DMM Captain Hook - Self-Locating Tree Climbing Grapple The DMM Captain Hook is a premium self-locating grappling hook engineered for professional arborists who need fast, reliable connection to remote anchors. Designed for precision canopy work, traversing between trees and accessing complex structures, the Captain delivers exceptional stability, strength and control during directional movement. Available as Hook Only or as a complete Kit (rope + bag), in Red or Grey, it's in stock at Gustharts as an authorised DMM dealer, with free UK delivery on this order. Important: this is not PPE. The Captain Hook must be used with appropriate rope and anchor selection as part of a wider climbing system — it is not itself certified personal protective equipment. A pivoting hot-forged D-shackle ensures the hook destabilises if incorrectly presented, allowing the nose to rotate naturally into the ideal position. This guarantees clean, confident placement while reducing the chance of bounce-outs or glancing blows. Once set, the Captain offers an impressive 23kN strength rating (anchor-dependent), allowing controlled movement across the canopy. The smooth 15mm racking eye minimises snagging on harness loops, while the hook's sculpted, bark-friendly profile reduces damage when working on living trees. Whether used as part of an advanced work-positioning system or to create efficient lateral movement in the canopy, the Captain is a trusted tool for technical tree climbing. Key Features & Benefits Self-locating hook design for confident, controlled placement Rated to 23kN (anchor-dependent) Hot-forged hook body for strength and reliability Pivoting D-shackle helps correct orientation on engagement Snag-free 15mm racking eye for clean harness storage Customisable nose weighting for personalised balance Bark-friendly impact profile reduces surface damage Grease port for long-term maintenance Max recommended anchor diameter: 90mm Available as hook-only or complete kit (rope + bag) Technical Details Strength Rating 23kN (not PPE, anchor-dependent) Max Anchor Diameter 90mm Body Material Hot-forged aluminium Connection Point Textile-compatible forged D-shackle Model / Part Code DD-TH200 (Red) / DD-TH200MG (Grey) Why Choose the DMM Captain Hook? DMM is a Welsh climbing hardware manufacturer with decades of engineering pedigree in life-safety equipment, and the self-locating pivoting shackle is a genuine technical advantage over fixed-orientation throw hooks — it actively corrects its own position on engagement rather than relying on a perfect throw every time. The bark-friendly profile also matters if you're working on living trees regularly, reducing cosmetic damage compared to sharper-edged grapples. Also Known As Also searched for as: DMM Captain Hook, DMM throw hook, self-locating grapple hook, arborist traversing hook. FAQs Is the Captain Hook certified PPE? No, it is not PPE and must be used with appropriate rope and anchor selection as part of a wider certified climbing system. What's the difference between Hook Only and the Kit? Hook Only is the grapple alone. The Kit adds a throw rope and storage bag, useful if you don't already own compatible throw line. What's the maximum anchor diameter it's designed for? 90mm is the maximum recommended anchor diameter. Will this damage the tree I'm climbing? The sculpted, bark-friendly impact profile is designed to reduce surface damage compared to sharper-edged grapples, though care should always be taken when working on living trees. Is maintenance required? Yes, a grease port is built in for long-term maintenance of the pivoting mechanism.
