Yes i could, but i had the ridgeline going from 2 carabiners ties off of two continuous loops. They weren't right at the hammock body like it would be on a regular gathered end. So the ridgeline was running above the poles. But if you put the ridgeline right against the hammock you wouldn't be able to use the poles.
I'm not sure what you mean by "straighter". I'm assuming you mean straighter at a diagonal. If that's what you mean, no it didn't really change the lay you would have if you had a good "hangle" without the ridgeline. I wish i could tell you a length and provide some pics, but i've long since sold my clark. I've always liked all the features the clark had to offer, but after owning 3 nx-250's over the years i realized i was sacrificing comfort for features. IMO the clark just isn't long enough.
I've started using a ridgeline in my NX 250, above the hammock and poles. It's great for setting up without adjustments for having the netting sag or be too tight... nearly automatic. It also can help for getting out of the hammock, with a line to grab above, as well as hang other stuff as the interior pockets are pretty small and some stuff will drop too far down in the pockets underneath. More weight, more utility.
I just played with one this weekend actually. On the new NX-250 I bought I've added the SMC Descending Rings for the "Trucker's Hitch Suspension" and decided to give a ridgeline a try between those. Don't know why I did not do that sooner. One of my gripes with the Clark was always the fickleness of setup. I had outings that were really comfortable and then the next outing would be different and something felt 'off'. Then it was also a pain to get the height off the ground I wanted and the angle set right more often than not because of long distance between suitable trees. Just in front-yard testing I can tell this will work nicely. Now it feels the same each time I get in even if I change the suspension attachment height a bit to get up off the ground.
I didn't use any formulas. I just got it adjusted between my trees out front to where it was most comfortable and then ran a line between the rings that was just horizontal with a tiny bit of slack to hold that. I adjusted a bit tighter for stretch and bingo. I could tear it down and set it up the next day and it felt exactly the same which was always more of a process without that ridgeline.
Mine also is several inches above the hoops holding up the netting so it does not interfere. I've got some 750lb dyneema cord coming to replace the completely inadequate clothesline I mocked this up with. May make something similar to the drip rings on my main suspension lines as well since the descending rings this attaches too are often outside the ends of tarp coverage. I plan to keep it setup with a trucker's hitch as well to keep it possible to remove and or adjust later on if needed.
I never needed a ridgeline, but I appreciated having something to hang shoes, lights, etc. from. I just took some extra amsteel and made an extra whoopie that I connect to my anchor points. In the event I have one whoopie break, I have a backup.
I used yellow reflective para cord to make and aftermarket ridge line to hang a light from in my old four bagger Clark Jungle Hammock. It's tied to the anchor lines so that if I were to remove the tarp I'd still keep the same lay/tension.
This is the one thing that was missing out of the NX 270. I always wish I had something overhead just for storage.
I don't think non-Clark owners appreciate how great it is to have storage for larger items like extra clothing and clothes to wear the next morning snugly between the user and an underquilt without sleeping on them. After my last trip (and before the trip next week) I am coming to see the need for more easy-to-reach storage when laying inside the Clark NX-250 with the mosquito netting - weathershield closed.
Here is my current small storage scheme:
- I hang a solar light from a non-structural tarp ridgeline connected just loose enough to the ends of and under the tarp to avoid chaffing the tarp and not crowd the mosquito netting - weathershield or me when sitting in the hammock.
- I hang a neoprene glasses case and my watch from the head end interior loop.
I am skeptical that the interior zippered pockets of a NX-270 would be a good solution for somewhere to store other small items that I might want to use while laying inside the hammock without having to get up:
- The head-end pocket and holster will both hold my headlamp but are both too small to securely hold my phone, especially with a charger, or perhaps a book but I am going to at least mark their outlines with a silver Sharpie to make them visually stand out from the hammock body and easier to find. I may hang an appropriately-sized (so I'm not bumping it with my head) and brightly colored zippered bag from the grab loop.
- Also I'd like to hang spare socks and underwear to finish drying knowing they couldn't wind up on the ground.
Stubby's post from 2016 pasted below is an idea but I would like to avoid slack if it's going to get in the way when sitting in the hammock. It appears that the ridgeline may be adjustable to minimize the problem mentioned? I need to rig up the hammock today to find out.
Brian
(formerly Oblique Angler)
Job 41:1, 2
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