When I was starting out I read someone saying that 15' straps were the way to go. I almost always have from 3' to 6' extra. Once I only had about 1 1/2' left. I am glad that I had resisted the urge to shorten them.
When I was starting out I read someone saying that 15' straps were the way to go. I almost always have from 3' to 6' extra. Once I only had about 1 1/2' left. I am glad that I had resisted the urge to shorten them.
Nope. Lets see, if you use the method that you double it over and tie a knot it becomes ten feet. If you use only the length and the tree is six feet wide it becomes only fourteen feet. If the trees are far apart the extra length comes in handy. You can use the extra to hang a tarp or hang your pack.
Then you haven't run into a situation where it's getting dark and you can only find a large tree. Measure some of the big ones and see if I'm right. I have some trees here that measure more than six feet. If you want to go crashing around the woods in the dark to find the right trees to hang from, good luck! With my system I have not had many problems. I just hang.
I hike the Catskills and surrounding environs. Plenty of good, old hardwood trees, plenty of them 5' or 6' around, and plenty of those about 13' apart.
I have a feeling this hammock thing's gonna be fun. Where I hike is made of only sharp rocks and trees.
Yo would need a 20' strap if a tree had a 6' diameter ie a circumference a little more than 18'. I have never seen such a tree on the east coast. Where do you camp that you cannot find younger growth woods with trees that average closer to 1-2' diameter trees which at most have a circumference of ~6'?
John aka Suede
Guess I'm the oddball ---my straps are 3ft long, and in 4yrs of hiking I've only had to use my suspension extensions about half a dozen times and most of these have been at HF group hangs (didn't really have a choice or ability to find a suitable choice on hang spots). To each their own, as long as it works for you thats all that matters.
"yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift---thats why its called a present" - Master Oogway
It's always best if your an early riser!
If we are talking straps for rings and straps that's quite a different number than if we are talking whoopies and straps...
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