What kind of spurs do you guys use?

I climbed on steel bucks for the first 5 years with either velcro wraps or lether t pads. The next 12 years I climbed on geckos. It was a huge improvement. I recently bought a pair of bashlins with big buck velcro pads. It was an expensive combo, but well worth it. The bashlin/big buck velcro combo is by far the best I have climbed on.
 
I wear a pair of old school Klein’s when I have to put on spurs. If I used them a little more often I would probably buy carbon fiber Geckos.
 
I also climb on Kleins with opsal pads. I’ve also climbed on bucks and geckos. I like the blunt profile of the Klein spurs for soft wood and bark. They have a tendency to peel out on some species, and they just bounce off red oak unless I kick in. So I’m not in love with them. They’re just the spikes I have.
I got to borrow some Bashlins a few years ago, and thought they were pretty bomber, wanted some since, especially for those oaks. Every time @rico waxes on about them, I put a pair in my cart online. Then I think about some current bill coming up and how the Klein/opsals get the job done. It’ll happen.
 
I’ve been wearing buck steels with opsal pads for about 5 years. Heavy but comfy. I’ve tried carbon fiber geckos and love em; mine should be in by the end of the month (woo hoo!).
 
I started out with some old worn out buckiinghams. Wore those things for10 years and just thought agonizing pain was part of being a climber. Then I started looking around and I got a pair of wolf spurs, they didn’t hurt as much but weren’t right either, then I tried Klein’s with the big Velcro pads and I’m totally happy with these. But,, now I’m curious about the lightweight spurs. Just in case I’m missing something.
 
chiselbit said:
I started out with some old worn out buckiinghams. Wore those things for10 years and just thought agonizing pain was part of being a climber. Then I started looking around and I got a pair of wolf spurs, they didn’t hurt as much but weren’t right either, then I tried Klein’s with the big Velcro pads and I’m totally happy with these. But,, now I’m curious about the lightweight spurs. Just in case I’m missing something.
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Light weight has very little to do with comfort chiselbit. I road the earlier non adjustable version of the Gecko CF's for a few weeks. Sure they were light as a feather but the were also a gawd awful design and were anything but comfy. If you like what you got, save your money!
 
chiselbit said:
Are there spur ascenders available for the carbon fiber geckos?
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Yes, a foot ascender is just coming out for the cf distel. It is formalized, but still a slight bit of a workaround... it is attached by a webbing strap that is pancaked between the spike and the stirrup. It hangs loose above it, and is kept from flipping over by a piece of elastic affixed to the ascender that loops around the stirrup. Apparently the performance is good. It might be wooden hand who has it.
 
I guess I’d be curious to see if those geckos are as comfortable as what I have now. But somehow better because they’re lighter. I never really notice my Klein’s being heavy but it’s just a symptom of a gear addiction, always wondering if there’s something better. And I think a little of it is, I look back at the huge difference between the bucks and the Klein’s, what if there’s a big difference like that still waiting for me? Shit. I probably need some intervention.
 
I used steel Klein's for my first 3 years climbing, they worked, but I was way more comfortable when I switched to steel permenant Buckinghams. 12 years later switched to Bashlin aluminum tree gaffs and I'm in love again. Think I'm all set with spurs for the rest of my life. Same caddies on the bucks and bashlin, love em.

@NailerB how's my old Climb Rights? If I remember, you changed the profile of the gaff with a belt sander. Looked more like the straight bashlin and Buckingham gaff after. Looked infinitely better than the blunt spikes that they come with.

Kleins, the point of the gaff is further away from my foot. Made it harder and more awkward to stabilize with my toes or balls of my feet on skinny stuff. Some (but not all) aluminum Geckos have what looks like the same style bent gaff as Klein's, AKA euro gaffs. Not for me.
 
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Steel kleins with big buck pads with the steel insert. They seem fairly comfortable but I'm not in them often, and I dont have any other spurs to compare them to. Recently added a powerscender, certainly worth every penny if your going to try and wear a foot ascender anyways.
 
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