First climb

[futbalfantic]

Second take down. I think I'm hooked. Defiantly do not have the stamina to do this full time. Cramped by left bicep something fierce trying to start the chainsaw


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[futbalfantic]

Side note. Tried to tip tie one of the branches. Ended in the middle and balanced perfectly. Chalk one up to luck as it did what I wanted it to. (miss the deck that is)


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[pdqdl]

... I do all this to avoid spikes, they hurt me that much. I have to get them so tight that I have to have help getting the buckles in the last holes....

I think I got your problem figured out. Quit putting them on so damn tight! Lightly strapped on, they CANNOT fall off, and you don't need to worry about them slipping away from you. If they slip over your heels, or twist a bit too far around your foot, that's ok. With a little more practice, you will not mind that, and your sore, aching feet will thank you.

Think about it: your foot bends, your ankle bends, and your knee bends. Your spikes do not bend at all. If you are strapping them down so tight, you are sure to create a lot of pressure points. This will always translate to pain.

Just loosen up a bit, make sure the spurs fit you well, and learn to use them as a tool that happens to be attached to your foot. If you think those spikes should feel like part of you, you are certain to be unhappy with them. Keep thinking "tool...strapped to foot for convenience. Tool...helpful for gripping tree trunks." Think how miserable you would be if your handsaw was rigidly strapped to your forearm with no flexibility.

 

[kyle goddard]

I use geckos and i weigh in around 230 all geared up. I dont think weight is an issue.

However i do get a pain around the balls of my feet. I think i need wider boots

 

[sgreanbeans]

I think I got your problem figured out. Quit putting them on so damn tight! Lightly strapped on, they CANNOT fall off, and you don't need to worry about them slipping away from you. If they slip over your heels, or twist a bit too far around your foot, that's ok. With a little more practice, you will not mind that, and your sore, aching feet will thank you.

Think about it: your foot bends, your ankle bends, and your knee bends. Your spikes do not bend at all. If you are strapping them down so tight, you are sure to create a lot of pressure points. This will always translate to pain.

Just loosen up a bit, make sure the spurs fit you well, and learn to use them as a tool that happens to be attached to your foot. If you think those spikes should feel like part of you, you are certain to be unhappy with them. Keep thinking "tool...strapped to foot for convenience. Tool...helpful for gripping tree trunks." Think how miserable you would be if your handsaw was rigidly strapped to your forearm with no flexibility.

I tried that 2! When they are loose, they slide all over, would rather have them tight and know where the spike is. Plus my ankle bone sticks out further than most. My legs are small, no fat at all. So it all goes straight to bone pressure. I think I just need to break down and buy good ones. But I will try it again, just because ya brought it up!

 

[Guran]

Hey Guran, Buckingham makes them, they are plates that bolt to the shank of your spikes to keep you from getting "crow's foot". Florida Power supplied them for us many years ago. They work well, I've climbed in them for over twenty years on the line crew. I just looked and they are still available, $80 on ebay. If you're using climbing boots with really good steel or fiber shanks they may be just added weight but with mediocre boots they make a big difference. Boots are something I rarely see mentioned here, don't know why, maybe everybody already understands they make the difference between a good climb and a very painful one.

Thanks Limb. Well I knew there was a catch. I use the carbon Geckos. I guess it doesn´t work then.......

 

[kyle goddard]

For removals i wear 16'' Hoffman linemen boots with a good pair of insoles. That and gecko spikes. For all other climbing i have lace to toe combat boots. I would love a pair of arbpro climbing boots. I just cant pull the trigger on that price. I highly recommend getting some arborwear accender pants. I only have one pair, but they hold up well to daily use. Be careful to not pull a muscle from over stretching like i did at first.

 

[2treeornot2tree]

I love my hoffman boots. I got the double metal insole put in mine as I am close to 300 lbs.

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[2treeornot2tree]

Second take down. I think I'm hooked. Defiantly do not have the stamina to do this full time. Cramped by left bicep something fierce trying to start the chainsaw


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Dont look like your wearing a helmet. Are you?

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[futbalfantic]

Yep. Hard to tell but the yellow on my head.



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[pdqdl]

I tried that 2! When they are loose, they slide all over, would rather have them tight and know where the spike is. Plus my ankle bone sticks out further than most. My legs are small, no fat at all. So it all goes straight to bone pressure. I think I just need to break down and buy good ones. But I will try it again, just because ya brought it up!

That sliding around problem used to bother me too. Then I started getting sloppy, forget my boots, and end up climbing on sneakers 'n spikes. Once you get used to that "slippy on the spikes" scenario, put your boots back on and enjoy the spikes. Being comfortable on loose spikes is just a mental problem. Being comfortable on damn tight spikes is impossible. Skinny legs can ill afford to be clamped tight to the spikes since you got less padding.

Loosen up!

By the way, arch support when you are wearing sneakers is really poor. I don't recommend it except as a practice exercise.

 

[sgreanbeans]

I dunno man, I'll try it and let ya know, LOL.

 

[sgreanbeans]

Kinda think you are messing with me to see if I will do it,LMAO. SO.................I will

 

[2treeornot2tree]

I tried to climb in a pair of boota without thw metal insole once. What a painful experience

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[kyle goddard]

What is a metal insole. My Hoffman boota have a dule shank that works fine with some awesome insoles that make them comfortable

 

[2treeornot2tree]

I call it a insole but technically its called a shank

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[pdqdl]

Kinda think you are messing with me to see if I will do it,LMAO. SO.................I will

No.
I never mess with people online, and I would never give what I considered bad advice to a climber. Not even as a joke.

I have too much fun telling folks the truth as I see it.

 

[pdqdl]

By the way, a shank is a long piece of metal. The insole might be a good place to stick one. It looks to me like "metal insole" is a workable description of the shank in the sole of your boots.

 

[kyle goddard]

I know the difference between a shank and an insole. Metal insole threw me off.

 

[pdqdl]

I dunno man, I'll try it and let ya know, LOL.

BTW: I used to have big problems with my old spurs digging into the wood and then taking serious muscles to yank them back out of the wood. Loose spurs were a really big problem when you are yanking upward with every step.

When I got geckos, that problem went away. I believe that they stick into the tree easier because they are so sharp. Then they have fairly wide angle on a not very large (cross section) gaff. The end result is that you need not stomp into the tree to climb with confidence, and then your gaff does not act like a nail stuck in a tree.

Subtle changes can make a big difference in your climbing comfort.