Question about ridgeline

**jons4real** · 11-16-2011, 18:58

I have a ridgeline and for some reason have yet to use it. I think sometime this week I'm going to give it a go. My question is this, does the ridgeline actually become a load bearing line. I've never seen one in person only pics. Every picture I've seen it appears to me that the ridgeline is a load bearing line. As if it relieves weight from the hammock and takes it on its self. So do the pictures bear witness?

**dejoha** · 11-16-2011, 19:13

They are not 100% load bearing, but they do take some weight. It is used mostly to ensure a consistent hang angle or sag on your hammock.

They are not essential or required, but they are useful for other reasons besides getting the hang angle, including adding a gear organizer, drying clothes, and keeping a bug net off your face.

**jons4real** · 11-16-2011, 19:15

Thanks de, I figure if they are load bearing then I guess they should be amsteel?

**Bubba** · 11-16-2011, 19:30

They should be fairly strong. To expand on what dehoja said, they can be useful for compensating less than ideal set ups like if your trees are a little too far apart and you cannot elevate the attachment points on the trees. The SRL will keep your sag even though your suspension angle may have decreased. In these cases, the tension on the SRL may be quite high and therefore it should be made of a substantial cordage.