Slings too long? What length do you use?

**TFC Rick** · 11-14-2011, 11:24

Hey guys,

I need an opinion here. I have whoopie slings that are 6 feet long. I have long hammocks (11-ish feet- 9.4 or so with sag). It seems as though to be able to use my slings well the gap between trees has to be huge. I set them up yesterday at my house for a cookout and had them drawn all the way tight and still was too long.

Does anyone else have this issue? Should I go with a shorter set of slings?

Thanks in advance.

Rick

**NCPatrick** · 11-14-2011, 11:26

You might make a shorter hammock/ or with shorter whoopie slings that you take to such cookouts. I bet that 11 footer is really comfy.

**lymphocytosis** · 11-14-2011, 11:31

The problem isn't with the total length of the whoopies, but with the total length of the hammock plus the set length between the fixed eye and the end of the adjustable bury in the whoopie slings. Most of the whoopies you can pick up from vendors are at least 15" or so on each whoopie. There's no way to safely get around that length since there is a minimum length on all of the buries. Best thing to do would be to have a slightly shorter hammock or move to a different suspension system at home. Webbing is good for this purpose since you can cinch it down basically to wherever the buckles are and probably shave off two feet or so.

**JasonJones** · 11-14-2011, 11:59

I attach my whoopies to the hammock with soft shackles, and normally don't have an issue out finding trees to work, but at home I have the same issue with my stand. I made a set of continious loops the size I needed for the stand, and just put those on instead of the whoopies when at home.

I also carry them to use if I have to on a short span... 8ft tree straps + the loops or Whoopies (8t too) and I can almost always find a hang... I also carry 2 6ft straps too just in case.

**TFC Rick** · 11-15-2011, 16:47

Originally Posted by NCPatrick

You might make a shorter hammock/ or with shorter whoopie slings that you take to such cookouts. I bet that 11 footer is really comfy.

It really is comfy. I am 6'5"-ish and 290lbs. and the length is great for me to stretch out and have extra room. I have only hung those hammocks in my house so far and this was the first time hanging them outside. This was in my back yard where I have plenty of trees.

The gaps I chose seemed to be far enough, but after slings were pulled out, not so much. I guess I am more concerned with the notion of not being able to find a gap out in the woods so easy.

Thanks for the thoughts!

**RootCause** · 11-15-2011, 16:56

I've had that same concern in the woods. One of the things that I recently found helps is the use of Dutch Buckles on my tree straps. That lets me get the whoopie sling within about 2" of the tree on each end, which lets me make best use of a too-small distance between trees.

Dutch Buckles @ OutdoorTrailGear

**Tendertoe** · 11-15-2011, 16:59

Swapped suspensions because of it myself.

**GrizzlyAdams** · 11-15-2011, 17:13

there's a solution if you have rings or biners at the ends of your hammock. Hard fastening points.

For this situation to come up you need to be 15 or 16 inches from your Marlin spike hitch. 3' piece of amsteel with a tied loop at one end. Don't use the WS at all. Lark's head the loop to the ring/bing, run the cord to the MS, around, back to the ring/biner and tie off using something like a full turn with two half hitches or a slipped buntline hitch.

If you don't have a ring/biner at the end of the hammock already, attach the cord to the end of the hammock, position a ring/biner at the end of cord next to the hammock and wrap the cord around the ring/biner 3 times, then take the cord to the tree and back to the ring and tie it off. The ring/biner stays put under tension.

**dejoha** · 11-15-2011, 17:50

+2 with what Grizz and Jason mentioned.

Whoopies have a minimum distance, as lymphocytosis said. Having a short loop on the end of your hammock gives you the flexibility to hang close when the whoopies are not needed.

**Bubba** · 11-15-2011, 18:26

Minimum distance concerns is why I have continuous loops connecting the hammock to whoopie slings with a Dutch biner. I use Elephant trunks or Dutch buckles instead of a MSH so should the need arise, I can ditch the whoopies all together and simply loop the continuous loop from the hammock around the Dutch buckle or onto the Elephant trunk.

These two methods allow some adjustability so you can still fine tune the sag. I think the shortest I can go form the hammock to the tree is about 8 or so inches. Now the other problem of course is the length of your tarp's ridgeline. You can't go short if you have a large tarp.