ORIGINAL: Jack Ryan
Didn't you say you could get used lineman's gaffs for about the same price?
The cheap ones work. They hurt if you are on them very long and the fatter you are the more they hurt. They more they hurt the harder they are to learn to use and if you don't have somebody who knows how, I'd bet most would give up before they ever get near to where they want to be.
The secret is the lineman's equipment has a longer vertical bar against your leg to give better leverage and spread out the pressure. The cheap ones have a shorter bar there and it will try to twist more.
I'd make a belt and get the better gaffs. With good gaffs you could hunt with no stand at all. They will "eat up" a tree if you climb the same one over and over all season. I wouldn't want somebody climbing a money tree much with them.
The professional ones on ebay are usually going for around $140+ depending on what shape they are in and im not willing to make my own belt when its whats keeping me alive 50' up a tree so I would also need a belt and those were also going for around $100+ And that right there adds up to 2X what the cabelas ones cost and like I said these may get used a couple of times a year for cutting down a tree I have climbing deer stands so I dont need them for hunting. And I cant justify spending $200+ on something I might use 2 times a year its just not in my budget.