Struggling with DISTEL DMM SPURS Advice Needed

[gand]

That's fair enough. I've not used a pair myself. Still got my good old Buckinghams that I can't fault. I've tried the Panther and Notch Gecko variants in short and medium gaff, which I find very comfortable. I've no need for new spikes now though, being retired from climbing like yourself 😉

[Treetom15]

I’ve got the alloy versions of these (minus the clips) and you’re right the gaffs do feel short compared to others out there, and the long ones are horrendously long for anything that isn’t redwoods or something with very thick/soft bark. 
 

I just kept using them until I adjusted to the shorter feeling gaff, slight change in work positioning on a pole etc and just making sure you “kick” them in pretty hard if you’re unsure. Most comfortable spikes I’ve worn so worth the trade off!

[Jamie Jones]

9 hours ago, paddyvero said:

Are you on pole gaffs or those weird euro gaffs Distel make? Id say stick with the long tree gaffs, wont be long before you get used to them. I switched 9yrs ago and never went back to pole gaffs. Or file your long gaffs down until they are 'medium'. 

Pole Gaffs = Short Pikes 43mm
Long Gaffs = Long Spikes

When I ordered them I was told everyone just uses the shout gaffs. As I could not get used to them, I went to the long Gaffs... They were better by I had to keep wrestling to breaking the long gaff out of the trunk because the would get stuck in the tree.

Edited November 3, 2023 by Jamie Jones

[Jamie Jones]

16 minutes ago, Treetom15 said:

I’ve got the alloy versions of these (minus the clips) and you’re right the gaffs do feel short compared to others out there, and the long ones are horrendously long for anything that isn’t redwoods or something with very thick/soft bark. 
 

I just kept using them until I adjusted to the shorter feeling gaff, slight change in work positioning on a pole etc and just making sure you “kick” them in pretty hard if you’re unsure. Most comfortable spikes I’ve worn so worth the trade off!

I agree that they are very comfortable.. But in both Flipping the flivline up and while working they keep gaffing out on the Short gaffs, which is just an accident looking to happen.

[Jamie Jones]

This is how mine Destil DDM Click- Buckle spikes are set up. See Picture
The 'J' Frame angles slightly forward, and the outer edge of the 'J' Frame has the slope angled back for for the heal strap. And this is how I see it set up on all the marketing pictures.

So I am guessing that  is how everyone else has theirs set up ?

Edited November 3, 2023 by Jamie Jones

[Jamie Jones]

***** UP DATE *****

It turns out that I am not the only person having this problem in talking to HoneyBros and other dealers....
As they have now brought out a 3rd option in Spikes. The 'Euro'.

Short = 43mm   
*Euro* = New Spikes, 48mm and angled more outwards
Long =  The Spikes are very long and only really for trees with lots of soft bark.

The new Euro version Spikes, are slightly longer at 48mm and angled more outwards to get the spike further into the tree so it does not slide out of the soft bark trees so easily.
Thanks... I have just had a chat with HoneyBros/TreeKit ..

Having put up a couple of postings on the net and then talking to Honey Brothers Ltd other people have had similar feedback on the short spikes and Gaffing Out and also the long spikes big too long on most UK trees. Distel I've now brought out a third option of spike which is called the: 'Distel Heidelberg Spare Gaff' or Euro Spike as an accessory...

Honey Brothers Ltd put this down to Dorset shop which used to be Treekit where I got my spikes from and they have done me a pair of those new spikes at a discounted price as a good will gesture towards solving the problem.

So a big shout out to them for doing that and hopefully my spikes problem should now be resolved..
 

Edited November 3, 2023 by Jamie Jones

[Steve Bullman]

The euros are horrendous 

[Mark Bolam]

Also illegal here now post-Brexit.

[AHPP]

@Joe Newton

Are you still on long gaffs?

[Mark Bolam]

They look long on him.