How many feet?

[bigsilk]

I'm going to make my own straps. 1" webbing good enough? How long should each strap be?

[Tendertoe]

There are many threads on this.

Here's one from a few weeks ago.

As long as your tarp ridgeline can accomodate I say plus carry an Amsteel extender or two to accommodate the random long hang or large diameter tree.

That equals 15 feet a piece for me plus 2 extenders.

One inch webbing is fine. Some folks use 1.5 or even 2 inch but 1 inch is the norm.

[Curmudgeon]

It will depend on how you're using them. How is the rest of your system designed? Are you using straps with climbing rings attached near the hammock, or are you using straps with toggles and whoopie slings? (or something else?)

I have 12' straps which I use with toggles and 6' whoopies. I've hung from some pretty big diameter trees, so I like 12' straps. When hanging from small diameter trees, I have a lot of strap left, which then lets me determine how close to the tree I want my toggle to be. I consider the weight and bulk penalty of a longer strap very worth it.

Usually I end up using the straps as the macro adjustment, and use the whoopies as fine tuning beyond that. It keeps me from having to re-adjust the toggles. On very short tree distances I've removed the whoopies entirely and hung my hammock from my end channel continuous amsteel loops and toggles tied off right at the tree.

For me, flexibility and adjustability are what it's all about.

[nyhiker50]

Here's a way to avoid any surprises. Remember that sometimes the tree you use may "eat" up some of the straps. That means that if you put the strap around a five foot tree you may only end up with less than a foot to hang with. This is why I carry extra long straps of my own making. It might sound like overkill, but if you encounter some large trees or trees that are too far apart that extra length comes in handy. My straps are twenty feet song and that of course gives me a lot of wiggle room. Also, any extra and you can put a marlin spike into it and hang almost anything on it to get them off the ground.

[JollyGreen]

Here's a way to avoid any surprises. Remember that sometimes the tree you use may "eat" up some of the straps. That means that if you put the strap around a five foot tree you may only end up with less than a foot to hang with. This is why I carry extra long straps of my own making. It might sound like overkill, but if you encounter some large trees or trees that are too far apart that extra length comes in handy. My straps are twenty feet song and that of course gives me a lot of wiggle room. Also, any extra and you can put a marlin spike into it and hang almost anything on it to get them off the ground.

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

[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.

[bruinfan]

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.

great idea. thanks
i have 15 ft or more because the trees r big in the sierrAs

[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.

[ShellHammock]

two 12' lengths of 1" webbing do it for me, if I am using cinch buckles. I carry a single Whoopie sling as 'extra' cordage and can use it in a pinch. It really depends where you are doing your hiking and hanging. I have lived in CO high country, and was born in KY, this combo is always adequate.