It might sound harsh, but tree climbers don't expect much innovation from a company like Buckingham. Still, the new Buck Throttle has ignited interest among tree climbers seeking alternatives to the NOTCH Rope Runner Pro/Vertec, Rock Exotica Akimbo, Unicender, and the Petzl ZigZag Chicane combo.
Adding grooved cleats in the Buck Throttle 'Bird', new midline attachment options, replaceable parts, MRS and SRS choices, and no fiddly tuning are welcome. However, once you move past the device's form and function, the primary concern for tree climbers outside the US is the device's America-centric certification.
The Buck Throttle is ANSI Z359.9 (Type 4) certified using an ASTM F887 tree climbing harness connected with ANSI Z359.12 carabiners. The only reference to EN certification is the semi-static rope (EN 1891) used in the climbing configuration. The Buck Throttle is not CE marked.
WorkSafe or NZ Arb does not legally mandate ANSI standards like Z359.9 in New Zealand arboriculture, so ANSI-rated PPE equipment is not readily available locally. Some international tree-climbing gear meets the ANSI standards, but many do not.
For example, if you climbed using a Petzl Sequoia harness (not ASTM F887 certified) connected to the Buck Throttle using a DMM Ultra O (not ANSI Z359.12 certified) on an EN 1891 climbing line, the configuration would not meet the ANSI standards, as specified in the Buck Throttle User Manual.
WorkSafe doesn't specifically prohibit mixing brands or using ANSI-only devices, but you must prove the combination is safe before using it for tree work. So, to use the Buck Throttle in New Zealand, you must complete a written RA (risk assessment) and a SWMS (safe work method statement) to prove that the configuration is safe.
The Buck Throttles' lack of a CE mark and omission from the ITCC's approved devices list also limit its use in tree climbing competitions.
Another impediment is the Buck Throttle price. It is bound to slow climbers down at just over $1000 NZ for a non-CE device with certification limitations.
