tree gaff vs pole gaff

Maui Palm & Tree Care

Maui Palm & Tree Care

Location
Pukalani, Hawaii
i have been considering trying out some pole spikes. today i was cleaning out our coco palm tree and had my new replacement spikes on my kliens and felt kinda like i was on high heels. it pivots alot on each spike and gets a bit sketchy. does anyone else feel this way about new tree gaffs or is it just the kliens that feel like high heels? it would be nice to have tree gaffs that let you at least touch the side of your boots sole to the tree.
 
I like pole spikes. I have worn my tree spikes most recently on a big redwood, maybe a year ago and a little more.

On thick doug-fir bark, it can be a bit tough at the base, but I'd rather have the pole spikes for the bulk of the tree. A ladder, as desired, at the bottom can be much easier than fighting a thick base with thick bark, IMO. Or rope ascent to the first limbs.
 
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i have been considering trying out some pole spikes. today i was cleaning out our coco palm tree and had my new replacement spikes on my kliens and felt kinda like i was on high heels. it pivots alot on each spike and gets a bit sketchy. does anyone else feel this way about new tree gaffs or is it just the kliens that feel like high heels? it would be nice to have tree gaffs that let you at least touch the side of your boots sole to the tree.

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If your climbing alot of palms, you might want to try pole gaffs, tree gaff's are good for thick bark like cedars, pines, furs, redwoods ect.

But for oaks, like live oak or smaller oaks with thin bark I fell the same way...like you got high heels on, squirley like stilts.....
 
I've never climbed a palm. Biggest Palm that grows here is a Fan Palm, their trunks are like wool. Biggest Fan Palm I've seen was maybe 18'.

Now, having said that, why do you want your boots to touch the tree if you have spikes in it?

Of course I climb thick barked Douglas Fir, but I also climb Eucs and Arbutus with no bark at all and I've never understood this "need to have my boots touch the tree."

How does it help?

I find that if I'm moving around on spurs, getting my boot in contact just cams out my spur purchase. I want the longest spurs I can get.

Anyone else?

Northwind
 
I climb Firs in the Pacific Northwest...
I climb on (tree) gaffs - Buckingham titanium 'permanant'. I own a set of 'replacable' tree gaffs and hate them. The angle is all weird and makes me feel like I am on high heels. Never tried pole gaffs... Never sharpened my spurs either.
 
I am constantly amazed on how many tree guys are so familiar with wearing high heels that they can use it as a reference and all the other tree guys know what they mean.

You know that's not normal, right?

Anyway, this is an often argued topic, with no clear winners. I like tree gaffs, welded cause they're longer. With tree gaffs I can climb anything, any size, from the largest, thick-bark base, to the smallest thin-barked top that will support my weight. If the spur shank is properly anchored to your leg, there will be no wobble or increased leverage from a longer spur.
I have no idea if they feel like high heels, but from what I've seen, high heels sure don't slow down lady dancers.

Dave
 
I too am in the tree gaff camp, Always.

The stubbys feel like they're gonna gaff out all the time, especially on thin barked little tops. With the three inch spikes I can LOOK and reset them as hard as I want when the need arises - comforting when the 200T is screaming in my ear while topping out a 4 inch maple lead in tight quarters with no room for error.
 
I wear both. But around here, short pole gaffs 98% of the time.

I hate when i have to wear tree gaffs, my "shin bones" feel like they get bent and hurt.

I "have" to wear tree gaffs when really thick bark tree, or really rotten tree or thick english ivy.

I usually keep my pole gaffs really dull too. Not that I should, but it's not a big deal to me. I barely stick them into the tree too.
 
I bought a pair of pole gaffs based on a previous thread here and love the feel of em and haven't gaffed out yet. I do have an old pair of permanent tree gaffs and I don't like how they hold my foot off the spar (that made for considerable discomfort for me). Triangulation of gaff and boot help to stabilize me. I'm primarily climbing oaks, maples, poplars, birch, and a few white pines. I also use rope in tandem with spurs for most takedowns so that greatly enhances my margin for error.
 
Each manufacturer has gaffs with different lengths. One company may have pole gaffs that are longer than tree gaffs from another company.

I've never like Klein's because of their configuration. The spikes put my feet out too far from the trunk.

At times I like to use my toe to balance so having the edge of my boot closer to the trunk is better.
 
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The stubbys feel like they're gonna gaff out all the time, especially on thin barked little tops.

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No offense meant here...seems like fear-based decision making. I especially want shorter spikes on thin barked little tops. To each their own.

How deep into the wood do you want your spur to penetrate?

I only step on my spurs like I am climbing a ladder. Some people stomp them in. Once in a while I'll push them in a little harder.
 
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I only step on my spurs like I am climbing a ladder. Some people stomp them in.

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IMO, that's the sign of a "Pro". Looks like they're walkin up a ladder.
Pole gaffs here, 99.9% of the time.
 
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I wear ladies underwear while topping trees. Helps!

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Yeah...me too. But not on the topping

and gaffs are nothing like high heels...

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Frax I'm confused with your reply... are you saying you dont wear your panties while topping? You must have a very happy ground crew!
 
Sorry Frax I didnt read down and see you deleted your post. I was just kidding And hope I didnt cause you any trouble
 
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