What spikes do you use?

[LTREES]

I'm old school and would like to up grade my spikes. I have a basic setup with small upper leather pads. My knees cant take the old set up any more. I need COMFORT. I'm not ready to hang up the saddle yet. What do you use in the field every day? ( No rabbit fur lining )

 

[treeslayer]

bashlin aluminum, with the velcro wrap. love'em.

 

[oldirty]

bashlin aluminum, with the velcro wrap. love'em.

yup. i got the steel insert wraps myself. sturdy and durable. not bad on comfort either.

 

[reachtreeservi]

I use a set of alum bashlins with the super climber pads.
They're pretty good. better than the L pads.

My next set of pads will be alum cadilacs.

 

[masiman]

Buckinghams with velcro wraps.

As you are experiencing, the most important part of the setup are the pads. Velcro wraps or cadillacs are tops.

If mine wear out anytime soon, I'll probably try the Bashlins. No complaints on the Buckinghams, but the Bashlins look to have more attention to detail in manufacturing.

 

[Treetom]

Get some comfy pads.

Klein climbers with Cadillac pads. I also wear a pair of thin shin pads inside my climbing boots. For an seasoned climber, the super pads with two straps look pretty nice support-wise.

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

the velcro wrap. love'em.

Me too, I have the velcro wrap with metal insert and they are very stable. They adjust easy in the tree and come on and off fast. There is no fighting for the hole as with the buckles, or having to get a different hole when you are bundled up for the winter (I did not look at your home area, so do not know if it actually gets cold where you are. )

You may want to add them to your current irons and try it out. Then if you like them, then go for the lighter stirrup.

I know a couple of guys who love their Wolf's because of the stability, but I gave mine away.

Titanium is great if you are in them several days a week, but IMO not worth it if you gaff occasionally AL is more dost effective.

I've not known many who think the carbon fiber is worth the price point, but there are those who swear by them.

Lastly, if you are on a tree gaff, try climbing on a pole gaff. The keep you closer to the tree and I have had a number of people tell me their knees fee better since the change. My knees hurt before i go up, so I would not know.

Everyone I know who uses pole gaff hve said that they have no problem with bark penetration on most trees, and less bark plate fowling like when you go up a dead elm.

 

[tree MDS]

I love my Geckos with the american spikes - of course I'm only 160 lbs.. so I dont know about how they would work for some of you giant a$$ treedogs in here, lol. I'm glad I got mine @ $320 or so - before those thieves at sherrill jacked up the price. Those carbon fibre Geckos are awesome I'll bet, just dont know about that price...they sure look mean though.

 

[appalachianarbo]

Kleins with the velcro wrap pads with the metal insert. Much better than T or L pads.

 

[Job Corps Tree]

What Spikes do you use

I have always had the best luck for me with Keins with the large Weaver Buck (2 straps) pads. They just fit the bend in my legs better

 

[LTREES]

Well guys, looks like the Velcro pads win. Will they work with the steal Buckingham's? I don't know if I want to go to a pole gaff. A lot of res. work and they call you when the tree is about to fall down on the house. What does the metal insert do for you? Does it stop the post from moving so much? Just put new L pads on 2 years ago and they are played out. I donut spike alot, and when I do they come down fairly fast, unless they are monsters. I like to have them at least down to a stick that can be felled by lunch.
Got to go, thanks for taking the time to help me out.
:greenchainsaw: :greenchainsaw: :greenchainsaw:

 

[jomoco]

Good sharp sets of gaffs are a takedown climbers best friend.

I use the new buck titaniums, one set with pole gaffs, one set with tree gaffs.

I like the leather bashlin steel insert upper spur stays on both sets.

I go to almost insane lengths to stay comfortable on my gaffs, tall socks, thin foam pads, a set of carbon fiber ergonomic motox knee braces, 20 inch tall custom wesco highliner boots.

And I sharpen my gaffs almost more than I do my chainsaws, this of course means replacing my gaffs almost as often as chains on my climbsaw!

And at 65 bucks a set, staying comfortable and sharp costs me a bloody fortune, but it's well worth it when you make your living on them.

Work safe!

jomoco

 

[Grace Tree]

Buckingham titaniums with caddy pads. My partner uses Kleins with the velcro pads. We're both happy.
Phil

 

[motoroilmccall]

Bashlins with the buckle style wraps and L-Pads... I try not to climb too often. However, with how wide and flat my feet are, they seem to dig into the arch of my foot, then again I've never found a pair that were comfortable for more than about 20 minutes, but 260lbs (me with gear, no saw) on a few square inches of support probably will never be comfortable.

 

[JTinaTree]

Geckos

I have to say also the Geckos although pricey but well worth it.. I actually learned to do removals on these, so I cant say about the others.. But I did my research and these were the the lightest and most comfy...

 

[senechal]

i've got about 4 months on my geckos now and they are fantastic. I wish I'd of got the pole gaffs instead of the american tree, but they are stiff, comfortable and really light.

 

[JTinaTree]

i've got about 4 months on my geckos now and they are fantastic. I wish I'd of got the pole gaffs instead of the american tree, but they are stiff, comfortable and really light.

Why would you want those short gaffs?

 

[tomtrees58]

stringer brooks old school but i have 6 pr of them tom trees

 

[Nailsbeats]

Bashlin Aluminum with caddy pads, bro runs Buck Titainiums with caddy's.

 

[1I'dJak]

caddy pads with kleins....most of the forestry climbers (major production, lots of abuse) use this setup