UPDATED 06/12/08 - CHANGE IN TEXT, PHOTOS KEPT.

 

There's a who lot more to using Climbers than just putting them on and climbing!

 

This Guide contains information on:

The names of climbing tools and the parts of the tool

The two (2) different types of Climbers

What to look for when buying Climbers

How to safely use Climbers

Maintenance Tips

Why I prefer Klein's above all others

 

NAMES OF CLIMBING TOOLS AND THEIR PARTS

The manufactures of Tree and Utility Pole Climbers call them, what else but, Climbers.  Retired, Arborists a.k.a. Lumberjacks like me who used them all day long call them either Tree Spurs or Pole Spurs.  While others call them foot spikes, leg irons, leg spikes, leg hooks, tree stirrups and the list goes on and on.

The names of the parts of Climbers are, from top to bottom.  Calf Pads with Straps or Velcro Wraps.  The height adjustment Sleeve, the Leg Iron, (the part of the Leg Iron that the climber's foot rests on while climbing is called the stirrup) the Ankle Strap with Split Ring, the Gaffs (Spikes) with their connecting bolts (and or pins).  And lastly the hardware bolts and barrel type nuts that secures the Adjustment Sleeve onto the Leg Iron for adjusting the climber to the individual user, if the Climber is the adjustable type.  Some Climbers are fixed and not adjustable for a personal and safe fit.

 

TYPES OF CLIMBERS

There are only two (2) types of Climbers (Spurs).  See photos.  There are Climbers manufactured for climbing Utility Poles #'s 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 9.  And there are Climbers manufactured for climbing Trees #'s 1, 6, 8, 10, and 11.  Although they are not interchangeable and it is very, very unsafe to one for the other, they are very easily distinguished from one another.  Utility Pole Climbers have shorter, straight Gaff's (Spikes) on them while Tree Climbers have much longer, curved Gaffs.  Some models are adjustable for use by people of different heights.  Keeping in mind that a proper fitting Climber is absolutely essential for safe use.  The Sleeve adjustment holes in Klein brand climbers will have one of two different types of size adjustment hardware.  Older model Klein's will have threaded adjustment holes in the Leg Irons while newer ones will have threaded; barrel type nuts that fit into unthreaded holes in the Leg Irons.  I have used both types for years with excellent results.

 

Climbers that were manufactured for climbing Utility Poles generally have either a 1 and 1/2 inch straight Gaff (Spike) or 1 and 9/16ths inch straight Gaff(s) on them (and sometimes slightly longer # 2).

Climbers that were manufactured for Trees generally have a curved, 2 and 3/4 inch (or sometimes longer) Gaffs on them # 1.  Climbers with 2 and 3/4 inch Tree Gaffs are made for climbing tree species with bark thicknesses as found on Mulberry and Maple to Cottonwood tree species.  While Climbers with the 3 inch Gaff or longer (not pictured) are made for climbing Tree species with a much thicker bark on them like the Giant Red Wood Tree species in California, among others.

To correctly measure the Gaffs on a set of Spurs measure the distance from the outside of the tip of the Gaff (Spike) inward and all of the way to the outside of the leg Irons Stirrup (footrest) # 1.  Not the length of the Gaff.

 

WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN A LISTING WHEN BUYING CLIMBERS ON eBay?

New and never used is always nice, but rarely if ever found on eBay.  However, if you want to save some money by buying used and still get a safe pair of climbers to use, look for answers to the following questions in a seller's listing.

PICTURES  Does the listing have bright, in focus pictures and enough of them showing all of the details and the condition of the climbers?  Are any parts of the climbers covered, block, or not shown or out of focus in the pictures?  Are the climbers shown at weird angles or jumbled together that make it difficult to see the physical details, compare or guess the actual type and size of Gaffs the climbers have on them?  If they are I suggest that you go to the next seller's listing because if they can't realize that they are selling on a visual medium and do it right, what else might they not do right?

 

DESCRIPTION  Does the listing have sufficient wording that accurately describes the climber's features and materials?  For instance, are they adjustable for use by people of different heights or are they the lesser safe, one-size-fits-all types?  Keeping in mind that properly fitting Spurs are absolutely essential for safe use.  If they are the adjustable type what are the minimum and maximum Sleeve height adjustments?  Are any of the Sleeve adjustment bolts, nuts or holes striped or re-threaded?  Do they have Leather Pads with Straps or Velcro Wraps?  Do the leather or other parts have any rips, cuts, tears, cracks from dry rot, or mold on them?  If they have Velcro Wraps, is the Velcro worn out?  Do they have interchangeable Gaffs?  Are any of the Gaff bolts, pins, or other parts re-threaded, striped, frozen with rust, cracked, or worn out?  Have the Gaffs been improperly sharpened making them to short and thin for safe use?  Are any parts missing?  In short, are they complete and fully functional, like new?

REMEMBER  When something is sold as is (or otherwise), and if they don't specify, and you don't ask for clarification, you get, or do not get, what you pay for!!

Whenever a listing leaves me guessing for more information needed to make an informed purchase, like weather or not the Gaff bolts are frozen with rust (or any other important information pertinent to what they are selling); I go to the next seller's listing.  If you were selling something on eBay; would you want to spend your time responding to E-mailed questions for information that you should have put in your listing?  Or, would you rather sit back and watch the money roll in because you added all the information that a buyer would ever need to know about your product before biding & buying it?  It makes one wonder, did the seller omit information because they're a "casual seller" or did they omit necessary functionality, descriptive, etc., information hoping that you'll just assume that everything is ok and as it should be and not ask questions?  Do you really want to transact business with that type of seller?  I know I don't!

HOW TO SAFELY USE CLIMBERS

First, use a little common sense and think before climbing!  Always have a least one (1) person with you at all times, and on the ground, in case of accidents or other emergencies.  When deciding what type of apparel to ware think about where you are going after you put your Climber's on, what you intend to do when you get there, and what may happen on the way there.  When Climbing Spurs suddenly fail; people will instinctively try to warp their arms around the Tree or Utility Pole to keep them from falling.  Therefore it is always a good idea to ware a think, long sleeved shirt and long pants when climbing no matter what the season or temperature.  Additionally if climbing a tree to take it down you will also need safety glasses, gloves, hearing protection when using a Bow Saw or Chainsaw, and a hard hat.  Again, use a little common sense in what you are doing.  And know when to stop climbing!

Second, one must ware the proper footwear for climbing safety.  A climber must ware (work type) boots that have a minimum 5/8ths inch heals on them.  Work boot with heals on them prevent the climber's feet from slipping forward and off of the Stirrups (footrest) thus keeping you from falling backwards.  Flat-bottomed footwear without heals, like athletic or street shoes can not be used safely with Climbers.

Properly fitting Climbers are equally important.  To insure that you achieve a proper fit to climber (if they are the adjustable types) measure the distance from the ground to one (1) inch below the bottom of your knee.  The top of the climbers should not be higher than one (1) inch below the bottom of your knees.

 

WHEN CLIMBING A TREE

When climbing a tree look for; dead or loose bark that will give way under stress, knots, and metal that will damage your Gaffs like nails, staples, etc., that will really prevent your gaffs from making proper xylem cell penetration.  Remember, it is the xylem cells (or pulp) of the Tree, that holds the climber's weight and keeps the climber from falling, NOT the Bark of the tree!  When climbing a Tree, make sure that your Gaffs penetrate all of the way through the bark of the tree and sufficiently deep enough into the xylem cells (or pulp) to properly support your weight.  It is for this reason one should never, ever, use Utility Pole Climbers to climb Trees.  The shorter Gaffs on Utility Pole climbers cannot penetrate sufficiently enough through all of the bark on a tree and reach deep enough into the xylem to give you proper support, your gaffs will "cut out" of the bark, and you will fall.

 

WHEN CLIMBING A UTILITY POLE

When climbing a Utility Pole look for dry rotted and loose wood that may give way under stress and metal that will damage your Gaffs like nails, staples, etc.  Also, never ever use Tree Gaffs to climb a Utility Pole.  The excessive stress placed on the Gaff tips that is caused by using them in a way that they were not manufactured and intended to be used can cause the tip of the Tree Gaff to break off inside the Pole and you can suddenly start to fall.

It is always a good idea when climbing either Trees or Utility Poles to use additional safety equipment like a fall arrest harness or when climbing a Utility Pole with at minimum a Lineman's climbing belt or saddle belt in addition to a fall arrest harness.

If you have a set of climbers that have interchangeable Gaffs on them you can use them for climbing either Trees # 1 or Utility Poles # 2 so long as you have the proper Gaffs on them for what you are going to climb, either a Tree or Utility Pole, NOT both.  Remember that Climbers with Tree Gaffs (long & curved looking) are manufactured for climbing Trees.  Climbers with Utility Pole Gaffs (short & straight) are manufactured for climbing Utility Poles.  Some Tree & Utility Pole Climbers are engineered with  interchangeable gaffs for use on both Utility Poles and Trees.  It is very, very unsafe to use one type of Climber or Gaff for the other.

 

PICTURES

# 1 is an example of a "Tree Gaff'.

# 2 is and example of "Utility Pole Gaffs.  Note the Utility Pole Gaff is shorter & straighter and the "Tree Gaff" is longer & curved looking.

# 3 is an example of the inside of a set of Spurs that have interchangeable Gaffs, note the holes in the Gaff Bolts for a "T" wrench.

# 4 is an example of the inside of a set of Spurs that have fixed Gaffs, not interchangeable.

# 5 is an example of "Utility Pole Spurs" with adjustable Sleeves and interchangeable Gaffs.

# 6 is an example of a set of "Tree Spurs" with interchangeable Gaffs.  Again, note the two hex holes in the Gaff bolts.

# 7 is an example of "Utility Pole Spurs" with adjustable Sleeves and interchangeable Gaffs.

# 8 is an example of " Tree Spurs" with interchangeable Gaffs, and adjusted to the minimum and maximum height adjustment settings.

# 9 is an example of a set of "Utility Pole Spurs" with intechangeable Gaffs, adjustable Sleeves, and adjusted to the minimum and maximum height adjustment settings.

# 10 is an example of a set of "Tree Spurs" wth adjustable Sleeves, interchangeable Gaffs, and set to the minimum and and maximum height adjustment settings and worn by a climber with proper foot ware for safe use with climbers.

 

MAINTANANCE TIPS

Tips to prevent stripping hardware on adjustable Climbers and when changing between Tree and Utility Pole Gaffs on climber models that have interchangeable Gaffs.

When removing  the Climber's Sleeve Adjustment Bolts.  Always use a nut driver to turn them, not a screwdriver.

When removing the TORX (brand) hex bolts to change Gaffs.  Always use a T wrench, not an Allen wrench when changing Gaffs, and make sure that your wrench is seated all of the way in, and, to the bottom of of the hole by wiggling the wrench back and forth while pushing down at the same time if need be, before trying to turn the wrench.  If the wrench isn't seated all of the way in and to the bottom of the hole when turned, the hole can be easily stripped.

To achieve and maintain adequate safety, always use:

The proper tool(s) for the job.

Tools that fit you properly.

Tools that are fully functional and in safe working condition.

Never use a dull, damaged, worn out tool or a tool that needs maintenance or repair.

Always take good care of  your climbing tools when storing them by keeping them away from excessive heat or physical damage to them that can be caused by your other tools.

And always personally inspect your climbing tools each and every time before using them to climb.

Replace damaged or worn out parts immediately.

Always use your climbing tools as if your and others peoples life and safety depends on it, because it does!

The information in this Guide all be it helpful, is not to be considered all inclusive of all the safety information that one should know in order to climb safely.  Therefore, it is always a great idea to seek the advice and guidance of an experienced Tree and Utility Pole Climber in addition to the information in this guide BEFORE making your FIRST climb!

For example; an experienced Tree Climber will know which species of Trees allows the Climber to climb out further on a branch of equal size versus another species.

 

 WHY I PREFER KLEIN CLIMBERS ABOVE ALL OTHERS

I have used every make of Tree and Utility Pole climbers out there from Bashlin, Bell System, Buckingham, Klein, Lanco, and Wolf's.  To me, Klein's are the best and safest because they use the best quality materials, workmanship, and safety design engineering.  Klein's have the easiest maintenance and replacement of worn out parts.  And Klein's are safest because they are adjustable for use by people of different heights, remembering that proper fit is essential for safe use.

Even if you over tighten the Sleeve Adjustment Bolts and strip them.  It is infinitely easier to replace the bolts and barrel type nuts than it is to drill all of the Sleeve Adjustment Holes, drill and tap all of the adjustment holes in the Leg Irons, and replace with matching bolts.  Even when the Gaff bolts become frozen tight with rust, Klein's are the easiest to fix if you know how to do it without damaging the Gaffs, Gaff Bolts or Leg Irons.

If you have any questions at all about my Climbers Guide, please feel free to write to me via eBay's mail and I be glad to respond to your query as soon as I can.

I hope my Guide is helpful to all and I wish you happy and safe climbing!

Respectfully,

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