Best Spurs

What's the most comfortable set of spurs on the market today?

  • Bashlins

    Votes: 4 20.0%

  • Geckos

    Votes: 7 35.0%

  • Distels

    Votes: 1 5.0%

  • Buckinghams

    Votes: 5 25.0%

  • Edelrids

    Votes: 3 15.0%

  • Aluminum

    Votes: 6 30.0%

  • Carbon

    Votes: 1 5.0%

  • Titanium

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Steel

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Other???

    Votes: 2 10.0%
  • Total voters
    20
Merle Nelson said:
Be careful buying Bashlin climbers these days. Looking at their website I think their idea of "offset" is just a pitch out pushing the climber gaff out from the ankle a bit. However in years past they did this AND jogged back some giving my ankle bone more room. Those are over the top great climbers for me.

Also Caddy pads have always been listed as not fitting the Bashlins but 3 or 5 minutes with an old saw file fixed that.
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That's what I noticed too. It's actually what lead to this thread. They're not how they used to be made and I got too gunshy to try a pair to find out. I never owned the old set, just tried them, but these new ones looked odd and I wanted to make sure.
 
Brando CalPankian said:
I'd pay for this insight. Seriously. It's what I've been hesitant about in regards to pulling the trigger. I care less about weight and more about how it functions. I used someone's bashlins one time and it stuck in my head. At the price point I was scared to pull the trigger and get the wrong thing. Good to know buck makes a similar angle and offset to what I once encountered.

I've settled with the geckos for long enough. I just want to be comfortable. Spurs last a long damn time too. Thank you @rico for your insight. It's spot on with what I was searching for.
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With what you say you want...try before you buy would be my suggestion. "To the committed, there is always a way."
 
rico said:
I think you are referring to a contoured shank which is what the manufacturers do to create space between and ankle and the shank. The art is in the execution and many get it very wrong, which puts the foot too far away from the tree. Bashlin aluminums (BD14B) have a very gentle contour, and are as good as it gets when it comes to keeping the foot close to the tree..

Offset refers to a stirrup which has been pushed forward, which puts the gaff in a more optimal position. When it is done correctly the stirrup is also angled so it sits flat on the climbers foot, which more evenly distributes the load.

Next is whether the gaff is straight with the shank, or is offset (a slight angle towards the toes), which creates a much better and forgiving ride. I believe Bashlin was the first to do this and most of today best designs have followed (for good reason).

Last is the gaff itself, and what most get horribly wrong..

Best tree gaff in the biz-

View attachment 92455
One of the worst-

View attachment 92456

I believe the only 2 manufacturers that are making spurs that tick all these important boxes are Bashlin and Backingham..

Buck just released a new set which looks very promising. Lightweight. Non contour design. Offset and angled stirrup. Offset gaff with a nice profile. Will be spending some time in them when the rains let up. Will report back.

https://www.wesspur.com/SPU811-ArborAir-Tree-Climber-
Click to expand...

I like your comparison of the old Bashlin Aluminum climber design to a stirrup and pushed forward Rico. I think that is what makes them great for me.

When I look at Bashlin's website I do not see that climber profile anymore. The BD14B appears to be a straight up and down unit - no "stirrup pushed forward." I have seen them used on ebay in great condition. Worth checking in my opinion.
 
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Merle Nelson said:
With what you say you want...try before you buy would be my suggestion. "To the committed, there is always a way."
Click to expand...
I'm so bad at this. I live in the boonies, so returns take an hour drive. I'm not old, but I'm used to brick and mortar stores and am still getting used to how to buy and exchange things online. My wife grew up off grid, so she's just as bad. We have a bunch of stuff we meant to return but never got the chance to run to the cities to do. Lol
 
Merle Nelson said:
www.ebay.com

Vtg Bashlin Lineman Tree Pole Climbing Spur Aluminum Spikes Gaff Belt Rigging | eBay

Bashlin Grove City, PA. climbing spikes and belt set. spikes are very sharp. aluminum climbers show use but are still solid and useable.
www.ebay.com

Nothing great on ebay right now but this has the best picture of the old style climbers (partial side view.)
Click to expand...
Those look just like what I'd tried. The twist is a huge difference. It aligns with your shin better when standing in them and allows the right ankle movement. Might scoop those up and throw better pads and straps on them...
 
rico said:
Best tree gaff in the biz-

View attachment 92455

I believe the only 2 manufacturers that are making spurs that tick all these important boxes are Bashlin and Backingham..
Click to expand...

Agree 100%, based on my somewhat limited experience.

I actually bought the Bashlins based on a comment you made here a number of years ago, and like I said they became my daily drivers. Love them.

The spur angle is the best I've ever had for the doug firs in my area, by a wide margin. My only complaint is that they were TOO sharp out of the box, and just walking up fir trunks like I do every day, I struggled to pull them back out to step up, it was hell on my knees. So I just decided to abuse them for a few weeks to dull them, and since then they have been perfect.
 
Brando CalPankian said:
Those look just like what I'd tried. The twist is a huge difference. It aligns with your shin better when standing in them and allows the right ankle movement. Might scoop those up and throw better pads and straps on them...
Click to expand...

Yes could do that. If you do those would take a set of Caddy Pads. Also at the bottom of the climber the almost triangle shaped round stock to hold lower straps is a keeper. Replacement straps offered by arb companies have a round split ring that once installed grinds away at the aluminum and thus works against longest possible life. Instead order the lower straps from Bashlin in the man made material which is much heartier than leather. They come in two parts per climber and are attached with a copper rivet you peen over.
 
Brando CalPankian said:
Geckos aren't great. They're better than t pads but you feel it. Steel has spring to it. I don't notice a few ounces, I do notice foot set and ankle angles while climbing. When I climbed in bashlins some years back it felt like walking, whereas I've always been cognizant of foot placement in my geckos.
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I'm the other way around, but that might be because I learned in geckos
 
Oh, when/if you get Bashlin lower straps I would get a set of tree gaffs and Guage for sharpening too. Personally I would get another set of pole gaffs as they are affordable enough and that used set may have been sharpened indirectly. You have to take equal material off all three sides to keep them from getting thicker and tending to need to be stomped in.

Pole gaffs come in a polished version designed to slip into the wood better on hard utility poles. I like those on Euc and other hardwoods a lot.

One set of climbers and changing gaffs from short to long , two screws each, takes 5 minutes.
 
27RMT0N said:
Agree 100%, based on my somewhat limited experience.

I actually bought the Bashlins based on a comment you made here a number of years ago, and like I said they became my daily drivers. Love them.

The spur angle is the best I've ever had for the doug firs in my area, by a wide margin. My only complaint is that they were TOO sharp out of the box, and just walking up fir trunks like I do every day, I struggled to pull them back out to step up, it was hell on my knees. So I just decided to abuse them for a few weeks to dull them, and since then they have been perfect.
Click to expand...
The only other gaff I like as much as the Bashlin’s are the ones on the Buck 3.5” long permanent steels. Way too long for most, but in my eco system they are a necessity. This is the spur I learned to climb on, and there is still nothing like it when it comes to climbing big shaggy barked reds and firs. I believe this is the spur that August climbs in?

1706882295849.jpeg

The old timer I learned to climb from was a real ball buster about razor sharp gaffs and having a light touch with the feet when climbing. 2 things I took to heart.
 
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Merle Nelson said:
Oh, when/if you get Bashlin lower straps I would get a set of tree gaffs and Guage for sharpening too. Personally I would get another set of pole gaffs as they are affordable enough and that used set may have been sharpened indirectly. You have to take equal material off all three sides to keep them from getting thicker and tending to need to be stomped in.

Pole gaffs come in a polished version designed to slip into the wood better on hard utility poles. I like those on Euc and other hardwoods a lot.

One set of climbers and changing gaffs from short to long , two screws each, takes 5 minutes.
Click to expand...
Another check in the Bashlin bracket.. Somehow they managed to make a set of spurs that are interchangeable and feel great in both tree and pole gaffs.
 
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rico said:
I think you are referring to a contoured shank which is what the manufacturers do to create space between and ankle and the shank. The art is in the execution and many get it very wrong, which puts the foot too far away from the tree. Bashlin aluminums (BD14B) have a very gentle contour, and are as good as it gets when it comes to keeping the foot close to the tree..

Offset refers to a stirrup which has been pushed forward, which puts the gaff in a more optimal position. When it is done correctly the stirrup is also angled so it sits flat on the climbers foot, which more evenly distributes the load.

Next is whether the gaff is straight with the shank, or is offset (a slight angle towards the toes), which creates a much better and forgiving ride. I believe Bashlin was the first to do this and most of today best designs have followed (for good reason).

Last is the gaff itself, and what most get horribly wrong..

Best tree gaff in the biz-

View attachment 92455
One of the worst-

View attachment 92456

I believe the only 2 manufacturers that are making spurs that tick all these important boxes are Bashlin and Backingham..

Buck just released a new set which looks very promising. Lightweight. Non contour design. Offset and angled stirrup. Offset gaff with a nice profile. Will be spending some time in them when the rains let up. Will report back.

https://www.wesspur.com/SPU811-ArborAir-Tree-Climber-Kit
Click to expand...
I bought the ArborAir kit you linked here to upgrade from my 14-year old Klein pole and Caddy pad combination. Really like them so far, the pad design is great and probably the closest modern pad to Caddy's currently available. Buckingham also is releasing ascenders for the Buckalloy (ArborAir) irons that make for a slick setup.
 
Alec A. said:
I bought the ArborAir kit you linked here to upgrade from my 14-year old Klein pole and Caddy pad combination. Really like them so far, the pad design is great and probably the closest modern pad to Caddy's currently available. Buckingham also is releasing ascenders for the Buckalloy (ArborAir) irons that make for a slick setup.
Click to expand...
Hmmm. Good to know. Thank you!
 
Brando CalPankian said:
Geckos aren't great. They're better than t pads but you feel it. Steel has spring to it. I don't notice a few ounces, I do notice foot set and ankle angles while climbing. When I climbed in bashlins some years back it felt like walking, whereas I've always been cognizant of foot placement in my geckos.
Click to expand...
I started with various Bucks doing pole climb comps in college, then with two arb outfits, upon switching to Geckos with pole gaffs I didn’t need to think about boot placement at all. So comfortable and secure even on spready oaks and hrs in the tree. Different strokes and haven’t tried Bashlins so I’m not voting…
 
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