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If you want to be a lineman you HAVE to learn how to climb. The only way around this is to be deemed a “bucket baby”. Like the name says, a bucket baby only uses a bucket truck and can’t complete their job if they can’t reach the pole with their bucket truck. Understandably, we all start somewhere. Read on to learn the gear lineman use to climb poles and a few exercises to grow those muscles used for climbing poles.
The Must Have Lineman Pole Climbing Gear Essentials
There are 4 main pieces of gear lineman use when they need to climb a pole- Gaffs, Climbers, a Climbing Belt, and Lineman Boots. These pieces of lineman gear make it possible to do the job. Each item is incredibly important and needs to be reliable because a life is at stake every single time a lineman starts their way up that pole.
The lineman profession was originated in the 1840’s and new equipment has made the profession much more safe. Each piece of gear has many product options and I’ll briefly touch on some of my favorites.
Lineman Gaffs Allow Lineman to Defy Gravity
The lineman gaff is what allows them to climb up the pole. Each gaff is equipped with a small, sharp, steel material that attaches to the climbers. This gaff digs into the wood at a ~16 degree angle and is able to hold the entire body on just one gaff. Step by step the lineman will drive the gaff into the pole while sliding their climbing belt up simultaneously.
This process repeated over and over is what allows lineman to defy gravity and reach working heights on utility poles. Some gaffs are replaceable(what I recommend), but others are not. If not replaceable, they will be welded onto the climber. Replaceable gaffs use screws as attachment fasteners. Depending on the gaffs, change out a couple small screws and your damaged gaffs are now replaced and ready for work.
Buckingham and Bashlin make great replacement gaffs. Buckingham has really innovated and even developed a gaff with Grip tech that digs in the pole exceptionally well, decreasing cut out, keeping lineman safe and secure on the pole. Check with your climbers and the screws before purchasing replacement gaffs to ensure they are compatible. Here are a few gaff options that have developed great reputations or I personally have used:
- Buckingham BuckAlloy Replaceable Dowel and Screw Gaffs (Aluminum Climbers)
- Bashlin Standard Replacement Gaffs (Aluminum & Steel Climbers)
- Buckingham Contoured Shank Dowel and Screw Grip Gaffs (Steel & Titanium Climbers)
If you’re interested in learning more about gaffs and climbers check out this article, The Best Lineman Pole Climbing Gaffs, we discuss some of the best options out there.
The Lineman Climbing Belt, the Most Important Piece of Equipment
I say it’s the most important piece of equipment because it keeps you attached to the pole. The climbing belt not only keeps you safe and hands free from the pole, but it also holds all of your tools and materials. Climbing belts have drastically improved with time and today we have some seriously impressive climbing belts. Some of my favorites are in this article, The 6 Most Comfortable Lineman Belts.
A Bucksqueeze/Fall Restraint is one of the best inventions for lineman
One of the great advances we have had in climbing belts is the invention of the bucksqueeze/fall restraint, the name is interchangeable. The bucksqueeze tightens around the pole the entire way up and down. This safety measure prevents lineman from falling long distances down the pole. I am a big fan of the bucksqueeze and honestly, I don’t know if I would continue in the lineman profession without it. The guys back in the day had some serious balls and confidence. If you’re in the need for a new bucksqueeze check out this article, The Best Fall Restraints of 2022.
The Secondary Safety keeps me stress free at work
Another safety improvement that has been developed for lineman is the secondary safety. As a lineman you will come across existing lines on the poles and you will need to get above them to get to your working position. Before the secondary safety was invented lineman would make sure they were gaffed into the pole, lean forward, undo their belt, place the belt snap hook above the existing line, and then reattach their snap hook to their belt. During that moment of unsnapping and going above and reattaching, the lineman is only held onto the pole by his hands and gaffs, accidents can and have happened in this moment. It’s dangerous, especially if you’re not great at it.
The secondary safety solves that problem. It works like this. You get to the existing line, you attach the secondary safety and then proceed to do everything we mentioned above, then undo your secondary. Using the secondary safety always keeps the lineman supported, hands free. The secondary isn’t quite as safe as a bucksqueeze, but for those few moments of transition it is much more safe than holding onto the pole with one hand. One secondary I recommend is this Buckingham Treblekern Tough Rope.
Why Lineman Boots aren’t just any Ol’ Work Boot
I have spent many days, even weeks, without using a bucket truck. When I first started we only had 1 bucket truck and I was the new lineman so I definitely wasn’t getting the bucket truck. One thing that will aid your feet in these times is having good quality lineman boots. Lineman boots are specifically manufactured with our type of work in mind. They have steel shanks built in the arch to support the feet against the pressure climbers cause.
If you don’t like lacing your boots up, lucky for you they make slip on lineman boots. In this article, A Lineman’s Guide: The Most Comfortable Lineman Boots, I go over some of my favorite lineman boots (2 are slip on). So if you’re in the market for new boots give those options a look and see if any jive with you.
Which Pole Climbing Exercises to Focus on for Success in the Field
If you feel like climbing poles has been kicking you ass, maybe putting in some work in the weight room will benefit you on the job. If you don’t enjoy going to the gym (I don’t, but I still go….sometimes) at least climbing poles is mostly leg work and conditioning. You can concentrate on a few lower body exercises to get good results. Don’t forget the conditioning-some of these poles are tall! 👇🏽
A good baseline for muscles to work includes targeting the hamstring, quadriceps, glutes, and calf muscles. Climbing poles is a lot of pushing off one leg while simultaneously taking a decent size step up. The bigger the step up, the less steps you need to take. Bigger steps are going to require more strength.
Squats are your friend, but I hate em’
A workout involving squats, leg press, and calf raises will develop the necessary muscles. I recommend doing a couple variations of each exercise to target other surrounding muscles in that area. What I mean is try a wide stance when squatting and then move your feet in more narrow and do it like that also. It’s still a squat, but targeting different secondary muscles.
However, I know plenty of lineman that are good climbers and they never do any workouts. That being said, if you’re in a situation like I was where the crew only had 1 bucket truck and 2 lineman AND you WANT to become a good climber, I recommend putting in some work in the weight room to really make your job easier on the body and easier on you throughout the work day.
One last note, don’t under estimate the power of stretching. I feel as though a good stretch is great for lineman since we are placed in awkward positions often, with our feet stationary on the pole. Having your body limber is a great benefit on this job.
Final Words on Lineman Climbing Poles
The lineman profession is a honorable field of work. They keep our electricity and services humming along. With the advances in technology, lineman are able to be more safe now than ever before. The bucksqueeze, secondary safety, climbing belt, gaff and climber, and lineman boots are all important gear that a lineman depends on every time he laces up those boots and starts up that pole.
If you’re looking for a new lineman drill check out this article, 5 Best Impact Drills for Fiber Optic Lineman.
