Doing it wrong: Pathfinder school's hammock suspension video.

**RePete** · 07-06-2010, 17:38

If he keeps using dead trees he may soon qualify for a Darwin Award.

**FireFlyburns** · 07-06-2010, 17:57

The Pathfinder School is a wilderness survival/ self reliance school. I don't think they have adjustable straps, Dutch Clips, and Amsteel on their pack list. I think they are showing people how to hang a hammock with regular rope that anyone would have in a backpack, (that will stretch out). I don't think I would trust a figure 9. and I sure there are better methods using regular rope.

**NCPatrick** · 07-06-2010, 18:02

I bet the large figure 9's aren't standard items either, are they?

**RePete** · 07-06-2010, 18:03

He never said that this is an option when all else fails. He is saying this is how to do it. What he is doing is done out of ignorance of how it should be done. Im sure if he knew the proper way he would be happy to do a new video and explain to the viewers how and why he changed to straps and toggles or what ever. He is not a stupid man. He is just guilty of making a video on a topic he never researched.

**FireFlyburns** · 07-06-2010, 18:03

Originally Posted by NCPatrick

I bet the large figure 9's aren't standard items either, are they?

I wouldn't know.

**Mustardman** · 07-06-2010, 18:08

Originally Posted by NCPatrick

I bet the large figure 9's aren't standard items either, are they?

My thoughts exacty. And more importantly, in my eyes, is the complete lack of understanding of the physics behind hanging. Teaching people to yank a hammock as tight as possible was making me facepalm big time. Especially with all the comments of people thanking him.

**RePete** · 07-06-2010, 18:11

Originally Posted by NCPatrick

I bet the large figure 9's aren't standard items either, are they?

Not sure what you mean by standard items. They are made by Nite Ize I pick mine up at Harbor Freight. They come in several sizes at different weight limits. What he had is strong enough to hold him but I would not trust it to not damage the rope given long term use.

**Doctari** · 07-06-2010, 18:13

UM, not impressed.

Seems along the lines of the bad (Poor? dangerous? deadly?) advice offered by Bear Grills.

What I saw: tied to a dead tree, hammock with no sag, I know some have used the large figure 9s (Firewalker for one), but I for one wouldn't hang from them more than one night at most.

The presenter did a good presentation, execution wise, but he did little or no research on how to set up a hammock. And, did a very poor site selection.

**pgibson** · 07-06-2010, 18:21

My Comment from the other thread:

Been thinking about this one for a while and I think it might be good it we flooded our comments onto the video. If they started to see that we as a community were speaking up about the improper techniques shown they may retract the video. They have something in the neigborhood of 21,000 subscribers that are now looking at this as "the way" to hang a hammock. I have read that there are a good number of comments so far but we should flood that comment page with --please go to Hammock Forums to learn how to do it correctly.

My 2 Cents.

Stepping away from the soapbox now