Appreciation post: Switching to a 3/8-inch rope for my climbing saw made a huge difference in my wrist strain.

I used a 1/2-inch line for years on my Stihl 201T, but after a big removal job in Boise last fall, my forearms were killing me for days. My crew lead suggested I try a thinner, lighter rope, so I swapped to a 3/8-inch climbing line just for the saw. The weight reduction seems small, but after six months, I haven't had that same deep ache at the end of the week. Has anyone else found a specific gear tweak that helped with repetitive strain?

3 comments

3 Comments

ivan_harris1d ago

My old boss swore by that 1/2-inch rope, but his hands were always shaking.

flores.emma1d ago

My uncle used 3/8-inch nylon for everything on his farm. He said the extra flex saved his joints after decades of work. I tried it on a big pull job last year and my grip was way more solid. That thinner rope just doesn't fight you as hard when you're tying it off tight.

bailey.jennifer1d ago

I get what @ivan_harris is saying, but that thinner stuff just cuts into your hands after a few hours.