Here in the Pacific Northwest (even despite the unrelenting actions of humankind) we are blessed with a relative abundance of trees.
Often, our problem is not in finding two trees from which to hang our hammocks but rather in deciding from which two trees to hang.
Usually, the common obstacle for hammockers here in the Cascades and the Olympics is tackling old growth monster trees that can often exceed 9 feet in circumference. Amsteel dog bones can be your best friend...
However, sometimes in order to hang in that perfect spot you most desire, you have to span a considerable gap with your hammock suspension. This has led me over the past year to develop and experiment with three different backcountry hammock suspension kits for hanging a hammock longer distances between between two trees, while still preserving some degree of convenience and practicality in terms of weight, bulk, and ease of adjustability and deployment.
What suspension gear do you routinely use/recommend for a ten-yard (30-foot) hang?
NB: Given an average HWP adult male hanger in an 11-foot hammock with a 110" ridge line and an 18" sit height, with a correct "hangle" of approximately 30 degrees, one has to get the anchor points on the two trees approximately 10-1/2 feet off the ground! Some tree-climbing is virtually assured, but sometimes it's worth it...
There are four ground rules to this ten-yard hang thought experiment:
1) Your suspension set-up has to be able to span a 30-foot gap between trees, measured horizontally*
2) Your suspension set-up has to be able to accommodate a tree of at least 12" diameter (38" circumference) on each end.
3) Your suspension set-up has to hold safely a live load of at least 250 pounds
4) Your suspension set-up has to detach easily from the hammock at the gathered end (or CL at the GE)
* For example, a 6-foot whoopie sling deployed at a 30-degree hangle only covers about 5'2" of horizontal span.
tenyardh.PNG
My past and present solutions are:
Kit #1 (about 200 grams):
* Pair of Dutch Cinch Bugs on 8-foot 1" poly webbing straps (with sewn-on Dutch Clips)
* Pair of 6-foot 7/64" Amsteel whoopie slings
* Pair of 36" x 7/64" Amsteel dog bones
Pros: Fairly light weight, packs very small, deploys/detaches easily, multiple points of adjustability
Cons: Some assembly required for spanning really big gaps, most expensive
Kit #2 (about 210 grams):
* Pair of Dutch Adutchables on custom DIY 15.5-foot 1" poly webbing straps
* Pair of DIY 7/64" Amsteel soft shackles
Pros: Simple to use with one-piece construction for wide range of easy adjustment and attachment, moderate price point
Cons: Most bulk and weight of my three options, adjustment point is high up on the tree
Kit #3 (about 190 grams):
* Pair of 6-foot 1" poly webbing tree huggers
* Pair of Dutch Clips
* Pair of custom DIY 12-foot 7/64" Amsteel whoopie slings (or swap for 6' dog bones and 6' WS)
* Pair of DIY 7/64" Amsteel soft shackles (or swap for Dutch Biners)
Pros: Fairly light weight, moderate price point
Cons: Lots of components to misplace, moderately large pack size
Thanks for considering this application and discussing your ideas below.
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