Tree Gear Equipment

The PMI Fingerless Belay Gloves provides an excellent balance between protecting your hands and maintaining your dexterity. Providing the utmost protection for your hands usually involves covering them up completely. This, however, can only be achieved at the sacrifice of manual dexterity. PMI’s answer to this problem is their Fingerless Belay Gloves.

The gloves cover the hand from the wrist up to the proximate or intermediate phalanges, leaving the distal part exposed. Since distal phalanges are not usually involved in gripping a rope, they could be left uncovered, thus retaining their capability to manipulate climbing devices or tie intricate knots.

The PMI Fingerless Belay Gloves are made of lightweight goatskin, making them durable yet supple. This flexibility further enhances dexterity as it allows the covered parts of the hands freedom of movement. An extra layer of tough cowhide lines the palms for further protection from rope burn. It is sewn into the palms with four lines of stitches for a better attachment.

A Velcro closure on the back of the hand keeps the glove in a proper fit, while a pull tab sewn in between the middle and ring fingers helps when taking the gloves off.

The pair of gloves weighs about 134 grams, and comes in a unisex design.

Rappelling, especially from tall trees, can abrade your gloves even if your ropes are soft and supple. The friction generated when the rope slides over your gloves can easily damage the skin of your protective gloves.

It is for this reason that Pigeon Mountain Industries designed a glove specifically intended for rappelling –the PMI Lightweight Rappel Gloves. These gloves are equipped with an extremely tough cowhide leather running across the palms, through the web in the space between the thumb and forefinger, to the proximal phalanx of the thumb. This added covering comes in two layers for that extra protection from rope friction.

In order not to compromise dexterity, the fingers of the gloves are made of flexible and supple goatskin. This assures good rope control which is required when rappelling. These, though, are less durable than the cowhide and may not work well with “finger pinchers”.

The combination of the lightweight, pliable goatskin and the tough, durable cowhide makes this pair of gloves an excellent gear for rope work. Inside the cuffs are loops which may be used to hang the gloves on a carabiner. The backs of the palms have an elastic band giving the gloves a tight yet comfortable fit.

Sizes are based on the circumference of the palms, from small to extra large with the former sized from 7 to 8 inches and the latter from 10.5 to 11 inches.

Designed as belay gloves this Metolius hand protective gear allows you to grip the ropes as tight as you can without hurting your hands. You can even allow the rope to glide through your palms without worrying about burning yourself.

It is constructed out of French cowhide with a tough split-grain leather reinforcement at the palm and thumb saddle. This reinforcement is triple-needle stitched to ensure that it stays attached to the cowhide even after prolonged use and abuse.

The fingers are cut off at ¾ length providing an excellent balance of protecting the hands and maintaining good dexterity. The openings of the fingers are double-stitched for durability. A hook and loop closure with easy and quick adjustment features guarantees a comfortable and snug fit making the gloves feel like a second skin on your hands. The closure is also double-stitched as are the seams.

There is a clip-in loop inside the cuff which is used to clip the gloves into a harness or a bag making them readily accessible whenever needed. No need to rummage through your backpack for it.

This 122-gram glove is available only in natural color. Sizes range from extra small, for palms with a circumference of 6.25 inches, to extra large for palms sized 10 inches.

When climbing anything, whether steep crags, ice, or trees, you will need eye protection. Stones, dust, ice, twigs and leaves can get into your eyes which could impair your vision. Certainly, when your life is literally hanging on a thread, you will want to have full command of all your senses.

The Bangerz HS 2000 Wraparound Eyeguard does a great job of protecting your eyes not only from foreign materials but also from your own sweat. Its wraparound design guarantees complete frontal protection ensuring that nothing can get through to your eyes while at the same time maintaining your peripheral view. To keep your brow ridges from sweating profusely, vents are incorporated into the sides of the frame to allow air flow. This eliminates, or at least minimizes, the likelihood of sweat getting into your eyes. It also helps in keeping the lenses from fogging.

The HS 2000 uses a one-piece polycarbonate lens. This is a shatter-proof lens that is capable of absorbing high impacts. It is coated with an anti-scratch and anti-fog veneer. The nose is made of soft-molded rubber making it comfortable to wear. In the event of an impact, it is capable of absorbing a good amount of the force. It is also hypo-allergenic thus there is no need to worry about unwanted rashes on your nose.

Instead of temple arms, the HS 2000 uses a washable head strap. When properly adjusted, the strap can do a better job of holding the glasses in place even when you are repeatedly jolted as often happens during a climb.

The AOSafety Maxim Sport Safety Glasses is athletic and stylish with a frame that is available in three dual colors –black and orange, silver and blue, and yellow and black. There are also variations of the lenses although all of them feature a DX™ anti-fog, anti-scratch, and anti-chemical coating. They are also dual aspheric. Their variations are in their shades. They could be clear, indoor/outdoor, and amber.

The lenses easily detach from the frame so you can replace them depending on your needs. For general purpose and maximum visibility, go for the clear lens. The indoor/outdoor lens provides protection when transitioning to and from direct sunlight. Its excellent tint reduces glare. Amber lenses, on the other hand, are great for use in low-light conditions. These offer excellent eye protection as they wrap around the orbits of the eyes.

The temple and brow guard includes a soft, elastometric Sport-Grip thus providing a comfortable cushion. This also improves fit and absorbs impact in the event of a slight blow to the head. The nose bridge is soft and adjustable. It is designed to fit all sizes of noses.

Maxim Sport Safety Glasses is lightweight, weighing only 30 grams. Coupled with the comfortably cushioned temple and brow guards and nose bridge, you will hardly notice that you are wearing protective safety glasses.

Climbing trees often involves bits of tree bark or leaves, dust, or other debris falling into your eyes. To make your climb more enjoyable and convenient, you will want some form of eye protection.

ERB Boas Safety Glasses provide just that. These glasses look quite stylish and cool you won’t have any qualms wearing them not only when hanging from a tree but when hanging out with your friends as well.

These ultra-lightweight glasses are made of polycarbonate frames making them impact- and temperature-resistant. And because they are lightweight it actually feels as if you are not wearing them at all.

The wraparound design of the ERB Boas assures a snug fit and, perhaps more important, it provides total optical protection as dust and debris from all angles are prevented from getting into your eyes.

The spherical lens is also of polycarbonate with a 9.75 base, and is capable of blocking as much as 99% of ultraviolet rays. There are several variations of the lenses –the clear, smoke, amber, silver, blue, and gold.

All these variations offer excellent eye protection. The differences in color relates to visibility considerations and protection from glare. Clear lenses offer maximum visibility, while smoke lenses protect from glare and extremely bright lights. Amber lenses are intended for low-light conditions. The silver, blue, and gold lenses feature extra light-reflecting properties without affecting visibility.

These lenses are matched with your choice of smoke, clear, amber, and blue frames.

The materials out of which the Petzl Cordex Plus Midweight Belay/Rappel Rope Gloves are made guarantee an excellent balance between durability and flexibility. These are goat skin leather and stretch nylon which are strategically positioned to protect high-wear areas and to provide elasticity where movement is needed.

The palms consist of a double layer of goatskin leather together with some padding for extra protection from the heat that could be generated when rappelling or lowering a climber from great heights. The fact that leather has a higher melting point than synthetic fabrics also adds protection from rope burn.

The finger tips are reinforced as these areas are also subject to wear. These areas are most often used when working with gadgets or when holding on to clefts, ledges, or tree branches.

The back is made of a combination of leather and stretch nylon, the latter being positioned on the knuckles thus providing flexibility, and at a portion of the back of the hand where it provides breathability.

The gloves are articulated at the knuckles and the joints of the fingers. This also helps maintain the user’s dexterity allowing him to manipulate small gadgets even with the gloves on.

This Petzl glove model is closed with a low-profile cuff made of neoprene and Velcro. It also includes a reinforced carabiner hole used to attach the gloves to your harness.

The PMI Rope Tech Gloves are not only extremely versatile. They are very durable as well, and can take daily use and abuse. Climbers say these are great for rappelling, rescue work, or simply for general hand protection.

The palms of the gloves are made of proprietary Clarino synthetic leather designed to insure excellent grip and durability. In addition to this, two layers of goat leather are stitched along the rope path providing even more protection from the friction generated by a sliding rope.

The backs of PMI Rope Tech Gloves are made of 4-way stretch spandex allowing flexibility and freedom of movement as well as durability. Because of this flexibility, these gloves provide better dexterity than other brands, or even other models of PMI. Z-rigs and other knots are better handled with the Rope Tech. An air mesh is incorporated along the knuckles for breathability, thus keeping your hands cool and dry.

The gloves feature elastic cuffs, which are closed with an adjustable Velcro strap.

Climbing trees means gripping and tugging at ropes; manipulating ascenders, descenders, carabiners, or other belay devices; and clutching tree branches and twigs. You will need protective gear for your hands and fingers that leaves you with enough dexterity to manipulate complex mechanisms.

The Ironclad Framer Gloves is an excellent answer to this need. These are heavy duty utility gloves. The back is made of breathable spandex keeping and moisture away. It has a one-piece Amara palm, with an abrasion-resistant double-stitched DuraClad for additional protection in areas most susceptible to wear and tear. It has an e-z pull tab with a hook and loop cuff closure made of soft rubber. For increased dexterity, the tips of the thumb, index, and middle fingers are cut off. To protect the knuckles from accidental impact, this area is rubberized.

This pair of gloves can be used, apart from tree climbing, for other purposes such as carpentry, tire mounting, electrical set-up, framing, or when using power tools and even weapons.

The Ironclad Frame is washable in a washing machine but it is best to leave it to dry in the air.