Best climbing spikes?

[topnotchtree]

Ok,ok, I just went to buckinghams website and they sell 2 kinds of climbers. Ring climbers or loop climbers. loop climbers had a rectangular shaped ring to put a single strap thru. I will get a pic or 2 tomorrow of our company issue cheepos.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Originally posted by Koa Man
[B The tree gaffs are so long that the sides of your boot is about 1.5 inches away. [/B]

When I was finally tired of kicking out and forced myself to climbing full-time ONLY on longshanks, that illusion you spoke of eventually went away.

I mean, think about it.

Your standing on your spurs. If you didn't look down, you would never even notice the 1.5 inches. At least thats the mindset I've got. I can climb poles, smooth-barked trees, no problemo.

It would be nice to have a set of both, but right now I just rock out with what I've got.

Thats the cool thing about trims.... no hooks!

 

[rbtree]

I too have climbed on Brooks, Bashlin, B'ham and Klein's. I have some almost new Wolfclaws for sale.

My alum Bashlins were stolen, I liked them, but except for the weight, prefer the Klein tree gaffs, have used the same pair for 30 years, with the alum/foam Cadillac pads, which are superior to all else, even the more expensive cushion wrappers, at least for me.

 

[Koa Man]

MB,
I disagree with the statement about if I did not look down I would not notice the difference between the (Klein) tree and pole gaffs. I have less tendency to kick out using the pole gaffs, especially on palms. The tree gaffs extra length is useless if the gaffs are only going in about a 1/4-1/2 inch. That is about the depth of penetration I get on the coconut palms and most other trees around here. I find the tree gaffs are much harder to stand on with your boot so far away from the tree. It is wobbly and if you ever used it on a palm blowing in the wind, you would know what I mean.

Before someone starts getting on my case, I do not use gaffs on trees that are not being removed, except for coconut palms, but that was fully discussed in another thread.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Thats cool, Kman. If I climbed mostly smooth barked trees I'm sure I would ditch the longshanks. I seem to allways be in cottenwoods and vine covered pecans, so I really need to stick and shortshanks don't glue me to the tree as well.

I'm the only climber around here who climbs on longshanks, sooooo there is the chance I'm the oddball!

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

The shorter the shank the more comfortable to stand on. I like to ladder up past the thick bark, so the short shank isn't much problem even in thick bark. It would be best to have two pairs though, one long, one short.

Rb is righ on about the Alum/foam Caddilac pads, they are best.

 

[Stumper]

Where I really notice the superior comfort of short gaffs is in small diameter wood. With the Brooks pole gaffs I can contact the spar with my boot heel. With long gaffed Bucks I can't- which means a tendency to wobble and wander around the spar-and peel the gaff tip out.

 

[rbtree]

I totally agree that pole gaffs are easier to use in thin barked trees. I oughta get some. But climbing on most any length gaff is old hat for me, so why bother.

 

[Ax-man]

Another plus to using to using the long gaffs is working on dead or dying trees where the bark is falling off or not adhered to the wood very firmly. The long gaffs can get a bite in the wood where a short gaff might not penatrate as good, this also applies when you encounter soft or decayed wood in a tree.

My first pair of spurs were short gaffs. I never cared for them because I could never get a good bite when I needed to. When I got a pair of long gaffs I never switched back. As far as this comfort and climbing small dia. wood issue, I have never had a problem with either one while using long gaff spurs.

 

[MasterBlaster]

For me, shortshanks = kickouts, longshanks = NO kickouts.

 

[Koa Man]

Does anyone know anything about the HC14 climbers that Bashlin was supposed to come out with? They had a prototype at the TCI Expo in Baltimore back in 1998, I think it was, and the rep said it was about 2 years away from being released. It had swivel footpads and two small gaffs on each side. I tried it on and it seemed pretty good. Haven't heard anything about it since.

 

[Lumberjack]

Originally posted by MasterBlaster
... sooooo there is the chance I'm the oddball!

Butch, an oddball, NEVER.<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_1_205.gif' border=0></a>


Carl

 

[MasterBlaster]

There have been many times I coulda used a gaff on the outside. That would be cool, I'ld like to see 'em!

 

[Koa Man]

MB,
I didn't express myself clearly. The two small gaffs were side by side on the inside. None on the out side. Each gaff was about 1/4 the diameter of the Klein gaff. It made very small holes in a log they had there.

 

[seanlarkin]

Koa,
This is for you buddy. I can't believe I remembered these things. This is from a Bashlin ad appearing in the October 1999 issue of the Arborist News.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Those things look WILD! And they look like their light as a feather! I wonder how many they ever sold, or did they never get past the prototype.


I sthil think it would be neat to have a smaller, outside gaff!

 

[Davidsinatree]

Anyone using the geckoes out there? I really like the hook design.
I seen a pair close up, but never put them on. They are feather lite.........um....if you're still using them there has been a recall on them. I'd like to see an american co. pick up that design and correct the flaws.

 

[seanlarkin]

Originally posted by David Hardman
I'd like to see an american co. pick up that design and correct the flaws.

Your wish is granted...

 

[Curtis James]

I have used gaffs on occasion. The ones I used at my old job, had no key ring just the rectangular loop making it very difficult to put the strap around ones foot. Only recently did I use a pair with the ring. Much nicer.
Those T2s look awsome but I was wondering if they come with an angled shaft? That seems like it would be a little more comfortable. I am kinda in the market myself for some gaffs and I've been debating on the pole or tree hook for some time. It seems pretty split. I'll be buying alot of other toys first any way.

 

[NeTree]

I think ultimately, the best climbing spikes are the one's you're comfortable on & in.

Everyone has their preferance.