Hammock suspension load factor of safety

[Ramblinrev]

Am I courting disaster? I'm hanging in a Grand Trunk Nano 7 if that matters.

Yes and no... maybe possibly... it depends. The weak links in that system are the treehuggers, the toggles and the structural ridgeline. If they are robust you may be okay but you are definitely putting more stress on the system than a better angle would. The structural ridgeline is designed to set the sag not hold the weight. Using an GT you added the ridgeline yourself so it depends on what you used. Amsteel ridgelines are overkill IMO but they would hold the weight.

When I am faced with a spacing wider than I can reach up I use my trekking poles to boost the straps. A paddle or half a yak paddle (assuming you use two piece) would serve the purpose as well. With the biner attached a good shake of the webbing drops it down to a reachable level for take down.

[DivaB]

The ones I got were actually not cheap, and purchased at Tractor Supply...so don't necessarily trust what you get at a farm supply store either....definite lesson learned on this thread on how to figure the factors in and being safe. The factors being key in the figuring. Thank goodness for all of you who are so informative and willing to teach those of us who have never dealt with this type of stuff before. I accidentally ran across this thread, and thought all along that I was fine, so this wasn't even something I was "searching" for. Glad you all are so willing to "teach".

is the QC in the manufacturing process.

Climbing and Life Safety rated gear is EXTENSIVELY documented, from raw materials to fabrication steps to lot testing, and sub-standard items never see the light of day. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside when I hang!

The "key chain" 'biners are spit out of third world factories with none of the QC mentioned. Some will hold a specified weight, some will fail at ridiculously low figures.

Some of our cottage industries sell lighter than life-safety rated 'biners, but I believe they do their own testing and I would use them, but I are a "heavy hanger" and I like the safety factor available with the good stuff.

I think that the message here is "Don't buy your 'biners as an add-on purchase while checking out at Office Depot or Dollar General!"

Jim

[Jsaults]

marketed a beautiful mini-biner, made of forged aluminum with a wire gate. Conspicuously stamped "NOT FOR CLIMBING". Roughly half the size of a conventional 'biner.

I am betting, knowing BD's QC reputation, that these little beauties were uniformly strong and could hold a significant load. But they disappeared from the market - I bet that some scruffy nerf-herder had one break in a climbing application and the lawyers nixed any further manufacture.

Now the only ones I can find are plastic BD 'biners. Sigh.

Jim

[Ramblinrev]

Who's scruffy?