Continuing this "alteration"...
The cording... Whats its name? Where do I buy it? Typical cost?
Anyone have "left overs" that are long enough they will sell me?
Continuing this "alteration"...
The cording... Whats its name? Where do I buy it? Typical cost?
Anyone have "left overs" that are long enough they will sell me?
Get busy living, or get busy dying.
There are a lot of different lines that are strong/light enough for the task. In fact, you'll probably get as many different recommendations as there are people on this forum. Personally, I use this 5/32" Spyderline. I only really ordered what I needed, so I don't have extra, but an order from APS would probably get to you as quickly as from anyone else.
Last edited by angrysparrow; 05-17-2007 at 13:49.
That's certainly true. Replacing the Spectra offers some weight savings, and makes you more familiar with the way the HH is actually tied though, which I think is a good thing.
Also, I find that a smaller line holds the rings together more tightly. That may not be practically necessary, but I prefer it that way.
I might go a different way myself. The longer the hang, the tighter your suspension has to be to combat additional stretch and sag - keeping your butt off the ground. To me, that just adds aggravation and possibly additional stress to your suspension. When I'm hiking, I look for my "ideal" distance of about 14'-15'. I'd likely shoot for the same with a stand or posts at home. JMO.
"Physics is the only true science. All else is stamp collecting." - J. J. Thompson
Oh, I'm not saying that it makes a difference necessarily in the hang, just that I simply couldn't get the large spectra of the standard HH to hold the rings as snugly as spyderline(maybe I needed to tie it differently). I then cut the spectra to a short length and tied spyderline to that with a double sheet bend, with the spyderline extending to the rings. That suited me better. At least until I saw these pics (here and here) where the simplicity of simply doing away with the spectra all together was demonstrated. After seeing/doing that, I find it to be far superior to keeping the bulk of the standard spectra. JMO
I guess my point was, if you're not USING a longer hang distance, it's a disadvantage. And yes, I'm talking about low-stretch suspension and ridgeline.
Even with a low-stretch properly rated suspension, you get more stretch with a longer hang. This can be solved, as you mention, by hanging higher - but then you have tarp problems. I always look to minimize the height difference (at the ridgeline) between the unloaded and loaded hammock. This way, I can keep my tarp as close to my hammock as possible for winter use or bad weather. The longer the hang distance, the bigger the height difference is going to be, no matter what suspension you're using. Granted, for a super-strong super-low-stretch setup, it wouldn't change enough to be noticeable. But with the affordable, hiking-weighted materials I use, I can DEFINITELY tell a difference (and disadvantage) with even a 1' increase in hang distance.
"Physics is the only true science. All else is stamp collecting." - J. J. Thompson
"Physics is the only true science. All else is stamp collecting." - J. J. Thompson
I'm back.
I've got a Desert Rat also. Concerning a later comment by the venerable very-cool-safari-clone-making TeeDee, I couldn't wrap the suspension cord around the rings. No way, no how. The rope is not pliable enough; the tightest loop I can make has a diameter of at least 2". Clearly not the same stuff that most people who've post on this topic have. So I used some Dyneema from BPL I have lying around for hanging bear bags. A single strand has a 1400 lb test strength. A touch pricey this rope. Helps to be a BPL member. Of course, if you can keep the existing rope and use that on the rings it is almost surely a better way to ease into this. I don't mind telling you I snapped the tie holding down the knot cover and undid that knot with some trepidation. Replacing the rope means that you need to have your bowline tieing skills down cold.
This weekend I'm going to use a longer bit of rope (maybe 5 ft doubled up rather than the 4 ft I used before). Last weekend I untied the knots, again, threaded the skins to sit between rings and hammock, and redid the knots. It is a mite crowded in that stretch of rope now. I'm some concerned about having space to attach underquilt and underliner cords to the new rope. I think I'd like to get those attached to the rope at a clear point between the skins and hammock (so the shock cords aren't up against the skins), which means pushing the scrunched up skins back towards the rings. I think I'll also pop a ring in there following VVCSCMTD's suggestion. Note to self: if the ring is a solid piece, then slip it onto the rope after the skins, and before tieing that blasted knot again.
this place is chock full of folks with good ideas. Now if I could just get those ideas all lined up at once, and not keep discovering what I should have done...
Grizz
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