Continuous Ridgeline For Hammock?

**blackmagic** · 10-07-2019, 12:18

A hammock suspended from a slackline could open up a wonderful world of opportunities in a place like Havasupai.

**Phantom Grappler** · 10-07-2019, 14:23

Higher up trees can make it easier to pull trees over on you.
Same trees at six feet, strap will have less leverage on trees than thirty feet. And those same trees might be skinnier near tops than just off ground.
Hike your own hike...

Phantom skeeerd of heights...

**wa4chq** · 10-20-2019, 13:56

I've tried the CRL for the hammock and gave up on it. On a side note, I thought it was interesting in the vid that they were drilling into the face of the rock. If it's not their property, isn't that vandalism?

**cmoulder** · 10-20-2019, 16:59

A slackline between 2 trees at typical hammock height is also irresponsible and in some cases dangerous. Damage to tree bark is likely.

**wa4chq** · 10-20-2019, 19:10

Originally Posted by cmoulder

A slackline between 2 trees at typical hammock height is also irresponsible and in some cases dangerous. Damage to tree bark is likely.

If the straps are tight around the trees and I attach a continuous line between them, with a little slack in the line, how will that damage the tree bark?

Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk

**Phantom Grappler** · 10-20-2019, 21:33

I’m not a tree hugger, let my huggers do that.
I think he’s referencing the known exponential increase in forces on suspension as going from a good 30* angle of hang as opposed to suspension being at a shallow angle or almost flat-horizontal (Phantom says horizontical)

Hey, sometimes my hammock ridgeline is spang tight when I’m in hammock.
I figure it’ll all grow back after I’m gone.
Everything will be ok, until my too flat suspension causes tree to fall on my carcass

As seen from side, hammock and suspension should make Happy Face, kinda like a big smile shaped hammock and suspension...

**Baka Dasai** · 10-21-2019, 03:52

I'm a slackliner as well as a hammocker.

Slacklines are rigged tight, and then you jump up and down on them. The forces must be immense compared to lounging in a hammock at 30 deg. I've never had a problem with a tree.

Just for kicks one day I rigged my slackline at about head height, and then attached my hammock to it with a couple of prussik loops. It worked just fine, and I can see it could be a practical solution for hanging when the trees are too far apart.

(But even my 1" lightweight slackline is a heavy beast that I wouldn't be happy carrying for any distance. Car-camping or bike-packing would be ok though.)

As long as you have big strong trees I don't see the problem. Rigging a slackline at that height on a tree is fairly common, and necessary if you're using long/stretchy lines.

**Yarome** · 10-21-2019, 05:09

I used to do a fair bit of vertical camping in my younger years so that vid is, actually, really appealed to me.

What a spectacular view to wake up to!

Where their suspension options are limited I "get it"... but I don't necessarily see how that type of suspension would translate well for "overlanders". Too many better, lighter and simpler options available.

Only thing I might contribute to the thread though for those considering it would be to use a "compression block" rather than a direct prusik.

Basically a round hard rubber "block" cut in half to "sandwich" the strap and then wrap tie your chosen hang line around those. Pretty much negates slippage, preserves the integrity of your straps and doesn't compromise the load rating.

**wa4chq** · 10-21-2019, 14:23

Thanks Phantom.....I'm still having a time visualizing how a slack line between two trees will damage the bark. LOL What about a loose hammock between two trees....does that have the same effect? Maybe a drawing will help me see it..... But I'm still wondering about the effects on the rocks with all the holes drilled into them.....

update:
when they say slackline is that just what they call the suspension they use like in the link to the vid the OP posted?

**Phantom Grappler** · 10-21-2019, 15:43

Wa4chq, there might not be any damage, or no more than a generic hammock would do.
I was parroting what I’d read many times about increased forces on suspensions when angle of hang is changed from 30* to a flatter or horizontal suspension angle.
I believe those charts are correct and the math and physics back up charts. Charts might be available on Hammock Forums somewhere. And possibly in Derek Hansen’s book?

I’m not greatly concerned and over millennia it probably doesn’t make a difference one way or another.

I say, Have fun...enjoy your hammock and slackline and other hobbies...