EYE-BALLING distance between trees

[jmouCO]

Hi there!
I'm new to the hammock world, just did my first setup over memorial day weekend.. I'm realizing I'm horrible at eye balling the distance between trees, how do you all gauge that??

Here's what my setup is:
Grand Trunk Single with the original caribiners and the original tree straps.
I have the Kelty Noah Tarp 9x9 (i like to set this up on the diagonal so its around 12ft-13ft diagonally) the tarp is where i have the most trouble..

I am considering either straps and descension rings or whoopie slings. But want to be more familiar with getting it setup first in original form.

Thank you in advance for your input!

JMOUCO

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[pgibson]

You can try to pace off the distance from one tree to the next to get a pretty accurate gauge. If you are hiking and use poles you can use your arms outstretched with the poles to also get a good idea of what sort of span you are looking at from tree to tree. From there with time you will get a better feel for the spacing.

[jmouCO]

You can try to pace off the distance from one tree to the next to get a pretty accurate gauge. If you are hiking and use poles you can use your arms outstretched with the poles to also get a good idea of what sort of span you are looking at from tree to tree. From there with time you will get a better feel for the spacing.

Thanks for the advice pgibson.

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[zukiguy]

Yep, I use my poles. I don't know what the actual distance ends up being (about 14' I think). That's my 6' wingspan + a pair of 4.5' poles - overlap at the grips. I can work with a longer/shorter setup but that's about my sweet spot. My other very scientific approach is just to pace it off. I've got about a 3' stride and change so standing with my back to a tree and stepping off at least 4 steps gets me in the ball park too.

About every time I try and eyeball I end up with the setup a little short.

[Irregularpulse]

I've come to learn my large step is 3'. Worked for me.

[jmouCO]

Yep, I use my poles. I don't know what the actual distance ends up being (about 14' I think). That's my 6' wingspan + a pair of 4.5' poles - overlap at the grips. I can work with a longer/shorter setup but that's about my sweet spot. My other very scientific approach is just to pace it off. I've got about a 3' stride and change so standing with my back to a tree and stepping off at least 4 steps gets me in the ball park too.

About every time I try and eyeball I end up with the setup a little short.

I tried to step it off, and I am able to setup my hammock but then when setting up my Kelty Tarp, i don't have enough distance for the tarp to be tight... I guess I'm going to have to mess with it a lot more.

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[Rain Man]

I've come to learn my large step is 3'. Worked for me.

Exactly.

[Namtrag]

7 not overly exaggerated strides between the two trees seems to work pretty well for me and my 12' tarp. I had a couple I tried to just eyeball, and my tarp had about 3" of space on either end...lol, so now I measure it off.

[rrampage]

some carry a piece of string with markings on one end...

[njsurfer]

I found holding you arms out with hiking poles works great. If you can touch the trees its too close. Honestly though once you hang a few times you will just be able to tell.