best climbing spur kit

[farmerdoug]

I live in a forest of Douglas firs. I need to limb them and have decided to start climbing. I have family that climbs.

spur climbing kits at baileys:
[http://www.baileysonline.com/search.asp?SKW=climbing kit&catID=1393]
Deluxe kit is $900
Standard kit is $500
Basic kit is $400

What is your opinion on one of these kits, or should do something totally different?

Thanks!

 

[2dogs]

I am assuming here that your family climbs professionally and that you will get qualified instruction. That being said I don't care for the kits from Bailey's. You are better of putting together the gear you want to use, esp the saddle. It has to fit you, you need to try it on first.

A co-worker had the boss buy Bailey's basic kit but the dude ended going back to prison so I bought the kit and gave it to my son. My son already had a saddle and my old fixed gaff Buckingham spurs. So now I have a new saddle and my old spurs.

If you are really serious about climbing you owe it to yourself to try a pair of Gekko spurs. Everyone I have talked to loves them and says they are by far the most comfortable spurs they have ever used. We all modify our spurs by bending the gaffs out a little bit so they don't stick so hard in the firs and redwoods we have here. It makes climbing easier especially if you have to climb back down.

Another reason to not buy a kit is that there are many ropes available including different types of spliced eyes. A kit generally allows one or maybe two ropes to choose from.

Look at Wesspur, Bailey's, and Sherrill before you choose.

Added: I don't know what state you are in but maybe you could visit Wesspur in Bellingham WA.

 

[farmerdoug]

very helpful

Thank you for this information. I am in Oregon and will be driving up to Seattle. I may stop by there and see what they have.

Thanks!

 

[beowulf343]

Personally, i think one of these climbing kits is a good place to start. This guy has no idea what he needs or wants. Pick up something cheap like this, use it, figure out what you like and don't like. Figure out if you can even handle yourself in the air. Try out your family's equipment, and refine your likes and dislikes before spending big bucks.

Don't jump into the gecko's without trying them, they aren't for everyone.

2dogs, bending the gaffs? Wouldn't that weaken them? I spent some time climbing for over a dozen different outfits in the pnw and no one did that.

 

[freeweight]

imo ,the basic kit will be just fine,but go ahead since you are going up there and try the saddles on ,yourarse/legss will thank u

as far as spurs i like KLEIN ,fork ou the extra dough for the the double strap pads more suppore and comfort,some people hate when the spurs twist against the shin ,it is a bit umcomfy but it maks the spike stick into the tree a bit more ,i dont mind it,you could get the aluminum "pads" that stop the spike "bending' for like 80 bucks

invest in a micro-pully saves time when having to ascend back up the tree ,allows you to tend(pull ) your hitch-knot up as you ascend one handed get a cARIBINER or buckle so u wont have to tie directly to your saddle,u just tie the buckle to the end of you rope leaving a tail long enough to tie your hitch

basic and SIMPLE a hand saw always comes in handy(silky saw) look it up

slings also come in handy alot,(foot holds,false crotchs ets)

 

[a_lopa]

Wesspur

 

[DIY climber]

Catalogs

Wesspur and Sherrill Tree have VERY nice catalogs that let you see alot of gear and they both have some insightful tips helping you understand the primary differences between gear option A or B .
That said , I ordered almost every piece of climbing / rigging gear I own from Treestuff.com .

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Are you limbing them just to deadwood the stand out? You will degrade the timber if you spike up something that will be standing for several years.

That said I like Buckingham Titanium with the deluxe full wrap hard pads. They cost me around $450 i think.

 

[tomtrees58]

thears madison to