UQ Suspension Diameter

[FireInMyBones]

I recently purchased a new UQ from Hammock Gear. It came with 1/8" thick suspension.

I'm considering going down to 3/32" thick suspension to cut down on the weight.

Does anyone see an issue with this?

[bloomgorge]

If its a summer under quilt you might be able to get by but I honestly think there are better ways to remove weight from an under quilt and shock cord would not be my first. If you did reduce it I would suggest additional support with a piece over the middle with 3/32 but that defeats your purpose. Problem with going down in diameter is on cold nights the shock cord will lose a elasticity and you want the extra support from the 1/8. Good luck.

[DemostiX]

Don't do it. The lighter weight line performs poorly in low temps, when you especially want it to do otherwise.

Want to reduce weight? Splice in light dacron -- No need to spend on Zing it, what with all its strength -- for the un-tensioned exposed portions of line. That will still leave shock cord for the length of the UQ, giving a minimum of four feet of stretch.

For ideas of others, find a November thread on just this topic.

http://www.hammockforums.net/forum/s...ferrerid=10868

[FireInMyBones]

DemostiX, let me get this straight...you use a foot or two on either side and slice that into the center of something like Dynaglide? the Dynaglide is then the remaining length? What kind of lengths are we talking here? This could be interesting.

[flatline]

imho, the minor loss of weight (by changing to lighter shock cord) would be far out weighed by the loss of performance. adequate suspension is critical to UQ positioning and the insulation value that your UQ can provide. (imho)

[DemostiX]

DemostiX, let me get this straight...you use a foot or two on either side and slice that into the center of something like Dynaglide? the Dynaglide is then the remaining length? What kind of lengths are we talking here? This could be interesting.

Please go to the thread I started and referred to. More experienced hikers than I am do use less shock cord than comes stock, and some have reported their use in that thread. Best reason for so much cord is for the suspension to be foolproof.....which is hardly an endorsement of the UQ ownership group.

Leaving shock cord in the channels minimizes time costs of threading new material through them and leaves knots well away from them. Alternatively, if the existing attachment points are adquate to support a load and not tear out, you could try an entirely new, shorter, and lighter suspension.

I am respecting your wish to cut grams where you can. Giving it full respect would measure how much shock cord you need and, yes, substituting something much lighter for the portion you don't.