Ax-Men; new series

[JimMartin9999]

Can anyone explain why the west coast guys wear those funny hats?  Don?t  use ear or eye protection and use caulks or calks (hobnails) on their boots?

[isawlogs]

It rains alot over there , so the wide rime hat I think would be a good thing , the spiked boots , well did ya see the hill sides there ... One needs all the help he can get to climb and if walking along the down trees , they should would help . now for the ear/eye thing , personal use I guess .

[chevytaHOE5674]

I wear a full brim skull bucket as they keep the rain and snow off the back of your neck, I also wear caulk boots because it makes walking in the woods soo much easier. Don't have to worry about sliding up and down hills, and can walk on logs without sliding off.

[SwampDonkey]

I wore those type of hard hats out there all the time as well as chaulk boots, as Marcel said repels the rain and keeps you on your feet. Those side hills had soil on top that they termed goose grease, about right. However the hard hats we had out there were not CSA approved and WCB here won't pass them, so the woods safety guys won't allow them. Here what a lot of fellows used on the regular hard hat is a nylon or rubber curtain around the back of the helmet to shed rain. I never bother myself, you get so hot in that humid condition while bush whacking that a little rain down the neck feels nice.  I always wear the chaulks back east here cutting brush and marking strip lines, also goggles with mesh screen and plugs when cutting. Safety guy says goggles and hardhat once you leave the road. ;D

[JimMartin9999]

Thanks.  I´ll buy the brim on the hat  argument although a flap on the back would keep the sun off just as well.  Who wants to be seen as a redneck?
I imagine those  guys spend a lot of time trying to get wood  chips out of their eyes and don´t hear too well.
I wonder, though,  if the caulks have any disadvantages.  I don´t  think I would be welcome in a lot of cafes for example.  If they are so good, why do so few guys in the east use them?

[SwampDonkey]

Probably because of regulations and maybe a little bit about safety training as well. We have to use them when the woods is wet and rainy while thinning. I find that it is easier to walk through slippery slash and with the right boot it is even easier on the feet and knees. If your walking on slippery logs they are real handy, just like a cat. ;D I suppose the caulk boots in the diner is right up there with the barn boots after cleaning out the cattle? ;D

I've seen some guys in the south wear shorts, sneakers, no goggles no plugs or muffs. :D

[captain_crunch]

If you ever wore calk boots you would know why we wear them ain't nothing Ice included slicker than a fir pole with bark skinned off it. Also OSHA requires them. as for the Hard hat USFS personal wear the Wickerbill cap and NO logger wants to be accused of working for the USFS >:( >:( >:( When skid lid gets knocked off face sheild is hard on nose not to mention you ever tried to spit Copenhagen thru one ;D ;D and other than yelling it is not very noisey down in brush