Suspension Streching???

**gakayaker** · 03-21-2010, 18:34

My suspension is slowly stretching over the course of the night and I can't seem to find the cause. I have a webbing rig where one end has an alpine butterfly knot at one end, that I wrap around the tree and pass the other end through, to pull it tight in place of a dutch clip or a carabiner at the tree. Then with the length of webbing I just pulled through I make a clove hitch onto a carabiner that is attached to the hammock, and adjust it quite tight and back up the clove hitch with a slippery half hitch.

So if you managed to understand all of that what seems to be wrong?
The webbing was bought from REI and is climbing rated so it shouldn't stretch.
I have hung the hammock several times before and haven't woke up with my but on the ground until now.

My only thought is that the chord that connects from the hammock to the carabiner is stretching, but it hasn't done that in previous setups. Maybe all that needs to be done is replace that cord with some amsteel?

**Hooch** · 03-21-2010, 18:39

Actually, the opposite is true. Webbing that is made for climbers to use is made to stretch. Typically, it's nylon and will stretch just as it was designed to do. If you want webbing with very little stretch, go with polypro. If you want webbing with no stretch, go with polyester.

**angrysparrow** · 03-21-2010, 18:39

Originally Posted by gakayaker

The webbing was bought from REI and is climbing rated so it shouldn't stretch.

Hooch is exactly right.

Climbing webbing is made from nylon, and stretches by design. It will retract once you unload it, but the very next time you weight it there will be stretch again.

Replace it with either polypro or polyester, which don't stretch.

**peanuts** · 03-21-2010, 18:41

probably your webbing is nylon. nylon will stretch. you need polyester webbing and as far as i know, rei does not carry polyester webbing.

**pgibson** · 03-21-2010, 18:49

What they all said, climbers want a lot of stretch in the gear we use. A rope can have 5-30% stretch depending on intended use, I have bounce on a rope bungee style, kind of fun to be a human yo-yo

Bouncing 15-20 foot at a time.

**gakayaker** · 03-21-2010, 19:03

have to saw I never would have guessed that climbing webbing was made to stretch when there is a load on it.

Makes since now

Looking at polypro vs polyester and who carries it

**oldgringo** · 03-21-2010, 19:11

Originally Posted by gakayaker

have to saw I never would have guessed that climbing webbing was made to stretch when there is a load on it.

Makes since now

Looking at polypro vs polyester and who carries it

That guy that posted just before you. His name is Paul.

**JohnSawyer** · 03-23-2010, 21:18

Originally Posted by oldgringo

That guy that posted just before you. His name is Paul.

X2 what he said. Old Gringo has wisdom.... If I have a choice of vendor: I choose Paul. Fantastic customer service, quick shipping, nice guy.

**Hooch** · 03-23-2010, 21:20

Agree with others on this, order from Paul at Arrowhead. I ordered from him yeaterday. He shipped my order in less than 2 hours. Bet he'll treat you good, too.