Life expectancy of Whoope Sling

**Loneoak** · 08-05-2011, 10:02

How long have you used your whoopie slings. Just wondering when I would need to change them out. Once a year, every 3 years ? I guess it would depend on how often one was to use them also and how they are stored maybe.

thanks

**dragon360** · 08-05-2011, 10:10

I don't really have any set timeline. I can say that i take care of them and most certainly, inspect them thoroughly for any adverse wear and tear. As soon as something not so kosher cathces my eye, rather than risk, I simply switch them out.

**Acer** · 08-05-2011, 10:15

unless you abuse them on trees and excessive roughness,,,do to fraying,,I would say your not going to wear them out for quite a long time..maybe never if you take care of them,,I have had amsteel on my winch now over 4 yrs and used it quite a few times,,and haven't had to change it out period..when you use tree saver straps and have abused it alittle. Even broke a tree strap and rope is still going strong. I like it alot better than aircraft cable.

**gargoyle** · 08-05-2011, 10:18

I have some whoopies that I use on my home hanger and they are going strong at over 6 months of daily use. So for a seldom used set like on a backpack/camping hammock, I would think they would last at least a few years, if not longer.

**Loneoak** · 08-05-2011, 10:20

Originally Posted by cevans

unless you abuse them on trees and excessive roughness,,,do to fraying,,I would say your not going to wear them out for quite a long time..maybe never if you take care of them,,I have had amsteel on my winch now over 4 yrs and used it quite a few times,,and haven't had to change it out period..when you use tree saver straps and have abused it alittle. Even broke a tree strap and rope is still going strong. I like it alot better than aircraft cable.

Funny you should mention ( winch ). Just told my wife this morning, I should order some 1/8 inch for my ATV winch, I think it would work great: rated to 2500 lbs I believe.

**Acer** · 08-05-2011, 13:20

Go bigger than 1/8 as you need to think double of what you might be stuck in..I would go at least 1/4th for the atv. You can always rig your pull with a Z line set up or double or tripple line pull,,increases your pulling power with pulleys

**turnerminator** · 08-05-2011, 13:38

UV exposure will have an effect on them as well as wear.

I read somewhere that a pure Dyneema braid left out in the open for 12 months will lose half its strength due to UV degredation.

I imagine this probably has more effect than mechanical wear.

**pedro** · 08-05-2011, 13:47

The people who are going to know the limits of amsteel longevity are going to be the racing sailors who use it as standing rigging. That's a lot of strain and UV exposure.

WV · 08-05-2011, 13:58

On winches they recommend switching to an aluminum fairlead (roller), perhaps because of heat build-up. This obviously wouldn't be an issue for hammock whoopies.

**pgibson** · 08-05-2011, 14:04

You should generally expect years of use on a well cared for set of amsteel whoopies. But as others above have noted keep and eye on them for wear and tear. Some fuzzing to the amsteel is normal but nicks or bad plucks where a strand gets pulled out of the normal braid should be looked at closely. Replace them as you see the need. They are fairly inexpensive, better to be safe than sore.