Gerald_Beranek
New member
- Location
- Ft. Bragg, Ca.
Geckos\'
Frans Smith lent me a pair of Geckos' to try out and I climbed a Bishop Pine and Redwood with them today.
The Bishop Pine was 24'" dia. by 140'. A removal. Got the ride of a lifetime taking the top out. A real piece of linguini.
I was impressed with the Geckos' ability to stick into the tree through the high bark ridges and hold. Odd point on the spurs that left me wondering about that.
Yes! They held,,, and getting past the rough bark in the first 30 feet of the pine with no more kicking out than my old trustworthy long point Buckinghams. Though I must admit I had some doubts at first.
Once past the rough bark conditions the Gecko points stuck well in the wood and didn't require any added effort to pull them out. I admit sticking them with added force only because it was my first experience with the new spurs.
They performed well in the Bishop Pine.
The Redwood, second growth with soft thick bark, the Geckos' performed no less than my long point Buckinghams in the same.
I had my doubts about the points performing in the rough bark conditions of the pine and redwood, but they did with no more kicking out than with my usual fare. They passed the test in that respect and I will give them a thumbs up. Though I have yet to try them in thin skinned structure.
I was amazed at how light the Geckos' are. It's beyound words.
The Velcro wrap on the shank makes for a quick and efficient fit on the shin. The "shin guard" itself is intergral and supports a replaceable pad for the shin. The shank, frame and pad that forms the upper assembly of the Geckos' is fixed and non- adjustable for height. It couldn't have fit me better, but for someone with shorter shins the Gecko's could intrude on their inner knee. And be cause for considerable discomfort. It is a distraction the manufacture should fare for the consumer by making available a choice of frame heights.
Durability??? That is to be seen. My old Buckingham long shanks have been well used, thrashed, for thirty years and show no signs of wear or fatigue. They're anvils and cost me $30 used. No telling how long they were used before. Can the Gecko's prove to last as long through the test of time and durability. I have some doubts.
For one the epoxy chips. The Geckos' I used are new, though used by a couple of others before I had chance to try them. And already chips in the epoxy is evident on the botton of the stirrup and inside of it. No doubt from walking in them. That actually is an easy fix. The sticky back "anti-skid tape" can be applied to solve the epoxy chipping on the bottom and insides of the stirrup. Though it is a fix the manufacture should do.
One piece of metal..... is in the Geckos'. On the outside of the stirrup. A small ring eye for attaching the ankle straps. Cracks in the epoxy around the ring are evident in the set I recieved from Frans. It may not be nothing, but I look at it with discern. I always look at new stuff that way.
In a nutshell I will give the Gecko's a thumbs up for their ease of fit, comfort and untility. For me they performed as well as I could expect from such a tool. As for their durability, and the test of time, it is yet to be seen how they perform in that respect.
I'll add, in just the last few years I've seen some of the most advance developments in climbing gear than I have seen in over thirty years. And it's getting better as we speak.
It's truely amazing what we have available today,
Jerry B
Frans Smith lent me a pair of Geckos' to try out and I climbed a Bishop Pine and Redwood with them today.
The Bishop Pine was 24'" dia. by 140'. A removal. Got the ride of a lifetime taking the top out. A real piece of linguini.
I was impressed with the Geckos' ability to stick into the tree through the high bark ridges and hold. Odd point on the spurs that left me wondering about that.
Yes! They held,,, and getting past the rough bark in the first 30 feet of the pine with no more kicking out than my old trustworthy long point Buckinghams. Though I must admit I had some doubts at first.
Once past the rough bark conditions the Gecko points stuck well in the wood and didn't require any added effort to pull them out. I admit sticking them with added force only because it was my first experience with the new spurs.
They performed well in the Bishop Pine.
The Redwood, second growth with soft thick bark, the Geckos' performed no less than my long point Buckinghams in the same.
I had my doubts about the points performing in the rough bark conditions of the pine and redwood, but they did with no more kicking out than with my usual fare. They passed the test in that respect and I will give them a thumbs up. Though I have yet to try them in thin skinned structure.
I was amazed at how light the Geckos' are. It's beyound words.
The Velcro wrap on the shank makes for a quick and efficient fit on the shin. The "shin guard" itself is intergral and supports a replaceable pad for the shin. The shank, frame and pad that forms the upper assembly of the Geckos' is fixed and non- adjustable for height. It couldn't have fit me better, but for someone with shorter shins the Gecko's could intrude on their inner knee. And be cause for considerable discomfort. It is a distraction the manufacture should fare for the consumer by making available a choice of frame heights.
Durability??? That is to be seen. My old Buckingham long shanks have been well used, thrashed, for thirty years and show no signs of wear or fatigue. They're anvils and cost me $30 used. No telling how long they were used before. Can the Gecko's prove to last as long through the test of time and durability. I have some doubts.
For one the epoxy chips. The Geckos' I used are new, though used by a couple of others before I had chance to try them. And already chips in the epoxy is evident on the botton of the stirrup and inside of it. No doubt from walking in them. That actually is an easy fix. The sticky back "anti-skid tape" can be applied to solve the epoxy chipping on the bottom and insides of the stirrup. Though it is a fix the manufacture should do.
One piece of metal..... is in the Geckos'. On the outside of the stirrup. A small ring eye for attaching the ankle straps. Cracks in the epoxy around the ring are evident in the set I recieved from Frans. It may not be nothing, but I look at it with discern. I always look at new stuff that way.
In a nutshell I will give the Gecko's a thumbs up for their ease of fit, comfort and untility. For me they performed as well as I could expect from such a tool. As for their durability, and the test of time, it is yet to be seen how they perform in that respect.
I'll add, in just the last few years I've seen some of the most advance developments in climbing gear than I have seen in over thirty years. And it's getting better as we speak.
It's truely amazing what we have available today,
Jerry B
