Suggest inexpensive but OK spurs to start with (that are not junk)

[SeattleMark]

What basic spurs (least expensive) should I look at most seriously for occasional, non-professional work? I have a back lot full of tall trees, and want to trim some and fell a few. I've got rock climbing experience and am safety conscious--and moving into doing personal arborist work/hobby during the cold months. Have dropped almost half of our 80 trees, but now need to climb some to finish with three large cottonwoods. (I've been able to collect all the other needed equipment over the summer (except spurs) and am reading the arborist books that people have already suggested.) Thanks for all the great feedback.

 

[CanopyGorilla]

Buck steel climbers with t pads. There are better and more comfy out there, but the Bucks still work by golly.

 

[Pelorus]

Kleins with L pads from TreeStuff (one of the forum sponsors) for $169
The basic L pads suck, but you can upgrade them later.

 

[SeattleMark]

Buck steel climbers with t pads. There are better and more comfy out there, but the Bucks still work by golly.

Thanks for letting me benefit from your experience and judgment. Now will choose between the Kleins ($169) versus the Bucks (perhaps about $200).

 

[SeattleMark]

Kleins with L pads from TreeStuff (one of the forum sponsors) for $169
The basic L pads suck, but you can upgrade them later.

great site (TreeStuff). thanks for the info.

 

[BuckmasterStumpGrinding]

The climbright aluminum with ultralight pads are about 250 and worth every penny.

 

[treesmith]

Comfy pads are a great investment, there's different types from aluminium to large padded leather to Velcro wrap

 

[Pelorus]

great site (TreeStuff). thanks for the info.

I'm still using the Kleins I purchased back in '87. Funny thing is that back then I paid around $275 (Canadian) for the identical looking spurs.
No matter what brand you buy, the cheap stock L or T pads will make you miserable.

 

[Matt81]

Bucks with the long steel spikes and comfy wide velcro pads and the metal insert for better rigidity only set me back $269 ? at treestuff. Super comfy even after a long day. No way in the world would i even consider saving a few dollars and go back to L pads or even T pads with the thin leather straps that cut in and always sit in exactly the same sore spot when you put them on again.

Don't listen to those telling you to go cheap and upgrade the pads later. Pelorus is thinking just like me. L and T pads suck, spend a little more now and be way more happy and way more comfortable in the tree for the foreseeable future.

These are the babies i climb on. Come up a little in price, but worth every dollar. FYI these are like $600 over here.

https://www.treestuff.com/store/catalog.asp?category_id=69&item=1320

 

[IHateTrees]

The worst thing I ever did was try to work in junk pads. I'm a bigger guy, and I have huge feet, and about killed myself in L-pads.

 

[woodchuck357]

I recently bought some replacement straps for an older set of spurs and was disappointed by how flimsy they were. Today bought some 28 inch long dog collars that work perfectly. They only cost a few cents more than 5 bucks each. The flimsy ones cost nearly thirty each. Neither were made in the states!

 

[TC262]

I don't climb in spurs often, mostly climb to prune and bucket for most removals. I have the T pads which are a huge step up from the L's but still kinda suck. Definitely buy nice pads the first time around, buying anything less is a waist of money because you will want to replace them well before they are wore out.