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Tree Spikes - issues climbing with them??!!??

fauxfly

fauxfly

New Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2017
Messages
12
So - pretty new here - love the whole saddle concept - way cool!!

Brand new Klein spikes - (tree spikes - not pole spikes) I've climbed a couple times in them so far and notice that I really have to "grunt" to pull my spike out to take my next step - I'm about 240lbs and these guys are rated up to 300 - so I know I'm not overloading them - is it that they are too sharp?? Is it that I'm climbing some older ash trees and the bark layer is pretty thick - enough to kind of grab my spike and lock it in??

I've watched a few videos on here about climbing - really helpful!!

Any thoughts guys??
 
My guess would be they're really sticking in there. You're a stout dude so those spikes are really biting into the tree. That would be my guess.

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If you have to pull hard, they aren't coming out. Enjoy the safe feeling. If it's a big issue I would change the taper on the spur or even the type of spur. A tree spur sinks in a lot more than a pole or european spur.

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OK - thanks guys - I climbed an old ash tree Sunday and had a heck of a time - I was just curious if there is a trick to them or not. I would plant my foot and then put my weight on them and then need to remove it for the next step and had to really pull/twist to get them out.

Was a really safe and comforting feeling being up 30 or so feet in just minutes and knowing your really secure with spikes sunk in such that I could hardly pull em out!! Lots of fun!!
 
You mentioned that they are brand new; The spurs still have a sharp piercing edge. Couple that with the fact that you aren't fighting in the featherweight division and you get a deep penetrating spur. Keep practicing, you're gonna love this method.
 
I’m a lot bigger than I was last time I really used spikes but I know if you try to take big steps you will sink it in farther. Vary you angle also. Sometimes on a tree that wants to have led onto them I take small steps leaning back a little more than normal then pull myself closer to the tree when pulling them out. Be careful with that one because too much angle the straightening up can cause you to cut out.
 
Are you stabbing the spike in our just placing it and adding weight? That can make a huge difference. Also as previously said, adjusting the grind angle on the spur itself can help too.

I grind mine to be sharper, but you may want to grind yours flatter



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I never climbed an ash tree mostly because there all dead in my area. I know ash is extremely straight grain wood just a guess this maybe why the spur is penetrating deeper and the spur can kinda of get sandwhich in between the grains making it also hard to pull out. Ash splits like a champ because of its straight grains. I would try another type of tree for comparison


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I found that having the spurs strapped nice and tight to my legs helped make it easier to pull them out. If there was a little wiggle room they were harder to pull on. That is one reason I switched to a cam buckle on my feet, I was able to get it tighter.
 
You could always try some lube. It may go in deeper but should slide in and out better.

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A little wax might work as well.

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