The number of us that have switched from sleeping in beds like "normies" to sleeping in hammocks full time is growing. The comfort and quality of sleep is unmatched as we all know, and those of us that have made the switch can go on and on about it ad nauseam if given the chance. However, one thing that we really need to really talk about is stress. Not psychological stress, but stress as a result of prolonged use.
The components that make up a simple GE hammock are designed to accept and bear several different forces , from several different directions and at several different amplitudes...... all at the same time. Take one look at the Hang Calculator on TheUltimatehang.com or watch one of Grizz's amazing videos and you will quickly see just how much stress a hammock is really under. Now, for most of the community these stresses are spread out over time , and even with moderate to heavy use outside, your hammocks suspension won't begin to show signs of wear for quite some time if it's taken care of properly. However, a hammock that's main purpose is to replace a bed and/or a piece of furniture will see the these forces with a much greater frequency and potentially over a longer period of time. The result of this increased stress is a far more rapid decrease in the materials strength as they become damaged and over used .
We all know just how strong a 7/64 Amsteel whoopie is, and how it's relatively small diameter transfers the hammocks load to the rest of the suspension and on to the tree. However though , at some point after prolonged use its individual fibers will begin to bind together from the strong opposing forces. As result, the overall diameter will begin to get smaller in some areas from this stress, and in some places it can actually harden and be very difficult to adjust due to the binding that's taken place. The same can occur to a Zing-it or Lash-it RL ,amsteel soft shackle or amsteel continuous loop, causing them to become damaged and potentially unsafe. A whoopie or CL that's attached to a wall or interior stand via a metal hook, biner or other hardware will also become increasingly thinner and damaged where the fibers bend around the hard metal.
SO, how can we protect our rig from becoming potentially unsafe and our suspensions from being damaged? First, REGULARLY inspect each component to check for signs of the fibers beginning to thin or become harder. Next, readjust the whoopies length often if possible to keep sharp bends around metal hardware from creating a weak spot in the fibers and every so often loosen whoopies and CL's that are larks headed together to prevent permanent binding. With each use, pay close attention to a whoopies bury and regularly milk to prevent binding, hardening and potentially dangerous slippage. And lastly , always take a quick look at each individual part of your hammock, suspension and insulation to check for any new or growing signs of wear, it will save you money and a potentially ruined rig in the long run. So in closing, ALWAYS REMEMBER : a worn out RL or whoopie can easily and cheaply be replaced and will potentially keep you and/or your most comfortable & favorite hammock from major damage!
Here are a few pics of what a 4 year old, extremely worn out and potentially dangerous 7/64 Amsteel whoopie from Dutch looks like compared to a brand new, never used CL from HG. You can clearly see the areas that have become thinner or frayed , the dark area where the fibers are hard & tightly bound together at the bottom of the bury where the tail exits, the damage that using a metal eye hook causes over time where the fibers are permanently bent and have become dangerously thin and hardened, and the overall damage that's been done from being used every night over 4 years. The darker areas are where it's become extremely hard with the fibers tightly compressed & bound together. See if you can tell the new Amsteel from the used.... It should be extremely obvious! I will also post ( better) pics of my recently removed worn out Lash-it RL compared to an unused length of Zing-it. The damage that's been done is definitely something to pay close attention to.....
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