What size bolts for a big lad?

[Hunter260]

I’m gonna be close to 300lb with gear on, what size bolts do I need? Are there bolt alternatives? I’m thinking like a steel dowel I can cut myself maybe. Where’s the cheapest place to buy bolts? Do you buy different bolts for presets than you do for a mobile setup??


Thanks in advance

 

[Wilgabeast]

I weigh 240 lbs and with gear prob 260-270 I use 3/8 grade 8 bolts from eBay . 45$ for 50 bolts

 

[Loopwing]

Grade 8 bolts, ALWAYS GRADE 8. Becareful being too cheap. Chineseism will mark things all kinds of different ways. There was a guy on here bending "Grade 8" bolts on a 1 stick. Those were not Grade 8.

 

[kyler1945]

Grade 8.

Buy them long(7 or 8”). Cut the threads off(that’s the weakest point on the bolt).

Don’t use longer than 6” 3/8” bolts because you have a big wide foot. If you get a bolt with more than 4” or so sticking out the tree(total bolt length of 6.5+”) and you weigh 300, and you step out near the end of the bolt, you will bend or break it. You can go longer with bigger than 3/8 bolts.


Always use TIGHT climbing practices. Use your lineman’s belt properly. Always always always 3 points of contact. Don’t weight your step up or step down foot until the inside of your foot is firmly against the tree.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

Get known quality grade 8 bolt and you will be fine. I have bent grade 5 before when I first started using a hand drill. I wanted to see how strong they were. I weigh 150 pounds. Don't go cheap.