My gear/bag suspension setup (with pics)

Hi all!

This is my first post, so I'm sorry if I've put it in the wrong place. I also want to say, fantastic site! I've learned so much from trawling around on here.

I wanted to share a system I came up with. Lots of people, myself included, seem to have trouble with what to do with their backpack. I thought to myself "there has to be a better way..."

Enter; The Gear Line.

The Setup:
I have storm rings which my structural ridgeline also attaches to (but this should work with many different SRL setups). To those rings, I connected a cheapo carabiner each. Between the carabiners I ran a continuous loop of thin (but strong enough to hold my 10kg pack) cord with considerable slack. I then simply attached two more carabiners to one strand of the loop about two feet apart, and ran the other strand through the carabiners. Hopefully the photo makes this all clear. (I initially just ran the line through the storm rings, but when lying in the hammock the cord would foul on the other cords I have on there)

The Upshot:
Hook the bag lengthways to the binas, and it hangs off the ground. Like a clothesline strung between buildings, you can use the cord(s) to push/pull the pack back and forth along the line. The friction will keep the pack where it is, rather than sagging to the middle of the line. If you put the line at the right hight, the pack can be pulled into the hammock with you to do all you packing/unpacking (and so you don't drop stuff on the muddy ground). I found that connected between the storm rings it didn't make much difference to the hang of the hammock, and, importantly, can be stored up past the foot of the hammock for sleeping.

I've only tested this in the garage, but it seems field-ready for my next hike. If anyone else tries this, let me know and post pictures, I'd love to see how you go with it!

(Before anyone asks, the thing in the background is an archery target/backstop.) (With panda.)

I just realised it would be a great way to keep muddy boots out of the way too!

Very nifty idea . . . You've got me thinking now! :rolleyes:

-Klauss

Hello fellow Aussie

But wouldn't that mean your setup requires the tarp to cover all the way past your 'storm rings' as opposed to just covering past the whipping? You do have a huge distance between your rings and the whipping it seems, not so on my wbbb

Ayup, that'll work!

Just found a use for some left-over Amsteel and carabiners. Thanks, Morelia!

Mike

SWANK-E it looks to me like the bag can be moved toward the hammock, so I think the tarp will cover it nicely. Just my $.02. I like this and for a first post, pretty darn good. :thumbup:

Interesting concept. I'm not knocking it when I say it will be interesting to see what you say after using it a few times.

Nice setup you have there, all around!
Welcome to the forums!

Thanks all for the warm welcome :)

I'm gonna try and get out sometime in the next few days, so I'll post on how it went in the field.

I've just bought a WL TadPole tarp, to replace my ancient I-don't-even-know tarp. I'm working on getting my base weight down, and the TadPole looks like it's going to shave almost a kilo off. (I also got some sil to diy a lightweight poncho, and a couple of load-bearing caribiners which were way cheaper and lighter than anything on eBay. So I'm stoked and I think I'm gonna go hang by the letter-box). Anyway, it will be interesting to see what the coverage of the TadPole is like with the gear line, but as Baja said, it's movable, so should be fine.

Yep... Like it.