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  1. #1
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    Marlinspike Hitch in Dynaglide? ... and general suspension extension questions.

    Hi all,

    I want to try switching to shorter (5 ft) tree straps, in conjunction with a pair of 5 ft. suspension extensions from Arrowhead Equipment. They just have fixed eyes on each end.

    I began wondering, what's the best way to attach these extensions to my tree straps (with 2 fixed eyes at either end).

    My plan is this ... girth hitch one end of the extension to one of the fixed eyes on the tree strap, and run the remainder of the extension through the other eye to finish the connection. This will let the remaining length of the extension go out away from the tree. I then began to think that I could simply girth hitch (or marlinspike) an aluminum toggle in the other extension fixed eye, and THEN attach my whoopie slings over the toggle.

    Am I picturing this correctly? One worry I have is that the toggle could snap due to Dynaglide being used with the marlinspike, as opposed to the tree straps which spread the forces more evenly. Maybe only a problem with trail sticks instead of the heavier duty aluminum toggles?

    Is this the way you guys would connect a system like this? Any general thoughts most welcome.

  2. #2
    Senior Member gargoyle's Avatar
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    Everything sounds correct to me and thats the method I will use, if needed.

    Choose wisely your spike, CK!
    Cheap 2" carabiners from the store work great as a toggle and can be multi-purposed elsewhere during your outings. Clipped to your pack (hard to loose them), very little weight penalty, use them to attach wet gear (socks, wash cloth, etc.) to outside of pack.
    Clip them to the eye on your tree straps, if you dont want them outside the pack.

    Once the carabiner is installed as a toggle, you can clip a stuff sack, water bladder, whatever to them and they still hold fine.
    Ambulo tua ambulo.

  3. #3
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    Thanks Garg!

    I hadn't thought of the mini caribiner option. I'll have to head to REI and weight a few. If they are much heavier than the toggles I may have to pass - I don't want those few extra grams breaking my back

    Excited to get out hanging with my lighter setup.

  4. #4
    New Member mitmax's Avatar
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    i believe the lightest that REI carries is the Mammut Moses Wiregate carbiner. it weighs in at 27 gms. nice biner - works well.

  5. #5
    Senior Member Knotty's Avatar
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    I think the C.A.M.P. USA Nano 23 is REI's lightest at 23g.
    http://www.rei.com/product/798366
    Knotty
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  6. #6
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    True,

    I work at REI and own 4 of the Nano 23. Use and love them for my car camping setup, but wouldn't use them for backpacking. Too "heavy"

    I think for a toggle though, you could use an even lighter caribiner, as it's not actually taking the load of your body. It just has to not break within the marlinspike hitch.

  7. #7
    Senior Member timabababaluka's Avatar
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    Quick question: if a biner is being used as a toggle, can you get away with one of those dopey .99 cent biners, or is that going to be pushing your luck? I haven't used toggles yet, and I don't know what kind of forces are being applied to them.
    You're gonna need a bigger hammock

  8. #8
    canoebie's Avatar
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    I use the dopey 99 cent biners all the time. I am 250#, never a problem. As gargoyle stated, I can then clip stuff to them. The weight is on the knot, not the biner.
    “Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?”
    ― Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

  9. #9
    Senior Member timabababaluka's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by canoebie View Post
    I use the dopey 99 cent biners all the time. I am 250#, never a problem. As gargoyle stated, I can then clip stuff to them. The weight is on the knot, not the biner.
    Sweet! I try to get away with dopey whenever I can
    You're gonna need a bigger hammock

  10. #10
    canoebie's Avatar
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    A quick qualifier though, I use them with straps. Not sure what the dynaglide would do. Give it a careful sit first.
    “Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?”
    ― Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

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