GAFF STRAP WRAP

[Jack]

Seems to be a lot more removals this year. I guess the economy made a lot of people neglect their trees until it was too late. So, I'm using climbers a lot more than ever and have been trying to make improvements. I started with the shin pads and took Sean's advice to try as many types as I could borrow.

Then, I wondered if different boot wraps made any difference. Below are six pix of ways to wrap the boot strap. I'm interested in what others do.

Picture 1 is as shown on page 88 in G.F.. Beranek's book (The Fundamentals of General Tree Work, G.F. Beranek, 1998 ).

Picture 2 is how I started climbing and is as shown on page 91.

Picture 3 was taught to me by Don Blair which works best for me.

Pictures 4, 5, & 6 are just 'variations-on-a-theme'.


Picture 1 - wrap boot only (Beranek, p88 )

Picture 2 -wrap boot & frame (Beranek, p91)

Picture 3 - wrap boot & loop 'down' around frame ... my favorite

Picture 4 - wrap boot & loop 'up' around frame

Picture 5 - wrap boot & reverse loop 'down' around frame

Picture 6 - wrap boot & reverse loop 'up' around frame

 

[sotc]

#2

 

[MasterBlaster]

I've always double wrapped the shank.

 

[Burnham]

I'm with Willie...no wrap, strap around the outside of the shank.

 

[Thor's Hammer]

Same here, no2

 

[Koala]

Number 2

 

[Bounce]

#2 for me. I read somewhere (I think Blair's Arborist Equipment) that the purpose of wrapping the shank was to give you some friction to pull against so you could get the ankle strap tighter. But this was only ever necessary because ankle straps didn't used to have the round split ring in them. They were just like the upper straps, so if you used method #2 and tried to pull it tight, it would just slide around your ankle instead. But ever since the current style of ankle straps came out with the split ring, you have the ring to pull against and it is no longer necessary to wrap the strap. In fact, wrapping the strap can create a bulge that presses painfully against the ankle bone on some people.

But there is no right answer. I would say to just use whatever method works the best for you.

 

[Fiddler]

#2

 

[stig]

#2

 

[Burnham]

I'm seeing a trend .

 

[Tucker943]

3

 

[Mr. Sir]

#2

Sheesh, I hate going along with the crowd.

 

[flushcut]

#2 for this guy as well.

 

[woodworkingboy]

2

 

[arborworks1]

I alternate between 2 and 3. Long days on the spikes I will go with 3. Feet seem to feel better like that.

 

[Bermy]

3, started with 2 but they kept coming off the heel...

 

[Burnham]

Tiny feet .

 

[Jed]

#2 with the aluminum shin pads. Guys call them the beer cans, or the Cadillacs. I glued some extra foam into mine, so I got the Escalades baby!

 

[DMc]

#2 The only time I have wrapped the shank is when wearing boots that were not designed for spur work that did not have enough heal to keep hold of the shank.

Dave

 

[SkwerI]

I used method 2 for a short period then went to method 4. I never thought of tucking the strap under the wrap like shown in #3, I just made a wrap around the shank and #4 is how it came out.

 

[Bermy]

Tiny feet .

Ah, yup

 

[C. Kirk]

#3 nice and tight around the ankle. I didn't like the way #2 fit.

 

[CurSedVoyce]

#2.....

 

[treesmith]

#2. Sean mentioned the wrapping as a means to secure the strap (post #7). On my old hooks, which have the slots instead of eyes for the split-ring, I wrap the strap and retuck it through the slot, which locks the strap so's it doesn't move. It has been a while since I've used that pair, so I can't really tell if the split-ring design is any better or not.

 

[flushcut]

Maybe it varies depending on your need for support?