Ripper is an excavator attachment used to penetrate and loosen hard, compacted or layered material before it is removed with a bucket. Typical working conditions include compacted soil, frozen ground, shale, weathered rock and naturally fractured formations.

Ripping can improve excavation efficiency where direct bucket penetration is difficult and may reduce the amount of impact breaking required in suitable ground. Selection should be based on carrier size, ground hardness, ripper geometry, tooth configuration, working depth and mounting dimensions.