Dynaglide vs Amsteel

**Iaspanky** · 04-22-2012, 08:23

Looking at making more whoopies and soft shackles which of the two lines do you guys think is better?

**nothermark** · 04-22-2012, 09:32

Dynaglide or Dyneema? Dynaglide is a 12 strand braid urethane coated 2 mm throw line made by New England rope. It only comes in 2 mm.
Dyneema and Amsteel are the same base material (UHMwPE). Amsteel is a 12 strand hollow braid with a proprietary coating made by Sampson Rope in many sizes. Dyneema rope can be found in many configurations. Sounds like you need to understand what you are asking. ;-)

**gmcttr** · 04-22-2012, 09:42

7/64" Amsteel Blue is 8 strand and has an average breaking strength of 1600 lbs. Larger sizes of Amsteel Blue are 12 strand.

Dynaglide has a tensile strength of 1000 lbs. Or...it's a motorcycle made by Harley Davidson that weighs a ~1000 lbs.

Make your choice on how much of a safety factor you desire.

**bluejeans** · 04-22-2012, 09:46

Originally Posted by nothermark

Dynaglide or Dyneema? Dynaglide is a 12 strand braid urethane coated 2 mm throw line made by New England rope. It only comes in 2 mm.
Dyneema and Amsteel are the same base material (UHMwPE). Amsteel is a 12 strand hollow braid with a proprietary coating made by Sampson Rope in many sizes. Dyneema rope can be found in many configurations. Sounds like you need to understand what you are asking. ;-)

A little harsh? He only asked what was better.

**MAD777** · 04-22-2012, 10:05

Originally Posted by gmcttr

7/64" Amsteel Blue is 8 strand and has an average breaking strength of 1600 lbs. Larger sizes of Amsteel Blue are 12 strand.

Dynaglide has a tensile strength of 1000 lbs. Or...it's a motorcycle made by Harley Davidson that weighs a ~1000 lbs.

Make your choice on how much of a safety factor you desire.

Building on what gmcttr said, a factor of safety of 10 is used where human life is involved.

Assuming you hang your hammock in a "normal" manor, the worst that can happen is a small bruise on your backside and a bit larger bruise to your ego if someone was watching

plus perhaps a night of sleeping on the ground.

It's a personal choice, but let's say a safety factor of 5 is appropriate for such a situation. Then the 7/64" Amsteel would be rated just over 300 pounds whereas Dynaglide would be rated for 200 pounds.

When hammock suspensions are hung at 30 degrees, the load on each line is equal to your weight. So a person weighing 200 pounds would have a safety factor of 5 with Dynaglide and a 300 pound person would have the same safety factor of 5 with 7/64" Amsteel.

I hope this helps put the two in perspective for you.

I weigh 200 pounds and I'm about to switch from 7/64" Amsteel to Dynaglide. But remember, it's a personal choice.

**nothermark** · 04-22-2012, 15:59

Originally Posted by bluejeans

A little harsh? He only asked what was better.

Sorry, it was not intended to be harsh, was intended to be informative. Both will let you fabricate the same things. Dynaglide only comes in 2 mm and is too small for safe use hanging a hammock. Dyneema based 12 strand braid including Amsteel blue in a suitable size is what one wants for hanging a person.

Looking at the next post I see folks moving to Dynaglide to hang and explanations why they think they can do it. My only question is does one save enough grams to chance significant bodily harm if it breaks and you land on a well placed rock or root? YMMV.

**MAD777** · 04-22-2012, 16:13

Originally Posted by nothermark

... My only question is does one save enough grams to chance significant bodily harm if it breaks and you land on a well placed rock or root? YMMV.

Nothermark raises a good point. I plan to be a bit more selective of my hanging sites when I switch to Dynaglide.
Again, back to personal decisions and YMMV stuff. The large majority of folks are hanging on something stronger than Dynaglide. That being said, there are quite a few that successfully use it.

**DemostiX** · 04-22-2012, 16:47

For small increase in weight, < 1 oz for the hammock setup, you get a considerable increase in the margin of breaking strength safety. It does not cost you more $, Amsteel Blue in 7/64" being available by the foot for about $.22@. The difference in strands 8 vs 12 is of no known significance.

It is easier to find Dynaglide in fluorescent colors --orange or yellow -- than it is Amsteel Blue because Dynaglide only comes in them. While yellow Amsteel Blue is rather attractive, imo, fluorescent comes off, in another yellow thow line I have here, as bilious. As in: you notice someone throwing up. Desireable for an arborists throw line.

Amsteel Blue is made in a variety of colors, most of which, except gray, will not be stocked by your dealer, unless the dealer is Redden Marine.

They are both made of the same SK-75 Dyneema fiber. Dynaglide is in the market as a throw line, from which I professionally and personally gather that the stated breaking strength has not been "so rigorously" tested.

Dynaglide is half the weight of Amsteel Blue 7/64". The stuff is already so thin and light that the 50% saving on two whoopie slings will be 3/4 ounce. As the stuff has the density of water, that's also the volume saved. Not YMMV. Exactly.

Finally, some folks are yet more comfortable hanging from 1/8" line, which is still below, but much closer to 1/2 standard climbing-rates strength --as in: share your body between two ropes. You can appreciate from that preference by some why Dynaglide, two steps down in strength, is one step too far for others.