I finally got to use the beautiful Gecko spurs (climbers) that I bought last fall. The puny little tree I was removing only had me climbing 25' up, with no roping, and it was very thin and spindly. I expected to take only 10 minutes.
It did not turn out too well at all. I wished that I had thrown a line into the tree and left the spurs on the ground. There were enough little branches to do the whole thing without spurs, but I was anxious to try them out, so I stripped the branches going up.
Problems:
1. I have gone badly into "out of climbing condition". NOTHING to do all winter.
2. I goofed up, and didn't put on my work boots, figuring that I could see how well the new style straps hold onto shoes with no heels. (NOT well at all)
3. The wide reach of the "american" spurs is considerably more problem than I anticipated. There is a much greater side-thrust on my feet than I have ever experienced. With over 20 years of occasional climbing (I have never been full time at this), my ankles have never bothered me before today.
These spurs felt great on the ground, but my weak ankles simply couldn't stand the side thrust applied by the extra wide spur. I was barely able to finish the tree, as my feet felt like they were being ripped off sideways at the ankle by the spurs.
My plan now: get in some more time spiking (with the right footwear) on some helpless tree that richly deserves it, strengthen my ankles, and see if it is the new spurs or my tired old body that is causing the problem. Loosing about 20lbs will be a big help, too.
Pro's: The Velcro calf-straps are so comfortable I never noticed the pressure on my shins at all. Not even slightly! The unbelievably sharp spurs never offered to kick out and did not require any kick to set them, although I did chop up the tree pretty badly while I was going up and down.
There may be a fire sale in a month or two on some brand new Gecko's.
It did not turn out too well at all. I wished that I had thrown a line into the tree and left the spurs on the ground. There were enough little branches to do the whole thing without spurs, but I was anxious to try them out, so I stripped the branches going up.
Problems:
1. I have gone badly into "out of climbing condition". NOTHING to do all winter.
2. I goofed up, and didn't put on my work boots, figuring that I could see how well the new style straps hold onto shoes with no heels. (NOT well at all)
3. The wide reach of the "american" spurs is considerably more problem than I anticipated. There is a much greater side-thrust on my feet than I have ever experienced. With over 20 years of occasional climbing (I have never been full time at this), my ankles have never bothered me before today.
These spurs felt great on the ground, but my weak ankles simply couldn't stand the side thrust applied by the extra wide spur. I was barely able to finish the tree, as my feet felt like they were being ripped off sideways at the ankle by the spurs.
My plan now: get in some more time spiking (with the right footwear) on some helpless tree that richly deserves it, strengthen my ankles, and see if it is the new spurs or my tired old body that is causing the problem. Loosing about 20lbs will be a big help, too.
Pro's: The Velcro calf-straps are so comfortable I never noticed the pressure on my shins at all. Not even slightly! The unbelievably sharp spurs never offered to kick out and did not require any kick to set them, although I did chop up the tree pretty badly while I was going up and down.
There may be a fire sale in a month or two on some brand new Gecko's.
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