New kit! what have you bought?

[kram]

With free burn holes, too. You may have more luck if you get a patch sewn over the damage.. it will catc and rip on bramble otherwise.

When I started I was given a pair of medium Arbortec's that have always been far too small for me, waist fits but the legs too skiny, nearly new with a single 1p sized burn hole.

 

Solidur have type A class 1's for £65 upto £180. Unsure from reading the listing what the difference is. I'm sure the more expensive are more comfortable and a better fit perhaps. The cheaper ones dont have a phone pocket.

I couldnt see any other brand with class 3 but Solidur do them.

 

Andrew's, mine have been durable. Perhaps not the best, but always kept my feet dry.

Edited Saturday at 11:28 by kram

[Rich Rule]

3 hours ago, 5thelement said:

Whilst back in Blighty I am exploiting the consumables/cheap kit market, had some stuff from Chainsawbars delivered to the MIL house, always fantastic service. 
Then picked up these bargains off fleabay, Andrew Arbpro for £160 and a pair of Meindl Airstream for £180, I’ve never owned a pair of either, they may even see me through to retirement.

The Andrew’s are great boots.  The Meindle are a bit hit and miss these days or so I hear.

 

I have used both, 4 pairs of Airstreams and for the last eight years (since I moved to Norway) I have had 2 pairs of Andrew’s.

 

In need of a new pair now as the mid sole has started to perish a bit.

[kram]

A pair of cheapy rings to fit 16mm rope. Listing claims an unlikely 20 tonne/200kN break strength!?! They are thick and heavy, will be more than strong enough for any small bits I rig.

 

These are intended for recovering cars, to have the rope running around the outside and rotating on a soft shackle through the middle, attached to an anchor sling. However for rigging that would likely melt the soft shackle and a chance of the rope falling out the groove, but would be fine for pulling a stem over as a 2 or 3:1 or other slow things where they might get smashed up when it lands.

 

Edited 17 hours ago by kram

[AHPP]

What’s the working load limit in that configuration for your use?

Edited 16 hours ago by AHPP

[waterbuoy]

I'd guess at well under a tonne for a straight pull, the determining factor being that it is knotted 16mm braided polyester.  Adjust as neccessary for alternative configurations

[AHPP]

kram doesn’t need to guess. kram can work it out and tell me with surety and confidence. 

[flyingjoiner]

Asa20.

 

Because I'm a sucker for gadgets 

[green heart]

2 hours ago, kram said:

However for rigging that would likely melt the soft shackle and a chance of the rope falling out the groove, but would be fine for pulling a stem over as a 2 or 3:1 or other slow things where they might get smashed up when it lands.

 

Pardon my ignorance, but I've never heard of a  'soft shackle' before  -is this basically meaning threading a rope through the centre eye ?

Also: Kram, how much do they really weigh and cost -they look like light alloy components from the photo? 

🤔

Edited 14 hours ago by green heart
Afterthought!

[kram]

3 hours ago, AHPP said:

What’s the working load limit in that configuration for your use?

 

2 hours ago, AHPP said:

kram doesn’t need to guess. kram can work it out and tell me with surety and confidence. 

 

I am not after rigging anything bigger than previously until I have more experience, which would give these a very large safety factor. Say 100kg for rigging tops, are the biggest I am happy rigging at the moment. I'll be getting more gear when I've done the course.

 

I cant seem to find dimensions listed for proper rings to compare against.

 

These are 100mm OD, 32mm wide, 40.8mm ID, 16mm rope groove and 13.5mm wall. 360 grams. The annodising looks good and they are listed as 6061T6. Suitable for the purpose I believe.

 

They might get more use for pulling on a N:1 rope system as I dont have suitable pulleys, these are much cheaper. Wouldnt be worried if they got smashed under a log.

 

1 hour ago, green heart said:

Pardon my ignorance, but I've never heard of a  'soft shackle' before  -is this basically meaning threading a rope through the centre eye ?

Also: Kram, how much do they really weigh and cost -they look like light alloy components from the photo? 

🤔

Soft shackles are usually HMPE/Dyneema hollow braid rope with a button knot. Very strong, very static with no stretch. Mostly used for boating/sailing.

 

Rings were 12 quid off amazon, likely stock clearance as I got the last two.
Soft shackles I got are here

VEVOR Synthetic Soft Shackle, 1/2" x 22" (2 Pack) 44092 lbs (20 Ton) Breaking Strength Recovery Tow Shackles with Extra 2 Sleeves & Storage Bag for UTV, ATV, Trucks, Jeep, Off-Road Vehicles, Red : Amazon.co.uk: Business, Industry & Science

WWW.AMAZON.CO.UK

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VEVOR Synthetic Soft Shackle, 1/2" x 22" (2 Pack) 44092 lbs (20 Ton) Breaking Strength Recovery Tow Shackles with Extra 2 Sleeves & Storage Bag for...

 

As with anything, import gear may not be as good. HowNot2 has some testing on import dyneema and soft shackles, they were better than expected, same with most metal gear.

[Mick Dempsey]

I think in nearly all cases, your nerve will fail a long time before any of those slings/rings even begin to get tested.

 

In other rigging news, and apropos to this conversation.

Jack Woolams (@tiktoklumberjack) • Instagram reel

WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM

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537 likes, 12 comments - tiktoklumberjack on October 24, 2025: "First big take down, takes me down 😱#work #lifestyle #luck #chainsawman #arblife #tree".

 

Edited 12 hours ago by Mick Dempsey