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Minimalist platform

I spend hours on my climbers. I have no comfort issues.
I haven't hunted off of them yet though...
 
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phatkaw said:
I spend hours on my climbers.
I haven't hunted off of them yet though...
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You spend hours in your climbing tree stands? Just wondering what you’re doing if your not hunting. Just watching the deer or other wildlife?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Topdog said:
You don’t have them on right, your lower strap goes above your gaff, not under. Just trying to help a fellow saddle hunter out and keep things safe for others reading.
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Old-timer loggers tip.
Try it, you might like it better that way. I do.

You maybe can't see from the picture but I still go around my heal with the strap too.
It holds the climber tighter to my shoes in all directions that way...
 
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I don’t know what to tell you man but it’s wrong, if it feels more comfortable to you rock on this is America do as you wish, I have worn spurs 25 years for work and been through professional training and certification tests, a lot of people read these threads and learn from them and go home and try stuff and all I am saying is the way you have them on is wrong, just putting it out there for others who are trying to keep things safe, good luck this season and stay safe!
 
phatkaw said:
View attachment 47136
Any of you guys ever just hang out on your spikes?
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I work in the utility industry. Myself and a few of my lineman buddies have done it. If you wear some good steel shank boots it’s fine BUT if you have to more around the tree for a shot it’s too noisy because the spike digging in and the bark falling from the tree. It is not public land legal in most states. I love spikes to get up the tree quickly but I prefer a ring of steps for “minimalist platform”.
 
phatkaw said:
^^^ I meant my climbing spikes ,not climbing tree stand... ;)
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Looks like you cut out a few times in the pic above, so I am curious if you spend hours in them because you are learning or because you do it for a living? We typically refer to the as gafs. Some guys call ‘em hooks. I never heard them called climbers though. I thought that was a generic name for a climbing tree stand too lol so I was confused too.
 
Topdog said:
I don’t know what to tell you man but it’s wrong, if it feels more comfortable to you rock on this is America do as you wish, I have worn spurs 25 years for work and been through professional training and certification tests, a lot of people read these threads and learn from them and go home and try stuff and all I am saying is the way you have them on is wrong, just putting it out there for others who are trying to keep things safe, good luck this season and stay safe!
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I was thinking they were on wrong too but didn’t wanna say anything. I also noticed the long drag of bark underneath the hooks like there was a cut out too. I’m not an old time logger though so I can’t attest to if there was a better way to wear them than how we were taught in climbing school. I guess different strokes for different folks?
 
Fl Canopy Stalker said:
Looks like you cut out a few times in the pic above, so I am curious if you spend hours in them because you are learning or because you do it for a living?
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I’ve climbed up and down that poor tree over a hundred times in the last couple months...
It’s right out in my backyard, close enough to the house that my new ‘ankle bracelet’ doesn’t send an alert.
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Topdog said:
I don’t know what to tell you man but it’s wrong,
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Don’t forget, there’s ALWAYS more than one way to catch a coon.
There is nothing unsafe about strapping them on that way whatsoever.
But I truly appreciate the curtisy call !
 
It’s tough to take a good picture while standing on one foot but look how the strap is pulling the climber up into my arch and the strap is tight all the way around my foot this way.It can’t move anywhere. In my opinion it is an improvement over ‘the book’ way. I think it’s a better mousetrap but hey what do I know?
It works better for ME.
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[QUOTE="Fl Canopy Stalker, post: 522464, member: 19740 We typically refer to the as gafs. Some guys call ‘em hooks. I never heard them called climbers though. I thought that was a generic name for a climbing tree stand too lol so I was confused too.
[/QUOTE]


I'm not the only one who calls them "climbers"...
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I used gafs a while back without a platform. After an hour or so, no matter the footwear, it was too uncomfortable. I was running very high end ones that were wicked comfortable climbing with too. A buddy of mine is an arborist and lent me a set of his favorite ones. Not for me but whatever floats your canoe I guess.
 
phatkaw said:
Fl Canopy Stalker said:
47221[/ATTACH]
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I did not say you were, I said I personally have never heard them called that. As stated I am not an “old school logger”. I’m a utility worker. However I also noticed that the strap in that paper is properly placed around the ankle over the gaf/shank not below it where the strap could be damaged from splintering wood, or where the ankle could potentially roll causing cut outs. You may be on to something with how it is strapped but proper use of equipment should always be the recommendation for safety.
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HuntNorthEast said:
I used gafs a while back without a platform. After an hour or so, no matter the footwear, it was too uncomfortable. I was running very high end ones that were wicked comfortable climbing with too. A buddy of mine is an arborist and lent me a set of his favorite ones. Not for me but whatever floats your canoe I guess.
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I agree it isn’t the most comfortable. It really does require a very good double steel shank boot like a professional tree boot or a linesman boot to stay on gafs for a long period of time. A normal pair of hunting boots or trail shoes aren’t gonna cut it. Otherwise it begins digging into your arch and causing foot cramps. Also it is not quiet enough moving around the tree for shots in my opinion. Great for quick ascension or descending, just not for hunting. You can go minimalist with a ring of steps if you truly want light weight and pack ability over all day comfort.
 
I'm just getting into climbing with climbing spikes. I like it but I don't believe I would leave them on to hunt with. I need to modify mine to make them quieter. I have some property where I will be allowed to use them plus, to be honest, I just wanted them to have for limbing work etc. @Topdog what are your recommendations as far as tree damage with spikes? In your experience, have you seen long term damage due to the use of spikes on live trees? I know you probably use a bucket or SRT up for a tree that you trim that the owner wants to save so you wouldn't gaff up it anyway but do you have any anecdotal experiences with climbing spikes on live trees and subsequent damage as a result? My buddy told me he wouldn't care if I used them on junk trees or timber but I don't want to permanently damage a tree regardless of its timber value. What are your thoughts on this?
 
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