Tree Climbing Spikes

Tree climbing spikes are said to be the most important tool when climbing trees, electricity poles or even telephone poles. These spikes are attached to the climbing shoes in order to enable the climber to get a perfect grip and protect them from falling when climbing a tree or a pole. Tree climbing spikes are normally made of stainless steel and they come in different lengths. There is a unit to mount these spikes to the lower foot and leg of the climber. This usually comprises of a comfortable cushion shell that wraps around the ankle, foot and lower leg of the climber.

The lower part of this unit is left open at the heel and on the front side with juts and a stirrup for supporting the arch of the climber’s foot. The semi flexible part of the cushion shell is wrapped around the lower portion of the climber’s leg and is protected by fast release resistance buckles. On the inner wall of this shell there is a spike mount that releases one set of spikes of variable length for accommodating different types of trees. Tree climbing is something that evokes memories of childhood days and even the magic of that time.

However, for others who have never experienced this kind of time in their childhood days, tree climbing can be a fascination which they find overwhelming. A couple of differences these days are that tree climbing has become a most challenging job and there have been many developments in tree climbing equipment. This includes tree climbing spikes that help a climber when climbing a tree.

Different types of tree climbing spikes

Climbing is regarded as an exciting and courageous sport which requires good technique and skills. There are more risks involved in climbing trees than most other sports. Therefore you should use any safety devices available to help minimize the risk and avoid injury. Spikes are the best possible device to use for climbing trees. If you are interested in climbing trees then you will need devices to make your climbing easier. One vital device is definitely tree climbing spikes. Tree climbing spikes are the tools needed at the time of climbing the tree. They are attached to the climbing shoes to provide a grip for you to attach to the tree.

There are two types of tree climbing spikes available on the market. You will have to decide which type is most preferable to you. They are short and long tree climbing spikes.

Short tree climbing spikes

These type of spikes are especially made for semi thick trees. Short tree climbing spikes are made from steel and are about one inch long. These spikes are favorable for short journeys. Short tree climbing spikes can support a climber up to the weight of 400 pounds.

Long tree climbing spikes

These types of spikes are suitable for trees with wide and thick bark. They provide the climber with comfort by helping to reduce the risk of falling. Long tree climbing spikes allow the climber to scale overhanging branches with minimal damage to the tree.

If you are not experienced with the use of tree climbing spikes, then you should most likely opt for long tree climbing spikes. They will help you in climbing trees of the thickest variety. Tree climbing spikes comes in different varieties and shapes to cater for individual choice. It is crucial to have safe climbing spikes which make the task of tree climbing much easier. There are many benefits of tree climbing spikes. You should analyze your requirements and take time in order to get the right kind of tree climbing spikes for your needs.

How to fit tree climbing spikes

It is necessary to fit the tree climbing spikes before you are planning to climb trees. In order to enable your climb to be easy and safe you should install a perfect set of spikes to your shoes. With the presence of tree climbing spikes you will be able to climb the tree like a monkey. Spikes should be perfectly and efficiently attached to the lower side of the leg. These spikes will be used for gripping by placing them into the tree. With the use of tree climbing spikes you can protect yourself from the risky situation of falling from a tree.

In order to prepare tree climbing spikes, the first step is to determine the length of the lower side of your leg and the width of the area where you are going to put the spikes using approximately 2 inches of fur belt. This will enable you to fit the spikes effectively. You should also keep records of the measurements for future reference. The second step is to cut the steel rod into two equal sizes of 15 inches more than the lower leg length. After cutting the steel rod you will have to grind on the tip of both the rods. After you are finished with pointing the rod, you should be alert of the pointed rod at the time of climbing. If pointed rods are neglected during climbing then you could possibly become injured.

The third step in preparing the spikes for tree climbing is to fix the torch to the rods at a 90 degree angle. Torch rods are very useful during climbing. The steel rod will put the torch at the pointed end which is a better angle for tree climbing. The next step is to attach the leather belts with 4 steel rods of ¼ inch around the ankle. It is crucial to join these steel rods to the leather belts for safety. Protecting the inner leg is the last step of preparing the spikes for tree climbing. For the sake of safety and comfort you have to stitch the leather belts to the pieces of leather for applying a double sheet. This will give a safety side on the part of your leg. All the above steps are very useful for making better tree climbing spikes. You should be very careful during the preparation of tree climbing spikes as people have different needs and preferences when climbing. You should collect all the equipment before beginning your tree climbing journey.

Tips for Choosing Tree Climbing Spikes

If you are a professional climber and required to climb on poles and trees then you will definitely need to wear climbing spikes. These tree climbing spikes are important devices that can be attached to your shoes to help when climbing a tree or pole. The main purpose of tree climbing spikes is to dig holes into the trunk of the tree so that you have a smaller risk of falling or slipping off. These climbing spikes are usually made of stainless steel so that it can penetrate hard into the trunk of the tree. This particular tool is essential when you have no other support other than the tree or when the surface of the tree is smooth which makes it hard for you to hold your grip. By the way, climbing spikes usually come in two different types as mentioned above.

This is why it is necessary to know which type is suitable for you before purchasing a pair. Short tree climbing spikes are generally used to climb trees or poles which are semi thick and are often used by electricity and television companies. However, long tree climbing spikes are of longer grip and are two inches in length making it comfortable for the climber when climbing a tree or pole. If you are planning to climb a tree which has a thick trunk then you should use long tree climbing spikes. These type of spikes are generally used by tree trimmers. By using long spikes tree climbers can easily trim the branches of the tree without causing any damage to the tree.

When climbing power poles and telephone poles you should choose long tree climbing spikes as these poles do not have any bark. When it comes to climbing trees you can use small climbing spikes since these trees usually have thick bark which is reliable support. However there are chances that your spikes can cut out which could hurt you and damage the tree.

Safety Measures to Consider When Climbing

Whenever you are climbing a tree or a pole you must always be careful. Remember that one small mistake can cause you serious injury. Therefore to avoid any casualties you must always consider safety measures. First of all you must have a belt or lanyards that can provide you support if you slip or fall. When climbing a tree using spikes there is a chance that these spikes can injure the tree, especially pine trees. When climbing a pine tree it may cover you entirely with pitch which can cause several injuries to the tree. So in this case it is better to use longer spikes that can cause a less amount of injury to both you and the tree.

People who climb trees and work on them are normally called arborists. There are also people who climb them simply for entertainment. These climbers are called recreational climbers. These recreational, or crazy tree climbers, are becoming rather popular, particularly in Europe. Some of the techniques and equipment used is borrowed from rock or mountain climbing and caving.

Tree climbing spikes play a large role in tree climbing. These climbing spikes are normally considered to damage the trees, however if tree climbers and professional climbers take care then the damage the spikes do can be minimized.