Spurs

the whole 2 piece thing on climb rights and the stein just seems like a marketing gimmick to me. does anyone ever even need to replace the top or bottom on theirs? the option sounds nice i guess im just wondering how often it ever happens.
 
i don't know what u use but if your climbing in big heavy logger boots and ur looking to shave some weight id start there. i think switching to a light weight mountaineering boot has made the biggest difference, even on the ground.
 
Geckos. Hands down. Steel gets heavy, (not whining but after using aluminum............) a couple things about geckos, big comfy pads, I'm using long tree gaffs and they dig in at a perfect angle, no silly two piece spur. (Who takes them apart anyhow?)
Velcro rocks. Never comes loose.
Also easily adjustable.
 
John_KAYS said:
Ttf, The Buck Tis have been on my wishing-it-was-on-my-wishlist list. I haven't tried the titanium, or aluminum, so I don't know what I'm missing. The steel is really clunky. Steel feels like the first suit Tony Stark creates while captive, whereas I'm sure the titanium would feel like Iron Man's final suit.
Iron-Man-Iron-Man-Anthony-Edward-Tony-Stark-Iron-Man-Smiley-smiley-emoticon-001213-medium.gif
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You know what's going on John!
 
I hear a lot of talk about "staying snug" and "weight of steel". This baffles me. Velcro DOES lossen off, nubuck straps dont. And am i the only one who doesnt have my straps siging tight? Just "snug" em up, they stay.

As for weight.. ??? Ive climbed on steel pole gaffs to euro gaffed geckos. Its NOT that big of a difference in the long run, other than the X3 price tag. A climber is a climber. In the way, and clunky. Its tree work.. Not a ballet recital
 
jmaher said:
I hear a lot of talk about "staying snug" and "weight of steel". This baffles me. Velcro DOES lossen off, nubuck straps dont. And am i the only one who doesnt have my straps siging tight? Just "snug" em up, they stay.

As for weight.. ??? Ive climbed on steel pole gaffs to euro gaffed geckos. Its NOT that big of a difference in the long run, other than the X3 price tag. A climber is a climber. In the way, and clunky. Its tree work.. Not a ballet recital
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I agree jmaher, it is not a ballet, but it does make more of a difference the longer you are in them. I think comfort is more of a factor than weight but I can see how a lightweight spur could make a noticeable difference...even if it is only in your head, I think the lightweight mind frame is important to try for. The steel carabiner, for instance, is not much more of an added weight than an aluminum carabiner....but if you were to substitute steel gear for all the aluminum gear on your belt you would notice the diference in added weight. And the way a pair of beefy boots is taxing on each step you take... as apposed to a lightweight sneaker etc. As for tightness I tottally agree. Sometimes I keep the upper straps relatively loose. I have found when the pad moves around and perhaps presses on a different part of my shin each time I redistribute my weight I don't end up with a shoelace infused to my leg! If you know what I mean.
 
Touchez, John. Valid, valid points when you look at it from that perspective. I just have a climber bias, i guess. I couldn't imagine paying top dollar like a lot of guys do, for something i try my hardest not to even wear until spar work. I guess I've had the mindset that it's not 1862. Back when, spurs and a buck strap were some of your only tools. Today, with all the advances in climbing and work positioning, i think we can NEARLY do without. Mind you, when they're NEEDED, they're an invaluable piece of gear.. I guess i just have my ass up in the air, is all.
 
jmaher said:
Touchez, John. Valid, valid points when you look at it from that perspective. I just have a climber bias, i guess. I couldn't imagine paying top dollar like a lot of guys do, for something i try my hardest not to even wear until spar work. I guess I've had the mindset that it's not 1862. Back when, spurs and a buck strap were some of your only tools. Today, with all the advances in climbing and work positioning, i think we can NEARLY do without. Mind you, when they're NEEDED, they're an invaluable piece of gear.. I guess i just have my ass up in the air, is all.
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I really like your point about unnecessarily paying top dollar for the high end of an item that you'd rather do without. Spurs are a hard sell! I have been rethinking my attitude toward the tools of the trade. The change lies in the fact that I do this for such a high percentage of my life that I want to make it the MOST fun and the Most comfortable and the MOST interesting and the MOST educational etc... Why not get the MOST comfortable, compatible, versatile harness for a few hundred dollars more...the MOST Awesome Iron Man titanium spurs for a few hundred more. If I think about merging recreation with my daily work, which is easy to do in this profession, I find the extra money I spend on these items hardly compares to recreational activities that others invest in. I don't go to the movies, I don't go to amusement parks, I don't go out to fancy restaurants, etc. I don't mind funneling all that 'recreational' portion into making what I do 90% of the time more comfortable and fun. This is what I've chosen to make my hobby!

I am fortunate to have my beautiful wife and four young children to keep me entertained and make for an "inexpensive" enjoyable life at home when I'm not at work. What else could I need?

However, that all said, I still can't decide whether the titanium is worth the extra money. :LOL:
 
John how many days a week are you on spurs for how many hours in the day would you be on them . Then take into consideration how long you'll keep them and what they do for you . Then wiegh how much they can make you in one good job with them on . Do the math and is $400 that much considering , only you can answer that one. I have a read l everything you wrote above , and to me a guy in a similar position with a beautiful wife, four young kids , and a life in trees . They were a no brainer! BuckTI CaDdys Daddy!
 
Shit I forgot you already got the caddy pads so your under four bill$ already. Do it Iron dad and you'll have more energy to play with them kids after a long day!
 
I have recently moved from titanium bucks with the big buck pads to kiwi klimbers carbon fibers. I found them to make a huge difference when I'm on them all day. They are crazy light. As far as the price, less than geckos and sturdier with no flex. The way I look at it, whatever makes me more comfortable is well worth the investment. I buy tons of tree toys but they are all about making the job easier for a guy who could be the father of the 2 other climbers on the crew. I'm not getting any younger and my hobby is work. Anything that saves me some wear and tear on my body or safes some effort during all the huge and most difficult jobs the old guy gets is well worth the price. I guess that's why I love mechanicals so much. No prussic rope combo can come close to the effortless use of a mechanical. I was not a fan of the geckos. They tend to flex towards the ankle on climbers over 200lbs. The kiwis' have no flex. The shaft is thicker and its a superior product. Contact Dale and see if you can demo a pair. I demod mine for over a month before I bought them. He was super cool about the payment. I paid in the $360 price range for them including shipping from New Zeland. Not sure what the current price of the geckos' are from the tree place that shall not be named. (lol) I am happy to discuss the kk if you have any other questions.
 
Steve Connally said:
The one thing I forgot to add is the life of the KK is 10 years. For me, I'll be 55 by then I will be a multi millionaire so I'll just invent a battery mounted mini mechanical ascending boot and glove combo with a pupil guided helmet mounted laser to cut with. Send in the laser!
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Seriously man shit has progressed unbelievably in the tree business in ten short years, that went by in a blink . The next ten I wouldn't doubt it !
 
First pair of Gecko's I tried had Euro points on them and I hated them. Used the Buckingham's for a while and felt like my calf muscle was being separated from my shin. Ended up going back to Gecko's and they've been great. I have chicken legs like Sherwood though and I'm only 185-190.
 
Steel Buckinghams with the buckled big buck pads. Can wear them all day if I have to with no discomfort, but I'd rather avoid them. I have a real love-hate relationship with spurs.
 
An old set of steel Buckingham climbers with T pads and pole spurs that I use on poles and sometimes on thin-barked trees.
Climb Right aluminum climbers with Super Climber pads and 2-5/8" tree spurs, removable, with a set of the 1-5/8" pole spurs.

I haven't had a chance to try the pole spurs on the Climb Right climbers, yet, but probably will next spring. This set came with the Climb Right aluminum pads that I absolutely hated. I, too, have chicken legs... the aluminum shin cup part would immediately dig into the front of my shins as soon as I started up the tree. Tried all kinds of additional padding and adjustments to the climbers, etc. but just couldn't make them work for me, even with 16" linesman boots. Spyder Mfg. replaced them for me, at no cost (they even paid the shipping to return the original ones). They sent me the Super Climber Pads that use two straps (they sent those, too) and that don't have steel reinforcement in them. These are real comfortable and nothing digs into my legs, anywhere. I've climbed on them with the linesman boots, but not with my lightweight climbing boots, so I'll try that arrangement as soon as I can. I don't mind climbing with the tall boots, though, because I like the extra leg protection... they can be pretty hot in the summer, though, and take a while to get on and off.

I don't notice the weight difference between the steel and aluminum ones, to be honest, but with the linesman boots... well, there's a little extra weight involved with just those, so perhaps I'll notice it more when I try both out with the lighter boots. The Super Climber pads are hideous, big and ugly bastards, but they're comfy.
 
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