A Brief Primer on Hammock Suspension Part II : Cord

[Pagansdad]

Why not just carry enough webbing to tie one end to the tree and the other to the hammock? seems like alot of knot tying and extra hardware. I can see your webbing wearing out faster if your doing a long distance hike and using it every day, necessasitating the need for biners or rings.

[ProfessorHammock]

tooldudetony---thanks for responding with your video about the Dutch buckle. Clever device. That said, I'm sticking with the Marlin Spike hitch. I don't lose toggles because I tie them to the strap, see, e.g., "Vertigo : The Hanging of a Bridge Hammock". I'll choose to carry my extra ounce on something that gives me more comfort or more functionality. Hang your own hang, as always.

[NKGMAN]

Thank you Griz for takiing the time to respond. I will definately add that option to my "others". Appreciate all you have posted on here. You have taught me alot.



[NKGMAN]

Excellant information. I have attatched cord (AMSTEEL) at each end of a cheap nylon hammock, but can I use it to tie off to the separate ring set up(at the tree)???? You had mentioned that you would no longer recommend that because it may "pinch" the cord Should I remove the Amsteel and replace it with sosmething else? Thanks again

[ProfessorHammock]

@NKGMAN my suggestion warning applies only to the garda hitch, which involves two rings. Tieing off Amsteel to a single ring, say by a "full turn with two half hitches" or a slippery half hitch with a second bight pulled through the first, is just fine, I use that all the time.

[pr0fet]

Hey Professor, I am attempting to use a hammock for camping for the first time and I was curious what kind of cord you suggest for a 250 pound guy.

[TadTheTinker]

@pr0fet , I use 7/64 Amsteel Blue from Redden Marine. Break strength of 3,000 lbs. (Yes 3 zeros.) That should fix you up.

[TadTheTinker]

@pr0fet , I use 7/64 Amsteel Blue from Redden Marine. Break strength of 3,000 lbs. (Yes 3 zeros.)

[mrgoodwrench76]

Wouldn't slapstraps be faster and easier? I'm sure the weight is comparable too. I like your technique but I have failed to see the point to it.

[ProfessorHammock]

@mrgoodwrench76 slapstraps are undoubtably (1) faster, (2) heavier, (3) prone to stretch in a way that Amsteel or other Dynema-based cord does not. On weight, from the eaglesnestoutfitter website "The Original Slap Strap has a net weight of 12 oz, while the Slap Strap Pro weighs in at 9oz. " A cord based system, complete with polyester tree straps, can come in under 4 oz easily. That and bulk is why I use cord. But hang your own hang, the slapstraps take the ease of use prize. cheers.

[mrgoodwrench76]

@ProfessorHammock I never considered the weight factor. Thank you for pointing that out to me. I'm a pretty big guy and my pack is heavy compared to some but the weight (35lbs ish) dosn't seem to bother me.........yet. I'm sure as I get older my thoughts on that will change. Right now I'm more concerned with speed of setup and takedown. How would your setup compare to mine in that respect? Thank you for your time and information, Great videos!

[CipherNameRaVeN]

I love the videos. Good quality educational videos. Thank you for listing the gear you used and places where to buy them at the end of the video. I did just that; took the info and purchased based of it. Thanks Grizz.

[lilchico4wg]

as someone who is intimidated with knots. Your video does not help with my ignorance. You are tying knots so fast and not really showing how they go. You are also using that 4 oz. cordage you talk about but your hooking it up to heavy duty straps. So why don't you count those thick straps? thank you

[ProfessorHammock]

@lilchico4wg Sorry this video doesn't meet your need. You might think of this then as a pointer of how certain knots are used in hammocking, and then do some additional looking for slower demonstrations. I don't learn knots from vids either, I need step by step pictures. google on "animated knots", it's is a great resource for that. Straps don' have to be heavy. The camo ones I'm showing here weigh about 1 oz for 6 ft. You can easily get by with 4' straps most of the time,.

[coolkayaker1]

Hi Grizz--I adore these videos. I must have watched them all 8-9 times, trying to grab every nuance. I have a current post in the Suspensions section of HF where I ask about the MSH--I could be way off base, but I thought I'd ask it of the more experienced members. Always striving for simplicity in suspensions. Thanks for superb educational videos. CK1

[dbw16d]

what test strength would u recommended for the rope around 600lbs

[jalfrado]

Why don't you recommend the garda hitch anymore?

[ProfessorHammock]

@jalfrado Used on a hammock suspension it pinches the cord very hard. I've seen it break the core of 2.8mm spyderline, and have seen it squash flat the fibers of Amsteel. Perhaps it is fine with thicker cord, e.g., 3.8mm spyderline...but since there are so many other fine ways to fasten the end of a suspension, I just don't recommend risking a failure with the garda hitch.

[jalfrado]

@ProfessorHammock Phew! Per these videos and other hammockforum resources I set up a suspension using the garda hitch with cord. However, I happened to ask the right person the right question and ended up with 3.8 spiderline. Thanks for the information

[OregonBackpacker]

with the decending rings can you use those with the webbing or tie a garda hitch with the webbing.

[ProfessorHammock]

same rings can be used with webbing. It's not a garda hitch so much as it is bringing the webbing through the center of both rings, and then thread it going back the way you came through the two rings. Under tension (and properly pinched "other" side of the rings, this holds

[sraike]

Learning some new tricks here. Thanks!

[blamshiza]

Great video! Thanks for sharing

[astormcrowe]

This is an invaluable tool for anyone getting into hammock camping. Thank you so much ProfessorHammock for taking the time to clarify these knots!

(Stormcrow)