Ever wondered how utility workers can climb a wooden pole without a ladder? The answer is a simple-looking piece of equipment called a climb

Ever wondered how utility workers can climb a wooden pole without a ladder? The answer is a simple-looking piece of equipment called a climbing spike, or gaff. The metal spikes attach to a worker’s boots and bite into the wood as they climb, while a belt and other safety equipment help keep them positioned against the pole. Similar equipment has been used by utility workers and arborists for generations. It looks almost primitive compared with modern climbing technology, but the basic idea is remarkably effective: sometimes the simplest tool is the one that gets the job done.