2025 Rigging Guide: Essential Gear for the Festival Season
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As a leader in event production for over 40 years, entertainment is both our specialty and passion here at MTN. With the busy festival season fast approaching, now is the perfect time to stock up on the necessary rigging essentials to make your next event a success.
In this guide, we’ll break down the must-have rigging products for 2025, covering everything from chain hoists to personal protective equipment.
Essential Rigging Equipment for 2025
Chain Hoists
Chain hoists are the unsung heroes of the entertainment industry. From lifting speakers and video screens to entire roof systems, they are an integral part of every live event. At MTN, we offer a versatile range of manual, electric and battery-powered hoists capable of handling a variety of different loads and ensuring the safety of your rig from one season to the next.
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The CM® BatteryStar™ is a lightweight, portable chain hoist powered by a Milwaukee M18™ battery—no cords or electricity needed. Ideal for remote or temporary job sites, it delivers 1-ton lifting capacity with easy setup and up to 4x the efficiency of manual hoists. With remote-controlled variable speed, integrated overload protection, and a rugged build, the BatteryStar ensures safe, precise lifting. |
A true industry icon, the CM Lodestar has been the gold standard in electric chain hoists for over 30 years. Trusted worldwide for its durability, safety, and performance, it's the go-to choice for concert tours and live productions. With up to 1-ton capacity, H-4 duty rating, and proven overload protection, the Lodestar delivers consistent lifting power in any environment. |
Compact and lightweight at under 36 lbs., the CM Prostar is designed for tight spaces without compromising performance. |
Tower Lifts
Tower lifts are crucial tools in festival rigging, ensuring both safety and efficiency when handling heavy equipment. MTN’s range of Kuzar Tower lifts make it easy to raise and lower large structures like audio line arrays, lighting and truss, giving riggers precise control over placement while minimizing physical strain.
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The K-57 is Kuzar’s most powerful and versatile lifter, capable of lifting up to 1102 lbs in dynamic mode or a massive 2646 lbs in structural mode to a height of 23 feet. Lightweight yet robust, it’s designed for demanding entertainment and staging setups. With five aluminum sections, automatic locking triggers, and a sleek black finish, the K-57 blends into any stage environment. |
The Kuzar K-40 is a reinforced, professional-grade tower lift designed for safely raising audio line arrays, lighting, and trussing up to 595 lbs. Its wider aluminum profile and expanded leg base provide superior stability. Equipped with the KAT trigger system, stabilizers, and swivel wheels for easy transport. |
The Kuzar K-31 is a versatile aluminum tower lift for lifting lighting, trussing, and audio line arrays up to 551 lbs. With taller sections than the K-30, it offers greater reach while remaining portable. It features the KAT locking system, anti-slip stabilizers, and rugged black finish for professional performance. |
Rigging Hardware
Shackles, slings and couplers all play an essential role in any rigging system, providing the necessary strength and reliability to safely connect and support heavy equipment. Whether you’re looking to build stages or shoot your next film, we only offer the brands and products that we trust and use ourselves, including our very own MTN brand.
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The CM Screw Pin Shackle delivers unmatched strength and reliability, offering the highest working load limit among carbon steel shackles in its class. Forged from heat-treated carbon steel, CM shackles are batch-tested, CE marked, and painted black for low visibility. With easy-to-remove screw pins and superior ductility, they're built for safe, efficient rigging in dynamic environments. |
Lightweight, flexible, and strong, MTN Round Slings are ideal for rigging when GAC slings aren't required. Constructed with a durable double-wall jacket and color-coded for quick capacity ID, these slings reduce strain, resist abrasion, and conform to loads for a secure grip. With low stretch and high strength, they meet OSHA and ASME B30.9 standards—reliable, rig-ready, and built to last. |
Featuring a forged steel eye nut and a wide wing nut for easy fastening, this coupler supports vertical loads up to 1,100 lbs. Designed for 1.25" to 2" OD tubes, the eye nut sits 2.75" below the pipe and swivels for proper load alignment. Built with a secure 1/2" flathead socket screw and permanent Loctite, it’s ideal for professional rigging applications where reliability matters. |
Chain Hoist Accessories
Chain Hoists play a key role in entertainment rigging, as do the multiple accessories available to improve the efficiency of their operation. Along with our range of secure chain hoists, we also supply a number of accessories that help maximize the efficiency of these hoists. These include our MTN brand chain bags, chain sliders, and weather covers.
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Engineered for strength and functionality, the Round Chain Hoist Bag offers a wide, circular opening for smooth and efficient chain collection. Constructed from heavy-duty vinyl mesh and reinforced with nylon strapping, this bag is designed to withstand tough use without chain blowouts. Available in multiple sizes to match your hoist, it ensures reliable, secure chain management every time. |
The MTN CS Chain Slider is a smart, ergonomic solution for cable management when working with electric chain hoists. Its rotating design ensures clean, tangle-free cable stacking every time you rig. Built from low-friction HDPE, the CS Slider features a tool-free, interchangeable insert system compatible with all standard chain sizes and hoist brands. |
Protect your chain hoists from rain, dust, and harsh weather with our durable, American-made hoist weather covers. Crafted from heavy-duty solid vinyl and sealed with a YKK AquaGuard® zipper, these covers fit easily over motors in either orientation. Available for Lodestar (Classic and Next Gen) and CM Prostar hoists, they’re a simple, effective way to safeguard your investment. |
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Helmets, Harnesses & Gloves
In the world of entertainment rigging, the spotlight isn’t just on the performers. For riggers and crew members behind the scenes, wearing the necessary PPE is just as important as motors, shackles and truss. In a high-stakes environment like entertainment rigging, where conditions can be fast paced and high-risk, PPE is crucial for ensuring that workers can perform their tasks safely and confidently.
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The Petzl STRATO® is a lightweight, high-performance helmet designed for work at height and ground operations. With its adjustable-strength chinstrap, it offers versatile protection while remaining secure, comfortable, and easy to wear all day. Featuring the CENTERFIT and FLIP&FIT systems for a snug, adjustable fit, the STRATO® is compatible with Petzl and elastic-band headlamps. |
The Petzl ASTRO is an ultra-comfortable rope access harness built for all-day performance. Featuring 3D foam padding, semi-rigid construction, and an integrated CROLL L rope clamp, it’s ideal for efficient ascent, work positioning, and long suspended tasks. With FAST and DOUBLEBACK buckles for easy adjustment—even with gloves on—and multiple gear loops and attachment points, the ASTRO ensures total mobility, organization, and safety. |
Now in their 6th generation, Dirty Rigger’s best-selling Comfort Fit™ Gloves are built for comfort, durability, and flexibility on the job. Designed with pro riggers in mind, they offer a snug, breathable fit and double-layered protection in key wear areas. Featuring soft synthetic leather, a terry cloth sweat wipe, neoprene knuckle padding, and machine-washable materials, these gloves are ideal for rigging, loading, running cables, and camera work. |
Shop our Entertainment Rigging Range at MTN
The right rigging gear is not just an investment, it's a commitment to the safety, efficiency, and long-term success of your team and event. As the festival season approaches, there’s no better time to ensure your crew is fully equipped with the highest quality tools and equipment. Don’t leave safety and performance to chance; make sure your rigging setup is built to handle the demands of 2025.
Looking for the best rigging products for 2025? Browse our collection of industry-leading rigging gear & tools today:
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