Results 1 to 10 of 10
  1. #1
    New Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Brisbane, Great Southern Land (Australia)
    Posts
    25

    HH ridgeline strength?

    I am a tosser and turner, in my sleep, continually adjust my position in the hammock all night. So, I'm also bouncing up and down, testing the supsension all night too. Now I know my HH Asym Zip suspension ropes are big enough to hold me but I notice that the ridgeline is much smaller and presumably, not nearly as strong. Anyone know just what the ridgeline material is capable of?

    I'll get around to emailing HH direct but I have put the Q here because I am also involved in a sideline discussion about how much tension is on the suspension/ridgeline for a given weight and for a given amount of sag.

    I did do a quick experiment today, put a spring balance in a ridgeline and changed the amount of sag a few times. Essentially, the more the sag, the less weight is seen in the ridgeline as an increace in tension. With a high degree of sag, about half the weight is seen in the ridgeline. For example, 30 degrees or more saw the spring balance read 9 kg when I put 18 kg in the hammock. As the hang was made tighter and tigher, the spring balance reading got closer and closer to that of the weight being added to the hammock. The practical outcome of all this is I figure I need the HH ridgeline to be capable of holding about 100 kg for me to feel safe testing the ridgeline with my sleeping habits

    Ticklebelly.

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Eastern MA
    Posts
    149
    Sorry, but I have no idea of the ridgeline's breaking strength. That said, the same line is used for the Explorer Deluxe models which are guaranteed to 300 lb and probably the Safari models which are rated even higher.

    As long as the hammock is strung snugly, NOT very tightly, and the ridgeline remains undamaged, it should be fine under your weight, tossing or not. If you happen to hang something that somehow abrades the line, cutting it slightly, look into replacing it.
    Rosaleen

    Hennessy Hammock afficionado and supporter.

  3. #3
    SilvrSurfr's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Jersey Shore, NJ
    Hammock
    Dutch PolyD
    Tarp
    HG Winter Palace
    Insulation
    HG 0, 20, 40
    Suspension
    Dutch Whoopie Hook
    Posts
    14,716
    Images
    3
    From what I've read, most people don't recommend messing with the stock HH ridgeline. As long as you are within the weight limits of the HH Asym (250 lbs/115 Kg) you shouldn't have to worry unless you are trying to use the hammock as a trampoline.

    Hammock ridgelines are not designed to support your full weight - they're just there to provide a uniform sag. That's why you'll see people using 1.75 or 2.2 mm Zing-it for their adjustable structural ridgeline. You wouldn't want to build whoopie sling suspensions out of Zing-it, but it's fine for a ridgeline 'cause the ridgeline doesn't bear your full weight (unless you string it too tight, maybe).

  4. #4
    Senior Member Knotty's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Denville, NJ, USA
    Hammock
    DIY Stretch-Side
    Tarp
    DIY Cat Cut Hex
    Insulation
    Phoenix and Nest
    Suspension
    cinch buckles
    Posts
    4,377
    Images
    227
    Not positive about this but I think I remember reading that Hennessy uses 500# test line for the SRL.
    Knotty
    "Don't speak unless it improves the silence." -proverb
    DIY Gathered End Hammock
    DIY Stretch-Side Hammock
    Stretch-Side "Knotty Mod"
    DIY Bugnet

  5. #5
    Senior Member titanium_hiker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    The Wimmera, Australia
    Hammock
    DIY speer type
    Tarp
    OES Maccat
    Insulation
    JRB Nest+ORM
    Suspension
    Webbing + Slings
    Posts
    726
    Images
    18
    30 degree sag, don't crank the suspension tight and you should be right.
    my hammock gear weights total: 2430g (~86oz)
    Winter: total 2521 (~89oz)
    (see my profile for detailed weights)

    gram counter, not gram weenie!

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Framingham, MA
    Hammock
    HH Expedition
    Tarp
    HH hex (heavy)
    Insulation
    CCF pad
    Suspension
    HH descender rings
    Posts
    303
    Images
    4
    Hang at about about 30 degrees and the ridge line will be fairly easy for you to twist with your hand. See this vid by Warbonnet Guy, who, let's face it, knows.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWlM0pROnpU
    The ohysics is in the diagram below

  7. #7
    New Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    South Carolina
    Posts
    9
    I have an expedition and after a few hangs the ridgeline broke. They may have changed the materials in the last couple of years, I don't know. I found the suspension lines had a great deal of stretch and instead of retying over and over again I pulled the hammock to about 15 degrees and let it settle and that put the bottom of the hammock at chair height. That is probably frowned on but I assumed the hammock materials were sturdy enough for a 250lb rated hammock to handle a 6ft.- 215 lb. man without groaning. I was wrong. The hammock itself has never been a problem except it is a bit uncomfortable at the knees and foot, a bit of a squeeze for me. My solution was to change the suspension lines and ridgeline to 1/8" Amsteel. (that is not hard to do) You may find it different but when the trees are further apart than 16ft. I am simply not able to get high enough to get the 30 degree angle and must hang the hammock at whatever angle I can get and the tension is there. I'm pretty dumb about this stuff but that has been my experience.

  8. #8
    Senior Member titanium_hiker's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    The Wimmera, Australia
    Hammock
    DIY speer type
    Tarp
    OES Maccat
    Insulation
    JRB Nest+ORM
    Suspension
    Webbing + Slings
    Posts
    726
    Images
    18
    Steady- I am pretty happy with "low chair" height- able to reach the ground from my hammock. Cranking your suspension tight puts way more force on it (it's a physics thing- I remember from school the example of a tennis net- the force on those things to that they are horizontal is incredible)

    Some people use their trekking poles to slide the hugger up the tree.
    my hammock gear weights total: 2430g (~86oz)
    Winter: total 2521 (~89oz)
    (see my profile for detailed weights)

    gram counter, not gram weenie!

  9. #9
    New Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Brisbane, Great Southern Land (Australia)
    Posts
    25
    All useful replies, thanks Guys. This is my first hammock and I'm still sorting things out. Currently tying the thing a little tighter than 30 degrees and although I can still twist the ridgeline with the fingers, its getting more rigid. I do find the hammock more comfortable, for me, when I hang a little tighter but do not want to test the thing to destruction, hence the post. I'm well inside the recommended weight limit so I'm not going to worry too much.

    Ticklebelly

  10. #10
    New Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    South Carolina
    Posts
    9
    The idea of trekking poles for greater height means longer tree hugger straps for me since I use the whoopie suspension. OH BOY! I now have another item to research and buy! It seems the hunt for hammock stuff is as much fun as the trip....well maybe not. I wonder if you ever get through experimenting and have all the bases covered....NAH...., then I would'nt hear my beautiful wife say "What are you buying now?" LOVE IT

  • + New Posts
  • Similar Threads

    1. Strength of tarp ridgeline?
      By Passinthru in forum Weather Protection
      Replies: 6
      Last Post: 02-05-2013, 21:41
    2. Adjustable Structural Ridgeline WEight Strength
      By Darwin S and A in forum Suspension Systems, Ridgelines, & Bug Nets
      Replies: 6
      Last Post: 10-11-2012, 11:17
    3. Strength of tarp ridgeline
      By waddy in forum Suspension Systems, Ridgelines, & Bug Nets
      Replies: 10
      Last Post: 03-25-2010, 12:11
    4. Ridgeline strength?
      By GiantDave in forum Suspension Systems, Ridgelines, & Bug Nets
      Replies: 14
      Last Post: 02-15-2010, 01:09
    5. Tensile strength of HH Exped Asym ridgeline?
      By Alan in forum General Hammock Talk
      Replies: 11
      Last Post: 03-02-2009, 20:11

    Bookmarks

    Posting Permissions

    • You may not post new threads
    • You may not post replies
    • You may not post attachments
    • You may not edit your posts
    •