Rings and Biners

[captaincoupal]

Hey folks, I have the HH Asym Backpacker Ultralight. Can I still use the rings and biner setup with the 1200lb. Spectra? It's a lot thinner, I was wondering if it would still engage properly.

[nothermark]

Why wouldn't it work?

[Knotty]

If you're talking about using a pair of descender rings at each end in a garda hitch, acting like cinch buckles, then I'd say no.

That approach was popular for a while but there were some rope failures due to the way the rings pinch the line.

[captaincoupal]

Thanks Knotty, I appreciate the response. You've potentially saved me some grief.

[affreeman]

If you're talking about using a pair of descender rings at each end in a garda hitch, acting like cinch buckles, then I'd say no.

That approach was popular for a while but there were some rope failures due to the way the rings pinch the line.

Interesting. I used that method for a 6-month AT thru-hike in '09 with no issues, and my hammock is still set up that way. I use the stock Hennessy suspension line for the garda hitch. I just looked at all the lines and I don't see any apparent signs of wear.

I keep thinking about converting to whoopie slings, mostly for weight savings, but resist giving up adjustability and convenience. I especially like the range of effective line length I can get with the rings and biner: from pulling the cord right up tight to the hammock ends, to extending out until just a couple of inches go through the rings.

[Owl]

Interesting. I used that method for a 6-month AT thru-hike in '09 with no issues, and my hammock is still set up that way. I use the stock Hennessy suspension line for the garda hitch. I just looked at all the lines and I don't see any apparent signs of wear.

I too used this method for about 5-6 seperate trips and never had an issue. But I can also see where it might cause some breakdown in the rope, especially if you tended to hang at the same spot and end up putting the rings on the same section of rope over and over.

I keep thinking about converting to whoopie slings, mostly for weight savings, but resist giving up adjustability and convenience. I especially like the range of effective line length I can get with the rings and biner: from pulling the cord right up tight to the hammock ends, to extending out until just a couple of inches go through the rings.

I just recently (couple of months ago) converted my HHED and son's expedition over to whoopies. I like them. They are as easy or easier to adjust than the biner and rings setup, and it is decently lighter. The downside is...I need trees that are a bit further apart than I had before. I also ended up only saving the weight of the rings themselves and the difference between the slings and the rope in weight...because I had some concern about slipping up over the toggle in the MSH, I started using a climbing rated biner as the toggle and just attaching the adjustable loop of the whoopie directly to that biner. No chance of slipping that way.

[Spogatz]

I think it helps if you use the fat rings when you go this way. They don't put the line in as much of a bind.

[Knotty]

Interesting. I used that method for a 6-month AT thru-hike in '09 with no issues, and my hammock is still set up that way. I use the stock Hennessy suspension line for the garda hitch. I just looked at all the lines and I don't see any apparent signs of wear.

I keep thinking about converting to whoopie slings, mostly for weight savings, but resist giving up adjustability and convenience. I especially like the range of effective line length I can get with the rings and biner: from pulling the cord right up tight to the hammock ends, to extending out until just a couple of inches go through the rings.

Some useful info in this thread on the subject.

[nothermark]

Easy answer appears to be to clove hitch the spectra to the rings and use long webbing tree straps. That eliminated the pinching of the spectra that seems to be the problem.

[nimbus37]

I use it and haven't had a problem.