On the Line
The definitive guide to top rope soloing by Andy Kirkpatrick. Safe setups, devices, rigging, and advanced techniques for partnerless climbing. Essential solo TRS manual.
Details
ISBN-10: 1999700554
Publication date:02 January 2024
Publisher: Andy Kirkpatrick
Print length: 250 pages
Style: 15.24 x 1.45 x 22.86 cm
Buy on Amazon"I like the balance of the breadth and depth of the book, and the coverage of devices in each type of category. It is a great book to have along with "Down", and "Me, Myself, and I". I will say that it's easy to get sucked into this book as gospel, which could be dangerous. For example, there is a page that talks about use of soft shackles in place of carabiners as an advanced solution, but makes the reader feel comfortable using one as a primary connection point for some devices. In the end, you are responsible for choosing your own adventure and how you employ the knowledge shared in this book. 😉"
- Jason and Tisha Hardester
On the Line: Top Rope Solo Manual (Cragmanship) is the first-ever dedicated book on top rope soloing (TRS), a long-practiced but rarely documented climbing technique that allows climbers to safely top-rope routes without a partner.
Published in late 2023 (and funded via Kickstarter), this 254-page guide by award-winning author and climber Andy Kirkpatrick consolidates three years of research, blending traditional methods, modern innovations, and insights from industrial rope access to create the definitive resource on TRS.
The book covers everything needed to understand and master top rope soloing safely: equipment selection (devices, ropes, anchors), setup and rigging techniques, progression from basic to advanced systems, risk assessment, problem-solving for stuck scenarios, and best practices for different environments—from sport crags to big walls.
With Kirkpatrick's trademark clarity, humor, and obsessive detail—plus hundreds of illustrations and diagrams—**On the Line** demystifies a technique often learned haphazardly through word-of-mouth, making it accessible, safer, and more reliable for solo climbers at all levels.
Whether you're a solo enthusiast, a partnerless trainer, or simply curious about self-belay systems, this book fills a critical gap in climbing literature and equips readers with the knowledge to climb "on the line" with confidence.
For anyone interested in safe, efficient solo climbing practice, **On the Line** is an essential, modern classic from one of climbing's most thorough and insightful voices.
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