular because it is well made and easy to use, but it is not the only option. Some climbers prefer different pulley shapes, swivels or lighter designs. Whatever you choose, make sure it is rated for life support, compatible with your rope diameter and designed for the way you climb.

If you are just starting to use a hitch climber, buy a complete system that has been tested together: rope, hitch cord, pulley and carabiners. Compatibility between parts matters more than any single component.

Weight, sheave size and how the pulley sits on your bridge all affect how a system feels. Try a few setups with a trainer or experienced climber before settling on one.

Inspection and safety

Life-support gear must meet the applicable standards, be used according to the manufacturer's instructions and ANSI Z133, and be inspected before every use. Only trained climbers should use it.

Inspect the pulley before every climb: check the side plates for cracks, burrs or deformation, make sure the sheave spins freely, and look for grooving where the rope runs. Retire it if it has been dropped from height onto a hard surface, shows damage or does not run smoothly. Browse more micro pulleys to compare options.