Apprentice Lineman Tool List: What You Actually Need (and What to Skip)
Apprentice lineman tool list for power/utility linemen: belt, climbers, Klein pliers, skinning knife and more, plus what your employer should supply.
Lineman gear guides
Every guide on the site, sorted by category.
Apprentice Lineman Guides
Lineman Climbing Gear & Fall Protection
Best Lineman Gaffs (Pole Climbers): Steel vs Aluminum vs Titanium
Best lineman gaffs and pole climbers for utility linemen: steel vs aluminum vs titanium, pads, straps, ASTM F887, and kits from Buckingham, Bashlin and Klein.
Buckingham vs Bashlin Climbers: Which Should You Buy?
Buckingham vs Bashlin lineman climbers compared: kits vs build-your-own, gaff gauges, pad compatibility and who each brand fits.
Best Lineman Body Belts: Sizing, Features, and What to Buy
How to choose and size a lineman body belt for work positioning (not fall arrest), with Buckingham, Bashlin, Weaver and Klein options.
Pole Chokers and Fall Restriction: BuckSqueeze vs Jelco and More
Fall restriction devices (pole chokers) for utility linemen: OSHA 1910.269 fall protection while climbing, BuckSqueeze vs Jelco, and what to check.
How to Sharpen Lineman Gaffs (and When Not To)
How power linemen sharpen climbing gaffs: hand file only, keep the factory profile, check with the manufacturer's gauge, and know when to replace.
Lineman Boots & FR Clothing
Best Lineman Boots for Climbing (2026): What Matters on Hooks
Best lineman boots for pole climbing: steel shank, climbing heel, height and EH rating explained, plus the boots power linemen actually wear.
FR Clothing for Linemen: Arc Ratings, Standards, and What to Wear
Arc-rated FR clothing for utility linemen: ATPV/EBT, ASTM F1506, OSHA 1910.269(l)(8), cotton underlayers, logos and layering.
Lineman Hand Tools & Bags
Best Lineman Tool Bags, Bucket Bags, and Gear Bags
Lineman gear bags, aerial bucket bags and canvas drag bags for power linemen: what to look for and what linemen use.
Journeyman Gear BoomerHang Review: A Bucket Truck Tool Holder for Two-Man Buckets
BoomHanger review from a Lead Lineman: how our crew uses the Journeyman Gear BoomerHang bucket truck tool holder on pole changeouts and three-pot bank work.
Rubber Goods & Hot Sticks
Lineman Rubber Glove Classes Explained (Class 00 to Class 4)
Insulating rubber glove classes for linemen: max use voltages, label colors, OSHA 1910.137 retest intervals, air tests and storage.