Tree diameter

[ckfalz]

Is there a general rule of thumb for a minimum tree diameter for hanging? Most trees are easily more than stout enough but from time to time I am faced with one I'm just not too sure about and do not want to do damage.

[pgibson]

I believe that the LNT folks have said 6" minimum. But it does depend on the type of tree as well. Soft woods like Aspen trees will sway and move a good bit even when they are fairly large tree. Last year on one hang in the aspens I did not like how my head end tree swayed under my load so I doubled my strap around that tree and then ran it to a second one a few feet further out but still in line. I then adjusted the load so that both trees were equalized...a climbing term for evening the load between multiple points. Neither was a small tree...8-10" diameter and 40-50 foot tall, but Aspen are a softer wood with a shallower wide spread root system.

[noldhor]

I dont like to hang on smaller trees because sometimes they bend a little and its more difficult to set the hammock...

[rhjanes]

I had to hang off a tree that was just a bit larger than fist sized. IIRC, it was a small oak. I was in a national camp area and sort of "stuck" unless I wanted to tromp down the hill thru the thorns. Anyway, It HUNG fine...but with my weight in it, the tree leaned in and my butt (the UQ) was about 2 inches from the ground when I had the straps up pretty high on the tree. Catch-22 actually, the higher I'd push the tree straps, the thinner the tree becomes, so it keeps leaning more! I found a spot where it was up the tree and my butt wasn't dragging. Zero tree damage the next day. So I look for something at a minimum, of about 8 inches in diameter.

[Twigs]

I heard somewhere strength-wise the tree ought to be at least as thick as your ankle at an absolute minimum. Now if you have tiny ankles, take this into account! Definitely air on the wider side than this - I tend to only use 8" or more in diameter. Obviously this will vary based on the type of tree and the situation, but I have hung without issue between trees about 4-5" in diameter in a pinch.

[ckfalz]

Great comments. Thanks for sharing.

[Ranc0r]

I put my thumbs together and try to wrap my two hands around the tree. If I can make my fingers touch around the tree, it's too small. I prefer a good finger gap, so my butt doesn't hang lower than I think it does.

[somniferous]

I usually aim for trees as wide as my thigh. You can hang on ones thinner, but you will get some sway.

[OCDave]

On occasion the perfectly placed tree is too small or too flexible. It is reasonable to hang from that slightly undersized tree if you can reinforce it by tying back to more robust trees or rocks with that extra tree strap you happen to have in your pack.

I am pretty sure I learned this from a Shug "How-to" video.