Rope & Lifelines

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Ascenders

Descenders

Double Braid Rope

Kernmantle Rope

Lifelines

Pulleys

Rope Grabs

Tower Climbing Rope & Lifelines

As a tower climber, it’s no secret that you are going to be spending a lot of time working with ropes and lifelines. Whether you are looking for ascenders, descenders, rope (double braided or kernmantle), lifelines, or pulleys, GME Supply has just the solution for you.

Ascenders

Ascenders are pretty self-explanatory. They are progress capture devices that help you ascend up a rope. As a tower climber, an ascender can come in handy for a range of situations. While all ascenders have the same basic function there is actually a range of different types. Our selection of ascenders includes handheld, one finger, foot, and chest ascenders so that no matter what challenges the job may bring you can rise to the occasion and meet that challenge.

Descenders

Like ascenders, descenders are pretty self-explanatory. They are devices that help you smoothly and safely descend down a rope. Some descenders are versatile devices that can have a lot of benefits for a tower climber. Our selection includes traditional “figure 8” descenders as well as a range of self-braking descenders from manufacturers like Petzl, WestFall Pro, and ISC.

Double Braid Rope

We’ve all heard of double braid rope, but how do you know if double braid is the right rope for your next tower job site? Let’s talk a bit about what exactly double braid rope is and what situations it is best suited for.

Double braided rope is a braided core surrounded by a braided sheath. The inner and outer braids are generally designed to share the load equally with very low elongation. Double braid rope remains round under tension, imparts no rotational force when loaded, and has a soft hand. These characteristics make it ideal for use as a load rope.

Kernmantle Rope

Let’s talk a bit about what exactly kernmantle rope is and what situations it is best suited for. Kernmantle rope consists of twisted parallel fibers (the kern) surrounded by a tightly braided sheath (the mantle). The core fibers provide the majority (about 70%) of the rope’s strength. The sheath is tightly braided providing significantly higher abrasion resistance.

There are two distinct types of kernmantle: dynamic and static. Dynamic is used for recreational climbing due to its high shock absorption capabilities. Static kernmantle has very low stretch and works well for industrial applications. Due to its construction, it remains round through descent devices and allows minimal twist on the rope. The properties of static kernmantle make it ideal for use as a lifeline or descent line.

For more information about the different types of rope, click here to visit our knowledge base.

Lifelines

When you’re 200 feet off the ground on a tower your life is literally on the line. So, you want to make sure that your lifeline is up to the task in case of a fall. Here at GME Supply, we take pride in helping make sure that tower climbers stay safe and productive on the job. We feature WestFall pro lifeline and some pre-assembled lifeline kits.

Pulleys

When climbing a tower pulleys can serve a range of different purposes. The type of pulley that will work for you depends on what the job requires, but a few things to keep in mind when selecting a pulley are: weight, max rope size, sheave, whether it has progress capture capabilities or not, single vs. double, and size. Pulleys come in a range of different styles. Looking for a compact pulley from Petzl or a swivel pulley from Rock Exotica? We’ve got all of that and more.

Rope Grabs

You've got a lifeline, but now you need a way to make sure you are secured to it. That’s where rope grabs come in. Rope grabs are extremely convenient and easy to use. They provide 100% tie off by staying attached to your lifeline and moving up and down with you as you ascend or descend. These little devices work by latching onto the rope when they sense a fall preventing you from getting injured. Not to mention, they save a ton of time because you don’t have to stop every few feet to reattach your lanyard as you climb.

Need more information or have questions about ropes and lifelines? Click here to contact one of our Gear Experts®.