How many feet?

[old4hats]

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.

[nyhiker50]

(2) - twenty foot long straps? Is that a typo?

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.

[nyhiker50]

20 sounds like overkill. I have never run into a problem when my 9-fters weren't sufficient

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.

[bigsilk]

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.

[Suede]

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.

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'?

[Zilla]

(2) - twenty foot long straps? Is that a typo?

Sounds like the boy scout motto on steroids, but hey whatever make you happy, isnt that what its all about anyway? if your partner loses theirs you can allways cut them in half and share...

[JollyGreen]

Sounds like the boy scout motto on steroids, but hey whatever make you happy, isnt that what its all about anyway? if your partner loses theirs you can allways cut them in half and share...

I guess, but with that theory if you carried twice as much as you need of everything you carry, your pack would weigh 50lbs.

[Zilla]

I guess, but with that theory if you carried twice as much as you need of everything you carry, your pack would weigh 50lbs.

Good point, you would need a mule...

[Cranky Bear]

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.

[Tendertoe]

If we are talking straps for rings and straps that's quite a different number than if we are talking whoopies and straps...