The 7 Best tree friction devices (2023 reviews)

We consider a tree friction device to be a worthy investment in the long run. We are here to help you choose the right one for your purposes from all the best available products in market today.

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Our Top Picks:

Best overall: Buy: AOKWIT tree friction Device READ REVIEW

Best With ear: Buy: AOKWIT standard Figure READ REVIEW

Best For climber: Buy: Petzl Belay Device READ REVIEW

Best For grigri: Buy: Ito rocky tree friction Device READ REVIEW

Best With glass: Buy: Petzі tree friction Device READ REVIEW

Best For logging workers: Buy: Surmountway tree friction Device READ REVIEW

Best value For money: Buy: Petzl tree friction Device READ REVIEW

Best overall: AOKWIT tree friction Device

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If you are looking to buy an all-around great device for your daily purpose, aokwit tree friction device is the right option. The bent ear figure 8 has an obvious advantage that by wrapping the rope around its ear, it can help people hang in middle air to appreciate the scenery or work in high level. It can be used in aerial dance, especially aerial silk to make a super safe anchor. It's bigger than your standard hook for climbing and works way better with lifting materials to the rooftop from the ground. It is easy to stop descent when desired.

The principle slot is large enough to double or triple your single rope to increase frictions for slow descent. It is used to descend in the same way as the standard figure. It comes with a bent-ear, locking yourself off with both hands free will be much easier and safer. It is an easy one hand repel with this product.

• Solid device for routine or emergency belays
• New and hot release

Best With ear: AOKWIT standard Figure

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Compared with other device in this category, the aokwit standard figure has a convenient design. This is a large descender with bent ears. It can be used in aerial dance, especially aerial silk to make a super safe anchor. It comes with a bent-ear, locking yourself off with both hands free will be much easier and safer. It will work, without metal fatigue, manufacturing defects you cant see under the coating etc. It is suitable for large diameter static tree rope lines.

The principle slot is large enough to double or triple your single rope to increase frictions for slow descent. It feels pretty hefty and the ropes will likely break before the rigging component. It is easy to hook up and tie off on. This thing works, is really sturdy, but it is gigantic.

• Nice gadget, could probably use for rigging if needed in a situation
• Great strong belay device, well made
• Is sturdy and safe and easy to hook up and tie off on
• Great for beginners who are on a budget, seems safe and does the job

Best For climber: Petzl Belay Device

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If you often find yourself scrambling for convenient and suitable device, petzl belay device is your end point. It is a belay device with assisted braking for indoors and outdoors. It can be used on all single ropes (8.5 to 11 mm in diameter) and optimized for 8.9 to 10.5 mm diameters. It is great for top ropers who plan on lead climbing. It is essentially an upgraded version of gerigri 2, with some stainless steel parts for improved durability, added safety feature (panic mode) and a switch for top rope / lead climbing belaying. It comes with plus, as you move the lever towards you, the rope is initially released with less and less braking, but if you pull the handle all the way towards you, you hear sort of a click and the device will lock again.

The switch has a sort of locking pin inside of the handle. It is easy to use while climbing roofs. It is useful mostly for climbing outdoors or for "bring your own belay device" gyms.

• Adjustable locking force, anti-panic release, steel edge for wear
• Easy to use and is very safe
• Fantastic belay device when weight is behind it

Best For grigri: Ito rocky tree friction Device

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Ito Rocky line of device come in a pretty wide variety of styles, so you can definitely find one that suits your individual preferences and needs. It’s a very high quality peace to have for your sail boat. By adjusting the pressure you place on both the handle and the rope being fed to the device it is simple and easy to adjust your speed. This will allow for a proper rappel style descent,one hand on the lever and one on the down side of the rope.

It is suitable for ropes of a diameter of 9-12mm/0.35-0.47 inch. The lever should totally control your descent. It does stop completely, with no creep. This is an extra barrier of safety, recommend. It can be used as a speed control.

• Nice quality parts and the design is good
• Low cost, mechanically sound, performing well thus far
• Easy to carry, attach, and safe
• Good safety item for climbing, solid and functional

Best With glass: Petzі tree friction Device

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The petzі tree friction device gives the top-tier device a run for their money by offering flagship specs at a much more affordable price. It allows the user to move around efficiently in a tree using classic prusik pulley system technique. It has a flexible positioning ring that helps keep the connector oriented along its major axis. The lower attachment hole with high-efficiency swivel ensures stable and correct positioning of the mechanical Prusik and optimal rope glide through the dev. It can be used on either double ropes or a single rope, providing great versatility.

The device locks automatically on the rope once the friction chain extends. It is mounted on sealed ball bearings to allow the slack to be taken up easily. These products are for mountaineering, rock-climbing industrial work and/or rescue use only.

• Auxiliary attachment hole for adding a zillon lanyard or connecting
• Separated and curved side plates for better wear resistance
• Delivers what they promise

Best For logging workers: Surmountway tree friction Device

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The surmountway tree friction device is capable of outshining several other device featured in this list in overall features for the price point. This rope friction device is suitable for lumberers to lower heavy objects. It is designed for logging workers to control the wood and complete the work. It allows the manipulator on the ground to control the speed and pace of limb lowering with tremendous leverage over heavy loads. It has significant corrosion resistance, made from rust-proof galvanized plated steel that will stand up to the worst heat, salt and humidity that a coastal company can throw at it.

The port wrap is a friction device that enables a single person to control loads many times their own weight. It is polyester, which is durable and has excellent bearing capacity. The rigging line wraps around the portawrap, and the more you wrap the more friction you generate. It comes with the surmountway portawrap lowering heavy wood can be controlled and done at a much faster pace while also lowering the potential for an accident.

• Made entirely of stainless steel, the portawrap is rust-proof and corrosion-resistant
• Delivers what they promise

Best value For money: Petzl tree friction Device

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We know from years of feedback from readers, customers and amazon sellers, what most people want in a feature-rich yet easy on pocket device. The petzl tree friction device is exactly that - it's a simple device that hits all the right notes. The Petzl control rope has an un-spliced end with a huge chunk of heat shrink on it that will not fit through the Zigzag, and on the other end of the rope is a spliced eye, which also does not fit into the Zigzag. It provides precision and fluidity when moving around. It can be used on either double ropes or a single rope, providing great versatility. It is mounted on sealed ball bearings to allow the slack to be taken up easily.

The device locks automatically on the rope once the friction chain extends. It is a time saver when descending. It allows the user to move around efficiently in a tree using classic prusik pulley system technique.

• Separated and curved side plates for better wear resistance
• Auxiliary attachment hole for adding a zillon lanyard or connecting
• Lot of satisfied buyers