Question For The Hookers!!!

[MasterBlaster]

No way, Mike. Your foot and arch have no idea how long your gaff is. Gaff length has little or nothing to do with spur comfort.

 

[MasterBlaster]

No way am I going through the hassle of putting spikes on up in the tree. If I need 'em they go on beforehand.

Haha. That's a big ten-four there, good buddy.

 

[rahtreelimbs]

Thanx for the comments and comments to come from the guys who have experience on spikes!!!




May the south smoke blowing wind stay south!!!

 

[Al Smith]

And another thing

Way back then,I had full metal arch supports made,which cost over $300,in '77.Best money I ever spend .Without them,my feet would be killing me by the time I reached the top of a 50 ft "black jack".These,combined with a pair of 12" linemans boots ,made the work tolerable .I'll repeat what I've said before,you owe it to yourself to get the best climbing gear you can.This type work ,takes a toll on the body,and will make you old,before your time.

 

[Koa Man]

This type work ,takes a toll on the body,and will make you old,before your time.

I don't have to worry because I'm already old...for this kind of work anyway.

 

[P_woozel]

No way, Mike. Your foot and arch have no idea how long your gaff is. Gaff length has little or nothing to do with spur comfort.

MB you are a little mistaken, gaff length has a lot to do with comfort. There is less leverage on your ACL and lower leg. Thats my number one reason for waering shortys. It is a rare day anymore when I need longpoints, would have to be a really BIG fir.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I'm telling ya'll it's all in yur head.

 

[glens]

I've tried wearing spikes but they make it too hard to footlock.

 

[NeTree]

I've tried wearing spikes but they make it too hard to footlock.

Use a Pantin OVER the gaff. As a bonus, it adds ankle support.

 

[Stumper]

As much as it pains me to type this..... Mike is correct. The pressure on your arches may not change (unless you are stomping hard to drive long gaffs in which makes things worse) long gaffs do change the forces higher up on your leg and, since they tend to wobble more, they are generally more fatigueing to use.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I still think it's all in yur head. You climb on your spurs, not yur gaffs.

 

[Lumberjack]

It aint a hassle, and I have HAD experience on spikes. It takes about two minutes tops to put them on in the tree, even less if i didnt have the buc buc pads (two straps at the top) and the buckles weren't rusted.

Considering the amount that I use them, I find it easier to not wear them from the ground, but thats just my experience.

 

[Stumper]

I still think it's all in yur head. You climb on your spurs, not yur gaffs.

Butch,
:Eye: You are aware that spurs and gaffs are the same thing aren't you? The Gaff is what stabs the wood. The Climber Iron is what the gaff is attached to and what you attach to your leg. You stand in the Stirrup of the iron.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Thanks for the anatomy lesson, Justin. I wasn't quite sure of the correct term.

So ok, here ya go;

When I climb, it's the stirrup/climber iron I'm standing on. Comfort/discomfort has nothing to do with the length of the gaff.

:angel:

 

[P_woozel]

Hooks, spurs, gaffs, spikes. Same-o, same-o :blob5:

 

[rahtreelimbs]

It aint a hassle, and I have HAD experience on spikes.

For the amount that you have been climbing trees, 1 1/2 years and the admission that you rarely use them doesn't constitute experience in my book. I have climbing almost 10 years now. I haven't used spikes all that much and I am far from being experienced on them. Climbing fulltime and using them 3-5 times a week for 5 yrs. or more constitutes experience to me. Look at it how you want. If you don't like it, don't post!


I am looking for advice from the likes of MB, Rbtree and Mike Maas just to name a few!

 

[Al Smith]

Hooks,gaffs spurs?

I'm a thinken we's talkin bout those pointy things,my old finger is pointing at,a tad rusty,from no use.

 

[treeman82]

If I am going to use my gaffs on a tree, then I am going to use them for the entire tree. A number of years ago I had a "friend" help me on a job. He climbed up into this relatively large red oak using my spurs and then took them off once he got up to where he wanted to be. He just tossed them out of the tree. I don't talk with him anymore.

 

[Stumper]

Matt, You sure have run through a lot of "friends" in your life.

Butch, The extra wobble I get on long gaffs make them more tiring. In theory the longer gaff will increase the torque on the iron and consequently the climber's knees.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Justin, the "wobble" is pilot error. And on the ground, I walk on tiptoes.