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  1. #1
    Senior Member photomankc's Avatar
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    First Overnight - A question on distance...

    Just did my first overnight in the BB at the local state park. First challenge was to find a site that had decent trees. I finally found a site with some well placed trees. Measured out 16.5" between the first trees I tried. That became a lesson in failure. I could not get the straps up high enough to keep my butt from dragging the ground maybe 6" high and keep the ridge-line from being so tight it strummed. I'd have had to pitch the tarp at smurf level to get good coverage.

    I switched to trees that were about 11" feet apart and had much better luck pitching everything at a reasonable level. So my question is have others found that to be about the same? My Clark sweet spot was always about 13 to 15 feet. Seems like the Warbonnet is going to be more in the range of 11 to 13 feet which makes it a tighter fit for my big 11 foot tarp. Much farther than 13 feet and I need a step ladder to get up the tree high enough to keep the ridge-line in the condition Brandon shows in his video.

    Lucky for me the rain quit long enough for me to setup because it would have been much more of a pain to switch trees in the pouring rain. The overnight in the rain went well even though I was not pitched the best direction to block the wind really.

    Otherwise it went well. I had to fight with my UQ a bit on the head side because it kept wanting to ride under me but otherwise I slept in nice comfort and slept fully on my side for a few hours, something I could never really do in the Clark.

    So what have you guys found to be the optimal tree to tree distance for you?

  2. #2
    Senior Member Mule's Avatar
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    I'm glad you had an overall positive experience on your first hang. It does take a little practice, but it will come easier as you go. Welcome to the trees.
    Predictions are risky, especially when it comes to the future.

  3. #3
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    My first hang in my BB was actually 19' apart and the first time I didn't get the straps high enough and like you my butt was about 6" off the ground. I moved the straps up higher and did some webbing adjustment and was fine. I am 5'9" and I could have only gone a little higher. Not sure why you had a problem at that distance.
    " It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed." Theodore Roosevelt

  4. #4
    Senior Member Doctari's Avatar
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    My range is 14' to 18' & I can go longer. Can't go much shorter because of the length of my tarp & after about 20' I too am (almost) on the ground.
    I'm 5' 7" & usually hook my straps at about 8" to 1' above my head on the trees. at the short end of my hanging distance I can go about eye level, but not much lower.
    As stated above, it takes a few practice runs to get it right, but then it's all easy to figure out.
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  5. #5
    Member Bearclaw's Avatar
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    I never thought about it that much. I 6'2 and I just hang the straps over my head then adjust the buckles. If the ridge line is too tight I make small adjustments. If I had to guess I would say I look for trees 16 to 18 feet apart. But then I might not be hanging the correct way. :> I’ll really pay close attention next time I hang.

  6. #6
    Senior Member Knotty's Avatar
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    Try using your hiking poles or a stick to push your tree huggers higher up on the tree when you can't reach by hand. For me 16' spacing is close to ideal.
    Knotty
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  7. #7
    Senior Member Roadrunnr72's Avatar
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    I may be wrong, but I thought the ridgeline was suposed to be tight. If the trees are far apart, you put your straps up high and, if using whoopies, then tighten to get the right height. If your too low- tighten, if too high- loosen. ?????
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  8. #8
    Senior Member Silverlion's Avatar
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    Same here, I use my hiking poles or a stick to get higher if need be. I've hung between trees around 30' apart. It took a few attempts and some "letting things settle", but it worked fine.
    x2 on the ridgeline. Mine has always been tight as it is what sets my sag.
    We must all learn to live together as brothers--or we will all perish together as fools. MLK

  9. #9
    Herder of Cats OutandBack's Avatar
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    12'-15' here. Hammock is about 24" off the ground.
    I usually go for more that a 30 degree angle. 32-35 works best for me.
    RL is usually sagging about 4" then when I get in the RL is just taunt.

    hth

  10. #10
    Senior Member photomankc's Avatar
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    Hmmmm..........


    In the video on Brandon's site he says that the ridge-line should be able to be bent upwards in an S curve by your hand and that when you can do that you have the tension about right. On the 16' trees I went to as far as I could reach and when the tension was set as he mentioned then the thing was nearly on the ground.

    Clearly though people are hanging with it tighter than I was thinking. Although I still don't like to be able to strum it and get a note. Seems like a bit too much stress. I need to fiddle some more I see. I'll try it again out front of the house. At 19' if I can get that to work then 16 and under should be fine.

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