I'm wondering if anyone else has tried this setup I've been playing with. I'm using short tree hugger straps and longer, 7/64" Amsteel line into which I tie a Becket hitch.
I've been looking to lighten my load and one obvious way is to go ditch the full 12' webbing and go for short 4' tree huggers. You make up the extra distance with whoopee slings which are lighter. One issue with that is folks have issues with whoopee slings having a minimum distance though, which can cause them to need to ditch one and connect directly to the tree hugger.
Another common suspension is use a full length tree strap and put a Becket hitch, a marlin spike hitch, or J-bend into the strap around the continuous loop. This provides very lightweight adjustability without the cinch buckle hardware. But the webbing is still heavier per foot than a whoopee sling.
So I've been experimenting with short tree huger straps and a simple length of 7/64" Amsteel with no whoopee sling on it. I just simply tie off a Becket hitch to my continuous loop right in the Amsteel. This is lighter than both the webbing Becket hitch and a whoopee sling. It's also cheaper than both.
I did worry about the Amsteel Becket hitch slipping since the rope is waxy and you don't have flexible webbing binding up against the continuous loop. But upon first tests, it seems really secure.
Anyone have any thoughts? Is it possible this is more common than I think and I'm just late to the party? Is there some good reason more folks aren't doing this?
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