Climbing spikes

I occasionally use both a foor ascender + spurs. I've never used any spurs that weren't standard buck steal with a variety of different pads (I love the Cadillac pads.....except when I'm putting them on....could they have made the pads and shank come apart any easier? What a PITA). I wear highliner boots which really keep the spurs in place and use a cmi foot ascender. The trick was to shorten the back strap of the ascender so that it sat further back on my foot, practically beside my heel. Put the ascender on first, then strap on the spurs. This keeps the ascender and spur away from each other, but it did feel funny having my ascender so far back on my foot at first.

My name is JTree and I'm a gear weenie.....but there is no way I am the only one to have ever done this. It doesn't come in to play very often, but it's uber handy on occasion.
 
I met a guy who attached a Pantin to his spur's shank and was quite satisfied with it. I haven't done it because I do not want to gaff my rope.
 
I've seen how a couple of climbers have attached a Pantin to the shank of the spikes. There is a consideration to take...weakening the shank if the Pantin is screwed or bolted to the shank. Use caution unless you are sure of what you're doing. My skills are adequate to drill and tap holes in metal. My knowledge of metallurgy is not. I'd be very cautious about mounting a Pantin on the shank.

A bigger concern that I've had, for me, is gaffing my rope. I'm sure that this could be figured out though.

Here is a mod that a friend of mine did to some spikes. Add crampons and an extra hook helped him when we was working on trees covered in ice, moss or rotten, slippery bark. The guy who did the modification is a certified weldor and a millwright so he has the skill and knowledge to make a mod like this.
 

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My first set of spurs were the Carbon Fiber Gecko's, expensive but worth it in the long run. I may have had them 4 years now, extremely durable, lightweight, and I will be getting another set soon! ... and while it's on my mind, I'm working on fastening my foot ascender above the spike for ascents on removals. (this would be a great combo when SRT) I've had the idea for years now. Not to change the thread but any thoughts on the SPUR-ASCENDER?

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Brian, didnt know you were using the carbon fibers, Im thinking of going with the alum. geckos, replacing the steel "lead sleds" buckinghams,.... would like to get the carbons, but there a lot of cash...hmmmm
 
I just don't trust velcro, I'm sure it's perfectly safe, but its the same stuff they put on my toddler's shoes. Had my buckingham steel shin cup pads on steel climbers for five years of regular use. Haven't had to replace any straps or screws. And it has to be a really sh%@#* day for the weight to bother me. Probably around three hundred bucks for the whole deal.
 
Velcro comes in many 'strenghts', I don't know how to state its gripping property. The hook length and thickness combined with loops that match will make for a different grip in kids shoes and astronaut suits.

The most that I've ever had my B'hams unpeel is a triangle about 1.5" on each side. That doesn't happen very often either.
 
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My first set of spurs were the Carbon Fiber Gecko's, expensive but worth it in the long run. I may have had them 4 years now, extremely durable, lightweight, and I will be getting another set soon! ... and while it's on my mind, I'm working on fastening my foot ascender above the spike for ascents on removals. (this would be a great combo when SRT) I've had the idea for years now. Not to change the thread but any thoughts on the SPUR-ASCENDER?

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Brian, didnt know you were using the carbon fibers, Im thinking of going with the alum. geckos, replacing the steel "lead sleds" buckinghams,.... would like to get the carbons, but there a lot of cash...hmmmm

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Scott, I think they run $550 but I believe I saw them on sale late last year at SherrillTree for $450. Either way yeah tree gear is pricey! Tom those custom gaffs are great! I can't footlock with my spurs on, I can body thrust DRT (although strenuous) , but SRT i find myself in a bit of a pickle dangling in mid air.

So i'll have a Spurascender prototype made and I'll give it a try. I also thought about shooting the idea over to Gecko... ???
 
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I just don't trust velcro, I'm sure it's perfectly safe, but its the same stuff they put on my toddler's shoes. Had my buckingham steel shin cup pads on steel climbers for five years of regular use. Haven't had to replace any straps or screws.

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I had a pair of the velcro wrap pads (approx. 1 year use) and the velcro got saw dust in them and would 'stick' for a while, then come undone while in the tree. If you're a production climber and use spurs alot, I would recommend the tongue and buckle straps.
 
I use bashlin aluminum w/t buckingham non steel velcro pads but the pads wear out so fast I just got opeal aluminum in the mail forgot to order the upper straps so haven't tried yet they seem heavy compared 2 velcro but what's another pound on top of my wesco loggers have tried gecko's 2 short tried buck titaniums no different then steel accept weight they seem to dig in to my calf but all climbers i know use what they are used 2 all of the above are someones favorite -- anyone use opeal how are they i might have a pair 4 sale cheap shortly unless they are worth the weight
 
Hey guys on another site I stated for both my Ergovation saddles leg straps that have velcro and my Gecko Carbon Fiber gaffs the best thing I found was using shop air to blow all of the sawdust and debris out of the velcro. Of course putting them together oposing each other and securing the velcro to its self like Tom said is the best way to store them between uses.
 
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