Gecko climbers

R

Rookieclimber

Location
Watertown, WI
Bought a pair of Geckos at my local vermeer dealer. I spent all day last Monday on them in a yard full of elm removals. I love them except for the gaffs themselves.

I got the tree gaffs but I do not like the feeling of not being able to hug your foot to the tree, heel or toe. I have used pole gaffs before but I figured I would try out the tree gaffs.... and after one use, I am not pleased with the long tree gaffs. Its just too bad the pole gaffs will cost me another 90 bills.
 
That's exactly what happened to Dad. He has the European style, since he got them before they had the other two styles. He loves the pads, but hardly wears them because of the gaffs. Just waiting as long as he can to dump another $90 into a set of gaffs.
 
I think alot of people not liking the euro style is because you're just not use to them. I spent a little time on traditional tree and pole hooks before I picked up the geckos and it took a little to get use to them but now they don't bother me a bit. Granted I like ranger's dad picked a set up before they had the other style gaffs and there was no way I was going to throw more bills at them.
 
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Bought a pair of Geckos at my local vermeer dealer. I spent all day last Monday on them in a yard full of elm removals. I love them except for the gaffs themselves.

I got the tree gaffs but I do not like the feeling of not being able to hug your foot to the tree, heel or toe. I have used pole gaffs before but I figured I would try out the tree gaffs.... and after one use, I am not pleased with the long tree gaffs. Its just too bad the pole gaffs will cost me another 90 bills.

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I'd give them a little more time. I have the pole gaffs, which are nice most of the time, but on thick bark trees, they do tend to gaff out a bit if you're not careful.

You may have a good idea with grinding them down a bit though. You may be able to find a happy medium.
grin.gif
 
I have heard the complaint of gaffing out before, and the idea of the longer gaff in thick barked trees, however i do not spur up trees a lot without a top rope. I usually just use the spikes on ascent in tandem with spurs and walk up the trunk rotating between weight on rope and spurs. They are pretty uncomfortable up in the tips having only the spike contacting the tree.

I may try grinding them down but I also don't want to screw them up/ waste a set of $90 gaffs. I'm not sure I would get the shape of the gaff correct.

Does anyone know if the internal metal of the gaff is softer that the outside? I am not sure if they are coated or something.
 
I would check into grinding. There is a possibility you will temper the steel and weaken the gaffs. If you've only had them a week can you not just go back to vermeer and explian your situation? Unless youve really trashed the gaffs in one week there may be an oppurtunity to trade.
 
That was my thinking on it yeti. I checked into it and a trade is a no go, I read in the care instructions that there is a certain length a gaff should be replaced after multiple sharpenings. Looks like I will have to deal with it. OOH well, did another pine removal today and felt a little more comfortable on them. I guess the long gaffs just take some getting used to.
 
Give them time. I had the same situation a couple of years ago when I bought my geckos. You'll get the feel of them quick and never look back.
 
Guess you guys dont climb many skinny birch trees, where your boots are likely to never touch the tree, pole gaff or not.
Learning to stand on the gaff is integral to climbing, I dont want to pound my gaffs into the tree so hard that my boot hits the tree I dont care what kind of gaff I have. I climb mainly, make that always, on a buck tree gaff and have just gotten used to sitting on my gaff points, not the most comfortable position in th world, steel shanks in boots is an absolute necessity, but hey who said tree climbing was about our comfort.
Dont get me wrong just a different opinion... good luck with your geckos, have had my eye on em for a while, but would like to know someone whos had a pair and worked them daily for a couple of years, before I invest that much cash.
And no, in my opinion, you do not want to grind a set of tree gaffs into pole gaffs, keep the tree gaffs you'll appreciate them on 'monster' spruce, and pine as you said
Stay safe guys,
-Grais.
 
I have been climbing on the Gecko's since they first came out. Was the only spike I really ever used and never minded the pole spike. But once the carbon fibers came out I had switched over to them with the regular tree gaffs. And i will say i won't ever go back to pole gaffs. Even after being on the gecko's for a while I had problems some days of kicking out. And didn't really enjoy pounding my gaffs into stone dead hickories and the like.
So a will just be sticking with my tree gaffs. Can't speak on how carbon fibers hold up as of yet being so new but my orignals lasted me for years and still in good shape. Hence the reason i sold them off to a fellow climber.
 
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