On the knot, not the toggle...

**halfastronomical** · 08-24-2013, 19:58

Just a friendly reminder to be careful out there. I fell in my hammock for the very first time last night. My coccyx was not impressed.

After a hot day at work I got home and cleaned up and ran out to my hammock for a nap since the wind was blowing quite nicely. I checked my setup, then fiddled with my ridgeline a little and flipped the hammock over... I sat down and fell flat on my butt and gashed my hand a little. Ouch! I immediately heard Shug's voice in my brain and I knew what went wrong. I didn't check my toggles after adjusting my rig and I payed for it.

Also, I have yet to find the 2 pieces of carbon fiber toggle-projectiles that I heard whizzing away at high velocity.

Embarrassing...yes; but I got my nap on, anyway.
I have never been one to get discouraged by gravity.
...but yeah, check your toggles folks.
I thought that I always did, but I was wrong.

**DivaB** · 08-24-2013, 20:02

Definitely on the knot. Glad you're Okay!

**craige** · 08-24-2013, 20:08

Thanks for the reminder, and sorry to hear about your hurt hand/coccyx/pride.

I recently (almost) had an incident with my msh, the compression actually crushed my toggle (carbon from a broken fishing rod) luckily it held but I got quite a shock when I pulled half a toggle out

Maybe I'm doing it wrong... does the whoopie go on the knot or behind it?

WV · 08-24-2013, 20:16

It's possible that what happened was your carbon fiber toggle was crushed by the knot and flew apart. I've seen several posts about cf arrow shaft toggles failing in that way. Aluminum is better. The admonition to check your toggle connection is good, but the thing to watch out for is a MSH that makes the toggle twist as it tightens. To my knowledge, no one has ever figured out how to hang from the toggle rather than the knot (if they wanted to do that).

**gunner76** · 08-24-2013, 20:28

There are two type of hangers. Does who have fallen and those who will.

I have ended up on the ground several times due to different suspension issues but so far no injuries. Glad you are ok

**Catavarie** · 08-24-2013, 20:46

Always a good reminder to double check your setup before getting in it.

I've been lucky so far in that the only fall I've had involved an experimental M50 hammock and me weighing too much for it. My suspension was fine, the hammock material not so much. And it is on YouTube for all to see the failure and subsequent fall.

**Junebugdawn** · 08-24-2013, 20:47

We took our girls on an overnight last night to use their new hammocks I made for them. I was teaching one of them how to hang hers properly. I kept repeating "Hang your loop on the knot, not on the toggle" while hearing Shug's voice in my head.

**rgoettl** · 08-24-2013, 22:25

Originally Posted by WV

... To my knowledge, no one has ever figured out how to hang from the toggle rather than the knot (if they wanted to do that).

OK, I still rather new here. I've been using whoopies and toggles with a MSH for a while now. I don't really see how to hang it on the toggle. Can someone post a picture of the right and wrong way to "hang it in the knot, not the toggle"? Just wanted to make sure I was doing it right. I haven't had any misshaps, and would like to keep it that way.

**Floridahanger** · 08-24-2013, 22:52

Halfastronomical. I'm glad your O.K. with that bruise to your pride as well. Thanks for the heads up.

For anyone that might want to try...
To help with the MSH, when you slide the toggle in loop, hold and pull the toggle up before you tighten the hitch. That way the toggle is in front of, not in the middle of the hitch, then put the whoppie sling above the knot. Still holding the toggle up while you pull the sling to "seat" in the knot, not the toggle, this may help in putting in the right place.

Hope this helps.

**Pipsissewa** · 08-25-2013, 05:40

Originally Posted by craige

Thanks for the reminder, and sorry to hear about your hurt hand/coccyx/pride.

I recently (almost) had an incident with my msh, the compression actually crushed my toggle (carbon from a broken fishing rod) luckily it held but I got quite a shock when I pulled half a toggle out

Maybe I'm doing it wrong... does the whoopie go on the knot or behind it?

Originally Posted by rgoettl

OK, I still rather new here. I've been using whoopies and toggles with a MSH for a while now. I don't really see how to hang it on the toggle. Can someone post a picture of the right and wrong way to "hang it in the knot, not the toggle"? Just wanted to make sure I was doing it right. I haven't had any misshaps, and would like to keep it that way.

This is the iconic Sloooow Mooootiiiioooon demo Shug did years ago. He taught me and many others how to do it right.