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View Full Version : plastic buckles for treehuggers



hikingjer
07-19-2007, 12:37
I've been using plastic buckle thingeys (4 in a $1 package at REI) to make loops on the ends of my polypro treehuggers for my DIY hammock. They're not the release kind. You just run the webbing one way and back through. There's a pic at http://www.msnusers.com/hikingjer/onlyformessageboards.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=992

They're quick and easy to adjust loop size and webbing length to adjust sag. They're cheap and light. But their strength and slippage is questionable.

Have any of you all used this kind of plastic buckle? How long did they last? Did they ever crack from stress? Did they ever slip over the course of a night?

Otter1
07-19-2007, 13:03
I've been using plastic buckle thingeys (4 in a $1 package at REI) to make loops on the ends of my polypro treehuggers for my DIY hammock. They're not the release kind. You just run the webbing one way and back through. There's a pic at http://www.msnusers.com/hikingjer/onlyformessageboards.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=992

They're quick and easy to adjust loop size and webbing length to adjust sag. They're cheap and light. But their strength and slippage is questionable.

Have any of you all used this kind of plastic buckle? How long did they last? Did they ever crack from stress? Did they ever slip over the course of a night?

They will probably drop you on your:eek: at a very inopportune moment! They also may crack in extreme cold when under stress. Buy metal instead.

FanaticFringer
07-19-2007, 14:36
Not worth the risk. Use metal or something else much stronger.

slowhike
07-19-2007, 15:46
i believe they call them tri glides. and no way would i trust them to support my hammock.

SteinbergerGPPRo
07-23-2007, 14:53
They're probably only good to around 70 pounds of pressure so I wouldn't trust them except on maybe a gear hammock or a VERY small child's hammock.

hikingjer
07-24-2007, 21:07
I just used the DIY hammock with these plastic "tri glide" things on polypro webbing on an overnight hike to the Selkirk Mountains in northeast WA (close to the Canada and Idaho borders; trip report at http://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7961149if you're interested) for 1 night. 3 nights total with this rig. It has worked fine so far if I set the loops so there's not much pressure on them.

I was hoping somebody would tell me the plastic buckles would work just fine. No such luck. The plastic buckles are weak as I expected (but oh, so light!). Metal it will be.

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my question!

warbonnetguy
07-24-2007, 21:18
how do you use them? it seems that if you wrapped the tree and the wraps took the load instead of the buckles, they could be weak, but this seems like it would defeat the purpose of using buckles though.




I just used the DIY hammock with these plastic "tri glide" things on polypro webbing on an overnight hike to the Selkirk Mountains in northeast WA (close to the Canada and Idaho borders; trip report at http://www.nwhikers.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7961149if you're interested) for 1 night. 3 nights total with this rig. It has worked fine so far if I set the loops so there's not much pressure on them.

I was hoping somebody would tell me the plastic buckles would work just fine. No such luck. The plastic buckles are weak as I expected (but oh, so light!). Metal it will be.

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my question!