glad you're enjoying them
just to make sure some things are clear:
- the double overhand in dyneema has not been tested that i know of, but based on all the other knots that have been, it is expected to slide out at very marginal loads (probably somewhere around 20% line strength). the test you have found might be interesting, but you need to make sure what material they are made with: there's a huge difference, in terms of behavior with knots, between dyneema and basically anything else out there. for instance the good old bowline will slide at very low loads (under 20% iirc), it only does that in dyneema.
- this design you are using is not inherently secure, so be careful. the double overhand also has the disadvantage (compared to the button knot normally used) that it doesn't have a shape that helps as much with retention. this combined with having a "loose" capture loop means you will have to be really careful with these things, and always double check them before loading them etc
- i don't think anyone break tested this design, if you know otherwise, i'd be very interested in a link to their results.
good news is, there is a much better way (actually, two) to make a stopper knot for a softshackle, without having to learn how to tie the button knot, and this way is almost as simple as tieing a double overhand on a backsplice, but the shape is better (so more secure), and it has been break tested to be strong enough that it is not the weak point of current softshackle designs (so as good as the button knot for the purpose). the method is based on making a splice loop and then putting it through itself (so basically an overhand stopper on a backsplice, one might say, but made in such a way that it's much more safe from sliding open, and it also has no tail sticking out), and alternative method, which results in an even larger stopper, is based on making the small spliced loop, actually making an overhand and then locking it with the spliced loop (i don't like this one because of the difficulty to properly pull it tight)
i am a big fan of softshackles and innovative ones at that, but please be sure you are aware what are the known facts when playing with them, especially for suspending a human. not all soft shackles are created (or designed) equal, and small differences can have a big impact. i don't mean it as discouragement, just be aware
Bookmarks