PSA: Stop babying your climbing spikes with those fancy rubber guards

I spent 6 months swapping between rubber pads on my spikes for delicate removals and it just made them dull faster. Got a tip from an old-timer in Portland to just grind the gaffs sharper before every job and the bark tear is basically the same. Anyone else ditch the rubber and just sharpen more often?

2 comments

2 Comments

morgan.joseph1d ago

Grinding them sharp every job adds up though.

anthonykim19h ago

Grinding them sharp every job" is exactly right. I've burned through way too many sets trying to skip that step, and it never pays off on the next cut.