Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 26
  1. #1
    New Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Northern Va
    Posts
    46

    Cutting weight in the suspension system

    I am trying to figure out the lightest weight suspension system I can get by with for a 200# person.
    I assume the 1" webbing you get with cam buckle or ratchet straps is about the lightest option for the tree hugger part. I am debating on using that with two silver smc rings as a cinch type buckle, or using one ring with a larks head connected to the hammock with a woopie sling and a toggle on a marlin spike hitch.
    My trouble is I have none of this stuff laying around to weigh.
    Can someone give me an idea of which system I would be able to save the most weight with given the tree huggers are 8' in length when used with the 2smc rings and maybe 6' when used with whoopies, spike hitch and one ring?
    I guess if I knew the weight of the 1" webbing in 6' and 8' lengths that would make this a bit easier.

  2. #2
    Senior Member SmokeHouse's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Arkansas
    Hammock
    my 11' ers
    Tarp
    many of my tarps
    Insulation
    yeti, Incubators
    Suspension
    DIY Whoopie
    Posts
    1,211
    Images
    49
    I use 1" webbing, loops at both ends, 3" arrow shafts each end, 4' lenghts for tree huggers. made the Amsteel 7/64 whoopie sling 7'. saved me 6oz.

  3. #3
    Senior Member Just Jeff's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Charlottesville, VA
    Hammock
    Blackbird
    Tarp
    MacCat Standard
    Insulation
    Winter Yeti, MWUQ4
    Suspension
    Whoopie Slings
    Posts
    7,924
    Images
    32
    Absolute lightest would be a single strand of cord. Make sure you have a way to protect the trees - either a hugger or by putting vertical sticks between the tree and cord.

    Great combination of weight and convenience, IMO, is whoopies and huggers. Very simple and still light.
    “Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall when the wise are banished from the public councils because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded because they flatter the people, in order to betray them.” ~Judge Joseph Story

    - My site: http://www.tothewoods.net/
    - Designer, Jeff's Gear Hammock / Pack Cover by JRB

    IMPOSSIBLE JUST TAKES LONGER

  4. #4
    Senior Member angrysparrow's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    near Memphis, TN
    Hammock
    WB Traveler
    Tarp
    ZPacks CF
    Insulation
    Te-Wa / HG / WB
    Suspension
    Whoopie Hooks
    Posts
    9,646
    Images
    92
    The lightest webbing I'm aware of is from Harbor Freight's yellow polyester ratchet straps, at .179 ounces per foot. There are several alternatives (OWFINC's light polyester [same as ArrowHead's], Warbonnet's Polyester, JRB's Polypro which all weigh about .21oz per foot).

    The rest of the suspension will be as light as possible without any hardware. Cording only.

    The lightest setup that still has a hugger is probably either a Dynaglide whoopie sling or a Dynaglide UCR, with a short tree hugger onto which you tie a marlinspike hitch with a 'trail stick' that you pick up on site. Just hang the sling on the marlinspike hitch knot.
    “I think that when the lies are all told and forgot the truth will be there yet. It dont move about from place to place and it dont change from time to time. You cant corrupt it any more than you can salt salt.” - Cormac McCarthy

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Hudsonville MI
    Hammock
    WB BB 1.1 dbl
    Tarp
    8x10 made by me
    Insulation
    JRB winter UQ/TQ
    Suspension
    Amsteel Whoopies
    Posts
    346
    It's all relative, how much are you willing to spend to shave a couple grams? Would you rather have a little more work to deploy or super simple to set up and adjust?

    I don't think you have to sacrifice adjustability for weight. Whoopie slings is the way to go. Dynaglide whoopie slings are your lightest option. Either make your own or buy them from http://arrowheadequipment.webs.com/a...ategory/270327 or http://shop.whoopieslings.com They even have the weights listed.

    Don't use ratchet strap, most are relatively heavy. Go with 6ft tree straps and a soft shackle made of dynaglide. Both places above also sell the tree straps.

    Don't use any hardware. Even the lightest toggle, clip or biner is heavier than a soft shackle.

    Personally I use whoopies made of amsteel and 23 g carabiners. With arrowhead tree straps. Super easy to deploy, adjust, and stow. I'm happy with it. I've been thinking of getting some dynaglide to play with and some dutch clips to lighten up the biners. Soft shackles work but are hard to deploy or disconnect with one hand or with gloves on. They take a few seconds more to fiddle with.

  6. #6
    Senior Member SGT Rock's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Maryville, TN
    Hammock
    Argon X90 Experimental hammock
    Tarp
    7'x9' cuben tarp
    Insulation
    Pads and quilts
    Suspension
    Kevlar + dynaglide
    Posts
    2,178
    Images
    92
    Quote Originally Posted by Lando View Post
    I am trying to figure out the lightest weight suspension system I can get by with for a 200# person.
    I assume the 1" webbing you get with cam buckle or ratchet straps is about the lightest option for the tree hugger part. I am debating on using that with two silver smc rings as a cinch type buckle, or using one ring with a larks head connected to the hammock with a woopie sling and a toggle on a marlin spike hitch.
    My trouble is I have none of this stuff laying around to weigh.
    Can someone give me an idea of which system I would be able to save the most weight with given the tree huggers are 8' in length when used with the 2smc rings and maybe 6' when used with whoopies, spike hitch and one ring?
    I guess if I knew the weight of the 1" webbing in 6' and 8' lengths that would make this a bit easier.
    My stuff:

    1" straps with loops on both ends 54" long each weigh 19.5 grams each - made from a ratchet strap

    Toggles made from an aluminum Easton scout arrow 1.75" long each weigh 1 gram each.

    UCRs made from Dynaglide and are 57" long weigh 7 grams each.
    NO SNIVELING!
    www.hikinghq.net - Hiking H.Q.
    www.bmtguide.com - the BMT Thru Hiker's Guide

  7. #7
    New Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Northern Va
    Posts
    46
    Quote Originally Posted by SGT Rock View Post
    My stuff:

    1" straps with loops on both ends 54" long each weigh 19.5 grams each - made from a ratchet strap

    Toggles made from an aluminum Easton scout arrow 1.75" long each weigh 1 gram each.

    UCRs made from Dynaglide and are 57" long weigh 7 grams each.
    How are the UCR's connected to the hammock? Through the channel, whipped...?

  8. #8
    Senior Member miisterwright's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Portland,OR
    Hammock
    WBBB
    Tarp
    OES 12 x 10
    Insulation
    JRB Mt.Washington4
    Suspension
    Whoopie/UCR
    Posts
    376
    +1 for whoopies/UCR's and a stick you find in camp for a Marlin Spike hitch.

    Quote Originally Posted by jeepcachr View Post
    Soft shackles work but are hard to deploy or disconnect with one hand or with gloves on. They take a few seconds more to fiddle with.
    Have you tried the ones with a soloman bar instead of a bury. The are way easier to use. I can do them one handed. It's still not as easy as a carabiner or anything, but it's doable. I'm not sure if they are as solid as the ones that use a bury, but I've used them to hang. I make mine with a diamond knot and a soloman bar that begins with a constrictor hitch.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    ~Bryan

  9. #9
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Location
    Hudsonville MI
    Hammock
    WB BB 1.1 dbl
    Tarp
    8x10 made by me
    Insulation
    JRB winter UQ/TQ
    Suspension
    Amsteel Whoopies
    Posts
    346
    Quote Originally Posted by miisterwright View Post
    +1 for whoopies/UCR's and a stick you find in camp for a Marlin Spike hitch.

    Have you tried the ones with a soloman bar instead of a bury. The are way easier to use. I can do them one handed. It's still not as easy as a carabiner or anything, but it's doable. I'm not sure if they are as solid as the ones that use a bury, but I've used them to hang. I make mine with a diamond knot and a soloman bar that begins with a constrictor hitch.
    Why do a marlin spike hitch at all? If your tree strap is to long wrap it around the tree. I don't like searching for a stick that will work. In Michigan if it's on the ground it will probably crumble when you try to use it. Sometimes I have a hard time finding a stick to hang my food with.

    I have not seen the soloman bar style, I like it. I'll have to try that. the only thing I see is there is nothing holding the soloman bar in place. I'd still trust it more than a marlin spike though.

    I prefer biners or clips because I can leave everything attached when I take it down and not leave anything behind or lose anything. It makes for super fast deployment and take down. There's nothing better I like to do than be swinging in my hammock before my buddy gets his tent footprint laid out.

  10. #10
    Senior Member GrizzlyAdams's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Illinois
    Hammock
    GrizzBridge Ariel
    Tarp
    HG Cuben Winter
    Insulation
    DIY UQ
    Posts
    4,777
    Images
    564
    Quote Originally Posted by jeepcachr View Post
    Why do a marlin spike hitch at all? If your tree strap is to long wrap it around the tree. I don't like searching for a stick that will work. In Michigan if it's on the ground it will probably crumble when you try to use it. Sometimes I have a hard time finding a stick to hang my food with.

    I have not seen the soloman bar style, I like it. I'll have to try that. the only thing I see is there is nothing holding the soloman bar in place. I'd still trust it more than a marlin spike though.

    I prefer biners or clips because I can leave everything attached when I take it down and not leave anything behind or lose anything. It makes for super fast deployment and take down. There's nothing better I like to do than be swinging in my hammock before my buddy gets his tent footprint laid out.
    ???

    The soft shackle shown (and by the way, I too am a fan of using a sliding knot to close the loop rather than a bury loop) replaces a carabiner. I don't see that it has any relationship to a Marlin spike hitch, per se. You could use the soft shackle shown at the end of a webbed based suspension system rather than a biner (i.e., wrap the end with the soft shackle around the tree and connect to the webbing on the far side), and have the "single connection set up and take down" that appeals to you.
    Grizz
    (alias ProfessorHammock on youtube)

  • + New Posts
  • Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

    Similar Threads

    1. Quick Set-Up System: Is it worth the weight?
      By MichHiker1 in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 14
      Last Post: 03-06-2014, 08:37
    2. Hammock System weight.
      By Stir Fry in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 8
      Last Post: 08-29-2012, 19:42
    3. total sleep system weight?
      By refund in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 82
      Last Post: 03-20-2011, 13:01
    4. New light weight cold weather system…
      By southmark in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 10
      Last Post: 12-07-2009, 22:55
    5. Yet Another Suspension System--the Alpine Butterfly Suspension (ABS)
      By GrizzlyAdams in forum Suspension Systems, Ridgelines, & Bug Nets
      Replies: 6
      Last Post: 07-02-2008, 19:43

    Tags for this Thread

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •