Gecko climbers vs Caddy Pads

Ekka · 10th May 2007, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

He's got those bizaar Gecko's.

I haven't climbed on them but tried them on, I dunno, if ya climbed on Bashlin alloys with caddy pads then you'd be able to make a fair comparison.

But I might give them a try on Tuesday on some cocos palms.

And we have video footage.

I gave them a go, and Jim tried the caddies with Bashlin alloys, short gaffs.

Hands down, Bashlin alloys with caddie pads leaves the Geckos for dead.

I found the Gecko's twist on your knee more and the pad of the caddies is better on your shins.

9.7mb WMV video

www.treeworld.info/video/geckos.wmv

JohN Dee · 10th May 2007, 02:43 AM

Great vid. Lol Jim you spoil sport :P

I climb in Steel Buckingham Shorts w/velcro wraps (Comfy as, except my arch aches), I have a set of Longs hanging up in the garage, havn't used them full on yet in a removal... Guess I'll have to get around to it soon eh?

What are the advantages with Shorts vs Longs?

Ekka · 10th May 2007, 02:46 AM

You need to get those caddy pads.

You need long/short gaffs depending on the tree. For example, a chunky ironbark I use longs, a pine tree I use longs, a cuban I use shorts.

But the caddie pads shit on those velcro pads and way cheaper.

http://www.wesspur.com/Spurs/spur_pads.html pads

http://www.wesspur.com/Spurs/spur_accessories.html replacement foam

jim1nz · 10th May 2007, 03:05 AM

Haha yea they were good as, i was just practicing my Aussie accent

I was genuinely surprised, they felt real real solid.

JohN Dee · 10th May 2007, 03:15 AM

What is the difference?

My pads slip over the top of the hook, they have a steel plate inserted in them, then you put them around the wire piece and pull them back to the required tightness. What makes the caddies better?

JohN Dee · 10th May 2007, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim1nz

Haha yea they were good as, i was just practicing my Aussie accent

I was genuinely surprised, they felt real real solid.

Lol I thought you were putting on an accent there

.

Ekka · 10th May 2007, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohN Dee

What is the difference?

My pads slip over the top of the hook, they have a steel plate inserted in them, then you put them around the wire piece and pull them back to the required tightness. What makes the caddies better?

You will find those pads ...

Dig in your shin, perhaps you have inserted a piece of foam or carpet like many.

The shank or shaft of the climbers will try to twist the pad assy toward the back of your calf.

The velcro gets grubby and sticks less as time passes. You will find yourself fixing this up in the tree as time passes

The back of the pad bunches up or is twisted and gets uncomfortable.

The entry angle of the spur isn't quite natural and you'll have to be consciously spiking in.

They cost twice as much as caddies.

----------------------------

Caddie pads are a cast alloy block that simply has no give in it, they're rigid and nothing can move or twist ... rock solid every time.

The inside of the pad is soft foam and very comfortable. You will not feel the steel cutting across your shin bone, when climbing the flat part of your climbers that sits in your arch wont roll over to the edge as the pads keep the shaft of that climber at the side of your leg not behind the calf muscle.

Climb with caddies and you'll never look back. I gave my cinching velcro's away to Brother Colin almost straight after I tried the caddies ... no comparison.

Mike Poor · 23rd May 2007, 10:58 PM

The problem with Geckos is the soft steel they used to make the gaff. Nobody would use junk steel like that for even a butter knife. The pad etc. is the most comfortable of all (even more comfy than buck velcro pads) and very light! I modified mine to fit buck pole gaffs and now they work great. (before they would pop out of lignified dead wood)

reachtreeservice · 31st October 2007, 08:26 PM

Hey Erik, I noticed in the vid you were using what looked like a gibbs on your line with a running bowline. And I didn't see a decending device in the line like in your other vid . What are your reasons for the gibbs and no descender ? Also what are you using for your flipline lanyard adjuster ? Thanks !

Ekka · 31st October 2007, 08:54 PM

I just had 2 lanyards.

One is attached to my centre D's and girthed to the tree loose so if I did slip it would cinch off and hold (I hope).

I often take 2 flip lines when doing palm TD's.

If I need to change over saws I often have a so called "shit rope" hanging from rear of my harness to use for saw swaps.

Why do I do that?

Coz I dont want to bomb crap on my lifeline, I dont want it hanging down the trunk of the palm where I might spike it, it's not wire cored, it's not as easy to do a change-over with it up in the head as not as heavy to flick etc.

Downside, you cant come to ground if you needed to. So I use a lifeline when cleaning palms but not for TD's, I'll come down with the palm when cutting blocks.

Debate/argument: If you needed to come back down on a cinched lifeline (unless you had a figure 8 already) in you'd get stuck anyway. Plus, you shouldn't come down unless the palm is done anyway.

So, for palm TD's I take 2 flip lines. If I think for whatever reason I need to come down then I'll take a lifeline or "shit rope" to pull one up.

reachtreeservice · 31st October 2007, 09:02 PM

Thanks Erik , Are both of your flipline adjusters gibbs? That one on your hip looks differant.

Ekka · 31st October 2007, 09:26 PM

Yeah, that's a Moxham rope adjuster

10th May 2007, 02:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
JohN Dee Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 751	Great vid. Lol Jim you spoil sport :P I climb in Steel Buckingham Shorts w/velcro wraps (Comfy as, except my arch aches), I have a set of Longs hanging up in the garage, havn't used them full on yet in a removal... Guess I'll have to get around to it soon eh? What are the advantages with Shorts vs Longs? __________________ Climber with slow climbing speed, must make up with mighty chainsaw roar. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Red : Green : Blue

10th May 2007, 02:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,943	You need to get those caddy pads. You need long/short gaffs depending on the tree. For example, a chunky ironbark I use longs, a pine tree I use longs, a cuban I use shorts. But the caddie pads shit on those velcro pads and way cheaper. http://www.wesspur.com/Spurs/spur_pads.html pads http://www.wesspur.com/Spurs/spur_accessories.html replacement foam __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

10th May 2007, 03:05 AM	#4 (permalink)
jim1nz Mature tree Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Tauranga, New Zealand Posts: 296	Haha yea they were good as, i was just practicing my Aussie accent I was genuinely surprised, they felt real real solid. __________________ SPEED ALWAYS FOLLOWS TECHNIQUE

10th May 2007, 03:15 AM	#5 (permalink)
JohN Dee Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 751	What is the difference? My pads slip over the top of the hook, they have a steel plate inserted in them, then you put them around the wire piece and pull them back to the required tightness. What makes the caddies better? __________________ Climber with slow climbing speed, must make up with mighty chainsaw roar. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Red : Green : Blue

31st October 2007, 08:26 PM	#9 (permalink)
reachtreeservice Sappling Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: USA Posts: 18	Re: Gecko climbers vs Caddy Pads Hey Erik, I noticed in the vid you were using what looked like a gibbs on your line with a running bowline. And I didn't see a decending device in the line like in your other vid . What are your reasons for the gibbs and no descender ? Also what are you using for your flipline lanyard adjuster ? Thanks !

23rd May 2007, 10:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
Mike Poor Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Urbana, IL,usa Posts: 76	The problem with Geckos is the soft steel they used to make the gaff. Nobody would use junk steel like that for even a butter knife. The pad etc. is the most comfortable of all (even more comfy than buck velcro pads) and very light! I modified mine to fit buck pole gaffs and now they work great. (before they would pop out of lignified dead wood)

31st October 2007, 08:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,943	Re: Gecko climbers vs Caddy Pads I just had 2 lanyards. One is attached to my centre D's and girthed to the tree loose so if I did slip it would cinch off and hold (I hope). I often take 2 flip lines when doing palm TD's. If I need to change over saws I often have a so called "shit rope" hanging from rear of my harness to use for saw swaps. Why do I do that? Coz I dont want to bomb crap on my lifeline, I dont want it hanging down the trunk of the palm where I might spike it, it's not wire cored, it's not as easy to do a change-over with it up in the head as not as heavy to flick etc. Downside, you cant come to ground if you needed to. So I use a lifeline when cleaning palms but not for TD's, I'll come down with the palm when cutting blocks. Debate/argument: If you needed to come back down on a cinched lifeline (unless you had a figure 8 already) in you'd get stuck anyway. Plus, you shouldn't come down unless the palm is done anyway. So, for palm TD's I take 2 flip lines. If I think for whatever reason I need to come down then I'll take a lifeline or "shit rope" to pull one up. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

31st October 2007, 09:02 PM	#11 (permalink)
reachtreeservice Sappling Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: USA Posts: 18	Re: Gecko climbers vs Caddy Pads Thanks Erik , Are both of your flipline adjusters gibbs? That one on your hip looks differant.

31st October 2007, 09:26 PM	#12 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,943	Re: Gecko climbers vs Caddy Pads Yeah, that's a Moxham rope adjuster __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding and Stump Removal Brisbane Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations, Developer, Tree and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

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