If you’re in a profession that requires you to climb trees and poles, then you definitely need climbing spikes. These are tools that you attach to your shoes in order to help you climb telephone posts, trees and other things with tall stature. They work by digging into the tree trunk or pole so you can reduce the risk of slipping and falling off. These spikes are made of steel so they can effectively penetrate into the bark of the tree. These devices are extremely important when you have no other support other than the tree or pole, or when you are climbing a pole or tree that has a smooth surface.
Choosing the right spike
Climbing spikes come in two types and you need to know which kind you need before you go out and buy a pair. Short tree spikes are about an inch long. They are ordinarily used in climbing tree trunks or telephone poles that are semi-thick. These spikes are mostly used by TV and electricity companies. If someone needs to install a TV antenna or repair a broken power line, these are the spikes being used by the repairman. Long tree spikes are longer by an inch, making them two inches in length. If you’re planning on climbing a tree that has a thick bark like fir, then these are the spikes for you. They are mostly used by men whose job is to trim the tree’s protruding branches without causing damage to the tree itself. Climbers who weigh 400 pounds or more should also use these spikes.
Better safe than sorry
If you’re not sure about the kind of climbing spikes you should buy, then it’s better to go with long tree spikes. Long tree spikes will allow you to climb moderately thick trunks to the thickest ones.
