lanyard or flipline

[Vikingtree]

I am fairly new to the game and trying to figure out which one is better, lanyard or flipline. Lanyards seem less cumbersome whereas fliplines seem more sturdy.

[silky fox]

Then use your lanyard for progression through the tree and work position then your flipline for going up a pole or chogging down larger bits.

[Steve Bullman]

I switched from flipline to lanyard about 10 years ago and never looked back. Only time a flipline makes more sense is if you are doing a lot of up and down on poles.

[carlos]

i use flipline for spiking dismantles and lanyard for everything else.

[neilb]

I had a dragon 5 metre lanyard that came with a climbing kit. Guy that I'm doing for changed my system. I now have a much shorter simple rope with isc rope grab. Best thing I ever did. Seriously, hardly notice it's there when it's tied up. Worth having a wire core but you will probably find you don't use it much. Makes everything easier when it's simple and tidy.

[JLA Arborists]

I went to a 6 meter lanyard to save weight. Don't be fooled into thinking the wire core stops cuts, they don't.

[Ian C]

Aint used a flip line in a good few years, find them numb a nd clumsy and as said dont stop cuts.

[Dom]

On the flipside... About six years ago I changed from a lanyard to a wire core flipline with a rope grab and a nice heavy steel snap hook. I find it easier to push over and through forks, it feels sturdier, and it doesn't flop about as much as a bit of rope would. I think it's all about finding out what works best for you, I still know good climbers who only use both ends of their rope and somehow never use a seperate lanyard.

[MaximusExcelsior]

I prefer a rope lanyard. However when working on palm trees here in New Zealand, wire core all the way!

[Andrew Gale]

It's all down to personal choice; I can't add much more to what's already been said. I use a 5m lanyard and have a 3m New England wire flip line for dismantles. I carry to loose end in a small bag on the back of my harness; clean and tidy.

 

One piece of advice I would proffer though is to keep your lanyard on the opposite side to where you keep your chainsaw and pruning saw (if you carry both together); that way when you lower your saw on the tool strop (on your harness) or replace your pruning saw, there's little chance of snagging the rope.