Whoopie sling weight limit

[Vtpilot1]

Anyone know what the weight limit is for a whoopie sling setup? I can't seem to find a straight answer on google. More specifically will it match the 400# eno DN capacity?

[craige]

It really depends on the safety factor you want, if you want 4:1 whoopie slings will be fine, if you want a higher safety rating go with 1/8th.

Remember though that most of the cottage vendors on here sell sell webbing that is only rated to either 1000lb or 15000lb so whatever you choose remember your suspension is only as strong as the weakest component.

[Vtpilot1]

I bought some 1/4 inch Amstel and the tree straps from Dutchware. I weigh 220lbs.

[Vtpilot1]

I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer so you may need to clarify a little..

[GrizzlyAdams]

The fundamental issue is the strength of the cord, not the "whoopie sling" part of it. And the strength of the cord is gauged from the diameter.

There are three commonly discussed cords here, so-called 'dynaglide', whose diameter is 2mm, "7/64" and "1/8" Amsteel, where the numbers describe the diameters.

For you, don't even think about dynaglide.

The listed breaking strength of 7/64" Amsteel is about 1600 lbs,
for 1/8" Amsteel, 2500 lbs.

These sound like big numbers, but you have to be aware that the tension on the whoopie sling is larger than half your weight, owing to geometry (the angle of the line from hammock to tree), and dynamic forces (when you drop into the hammock). Furthermore, any knot or slice will lower the average breaking strength.

The good news is that splices and whoopie slings lower the breaking strength the least among any possibilities of connecting hammock to tree with cord, lets say,
to 80%. So for 7/64" Amsteel you're looking at maybe 1280 lbs, and for 1/8" Amsteel, maybe 2000 lbs.

Then to account for dynamic forces and variation in manufactoring it is typical to say the "safe working strength" is some fraction of those numbers, conservatively from 1/10 to 1/5, so a range of 128 to 256 lbs for 7/64" Amsteel,
and 200 - 400 lbs for 1/8".

The recommended angle of the cord from hammock to tree is 30 degrees, which
means the static (non-dynamic) load on whoopie sling set-up is your body weight.

executive summary : To support a 400 lb occupant I'd go with 1/8" Amsteel.

[Vtpilot1]

I meant to say 7/64" amsteel, i have no idea where 1/4 came from

[darkbyrd]

7/64 ought to be plenty strong. If you remember to milk the bury, and hang on the knot, not the toggle, it won't the the whoopie that puts you on the ground!

[craige]

I weigh 220lb ish and 7/64 holds me fine.

[Vtpilot1]

Thanks guys. That's the answer I was looking for.

[aboyd]

I am 295 lbs, and I use 1/8" whoopies. I have used 7/64" without concern, but decided to try so 1/8" just for a little added security. I have not hit the ground as of yet.