time to upgrade my spurs, Keep my Buckinghamn get new pads, or buy Gecko?

E

erwin

Participating member
Location
st. louis
Been using the old steel Buckingham with Velcro for the past 16 years. My options now is either get the big buck Velcro and keep the old iron (maybe get a pair of pole spikes), Or get the Gecko alum. For those who wear the Gecko all day on big removals, are they really comfortable? Thx for the input. Erwin
 
Man this question come up a lot. My recommendation would be to get some Bashlins or Buck Titaniums and use either Opsal/Caddy pads of Buck Super Wraps with the steel inserts (not the Big Bucks). If you are going to get the Gecko's do yourself a favor and get the DMM version as they are a much better design.
 
rico said:
Man this question come up a lot. My recommendation would be to get some Bashlins or Buck Titaniums and use either Opsal/Caddy pads of Buck Super Wraps with the steel inserts (not the Big Bucks). If you are going to get the Gecko's do yourself a favor and get the DMM version as they are a much better design.
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They are comfy spurs. I haven't tried the old geckos.
The Velcro lowers also help get the perfect tightness.

There are no plug and play ascender options for them, though. I saw somewhere that the KK ascender fits, you just have to grind some aluminum out of the way. The gaffs are set down between two ridges.
 
SomethingWitty said:
They are comfy spurs. I haven't tried the old geckos.
The Velcro lowers also help get the perfect tightness.

There are no plug and play ascender options for them, though. I saw somewhere that the KK ascender fits, you just have to grind some aluminum out of the way. The gaffs are set down between two ridges.
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The velcro lowers are really the only way to go these days. Super comfy.
Some folks are using a second Mini Saka setup as a foot ascender with great results. Might make a ascender attached to your spur unnecessary? Haven't tried it myself so I don't know.
 
I just bought a pair of bashlins with the big buck velcro pads and have been loving them. They replaced original design geckos. The bashlins are a bit heavier, they make the geckos feel like toys, but the design of the gaff itself is a game changer. They are real straight so even with tree gaffs it brings your feet in closer to the tree and they have a little more of a forward angle to them so the foot can stay oriented in a more natural position. My only complaint so far is that on soft wood they sink in a little too easy and get a little stuck sometimes, but on hard wood it is perfect and require zero effort to get a secure foot hold. Just walk up the tree, no kicking in, no worries about gaffing out. They just grab and hold anything I step on. The big buck velcro pads have the steel inserts and nice wide velcro. They are big, 85 and 90 degree days I might get some leg sweat, but very comfortable.
 
I started on old school steel bucks and when I went to the geckos it was a night and day difference in comfort. I spent many many days over 12 years on all day big removals in my geckos, but the bashlins put them to shame. The dmm geckos look better than the old geckos, but I never tried them or saw them in person.
 
RBJtree said:
I just bought a pair of bashlins with the big buck velcro pads and have been loving them. They replaced original design geckos. The bashlins are a bit heavier, they make the geckos feel like toys, but the design of the gaff itself is a game changer. They are real straight so even with tree gaffs it brings your feet in closer to the tree and they have a little more of a forward angle to them so the foot can stay oriented in a more natural position. My only complaint so far is that on soft wood they sink in a little too easy and get a little stuck sometimes, but on hard wood it is perfect and require zero effort to get a secure foot hold. Just walk up the tree, no kicking in, no worries about gaffing out. They just grab and hold anything I step on. The big buck velcro pads have the steel inserts and nice wide velcro. They are big, 85 and 90 degree days I might get some leg sweat, but very comfortable.
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Glad your digging the Bashlins. They really are a killer spur. I imagine I have spent a few thousand hours standing in spurs and have flown just about every spur out there. For what its worth the Bashlins and the Buck Titaniums get my seal of approval!
 
Geckos are stellar, have only spent 2 days in Bashlins so cannot compare. Are they really that much better at over $500 before adding pads? Full days in original Geckos is a pleasure, @RBJtree curious as to difference in fatique with your new spurs. DMMs look even better but think I have another decade before replacing.
 
Serf Life said:
Geckos are stellar, have only spent 2 days in Bashlins so cannot compare. Are they really that much better at over $500 before adding pads? Full days in original Geckos is a pleasure, @RBJtree curious as to difference in fatique with your new spurs. DMMs look even better but think I have another decade before replacing.
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They are only over $500 if you get them from wesspur. Everyone else sells them for $499 including factory direct. But still, they are expensive. To me they are worth it because they will last forever. Fatigue has not been an issue. I have done several 4 hour climbs in them since I got them and I don't notice the weight difference when they are on, but I do notice the ease of use and that might actually reduce fatigue. However, my legs are beast, I used to walk around with boots and 5 pound ankle weights all the time when I was a martial artist so that when I took them off my kicks would be faster, lol.
 
I love my aluminum Bashlins with caddy pads. Someone gave them to me, they had pole gaffs, so I bought replacement tree gaffs and swapped the pads and straps off my steel Bucks. You could always pick up a set of them used on Ebay and probably put new tree gaffs on them and save ~200$. Look for good condition and they should last a lifetime if you keep off the concrete and rocks and don't sharpen too much too often.
I've known a few guys that sharpen their spurs down to nubs every few years, and I'll never understand it. I've never had to do more than touch up the edges and the points with a file and it's rare that I have to do that.
 
rico said:
The velcro lowers are really the only way to go these days. Super comfy.
Some folks are using a second Mini Saka setup as a foot ascender with great results. Might make a ascender attached to your spur unnecessary? Haven't tried it myself so I don't know.
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I attached a foot ascender to my old Buckingham and really liked it. However, I had to remove some steel and drill holes to mount it.
 
I strap a regular foot ascender on, keep it back towards my heel and put the spikes over top. The mechanism on my ct gets conflicted with the shaft so I plan to buy an ascender for the opposite foot and put it on backwards to alleviate that problem.
 
RBJtree said:
I just bought a pair of bashlins with the big buck velcro pads and have been loving them. They replaced original design geckos. The bashlins are a bit heavier, they make the geckos feel like toys, but the design of the gaff itself is a game changer. They are real straight so even with tree gaffs it brings your feet in closer to the tree and they have a little more of a forward angle to them so the foot can stay oriented in a more natural position. My only complaint so far is that on soft wood they sink in a little too easy and get a little stuck sometimes, but on hard wood it is perfect and require zero effort to get a secure foot hold. Just walk up the tree, no kicking in, no worries about gaffing out. They just grab and hold anything I step on. The big buck velcro pads have the steel inserts and nice wide velcro. They are big, 85 and 90 degree days I might get some leg sweat, but very comfortable.
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Soopa cool your digging the Bashlins bud!
 
Question about the buckingjam big bucks pads. I assume that the two different Big Bucks pads are identical just with different closures, straps vs Velcro. I see most people like the Velcro. I do too. It’s just the strapped ones might last longer. My original buckingham wrap lasted Ofer 10 years and now the Velcro start to come off by itself sometimes. Should I just get the Velcro or does the strapped ones deserve some more consideration? Thx
 
I've never tried the strap ones. I think it would be less comfortable. I stiched new velcro on my geckos when it wore out, but it would be much harder to do that on the bucks due to the design. At $174 for the big buck velcros, I hope they last.
 
Look closely at the hook side of the Velcro (aka hook and loop closure). It should be pretty scratchy and not fuzzy w soft stuff which would be loose fibers from the loop side. If it's fuzzy, pinch the the fuzz out and it should grip good again. All that fuzz does equal wear on the loop part, but can buy some time if they're flapping open on their own. Lol pick out the sawdust too, or clean w air compressor.

A Google pic of the hook part.
220px-Hook_and_loop_fastener_-_macro_photograph_of__hooks_.webp
 
erwin said:
Been using the old steel Buckingham with Velcro for the past 16 years. My options now is either get the big buck Velcro and keep the old iron (maybe get a pair of pole spikes), Or get the Gecko alum. For those who wear the Gecko all day on big removals, are they really comfortable? Thx for the input. Erwin
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Cant go wrong with the BuckAlloys either. I am currently using a set similar to this:https://buckinghammfg.com/products/buckalloy-black-tree-climber-kit-a95k1v-bl/ .

At 600 Bucks, you really cant beat the comfort and durability of these. I spoke with Buckingham and apparently, they tested the Geckos with the same test they put their spurs under and Geckos had fatigue issues, also heard Gecko puts a two-year lifespan on their spurs.
 
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