All You Need To Know About Climbing Gaffs

When you are new in the field of climbing poles and trees, some terms can be quite challenging to understand. In fact, when you try to check all the tools and equipment that are needed and required for safety, you will be overwhelmed. For instance, climbing spurs and climbing gaffs can sometimes be of the same meaning. But, other times, they can be both different.

Linemen would always refer gaffs as the part that sticks to the tree when they are climbing. And normally, they would call their spikes as gaffs as well. And sometimes, they would refer to the whole boot equipment as climbing gaffs too.

Technically, this is correct. But, speaking of gaffs alone, they are simply the metal that provides stability and support. And they can be either long or short. Hence, you could say the gaffs are just a part of a pair of climbing spurs.

Quite confusing right? But, even so, these terms are naturally used by lineworkers and journeyman. So, don’t you worry because when you get to experience what it is like in the field, you will surely get to know how to use these terms properly. Essentially, you can consider these as jargons.

Spurs, Spikes, and Gaffs

What’s the difference between spurs, spikes, and gaffs?

Apparently, these are all the same in a sense that no technicality is being used. You could hear a lineman saying, “my climbing spurs is not sticking” even if he is actually referring to the spikes alone. And you could also hear an apprentice saying “these climbing gaffs are getting old” even if he is actually talking about the whole climbing spurs.

With these things at hand, it can be really confusing for someone who is new to the industry. But, it is important for you to note that there is a huge difference between these parts if you are considering them part by part.

Naturally, a pair of climbing spurs would mean the whole equipment that you will need in climbing a tree. It will consist of the leg strap, shin pad, gaffs, and spikes. Also, the usual materials used in making a pair of climbing spurs are steel, titanium, carbon fiber, and alloy.

As for the gaffs, they are apparently the ones that hold the shin pads and the spikes. As mentioned, it can be either short or long. Today, short gaffs are found to be much more appealing for linemen than the long gaffs. According to experienced climbers and lineworkers, they experience much stability and comfort when gaffs are much shorter. Others, however, would find long gaffs much effective. Nevertheless, the most appropriate length would depend largely on the user.

And speaking of spikes, they are largely the ones that you will need to stick into the tree. But since all climbing gaffs come with the spikes, it is safe to say that gaffs are naturally used to refer to the spikes as well.

Now, these things can be really hard to understand, especially for beginners. But, these will all come easy for you and that’s for sure.