Backcountry Forum
Backpacking & Hiking Gear

Backcountry Forum
Our long-time Sponsor - the leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear
 
 
 

Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#148202 - 03/23/11 09:31 PM Making a hammock - need straps
Steadman Offline
member

Registered: 09/17/09
Posts: 514
Loc: Virginia
I'm making a hammock following one of Phat's suggestions. The cheap test went well enough to proceed to a final model, but I'm having an issue with the straps. The cheap nylon straps we got from the sewing store stretch quite a bit, landing me on the ground when I tie off at just above waist hight - I have to tie off at chest hight to stay off the ground.

Does anyone know if strapping used for climbing like:

http://www.brms.com/sterling-rope-1-in-tubular-webbing

or this:

http://www.rei.com/product/610111

also stretches?

I could buy poly webbing from Speer, but that's 80cents/foot, and then I might as well buy finished straps at that cost.


Edited by Steadman (03/23/11 10:02 PM)

Top
#148206 - 03/23/11 10:25 PM Re: Making a hammock - need straps [Re: Steadman]
lori Offline
member

Registered: 01/22/08
Posts: 2801
Yes, it does. It's nylon too. All nylon stretches too much for hammock suspension use even though that's what ENO will give you.

Go to strapworks.com or http://arrowheadequipment.webs.com/apps/webstore/products/category/270327 and get yourself some polyester tree straps. It'll stretch a little and stop stretching.
_________________________
"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities. In the expert's mind there are few." Shunryu Suzuki

http://hikeandbackpack.com

Top
#148209 - 03/23/11 10:42 PM Re: Making a hammock - need straps [Re: lori]
Kent W Offline
member

Registered: 10/15/09
Posts: 607
Loc: IL.
My son has a eno without straps. He uses 550 paracord period! He is very happy and seems to not experience excessive stretch. he tied loops in para cord straps every 6 inces. His eno hooks via threaded carbiners to what ever loop is needed via tree distance!

Top
#148215 - 03/23/11 11:17 PM Re: Making a hammock - need straps [Re: Kent W]
lori Offline
member

Registered: 01/22/08
Posts: 2801
I am reminded of the time a friend used plastic and paracord to make himself a tent between trees. He was using it as a ground cloth by morning - the wind would kick up and the paracord would stretch, plastic flapped, woke him up, he'd tighten the cord again... repeat. repeat.

It all depends...
_________________________
"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities. In the expert's mind there are few." Shunryu Suzuki

http://hikeandbackpack.com

Top
#148218 - 03/23/11 11:36 PM Re: Making a hammock - need straps [Re: Steadman]
phat Offline
Moderator

Registered: 06/24/07
Posts: 4107
Loc: Alberta, Canada

Ya got seveal possibilities here.

http://www.whoopieslings.com/

very light.

OTOH, if you wanna keep the budget reasonable, all straps will stretch, but poly will stretch less than nylon - you can get poly at a sewing or outdoor store. I get mine at "campers village" here which sells tent bits too.

the other thing that will make a difference is how you tie the hammock up to a tree. if you use the right cinch it's pretty easy to get it nice and tight.

All stuff stretches some, the first couple of times you use it you may need to put it up, sit in it, then retension. after that you'll be fine.

Do you have Ed Speer's book (which shows how to do this well with a strap hammock?)


_________________________
Any fool can be uncomfortable...
My 3 season gear list
Winter list.
Browse my pictures


Top
#148223 - 03/24/11 12:09 AM Re: Making a hammock - need straps [Re: phat]
finallyME Offline
member

Registered: 09/24/07
Posts: 2710
Loc: Utah
I bought mine from Strapworks . I recommend the polyester.
_________________________
I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.

Top
#148282 - 03/24/11 08:35 PM Re: Making a hammock - need straps [Re: phat]
Steadman Offline
member

Registered: 09/17/09
Posts: 514
Loc: Virginia
Thank you - that helps.

I don't have Ed Speer's book, but their company is somewhat nearby - I may go have to go take a look-see.

Top
#148289 - 03/24/11 09:28 PM Re: Making a hammock - need straps [Re: Steadman]
phat Offline
Moderator

Registered: 06/24/07
Posts: 4107
Loc: Alberta, Canada

Here's how I hang when I'm just using straps:

http://www.imrisk.com/hammock/improvedknot.htm

Figures risk would have good pictures of it.

Whoopies are a bit different but if you're gonna do sewn straps thats the way to go.
_________________________
Any fool can be uncomfortable...
My 3 season gear list
Winter list.
Browse my pictures


Top

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
0 registered (), 160 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 

Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum