Climbing Sutra

“Sutra” means “stitch” or “thread” in Sanskrit

The inception of Climbing Sutra came in 1992 in Las Vegas, Nevada, under the leadership of Todd Rentchler. He established the organization with a vision to equip Red Rock climbers with the most advanced climbing packs and harnesses. In 1993, Climbing Sutra ventured into the production of theatrical harnesses for Cirque du Soleil. Since then, the focus has primarily been on developing harnesses for the stunt industry for nearly a decade. Desiree, Todd's beautiful, intelligent, and incredibly fit wife, joined him in 1999.

Todd Rentchler, who spent his childhood immersed in climbing and hiking activities in the beautiful Northwest, began crafting outdoor gear using his mother's old Singer sewing machine at just 13 years old. By his 20s, he upgraded to a larger sewing machine and started guiding, ascending large cliffs, participating in expeditions, and creating climbing harnesses and packs for other climbing enthusiasts. Amidst climbing, guiding, rigging, construction, and product management for an outdoor company, his collection of sewing machines grew, consistently producing cutting-edge personal and private label outdoor gear.

Desiree Locatelli, with her background as an early entrant in women's triathlons and four-time qualifier for the Boston Marathon, brought an added dynamism to the team. She was behind the patent and manufacture of one of the inaugural women's sports bras. She leads an active lifestyle that includes running, hiking, climbing, practicing Pilates, and sewing. As our CFO, she often ponders why our exceptional products aren't priced higher!

Climbing Sutra is the brainchild of a lifelong fascination with the creation and application of high-performance climbing and stunt equipment. As of today, Climbing Sutra prides itself on being a compact, service-focused company equipped with cutting-edge sewing machines and testing apparatus. We leverage our technical know-how to create stunt and theatrical harnesses. We have invested countless hours in engineering and testing our own unique harness components to ensure they exceed strength ratings, provide enhanced comfort, are lighter, and outperform all competitors. We independently stock, source, and produce our buckles, hardware, and webbing. We enjoy working intimately with wardrobe designers to seamlessly integrate harnesses into/over/under costumes.

Recognizing the uniqueness of your project, we encourage you to see our range of products as a launching pad. We invite you to get in touch to explore the vast possibilities. We're here to serve you!