straight v twisted spikes

[Ben Saxton]

I ordered a pair of spikes the type with the L shaped leather at the arb show the other week and got a pair of velcro straps thrown in for nothing.The thing is when they've arrived there straight, now i'm new to climbing and have only done spiking on my 38 and 39 i can't remember which i used then. Is there much difference?

[Stephen Blair]

are we talking about the gaff being straight or the shaft being straight? what make are they? do you have a pic?

[Ben Saxton]

there buckingham straight shaft i was just wondering if the twisted shafts were better. there my first one's so i suppose i could buy some new one's in a couple of years its not like im doing loads of dismantaling at the moment

[Steve Bullman]

never understood the need for the twisted shanks. before geckos i used to have buckinghams. i tried a pair of twisted shanks and found them most uncomfortable

[Ben Saxton]

never understood the need for the twisted shanks. before geckos i used to have buckinghams. i tried a pair of twisted shanks and found them most uncomfortable

 

so in your professional opinion do you reckon i'll be just as well off with the straight one's?

[Steve Bullman]

like anything, its down to personal preference, and quite possibly your skeletal structure plays a part too. i climbed on the straights for 8 years with no discomfort.

[Ben Saxton]

nice one i'm sure i'll be fine with them. also i bought a new 200t at the arb show i haven't cut wood with it yet i've had it running but afterwards maybe up to a day it has a little pool of oil under it is that just whats splashed around inside the casing and its seeping out i dont know, whats your opinion? as i dont know whether to send it back

[nuggsy]

check the oil cap is on correctly, the stihl caps can be tempramental (sp)

[Ben Saxton]

its not the cap, i've took the side off and wiped all the oil off then left it, there was a little bit so have wiped it down again and there doesn't seem to be any hopefully it's just excess what come out of the oil feed?

[Ian Flatters]

Twisted shanks are only benificial if they are used with better top strapping (velcro, etc). I must say that i was more impressed with the twisted spikes than straight spikes. The twisted spikes postion the shank more forward towards the stem unlike staright which postion them towards your other spike. Thats about it in a nutshell.

 

P.S most people say twisted are uncomfy with the normal L shape top straps.