Spurs are killing me!

BigWood

BigWood

Participating member
Location
Toronto, Canada
I need some help. After 12 years of big saws in big trees, It seems my feet are giving out. I only seem to be able to stand on my spurs for a half hour or 45 minutes at a time without having to come down. I've tried everything, wesco boots, footplates, multiple pairs of socks etc.
I recently got an ergovation and it's a soggy dream come true compared to what I'm used to. So my question is this... Has anyone produced a "spikey ergovation" for the feet? Right now I use a set of kleins with Velcro wraps.
Any help or advice would be great. I'm afraid my days are #d
 
I put on a pair of Gecos in 2004 and have had no problems at all with them so my first suggestion to you would be to get into a pair but just last week I was reading a thread and many cats were miserable in them. Maybe you could borrow a pair to see how they are for you. Don't give up just yet brah.
 
I hate spikes too. The most comfy set I have worn are the buckingham carbon ones. World of difference. Another help is a boot that has a steel shank. Other than that spikes suck.
 
Do your wesco's have steel shanks?

I supplement my Wesco factory padded insoles with another softer foam set.

Your problem may very well be medical and you need to see a foot specialist yu know.

Jomoco
 
I was thinking also that perhaps work on your technique to distribute your weight on your lines more? I don't know your style, but that can contribute alot. For example if you lanyard is too low it puts extra pressure on your spikes. Again, don't know your style.
 
I am not positive but judging by the symptoms, you are probably suffering from some type of instep problem. Time to rule out a serious foot problem, give a nearby podiatrist a visit. You might very well need some special insoles molded for your feet. Just an observation.
 
Have you tried those foot plates buckingham makes to give your feet more surface area to stand on? Also, regarding technique, my feet used to hurt until I started keeping my knees closer to the spar. Also, I try to limit the amount of time I'm on the spurs, no ascents, just spar work only.

Equipment is coming a long ways to extending the years we can practice this craft, but I don't think anyone is willing to say that this stuff isn't hard on the body. I'm not feeling the years in the saddle yet, but I know plenty of people who do. One of my old bosses knees are gone and his hips are permanently disfigured from time spent suspended in a saddle that squeezed 'em together.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I need some help. After 12 years of big saws in big trees, It seems my feet are giving out. I only seem to be able to stand on my spurs for a half hour or 45 minutes at a time without having to come down. I've tried everything, wesco boots, footplates, multiple pairs of socks etc.


[/ QUOTE ]Same here. A day on spurs was followed by a couple of days of crippled walking.
I was told to put on my spurs differently. I always included the metal shaft in the foot strap together with the boot (as does probably everyone).
These days I put the foot strap only around the boot and NOT around the shaft. This way your foot can move more freely and is not forced in a certain direction.

The aces are not over but my relative pain free spur time has increased dramatically.
It's really worth the try BigWood. Let me know how your feet and knees react on the different tie down.
 
if its an oak day,, or hickory day sharpen em!!!.. where does it hert? i have kliens with the double buck pads,, red wing loggers,, my pads, are close ta ten years old..was getting a lot of pain on the inside calf area,, so last year i bought youth soccer shin pads and put them where the pain was,,,LIKE NEW,, i think they are nike/ soft foam against the skin, hard plastic shell where the gaff lands on the sore spot,, new pads are on my list,, but will probably use the soccer shin pads again.. STEEL shank,in the sole of your boot,, are a must for spikes
 
Soooooooo, who's been keeping these geckos secret!? Turns out my company had a pare hiding on another truck! Stood on em for about 2.5 hrs today and could have gone a while longer!!!! Needless to say but they will making a home in my gear bag. Gonna take a while to repair the damage done, but I can see a light. Thanks everyone for the advice and tips, stilla few things I'm gonna tweak, namely how I route the lower straps and I think it's also time to try my airwalk insoles. Maybe get rid of a little winter weight too. 250lbs may be a little to heavy for some trees!
Btw steel shanks and toes are mandatory up here
Only one question about the geckos. They almost feel as though the upper pads don't wrap far enough around the front of my shins. Thoughts?
 
I did think of that, but they're worse the other way. Maybe they were assembled wrong, more investigating is needed.
Big thanks to "Mr Gecko" for the cool spur loafers
jiggy.gif
 
The Velcro comes from behind the leg then through the metal sleeve then back to itself. The pad should be two fingers width from the bottom of your knee cap. Adjust the irons from there. You might want to switch to American style tree or pole gaffs for further comfort. I select the right gaff for the right tree.
 
I've been trying to convince Buckingham to put out a set of gaffs where you can swivel and lock in either a pole gaff or tree gaff on one pair of gaffs.

So many conifers have super thick bark at the base that demands pole gaffs or else. Whereas once you get up high enough, pole gaffs are so much more appropriate and forgiving to your instep.

One pair of gaffs that can be quickly switched between either pole or tree gaff securely would be a huge best seller in my opinion. I know that I would pay 500 bucks for such a pair of gaffs no problem.

But needed change comes so slowly in this biz that unless you do it yourself, it ain't likely to happen given today's corporate beaurocracy, and their attitudes toward change being instigated outside their sphere of influence.

If you're on tree gaffs all day Bigwood you have my sympathies.

Jomoco
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom