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Old school climbing spikes vs modern ones... not even close
I started out using those heavy steel spikes back in the late 90s in Portland, the kind that weigh a ton and chew up bark like a beaver. Last week I finally tried a pair of aluminum ones with replaceable gaffs on a big red oak removal in Salem. After the first climb I could feel a huge difference in my legs the next morning, way less sore. Anyone else made the switch and noticed how much easier it is on your knees over a 10 hour day?
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the_joseph2mo ago
Honestly, wait, you climbed with those old steel spikes in the 90s? Dude, no way. That's wild to me. I started climbing in like 2010 right when aluminum was getting popular and even then I heard horror stories about the old gear. Tbh I can't even imagine wrestling a 10 hour day with those heavy things on your legs. My knees are bad enough as it is with the newer stuff. Ngl, makes me respect you old school guys a lot more.
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caleb_thomas931mo ago
Lucaslee saved 2-3 pounds off his knees that day, but those 10 hour climbs with steel spikes were a different breed of tough. My buddy still talks about drilling into old growth redwood with those things, said it felt like the rope was trying to pull your legs off.
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