Hanger Down!!! I repeat, we have a hanger down...

**MadUncleAndy** · 06-23-2017, 20:42

For the first time in the five years of hangin', had a close encounter of the Earth-Kiester kind. Here's what happend.

I've been using the Marlin Spike Hitch for about five years, and not an issue. Today I used some quickly mace (cut from carbon fibre arrow shaft) toggles that were not entirely perfect. In cutting them too quickly, a strip got pulled out of the shaft of one. Like a DarnedFool (TM) I hung in it anyway, having a way cool new toy to play with.

It crumpled like a ...well...the only analogy I can think of isn't 100% family friendly, so it crumpled like something that crumples easily. :-P I'm okay...sore back and hurt pride, but if anyone can learn from this, let 'em. If you use an arrow shaft, don't have a weak spot on the bit keeping your tuchas off the ground. If it goes "crunch" you will make a similar sound.

Good night, and God Bless.
Andy

**Phantom Grappler** · 06-23-2017, 21:18

When I had whoopie slings, I used climbing rated carabiners as toggles. Whoopie adjustable loop got clipped into carabiners to try to make it less likely to fail-fall. I just got some Dutch dyneema blue straps to try with my Kokomo suspension. Stuff happens--and I can get dropped on my gourd and ash-can.
MadUncleAndy I'm glad you lived to tell the tale.

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**TrailSlug** · 06-23-2017, 21:25

Live and learn. The good thing is you're ok and you can get up and go at it again. It's still better than sleeping down there

**Dutch** · 06-23-2017, 22:26

It is good to be reminded now and again that the ground is very uncomfortable.

**ChrisJHC** · 06-24-2017, 04:56

I thought the idea was that the toggle was only there to stop the MSH from coming undone. There should be no weight on the toggle.

I've certainly used small sticks (about finger width but longer) for the toggle and never had a problem. In fact, it's amusing to see non-hanger's faces when they think that you're hanging from such a small stick when you're really hanging from the knot.

Every time I set up, I hear Shug's voice telling me to "put the whoopie around the knot, not the toggle"..

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**Rex Clifton** · 06-24-2017, 06:04

That's a 10-00! All units please respond!

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**gmcttr** · 06-24-2017, 08:36

Originally Posted by ChrisJHC

I thought the idea was that the toggle was only there to stop the MSH from coming undone. There should be no weight on the toggle.....

While there is "no weight on the toggle", the knot does put high compressive force on the carbon fiber arrow shafts in the direction they have the least strength (some do better than others).

**MadUncleAndy** · 06-24-2017, 08:42

Originally Posted by ChrisJHC

I thought the idea was that the toggle was only there to stop the MSH from coming undone. There should be no weight on the toggle.

That's right, but there are some compressing forces. The hitch squeezes the toggle a bit. To see what I mean, use your finger or a soda straw as a toggle and tug slightly on tour CL (don't load fully, of course ) This sort of force is easily resisted by, as you say, small sticks. My problem was I used a hollow arrow shaft with a significant weakness at one point in the circumference where a chunk of carbon fiber didn't cut properly and came out. Kinda like that old eggshell trick.

But yeah, easily fixed and writing this from the same hammock. ☺

**Shug** · 06-24-2017, 09:10

I tried an arrowshaft toggle someone gave me. I hung on the knot and not on the toggle. The arrowshaft failed after a couple of hangs. Crushed by the forces that be.
So I stick with my aluminium 7/11 straw toggles.
Shug