Must-Haves: Tower Climber Edition
As a tower climber there is a ton of different gear to choose from and sometimes weeding through everything can take way too much time. This week our Gear Experts® are going to break down the must-have gear you need to get the job done and stay safe.
The Gear
So, what are the essentials needed for tower climbers?
HarnessÂ
Let’s start with the most obvious: a harness. Your harness is the focal point of all your gear, but which harness is the best? Well, that depends on some factors about what job you will be doing. Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. You can click here to check out our Ultimate Fall Protection Harness Buying Guide for details on how to pick the right harness for you.Helmet
The next intricate piece is a helmet. Protecting your dome is important and picking the right helmet ensures that your noggin will go uncracked. Picking the right helmet involves a little bit of knowledge about the job at hand. Check out our Safety Helmets 101 blog post where we take you through the what’s what when it comes to keeping your noodle safe. You can also download our free Safety Helmets 101 pdf from our Knowledge Base.Twin Leg Lanyard
Once you’ve got your harness and helmet covered, it’s time to look at a shock absorbing lanyard. Twin leg lanyards are diverse. They come in a range of styles and lengths for a range of specific applications (like foot level tie off or tie-back) and with a ton of different connection point options.Cable Safety Sleeve (Cable Grab)
Chances are, a tower you encounter will have a cable climb system which means you will need a way to securely connect your harness to that system. In fact, nearly every telecom tower in North America has a cable climb system of some sort. So, your gear list isn’t complete without a cable grab. While the basic function of cable grabs are pretty much the same – there are subtle differences in each.Pass-Through Sling (Pass-Through Web Anchor)
Sometimes you will run into a situation where you need to make your own anchorage point. Having a pass-through anchor in your gear list will give you the ability to produce that anchorage point.Positioning Lanyard
You’ve made it to your destination on the tower, but now you can’t quite work where you need to because the cable climb system isn’t in the right spot and you need both of your hands to work. That’s where a positioning lanyard comes in. Using your twin leg lanyard to move safely to your working location you can then position yourself and work handsfree with your positioning lanyard.Bolt Bag
You’ve only got two hands (us too, unfortunately) which means that carrying nuts, bolts, and small tools up the tower while your climbing isn’t possible. That’s why a bolt bag is on our must-haves list.Carabiner
At least one carabiner will make your life and the job so much easier. We recommend at least two typically, but one will get you by. Carabiners have a ton of different applications but using one to connect your bolt bag to your harness isn’t a bad idea. Find out more about carabiner gates with our free downloadable pdf from our knowledge base.Separator Bar (Spreader Bar)
Sitting or leaning while positioned on the tower can place a lot of pressure on your waist and hips. It’s hard on your body and uncomfortable. Especially if you’re in that position for an extended amount of time. Using a separator spreader bar helps relieve that pressure and keep you feeling great.RF Monitor
Not all dangers can be seen with the human eye and RF frequencies are one of them. Ensuring that you are not overexposed to RF waves is extremely important to your safety and the FieldSENSE 2.0 Personal RF Monitor has you covered. For more information on the FieldSENSE RF Monitor check out our blog post.Duffle Bag
You’re loaded up with all the must-have gear for climbing the tower, but now you’ve got one little problem – you can’t carry it all. Did we mention having 2 hands isn’t enough already? A duffle bag fixes that problem. Fit all your gear neatly organized in one single, easy to transport duffle bag.All-In-One Solution
We’ve covered a lot of information in this blog post – and sifting through all of the different options for each of the must-have pieces of gear takes time. Because we know that your time is precious our Gear Experts® have put together an Essential Tower Climbing Kit that includes all of the equipment we discussed in this blog post (except for the RF Monitor). It also includes a variety of upgradable options (like the RF Monitor). We have a variety of different kits assembled by our Gear Experts® for a range of different applications. Need help finding the perfect kit? Click here to contact one of our Gear Experts®. → Click here to see our full selection of tower climbing gear → Click here to see our Essential Tower Climbing Kit **The content of this blog is not intended to replace proper, in-depth training. Manufacturer’s instructions must also be followed and reviewed before any equipment is used.
Tower Climbing Kits: Video Edition
Be sure to follow us on social media to keep up with everything GME Supply has going on.
Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Twitter | LinkedIn
We’re Also on Snapchat
Simply snap or screenshot this image ↓ to follow GME Supply!
