Petzl PAW Small Rigging Plate

The Petzl PAW S is a small rigging plate that gives one anchor several neat connection points. Clip it to a sling or base anchor and you can hang a rope, a redirect and a backup without stacking carabiners on top of each other.

Why use a rigging plate

Stacking carabiners on a single connector leads to cross-loading and a mess you cannot sort out quickly. A rigging plate spreads connections across separate holes. For an arborist, that might mean a base-anchored SRT line, a rescue line and a redirect all off one sling at the base of the tree, each on its own carabiner.

The Petzl PAW is a common choice among rope-access workers, and the small size is the right fit for most tree setups.

It also helps on removals with a rescue plan in place: the rescue line hangs ready on its own hole instead of buried under the working connections. Everyone on the crew can see at a glance what is clipped where, which matters when things need to happen fast.

Use and inspection

Clip the plate to the anchor through its top hole and load each lower hole with a single carabiner. Inspect for cracks, sharp edges and wear grooves before use. Life-support gear must be used per the maker's instructions and inspected, and climbers should be trained before setting up base anchors.

Pick carabiners that sit well in the plate holes and rotate freely. A connector jammed against the edge of a hole can be side-loaded. Keep the plate in your climbing kit rather than the rigging bag so it does not see the abuse rigging hardware takes.