Adding to suspension length for big trees

[Hangdang]

I bought my first real hammock during the holidays and have been out a few times. One issue I run across are big trees, very common in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Very common to find 4 and 5 foot diameter trees. As you can imagine that can quickly take up most of your suspension length. I have the warbonnet xlc and I think the straps are 13 or 15 ft I can't remember. So I guess the question is what is the best way to add to the length of a suspension system webbing specifically.?

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[Baka Dasai]

I bought my first real hammock during the holidays and have been out a few times. One issue I run across are big trees, very common in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Very common to find 4 and 5 foot diameter trees. As you can imagine that can quickly take up most of your suspension length. I have the warbonnet xlc and I think the straps are 13 or 15 ft I can't remember. So I guess the question is what is the best way to add to the length of a suspension system webbing specifically.?

A strap big enough to get around the biggest tree, and then a whoopie sling to give some adjustable length between tree and hammock.

Two popular ways to attach the strap to the whoopie are via a marlin-spike hitch or a becket hitch.

[buds007]

Search for amsteel dogbones. That's one of the easiest and lightest ways.

[Grinsha]

A strap big enough to get around the biggest tree, and then a whoopie sling to give some adjustable length between tree and hammock.

Two popular ways to attach the strap to the whoopie are via a marlin-spike hitch or a becket hitch.

That's how i do it.

[jadekayak]

Very obvious solution-longer straps or a PAIR of smaller ones for each end

[Hangdang]

A strap big enough to get around the biggest tree, and then a whoopie sling to give some adjustable length between tree and hammock.

Two popular ways to attach the strap to the whoopie are via a marlin-spike hitch or a becket hitch.

I thought a little bit about whoopie slings but I weigh about 250 and am a little apprehensive. Can they be trusted for bigger guys?

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[pgibson]

I thought a little bit about whoopie slings but I weigh about 250 and am a little apprehensive. Can they be trusted for bigger guys?

Quick answer: Yes.

Long answer: Yes, we have been making whoopies for sale longer than anyone else out there and we have hung 400 pound plus guys from ours. I have hung my wife and me along with a kiddo...that will get you over 400 pounds. 250 is on the lightweight side of things. As long as the slings are properly made you will have no problem with them.

Secondary answer: To keep using the buckles you could just get some longer straps custom made. We make straps regularly out to 20 foot and sometimes even longer for folks on the west coast. Bigger trees are pretty common up and down the west side and from white pines, to ponderosas to redwoods we have large trees out here and stock straps are often not long enough. We recently did a pair of straps that were 30 foot long on each side.

[kitsapcowboy]

Search for amsteel dogbones. That's one of the easiest and lightest ways.

Yes, as my fellow Washingtonian has pointed out so astutely (since we have big trees here too), bring along a set of 7/64" Amsteel dog bones as part of your suspension kit, perhaps a 24" and a 36". They don't weigh much at all, but they can go at the end of your suspension webbing so that they wrap around the front of the tree (nearest the hammock) where the forces cutting into the bark are relatively minimal. You can double or treble either dog bone to get the length of the extension dialed in., and you'll have the ability to extend the strap on one end or both. This simple solution is much cheaper and lighter than buying a whole new set of tree straps for your webbing or buying an add-on set of huggers to extend the webbing you have.

[Grumpy Squatch]

Quick answer: Yes.

Long answer: Yes, we have been making whoopies for sale longer than anyone else out there and we have hung 400 pound plus guys from ours. I have hung my wife and me along with a kiddo...that will get you over 400 pounds. 250 is on the lightweight side of things. As long as the slings are properly made you will have no problem with them.

Can confirm. I go 240 on a good day and have never had a problem with my 7/64" whoopies over years of hanging. Just remember to watch the suspension angle. My guess is that hammock will fail before the whoopie breaks.

[cmoulder]

Can confirm. I go 240 on a good day and have never had a problem with my 7/16" whoopies over years of hanging. Just remember to watch the suspension angle. My guess is that hammock will fail before the whoopie breaks.

Those are some mondo whoopies!

But even around here, in the land of not-so-big trees, I carry a 6' dog bone just in case. I've had to use it once.