pfanner pants

macswan said:
Get the ventilators or whatever they're called they are amazing, not gladiators. Gladiator is crap. They either fit like a condom or a pair of 10 lb sweatpants.
Click to expand...
I second that... Rotating three pairs of the ventilation jobbers right now...cool breeze blowing from behind cuts right through. Can ninja kick with limited restriction. Dive under a truck and repair broken brake line. Catch the dirty ladies eyes at all the stores. Under 40degrees might start a base layer. I free ball them year round, a secret to mobility and breath ability. From the frigid teens to the 90's swimming in sweat. Rocked the sip's for a few years, then got the gladiators when you had to get then out of Canada, felt better then the sips, never touched them again after my first pair of ventilators. If any one tells me they rocked the ventilators in the extremes and there is a better pair I'll buy em!
 
I have a pair , they are thicker and less stretchy in the front than the old stretch airs, probably hotter as well. But They really seem durable thus far, like the would literally never rip, will see how they are in those 100 degree days in Texas summers. But they do fit well , have lots of great pockets and really look nice.
 
They have gladiator fronts for durability and stretch air backs. Vented, back pocket , they stretch nicely for movement and seem like they will hold up well.
 
They are good. I've worked through 3 pairs now first the gladiators with the full wrap around protection and then the vented model. Much cooler in the summer. I'm wearing the Francitel now and like them. They are wearing well. Very comfortable and about $100 cheaper than the gladiators!
 
Disclaimer: I am not experienced with pants :D, so don't mind my ignorant stance on these pants. I am eager to have my mind changed on this matter.

I've never tried any of these money pants.... I probably should, but can't get past the idea of destroying them on the first day. I would appreciate your opinions on how durable these pants are. Will they last for 3 years? My pants budget is in the $10 -$20 range and can't convince myself that spending $200-$300 on a single pair of pants would be worth it. Are they worth it? Do they last as long as even 10 pairs of jeans? I understand that they are incredibly awesome and are less restrictive and more vented than a pair of jeans, but are they bullet proof?

I know without them you don't fully look like a credible arborist, but $200 for one pair of pants! If someone could convince me that I should get a pair I would really appreciate it, 'cause I really want some, but wouldn't I need 3 or so to cycle through making it more like $600 - $900 to have my bottom half wardrobed?

Boots are around the price of these pants, but they last longer. I haven't really looked into how long these money pants last - are they comparable to boots, in which case I could see spending that kind of money on them?

What do you guys recommend? Thanks.
 
Ok, boots tend to last about 1-2 yrs from what I've seen on the threads about boots and my own experience. So, the boot pants analogy makes some sense. Making the leap from regular wear to professional grade workwear is always tough. I went from $20 chainsaw pants to the $80 then on to the $120 regular forestry pants. They lasted about a year but would always blow out their crotches. Often in less than a year so I'd take them to a tailor to be repaired. After a while I grew tired of wearing pants that weren't designed for the job of climbing.

So, I broke down and bought my first pair of Pfanner gladiators with chainsaw protection. I couldn't go without the protection as it felt, for me, weird to climb without them. They were great, comfortable, moving with me no matter where I went in the tree. They stood up to daily usage. I work usually 6 days/wk so they got their fair share of abuse. Oh, I worried about them getting ripped up on the first day or week of use but, by that logic I'd be buying cheap rope, boots and everything else that could get whacked on the first day. However, when they did get a nick from a branch or handsaw, they still outlasted cheaper materials. I took these to a tailor and extended their life to 3 yrs. I bought two more pairs over that time, one each year to reduce the amount of usage per pair. I tried the vented version which doesn't have the full wrap of protective material around the calf but were significantly cooler in the summer. Simply adding some long underwear in the winter makes up the difference.

Last year I bought the Francitel pants as an alternative, based on Familytree's glowing review, and have found them to be a great pant. They are lighter than the Pfanners and just as comfortable, also have lasted as long. despite the few nicks in them they look good. The material is durable and made to withstand the wear and tear of our business. Now on that point, is the more important one. The point of protection. I'm in a position to speak with first hand knowledge about the impact of a decision to not adhere to a industry standard.

When you look at the cost of something that relates to your protection then weigh the cost of the accident that it's meant to protect you from. While I've been in the hospital I've heard plenty of stories from the staff here of the chainsaw accident victims they've seen. Amateurs and professionals alike, are victims. The average cost of a chainsaw cut is $7500 in medical bills. Then there's the lost income which, under WC rules could be at least 30% but, if you make over $21/hr will be even higher since there's a cap on what they'll pay out. So, now the figure is rising toward $10K. Let's use the same analogy you've used. How many pairs of pants would that equate to? 30? Hmmmmm......

Look more professional and have some peace of mind that you're not going to end up being one of the 10,000 professionals that cut themselves with a chainsaw. Oh and the leg is one of the primary sites for cuts.

Sorry for the long response.
 
Thanks treehumper! I'm glad I could give you something else to do for a bit. Thanks for that insight. I agree 100%. There is no need to risk your life with subpar gear and apparel. Your life depends on it!
Yet, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger...unless it maims you!;)

I am a co-owner of a small tree company. My partner still climbs with a taut-line hitch... It's hard to move forward when there's nobody to share in the excitement and appeal of the revolutionary techniques, gear, and advances of our industry. I, on the other hand, love the "new" stuff. I have pushed forward on my own and am climbing with the latest techniques, but there is a lot to expand. After seeing that all the expensive gear I've incorporated makes climbing a heck of a lot more fluid, functional, fancy, and fun...I understand your point about the pants completely! The pants with chainsaw protection are obviously worth the cash, and regarding the pants without the chainsaw protection - mobility is a huge benefit. Just as switching from the Blakes (not to mention the taut-line) to the closed system with the hitch climber made a word of difference...I can see how the pants are worth it. I have the new techniques down - now I can improve my apparel. Thanks again for the detailed response TH! I need the motivation to keep advancing my craft.

So you get ~ 3 years (with occasional mending) out of them?
 
my arborwear ascenders have lasted 18 months but are on their last legs. I have done some stitching and patching to keep them up to par for sure, but I used to smoke through $50 Carhartts. So in my opinion, the jump to the pricey pants has paid off thus far.
 
Yeah, 1 yr of 6 -7 days/wk wear, then rotated with another pair in yr 2, then 3 pairs in yr 3. And that's primarily climbing.

You may want to point out to your partner that as the employers you are responsible for supplying PPE and showing that you are training your staff on safety. If any of them are hurt on the job and you can't demonstrate that you were operating in accordance to the OSHA regs then you're exposing yourselves and the company to fines and liability. Imagine if they're injured or worse yet killed, The civil case against you could be very, very costly.
 
We don't have any employees.o_O We are a two man crew, we just work our butts off and do a really nice job. I'm the primary climber now and am definitely safety conscious. We will be hiring in the future and will definitely provide PPE and all. We both have PPE, but not climbing chainsaw protection. Even though we have never had an accident I know you need to be prepared for the FIRST one. Just based on what you have explained I will get a pair for sure, but I have always wanted to get some...just needed the encouragement.

Thanks TH, your professionalism shines through on anything you do, and your attentiveness to safety and best practices demonstrates your profound care and regard for what matters. Your accident has specifically acted as a reminder of the importance to go above and beyond in regards to safety. Even going through the proper procedure you can still end up with a busted foot or - dead. My knowledge of who you are as a person has made this lesson reign truer than others, because you stand true to your standards, which are high! Thanks for helping others understand the importance of safety and protection. Much obliged to you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom