Pogle

Thanks folks just ordered a 16” bar and a couple of chains! 👍

Hi folks, for the last five years I have been using an 024AVS I picked up s/h in VGC which came with a 13” bar. I had intended to get a longer bar but the 13” one has done everything I have asked it to do in keeping me in firewood which is our sole source of heating water in the winter. I’ve recently been invited to help myself to some oaks that came down in last year’s storms and a 13” bar is starting to limit what I can cut. Is an 18” bar going to be too much for an older (but well maintained) smaller capacity saw for cutting hardwood and would a 16” be a better compromise? I believe you can upgrade the 024AVS to 026 spec with a barrel and cylinder swap to get a bit more performance but not ready to do this until I need to. Thanks for help! J

Thanks for all the feedback folks, although tempted by the Treehogs, I went for the Oregon Yukons in the end - I appreciate that neither are likely to be as durable as some of the higher end boots but the 12 month vs 6 month guarantee and the ease of returns with @mazon if the size was wrong swung it in the end. Arrived this morning and size 44 fitted perfectly and I’ve worn them all day today and they’ve been very comfortable. ?

Thanks for Treehog recommendations. How do these go sizewise - I’m normally around a UK 10/10.5 so 44 if they are on the big size or 45 if they are small?

A smallholder here looking for some advice on chainsaw boots for the occasional user - probably 30 plus fullish days a year, woodland and hedge management and firewood collection. Pretty much always use safety boots of one type or another for most jobs - much to the bemusement of my neighbour, a 70 plus year old “proper” farmer and former national hedgelaying champion who wears crocs or normal wellies and who probably thinks that PPE is some kind of insurance! Although I have the full array of (budget) PPE for use with the chainsaw (a venerable Stihl 024AVS) I had always assumed that chainsaw rated boots started at £250 plus but have recently realised that sub £100 boots are available. Recently been getting a funny feeling in my toes after looking at a post on a FB group of someone’s saw vs foot injuries and feel the need to improve my PPE. Looking at the Oregon Yukon boots at £50 for the class 3 orange wellies which seem to offer the best protection at the expense of comfort and breatheablity - I have other toe-capped wellies so no use other than chainsawing. https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Oregon-295385-43-Chainsaw-Protective/dp/B013KOGMG8/ref=pd_ybh_a_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=GAWMY9BKBX59F9BP0DRN or the confusingly also named Oregon Yukon class 1 leather boots at £80, which look comfortable enough to wear as normal safety boots but have less protection. https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Oregon-Leather-Chainsaw-Protective-42/dp/B0723GB188/ref=pd_di_sccai_1/260-0454472-1142404?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B071W4X21W&pd_rd_r=c685fa1c-006e-416e-bf88-6b98151b5f31&pd_rd_w=OGUjV&pd_rd_wg=6qOFn&pf_rd_p=4d243aa6-d88e-4de2-9cbb-cd5cf6bb2669&pf_rd_r=MWDTG95BNXS0JN9VY7XZ&refRID=MWDTG95BNXS0JN9VY7XZ&th=1 What is the practical difference between Class 1 and Class 3 for the type of saw I am using and how far up and around the top and sides of the boot does the protection go? The ratings seem to relate to the toe caps but it is not much use having you toes safely protected in a nice toecap if the toecap is not attached to the boot! Are gaiters a sensible addition (or possibly an alternative, if used with standard safety boots), to rated boots. Thanks for any advice - in anticipation of the (very sound) advice to do a course, maybe one day but not an option at the moment and in my defence, I am old and grey enough to have a decent understanding of risks and to have a decent self preservation instinct - which I know will be of little interest to the staff at A&E!