Protocols for wearing spikes

Not to hijack the thread, but....
The most comfortable spurs I have ever bought have been the Carbon Fiber spurs. Got them overseas. They are modeled on the Geckos. The cardboard box & foam 'peanuts' they were shipped in weighed more than the spurs!

Part of what makes a comfortable spur is proper setting of the shank or hight of the spur. If your spurs are adjustable, try raising them as high as they will go. Use them for a bit and see how it feels. Play around with the adjustments until you get it right. But I personally would start with them set in the highest/longest position. Usually the top of the pad should sit right underneath the knee joint.
If your spurs have straps that hold the pads to your legs, try checking them out and see if there is excessive movement- correct that movement to minimize it as much as possible.

Just as important is the type of boot you have. Dont expect to whip out your weekend warrior ultra light hiking boot and think the shank will support the arch of your foot all day long, especially working a bigger saw.

You must adjust your thinking when using spurs. Usually when you have the spurs on you are doing heavier work, so use a heavier boot.

I see that all the time, guy going up a removal tree using the same tools, mindset, and methods they would use in a pruning operation. Those types most always are slower, dont visualize piecing out the entire tree, make silly little cuts with their handsaw, set up weird roping paths, using crotches to stand in, not being skilled enough to stand on any side of the trunk no matter what the lean, the list goes on and on.
Spurs are comfortable to wear all day. IF you have them adjusted correctly, and IF you have the proper footgear.
If you believe what I say, change your thinking, and learn, you might find out that your experiance wearing spurs will change for the better.

I went for years with a permanent bruise/raw spot on the side of my leg. Then a more experianced climber checked me out one day, laughed at me, called me a damm rookie, then took me in hand and showed me how to do it right.
 
Common sense is quite valuable, as is hind sight. Consider: How long does it take to unstrap and remove a set of gaffs? How long does it take for a nasty wound to heal?

We chant the mantra: "Love your climber, and your climber will love you." My ground guys stage an overturned bucket where gaffs go on and off in anticipation of gaff removal. I appreciate this consideration, don't even think of walking around, and maintain sharp gaffs as a result.

Many years ago, while still young and foolish, I came down out of a tree to help pull a rope without removing my climbers, stepped on a co-worker's foot and sent the spike through the top of his boot, exactly "between his first and second toes" and cut small "slices" in each. He was able to work the rest of the day and never complained or mentioned the injury again.

I spent many sleepless nights thinking about how such a foolish mistake could have resulted in a permanent injury. My 20" Wesco Big Black Boots take much longer to lace up that the seconds it takes to step out of my Wolf Claws. As long as my bucket is waiting at the base of a tree, I'll strap up there.
 
DIfference of opinion is everywhere JT. Thanks for sharing your story especially the part about caring about your co-workers. Welcome to the TREEBUZZ and keep sharing...
 
just what we dont need, regulations for something like that.

are there guys out there that have them on driving to work in AM? most climbers I know want them on as little as possible, cant wait to get them off.

If you have to tell your limber to take them off before he starts chipping brush you might have bigger worries with him on your crew.....?
 
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