Be kind to the Rookie

**MAD777** · 01-06-2011, 22:11

Originally Posted by MAD777

To shorten the ridgeline temporarily, just put a marlin spike hitch in it. Then try the hammock. If you want it shorter still, put another marlin spike hitch in it, etc, etc. When you find the length you like, measure it and then make the modification permanent.

Remember, You can't lengthen the ridgeline on WBBB without modifying the bugnet.

Texaswildman,

I thought of an easy way to temporarily convert your existing ridgeline to an adjustable ridgeline.

In the pictures below, the large green cord is your ridgleline and the small yellow cord is a loop with a Klemheist knotted onto your ridgeline. The carabiner is attached to your ridgeline via a Marlin hitch, with the carabiner acting as the spike.

Now you can slide the Klemheist knot along your ridgeline, and the more you slide it, the shorter the ridgeline gets. You will need to get out of your hammock to slide the knot because it will not slide with the tension of your weight on it.

**TinaLouise** · 01-07-2011, 08:43

I'm 5 foot "tall" and trust me, trees are NEVER close enough that I can just tie my hammock up without needing a step ladder. Well since I don't have a ladder in my backpack, I find a stick and just adjust the ropes/webbing up higher on the tree. When I take down the next morning, I have to find the stick and again adjust the ropes/webbing down to where I can reach it.

I think I'd try the stick method and adjust the ropes up higher before I tried messing with the ridgeline. Plus try a pillow and hang with feet higher. Only then, if you're still having issues, would I mess with the ridgeline.

TinaLouise

**Wildman** · 01-07-2011, 10:12

I find a stick and just adjust the ropes/webbing up higher on the tree.

Now THIS is a simple idea!

Mad, I will look into your mod as well. I like the pictures just getting the theory to work with me is an issue. I am an Arapaho knot maker. I like to just awrap it any way I can to get it to stay.

**oldgringo** · 01-07-2011, 11:05

I think, in general, people choose trees that are too far apart. If your tarp will fit in there just barely, that's perfect, and no sticks, ladders, helicopters, etc will be necessary.

Sometimes, of course, you have to make do with what you've got, but it makes hanging more challenging.

**gates** · 01-07-2011, 12:02

Originally Posted by TinaLouise

I'm 5 foot "tall" and trust me, trees are NEVER close enough that I can just tie my hammock up without needing a step ladder. Well since I don't have a ladder in my backpack, I find a stick and just adjust the ropes/webbing up higher on the tree. When I take down the next morning, I have to find the stick and again adjust the ropes/webbing down to where I can reach it.

I think I'd try the stick method and adjust the ropes up higher before I tried messing with the ridgeline. Plus try a pillow and hang with feet higher. Only then, if you're still having issues, would I mess with the ridgeline.

TinaLouise

Same here. I don't know if this has anything to do with why you have heel pain but when I first set up my BB seems like my ridgeline was always too tight - like scary tight - and sometimes I'd get wicked cramps in my lower legs (the kind where you have to jump out before it becomes permanent) from the position of my lower back in the hammock.

I had been looking for a thread about this when I saw one of Shug's videos with Wandering Fool's hammock having so much sag in his ridgeline that it was flopping to his chest when he sat in his hammock and I thought he must have a longer length. Then I found I could get a looser ridgeline by hanging closer to 7'+ high (also using a stick) or hanging between trees that are closer together, like maybe 10 feet, but the angle I am most comfortable is much steeper than what I understand to be optimal.

Good luck!

**Wildman** · 01-07-2011, 16:20

I will be trying this idea of closer trees or higher hang for sure. I just thought that if possible, I could put another ridge line on that I could adjust for tree width.

Let me "keep it simple stupid" first and then I will report back. Thanks for the ideas!

**SteelerNation** · 01-07-2011, 16:35

I found that I preferred a good bit of sag as well and when I had it the way I liked it, the ridgeline hung down pretty far. I guesstimated the amount of extra ridgeline I had and retied it to shorten it up. If you look at the end knots on your wbbb, you'll see the ridgeline wrapped on the outside. I was able to pull on that and retie the bowline knot to shorten without cutting. I then just wrapped it back on the knot like before, pulled the knot of the ridgeline back inside and ended up with the perfect sag for me everytime without replacing anything.

Hope that helps.

**MAD777** · 01-07-2011, 16:41

There are two different issues here for me.

One is that my whoopie slings require me to use trees that are further apart (I'm considering going back to straps).

The other issue is that I am finding that a shorter ridgeline than stock WBBB seems to be more comfortable for me, even though I'm 6'-1" tall.

**titanium_hiker** · 01-10-2011, 05:43

I don't understand why whoopies make your suspension longer, I'm going to post another thread about this. http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...986#post385986

TH

**Rat** · 01-10-2011, 09:34

I think you are on the right track Wildman; try a steeper hangle before cutting the Black Bird.

FWIW I have the same heel pain, but not just in my hammock. Any time I leave my feet in one position for very long, like while driving, I get this pain. So, for me at least, it's not just hammock related; I call it restless foot syndrome (look up restless leg syndrome for a primer), I have no idea if it is related to RLS but it is what I imagine RLS to be.