How many times to wrap a tree strap?

[Sean McC]

I am fairly new to all this. I have 1” straps that I generally wrap at least twice. Sometimes three times which I am starting to doubt myself about. It is sort of a pain to get the end lined up right and if you need to adjust the height it is definitely more difficult. And longer hangs would be very difficult as the height would make multiple wraps complicated.

But more wraps give you a more secure anchor on the tree and reduce pressure. At least in my opinion though reading historical posts, this may be a contentious issue. I view the tree as a pulley if the straps can move freely. I think more block and tackle (with some frictional losses) and each loop is a direct reduction in normal force (1/2, 1/3, 1/4, ...) per strap. Diminishing returns for sure after the first wrap with added annoyance if one needs to change height.

And how much does that pressure reduction matter? I bet it depends on the type of tree a lot. Bark thickness has to matter how much the tree will even notice.

So yeah. What do people do?

I am sort of thinking one extra wrap would make a solid anchor on most trees and be fairly easy to adjust. Though maybe if I am hanging off a good sized conifer just once as the rough bark is going to make for a good anchor.