Rope Suspension

**hikingshoes** · 10-05-2009, 09:27

What size rope do i need to hang my hammock?and can i get this rope at the hardware store?Im 235lbs,5,11'' and i want to use the rope to going thru the end of the hammock and use a trucker hitch to adjust the hammock as needed and (2) carabiner at each end to hook around the tree ?I like the cinch buckle sys.if the rope sys.want work.Thanks,Charles

p.s. the hammock came with a 6mm climbing rope,100%nylon at each end!

**trewornan** · 10-05-2009, 12:48

It's not so much about the thickness of rope as about the breaking strain.

For a start you should automatically double any load for safety's sake, so if you're looking at a load of 235lb your safe breaking strain is 470lb (the first knot you tie will reduce the breaking strain considerably).

The fact that you're loading the rope horizontally rather than vertically (to a large extent) also means you're increasing the strain. I'd double it again to account for that so you're now looking at around 1000lb MINIMUM !

Personally I use polyester straps with a breaking strain of 1 ton (metric) and wouldn't be comfortable with less than that - I'm slightly heavier than you but not by much.

**kohburn** · 10-05-2009, 13:22

look at the non-stretching sailing lines with breaking strength around 1800lbs

thats my personal prefference, but I like things to last forever. the sailing lines are thin and light still so it doesn't add anything to the pack weight its actually still thinner than the stock hennesy line.

**oldgringo** · 10-05-2009, 14:53

I don't know about hardware stores where you live, but around here, anything you might turn up would have waaay too much stretch, and have working load limits well below what you need.

**hikingshoes** · 10-05-2009, 21:07

you got that right Mr.oldgringo.Im looking at those cinch buckles and dutch clips and i know ill have to chg.to webbing.what you think about that setup?

Originally Posted by oldgringo

I don't know about hardware stores where you live, but around here, anything you might turn up would have waaay too much stretch, and have working load limits well below what you need.

**oldgringo** · 10-06-2009, 03:40

I've not used that, so can't comment, other than to note that others do, and seem pleased with it.

**coderpitt** · 02-11-2016, 08:42

Start with 1" poly non stretch webbing with a minimum strength of 1000 lbs for tree straps. If you want you can actually use that with buckles to hang the entire hammock. If you just want to do the 1" tree strap then use amsteel whoopie slings or just straight amsteel rope. I got mine from dutchware. I am 265, so to be safe I went with the 1/8" amsteel, lighter than me you can get by with the 7/64" for less bulk and slightly less weight. I just liked the extra 800 or so lbs of working strength to skimp down the 1/64".

**Caminante** · 02-11-2016, 10:33

I may not be following, but you should not go around a tree with rope to hang your hammock as that will damage the tree. Whatever you go with, make sure you're going around the tree with a strap, and then choose a method of attaching your hammock to the strap.