Tree Climbing Spurs 101

Рет қаралды 31,627

Жыл бұрын

Here's some of the tips that came to mind over the past month while I was thinking about this topic. There's plenty of nuance to climbing with spurs so I hope you can find these tips useful, but there's a lot more to learn.
Here's some tips for buying spurs on a budget that I wanted to include. My personal Klein spurs are valued at about $340 and I would say the average price of a good spur is $500+. I didn't really have any money to spend on spurs so I just kept my eye on Ebay and other online pawn or sale shops where I found my spurs for $140 as a new open box item. If you decide to go the route of starting with pole spikes and upgrading to tree spikes after some experience make sure you don't buy pole shanks. Some irons are made just to have pole spikes in them so if you change to tree spikes they will protrude to far beneath the stirrup of the spur.
My Personal Spurs:
Klein Steel Spurs with ‘T’ Pads
www.wesspur.com/spurs/klein-s...
My Work Spurs:
Bashlin Aluminum Spurs with Straps and Cushion Wrap Pads
www.wesspur.com/spurs/bashlin...

Пікірлер: 69

@stanwood316 2 ай бұрын

Just learning this at 64. This video provides exactly what I needed most without a half hour of commentary on every single point. VERY well done! Thank you so much!

@JackDonald1010 25 күн бұрын

WOW, what and informative video. I was just planning to buy a bunch of climbing gear to keep all dead limbs and live unwanted limbs removed from many post oak, mulberry and black jack oak trees on my property that are not dead and not being removed. What a mistake buying spikes would have been. Thanks for saving me money and my tree thank you. Thank you for the video.

@Billster1955 Жыл бұрын

Thanks man. Lots of good info here. I'm 67 and started climbing last year. I love it. I always have a climb line and ZigZag girth hitched as you've shown here. I have gaffed out on leaners and that left me hanging to far away to get back on top. I was able to get down safely on my climb line. Without it, I would still be hanging there. My problem was the trunk got wider where a big stem was removed and trying to get around that budget made it difficult to dig my spur in properly. Second attempt I set up a ladder just high enough to 12' to get me above that budget. I successfully topped and chucked down the dead 45' leaning oak tree in 3 hours. I love tree work. You're never to old to learn new things. I'll use your video as a good reminder before each climbing season.

@treespicemedia Жыл бұрын

Those odd bulges are a real pain to traverse, I’ve only had two that were so bad that I had to throw in a line instead of spiking past that section. Thank you! It’s great to hear from you, happy climbing!

@frxa2739 Жыл бұрын

thanks for taking the time to make this vid. I had mentioned to you last time that there's very little info on this topic and you helped answer a lot of questions. I really enjoyed the tip to secure your climbing rope in the back of your saddle to keep it away from the spikes, as well as using your lanyard with a munter hitch to help rappel down. thanks again and enjoy your thanksgiving.

@warped2875 Жыл бұрын

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Five Stars. Tons of good info and tips packed into this video. A typical 30 minute video is a bit to long to endure, but taking the time to watch this particular video is well worth it. Easy choice to subscribe.

@house_church 7 ай бұрын

I gave this video a thumbs up before I watched it. This channel NEVER disappoints. Much thanks!

@Billster1955 Жыл бұрын

I also like using a biner and the munter hitch in an emergency. I'll practice that. Thanks again.

@pathoover2786 8 ай бұрын

Getting ready to do my first climb in the morning. Watched a couple other videos, didnt have what i was looking for. You nailed it. Very informative, and i will feel much better about it all. Im in my 60's, so cant take the same chances i used to. Thank you...

@333Paradigm333 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the video! Some additional advice is to buy some velcro bottom straps, they will change your whole spiking experience. I've got the Buckingham's and they are amazing.

@mcauleyman Жыл бұрын

I like using a few stubs near the top of a skinny tree to make it easier to stand expecially when rigging out a top

@jerrym.2648 2 ай бұрын

Best tutorial I've seen! Thanks!

@mehhhhhhhh2215 7 ай бұрын

Hey bud just found this subscribed you gotta be west coast with how chill you are. Keep it up you will definitely get a big channel.

@jacklumber223 Жыл бұрын

Best spur tutorial ever :) thanks brotha

@bryancampbell2197 Жыл бұрын

Most informative video on the subject so far.

@rk24user25 5 ай бұрын

Thanks, great video

@jbbolts Жыл бұрын

I'd just like to add that... at least with the buckingham gaffs I bought, the placement of the spikes is different. the tree gaff spikes are longer and are installed higher on the frames and the pole gaff spikes are installed lower on the frames. the points essentially wind up at the same point ...they line up with the ground when standing in both cases. if you mix and match they wind up higher and lower than the ground. thanks for all your efforts its greatly appreciated!

@treespicemedia Жыл бұрын

Yes! I just found that out when I was editing this video and looking for pictures. I made a note of it in the description, but it’s good to mention it again. From what I’ve seen I think it’s only an issue with lineman companies, I think if you get Geckos with pole gaffs the frames are the same as the tree gaffs.

@Sethhaun78 2 ай бұрын

My eagle talons have pole gaffs and are positioned up high er...never understood tgis..the gaff length shouldn't affect the end point should still be near the ground ..many like buckingham, bashlin others do this same thing ..makes no sense when you step it should be level to the foot..I ordered the tree gaffs for the talons but prefer pole..my kleins are from westech.rigging and are hybrid pole gaff..best I've found they stick perfect.the klein tree gaffs however are goofy bird beak curved looking things..😅😮😢

@YukinagaFinn Жыл бұрын

Brilliant advice. Thank you.

@geomk3 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for the info, very helpful .

@olgatittel 5 ай бұрын

Very informative, easy to follow, thanks 😊

@RedStoneWhite 7 ай бұрын

Very thorough information 🙏

@dako4877 7 ай бұрын

Finally one video i can understand

@toirt-ls6qs 6 ай бұрын

I appreciate your video. I'm using your knowledge to take down a 70 ft tall pine tree in my backyard definitely helped me be safer

@tr33m00nk 10 күн бұрын

OUTSTANDING!

@kduck1009 Ай бұрын

Great video!!

@lancerudy9934 Жыл бұрын

Great video 😊

@timeorspace Жыл бұрын

Great video! I’m heading out my back door to practice spurring on a dead ash stump. I may also try my Grigri on my lanyard’s Secondary end!

@treespicemedia Жыл бұрын

That’s how I ran my lanyard for a long time, I did like having my gri gri for the second side. It feels like it takes up a lot less space than a VT and a micro pulley

@gherosh 3 ай бұрын

Good advises!

@darrenmoore2305 Жыл бұрын

Great video dude. keep it up

@marklam8548 6 ай бұрын

Show a proper sharp spur please.

@buzztoole4751 Жыл бұрын

Very good video but I do question use of regular carabiner in spliced end of your climbing line to choke around tree. That can side load the carabiner or the gate could possibly rub against the tree and become unlocked. They make a carabiner that has a twist to it so that cannot happen. Or there are several other ways to set up a choke type safety line.

@treespicemedia Жыл бұрын

That’s true, I wouldn’t do that for an SRT tie in, but for choking up a tree it’s more than good enough. In most cases it’s probably only weakening the carabiner by 10-30% I would guess due to the large bend radius, whereas, knots do far worse things to rope. So for just spiking up a tree the convenience of just girthing with a carabiner is worth it as far as I’ve seen.

@johnlopez9505 11 ай бұрын

😊 great video

@brandonlunney4915 Жыл бұрын

wow thanks for the valuable info idubbz, never knew you were into arboriculture

@twilightzone7892 10 ай бұрын

Thank you From Pittsburgh , just beginning…👍👍

@dalemeyer8207 Жыл бұрын

Thanks

@tree.walkers Жыл бұрын

Ryan, great thanx for your videos . Each time it takes much more time that im ready to pay for the topic that seems not new for me but never regret by the end!) Seems that you are using dmm perfect O biners by big canopy campout edition. Isn't It?

@treespicemedia Жыл бұрын

Yes they are! Good eye! I love the cause and the color scheme

@tree.walkers Жыл бұрын

@@treespicemedia have you ever register at BCC? I manage the world map there and didn't see your name

@WhySoManyPasswords Жыл бұрын

You love those spurs so much… that you swapped the Velcro ones out for leather straps? Sorry… it was an awesome video. Forgot to say that. I didn’t even know “The Tree Store” was a thing. Is there a National chain or something?

@garengtutorial8923 8 ай бұрын

Keren alat bantu untuk memanjatnya bos. Mantaaappp

@ricardoarrais6910 Жыл бұрын

I haven’t seen people talking about “ momentum” on the leg using spurs sideways. I feel some resistance my bone makes when I use my foot 90 degrees with my body. Have you ever had to deal with this situation?

@brodbroda Жыл бұрын

New climber here, why is it that you need the munter hitch in addition to your friction hitch/device for an emergency descent? Is it that there is not enough friction in the system? Why is that? Great vids too

@treespicemedia Жыл бұрын

Thank you! If you rappel on a single leg of rope the friction hitch is likely to bind and leave you stuck on the rope unless you add some additional friction. The most common would be to use a Rope Wrench above your hitch or a Munter for emergencies or infrequent use. I’ve also seen people do clever things under the hitch that sometimes work.

@pureblood6310 5 ай бұрын

Shank you very much!😂

@Range-X 10 ай бұрын

Thank you. I’m looking to get a pair for a hunting out of a platform. I see a lot of good deals on used pole gaffs, not so much tree gaffs. Do you think I’ll be okay with the shorter ones?

@treespicemedia 10 ай бұрын

I would think you’d be just fine with pole gaffs. I only find them difficult to use in large thick bark trees like very large maples and cottonwoods. If you just climbing a lot of forest grown sugars and poplar to hunt you’ll love pole gaffs

@bobbybook7482 10 ай бұрын

Not recommended to use on trees that are not destined to be cut down. Could introduce disease and decay into the tree. JMO

@CatDaddySteve Жыл бұрын

BUCKSTRAP: Out here in the west coast we call it a Flip Line or Lanyard 😉. Perhaps BUCKSTRAP is a power lineman term coming from Buckingham company ?

@treespicemedia Жыл бұрын

I have no idea, I used to call it a lanyard or flip line, but all my coworkers call it a buckstrap. A decent bit of them were pretty old school logger types that started with fixed length linemen straps as lanyards.

@yackomistses4390 Жыл бұрын

Dzaaaam Steve!!!

@peek5548 Жыл бұрын

Buckingham Tree Squeeze 2.0 is the tree climbing version of the buckstrap.

@Canadaman4403 8 ай бұрын

Can you purchase the gecko aluminum or steel and get both the tree spurs and the pole spurs fit on the same frame? I’ve never used these before but will like to do so to put up tree stands we definitely don’t have any big Cottonwood’s or maple trees here in Alberta Canada primarily Birch Poplar and Spruce I’m not a cross roads as to which one to go for. In your opinion what is more comfortable to climb in tree spurs or pole spurs?

@treespicemedia 8 ай бұрын

Pole spurs are much more comfortable if you don’t have to climb thick bark trees. As far as I know you can buy any shank and put any gaff on it. However some Klein and Buckinham shanks are made specifically for either pole or tree gaffs so they’ll climb minutely different if you switch between. For the species you mention I think the Geckos with pole gaffs would treat you very nicely!

@doughinrichsen1079 5 ай бұрын

Is it normal to have the inside middle of you lower leg bone take all the pressure of your weight and ultimately make the inside of your lower leg pretty sore? It seems to me that the top portion of the spurs right under the knee is taking all of the abuse. Thanks for the video!

@treespicemedia 5 ай бұрын

You might have to adjust it a bit to get it just right, if it’s adjusted too high the pads will rub on your knee too much. You can always set the pads lower, but the closer they are to your knee, three fingers below the bulge of your knee, the less pressure the spurs will put on your shin. Unfortunately not all pads fit people the same and there’s no where you can really try them on, so sometime you get lucky and it works or they just dog your legs. For me personally, Geckos are terrible and the Bashlin Velcro pads were my best experience. Right now I use those pole gaffs in the video as my only spurs and it goes just fine. Not the best, but the shorter gaff makes a huge difference, unless you need them for thicker bark.

@MrPmp317 Жыл бұрын

What is that lanyard adjuster you’re using, a rope man?

@treespicemedia Жыл бұрын

It’s a old Petzl Grillon. I just found it in our old gear at work. It works really well and doesn’t get gummed up by sap very bad.

@timeorspace Жыл бұрын

Thanks, I thought it was a grigri, maybe close enough?

@peek5548 Жыл бұрын

You're side loading the biner, especially on that small tree and the system can't easily repel with a DRT hitch (no rope wrench) on an SRT line. I think a new climber can't go wrong with a buckingham tree squeeze.

@treespicemedia Жыл бұрын

Things like the tree squeeze are a great option but not everybody gets supply with that when they start climbing. This is a system that I see almost every new climber get setup with. I would say depending on tree diameter it is very subjective whether or not you want to consider that side loading. I personally don’t have any issue with temporarily loading a carabiner in that way, it’s nowhere near as severe as side loading over a parapet. Normally you can’t rappel on a DRT hitch but if you use a technique like in the video like adding a munter above or below the hitch it’s very possible.

@timeorspace Жыл бұрын

I also noticed the side loaded carabiner…With many KZfaq climbers, this practice seems too convenient to resist. It seems like Many get away with it and many deem it unsafe. Perhaps there is a middle road? ANSI gates are at least tested in a specific side load geometry.…though trees can provide many varied side load geometries.

@Sethhaun78 8 ай бұрын

@@timeorspace delta link