Spur/spike climbing gear

[Andrew Gale]

I had a pair of Gecko ally with the velcro pads top and bottom; had them for 8 years before they got nicked but they had years left in them.

 

Ref flip line, I like the New England 5m with a distel knot; it seems a lot more flexible than the other makes. Personally can't stand the captive grab at the ends so never bought one with that set up.

 

Just a personal thing but I always set by flip line with the distel (and my work position second line) on my left hand side (I'm right handed), this reduces the tail end of the flip line getting in the way of the saw, both chainsaw and silky.

[MattyF]

I didn't replace them as they were worn but because they were stolen !! Just thought I would add that and like Andrews they still had years left in them.

 

 

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[combined tree services]

I have been using aluminium Bashlin spikes for almost ten years , along the was I have tried many different sets of spikes from traditional Buckinghams through to the alloy geco or recently the tree hog spikes but I can honestly say I have not found another set of spikes that are as comfy and well built. Also I think the positioning of the gaff and the angle of the gaff are what make the Bashlin so comfortable and useable . I have had the same set of spikes for 8 years and can't see me having to replace them within the next ten years ( except for bottom straps and gaffs )

Yes they are possibly the most expensive spikes on the market but when it comes to spending upto 8 hours a day in them I personally think that you get what you pay for and with that should come comfort

[treequip]

I have been using aluminium Bashlin spikes for almost ten years , along the was I have tried many different sets of spikes from traditional Buckinghams through to the alloy geco or recently the tree hog spikes but I can honestly say I have not found another set of spikes that are as comfy and well built. Also I think the positioning of the gaff and the angle of the gaff are what make the Bashlin so comfortable and useable . I have had the same set of spikes for 8 years and can't see me having to replace them within the next ten years ( except for bottom straps and gaffs )

Yes they are possibly the most expensive spikes on the market but when it comes to spending upto 8 hours a day in them I personally think that you get what you pay for and with that should come comfort

 

 

 

Same here

 

My Bashlin alloys (shanks) are at least 18 years old. They have seen many replacement gaffs and pads. They are currently sporting Buckingham super wrap top pads (Velcro) and are as good as anything else I have ever tried.

[Riggerbear]

Ditto the above 2 posts regarding alloy bashlins, you won't buy better.

[treeratclimber]

Ditto had my bashlins 10 years with Velcro straps love them would not climb in anything else

 

 

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[Stephen Blair]

I've been wearing Alloy Geckos for over 4 years now, a different class imo.

Previous to that I had hard leg, alloy bashlins, they were good, but not Alloy Gecko Good!!

I'm on my second set of pads now, I've never put a file near the spikes, sharp as a sharp thing.

Flip line I have a 3 m wire core with a clogger, most of the time it's too long in the canopy and a pest, so I use a 2m rope with the same clogger and have a clip on the other end for 1 hand working.

[Coletti]

It amazes me people complaining that the carbons will wear quicker , ally is as soft so must wear quick too, possibly quicker ,I had a set of carbons well over ten years and they were worn but so were the steel kliens they replaced.

 

Carbon fiber is very hard and brittle so you run the risk of chipping/cracking them if you walk around in then where as the ally one will just get indents

 

I would definitely go with the ally ones with velcro top and buckle bottom, don't even know your wearing them. I'd also get a steel core with a captive eye crab on a swivel, I didn't and it can be a bit of a pain having a standard crab floating about in the end