DIY Heavy duty mule tape bark friendly tree strap and suspension all in one

**Jeff Myers** · 02-10-2016, 16:42

These are my 3/4 mule tape straps. I made a set of these in a 15 foot per strap configuration to hang in a spot I found....
Myself and my three main hammocking friends have been using these for the last year.

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Even at 30 foot span these where awesome. Super stable without all the stretch of the Atlas straps. So I decided to make these and offer them to my hiking buddies..

15 foot was a little much so I went to 11 feet each strap. That way you get 2 more feet of tree handling than most off the shelve stuff and still have a decent weight.

Heavy Duty: 3/4 Mule tape has 2500 pound tensile strength and is nearly wide enough to be a tree strap bit itself. Tubular Nylon is very tough as well and will take all the abuse that tree bark and even rocks can dish out. Armor can slide into position if you are hanging on something super harsh.
lightweight. Even with 4 extra feet of length and using the larger MuleTape these come in lighter than a set of ENO or GrandTruck straps. Also you do not need a carabiner or hook. Just your hammock with loop.
BarkFriendly 1) Mule tape slides within the sleeve instead of grinding on the bark 2) Mule tape is super soft compared to webbing, pressure points are reduced. 3) Tubular webbing is thicker and more compliant and tends to roll and flex where standard webbing will not.

Materials:
2 x 12 foot sections of 3/4 mule tape
2 x 4 foot sections of 1 inch armor aka tubular webbing

Building them...
Seal Mule tape sections with clear tape where you cut it at 12 . Leave tape on until build is done
Tie a perfection loop on each section.
Use a paracord fid or similar DIY tool to pull the two sections through the 4 foot armor sections until perfection loop is closest to the armor

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setup video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_3uGD9B4jI

Bark video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSe4E09EdDw

**Ofemur** · 02-10-2016, 17:19

All that is fine and well, but if the AHJ (authority having jurisdiction) says 1" webbing (or larger), you will be taking these straps down. If you do not have the suspension that the AHJ wants, then you are not hanging there. You will be ok as long as you do not try and hang where your setup will be inspected. Mr. and/or Ms. Ranger will have the final say-so.

**geneaut** · 02-10-2016, 17:43

Originally Posted by Ofemur

All that is fine and well, but if the AHJ (authority having jurisdiction) says 1" webbing (or larger), you will be taking these straps down. If you do not have the suspension that the AHJ wants, then you are not hanging there. You will be ok as long as you do not try and hang where your setup will be inspected. Mr. and/or Ms. Ranger will have the final say-so.

If I read his setup right he has the mule tape inside 1" sleeve of nylon webbing where it will be touching the tree.

**Ofemur** · 02-10-2016, 18:18

As long as it passes inspection.

**matimeo** · 02-14-2016, 01:15

These are awesome straps. Just ordered 100' of 3/4" mule tape from eBay and going to make a set of these. I've been using 1" polyester webbing, but it seems to stretch excessively. Should make for a lighter setup overall, especially since I can lose the carabiners.

**Intimidator** · 02-14-2016, 01:35

Polyester webbing should not be stretching more than 2%... Nylon, however, is normally omitted from hammock suspension due to its stretch under load.

**matimeo** · 02-14-2016, 01:42

Originally Posted by Intimidator

Polyester webbing should not be stretching more than 2%... Nylon, however, is normally omitted from hammock suspension due to its stretch under load.

That may be generally true of polyester webbing, but what I got definitely stretches more.

**Floridahanger** · 02-14-2016, 02:23

The sleeve is just window dressing. It's not load bearing for the full inch that National Forests look for. I hope this works for you but remember to be a good ambassador to hammocks if the Rangers come around. Maybe carry backup 4'x1" straps just in case.

**matimeo** · 02-14-2016, 09:31

Originally Posted by Floridahanger

The sleeve is just window dressing. It's not load bearing for the full inch that National Forests look for. I hope this works for you but remember to be a good ambassador to hammocks if the Rangers come around. Maybe carry backup 4'x1" straps just in case.

I've never heard anyone here in Oregon talking about this being an issue. Anyone in the Pacific Northwest know if there are any regulations like that here?

**Jeff Myers** · 02-23-2016, 21:49

Originally Posted by Intimidator

Polyester webbing should not be stretching more than 2%... Nylon, however, is normally omitted from hammock suspension due to its stretch under load.

Right . But this nylon is not suspension. It is armor that stretches to save the tree and the straps.

Originally Posted by Ofemur

All that is fine and well, but if the AHJ (authority having jurisdiction) says 1" webbing (or larger), you will be taking these straps down. If you do not have the suspension that the AHJ wants, then you are not hanging there. You will be ok as long as you do not try and hang where your setup will be inspected. Mr. and/or Ms. Ranger will have the final say-so.

Non issue. For one i am in Oregon, and for two the tree strap is at 1 inch and just a little over actually.

Originally Posted by Floridahanger

The sleeve is just window dressing. It's not load bearing for the full inch that National Forests look for. I hope this works for you but remember to be a good ambassador to hammocks if the Rangers come around. Maybe carry backup 4'x1" straps just in case.

Far more than window dressing there bud. Still these are a far better setup than 1 inch straps and rope that many are using.