Webbing stretch

[welshchris]

I tried my DD Frontline for the first time last weekend and it was fantastically comfortable. My one problem was the amount of stretch in the webbing. I had done the Karabiner mod and was running a single length of webbing from the karabiner to the tree. Once I eventually got the tension right it was great but it took loads of attempts at sitting in it and then getting out and tightening it, then sitting again, then tightening again and so on. So, is this likely to be just due to it being new and the initial stretch in the webbing or is it because I am only running a single piece of webbing rather than taking 2 lengths round the tree and tied in a bow? What do other DD users think?

[turnerminator]

The channel squashes up for a few nights, then stops. The webbing will always have quite a bit of stretch, but is manageable doubled up. I always hung off 2 straps-I never felt safe with the single width, but I probably would have been fine.

Swap your webbing for some dyneema braid/whoopie slings-it'll stop stretch completely, and save you nearly half a pound and take up less space.

[welshchris]

Thanks. I suspected that a large part of it was initial stretching of the system as once I got it to stop stretching noticably whilst setting up it didn't stretch much more after spending all night in it. My main worry was that I would have to go through all that faffing every time.
I'm not too worried about the weight as it is, because I'll mainly be using it on canoe trips and unless I go silly the weight doesn't really notice in the boat.
I'm sure that I have seen a post from others either on here or another forum saying that they had no problems with a single strand being strong enough but I'll have to keep an eye on it and see. I'll have to make sure I don't hang too high until I'm sure in case it does go.

[turnerminator]

The webbing is rated to 800 kg which is plenty, but I still don't trust it. I'm quite happy on my 2mm dyneema though-can't explain it.

[Andy2112]

Chris, mine stretched terribly the first time i used it. Just keep tightening it up and it will eventually stop stretching mate.

[donmacn]

Another consideration with the DD webbing might be how much moisture it holds/wicks?

I got concerned about this after my first couple of test hangs in the back garden so I changed mine: first of all for some webbing off an old ratchet strap (forgetting it had been wrapped round an outboard engine for a couple of years and exposed to UV - first ever night camping in the hammock that webbing ripped with a nice tearing noise and dumped me on my **se in the wee small hours. :laugh: )

Second change was more recently to whoopie slings and I'm delighted with that. Easily adjustable, no stretch.

But back to the point - the DD webbing seems very porous or spongy? I can't say for sure that it is, just that it seems that way. Using the carabiner mod will stop that, but you'll still have wet and heavy webbing to store?

[wabi]

Mine stretched quite a bit the first time I hung the Frontline.
I switched the suspension out and put polyester webbing, dutch clips, and cinch buckles from Arrowhead Equipment on the Frontline.
The DD webbing went on my son's hammock and works fine with little to no stretch suspending his weight (about 60#).

[desmobob]

I think Nylon should be avoided in webbing and lines (except for things like tow straps where stretch is a benefit). Polyester webbing is strong (maybe lighter, too?) and has very little stretch.

Happy napping,
desmobob

[Festus Hagen]

I used mine for a while. I used a single length with a loop tied through the sewn channel and a carabiner in between. Prevented the webbing from carrying water to the hammock just fine. I probably weighed about 240 lbs and had no troubles using the single length, it did stretch out the first time but not so much subsequent hangs. It might have been an advantage that I hung the hammock "taut" as per DD's website.

I impulse-bought Slap Straps, used them for a while (very stretchy) and now that I use whoopies I don't expect I'll look back.

[welshchris]

Thanks for the replies folks. I haven't been on the forum for a while or I would have replied sooner.
Seems ok at present so I think I'll stick with the system I'm using and see how it goes. If I'm not happy after a while of use I'll probably swap it for some climbing tape.

[Dunk]

I've been using mine doubled up with knots tied in to form loops which I hook a carabiner into. I can't say that I've noticed much stretch.

[zyhano]

dd's webbing does not rock at all...

It's heavy, bulky, stretchy, it 'sticks' to barky trees (the material snags) and you have to tie it...


get rid of it and either get a good non stretching kind of webbing with buckles (I did) or go whoopie sling (did that too :), even better)

other than that, I love my dd frontline

[hans]

today i made the webbing whoopie, works well but haven't spent a full night in it. i think the stretch will be ok and from now on very easy to adjust. i did this with a empty ballpiont and a bicicle spoke. goodluck to the one who try...

[JPsax]

Honestly My webbing never stretched so I dont know what happend with everyone elses haha!

[hans]

no stretch for me as well, i like those dd webbings so far

[Passinthru]

The webbing is rated to 800 kg which is plenty, but I still don't trust it.

I contacted DD about their webbing ratings and was told that the suspension webbing was rated for 150 kgs (330 #). A little on the smitely side (IMO) if only using a single strap instead of the 2 as designed.

[turnerminator]

I contacted DD about their webbing ratings and was told that the suspension webbing was rated for 150 kgs (330 #). A little on the smitely side (IMO) if only using a single strap instead of the 2 as designed.

That figure will be their working load, 800kg is the breaking strain of the black webbing and doesn't account for knots, wear etc.

Assuming a knot will derate the line by an average of 50%, a 150kg load in the hammock hung at 30 deg gives the webbing a little under a 3x safety factor-much less than the normally accepted 4 or 5 to 1 margin.

Much better doubled, or even better replaced :)

[Passinthru]

[QUOTE=turnerminator;537805]That figure will be their working load, 800kg is the breaking strain of the black webbing and doesn't account for knots, wear etc. QUOTE]

So...the way the DD comes configured, does it have a 300kg working load (150kg each line - even though it is all really 1 piece of webbing)? Sounds like I won't be trying to hang from just a single line - I would prefer a little higher safety factor when a 2 foot drop on my butt is at stake.

[turnerminator]

Yeah, I'd take 300kg as the working load with the lines doubled. Thats likely to be on the safe side too.

Thats actually much higher than amsteel blue in 7/64, so Its definitely not a worry unless you are 300kg in weight :)

I think its more complicated than raw figures in real life though. There is massive friction on say a pine trees bark with a wrap round the trunk; it must take a large proportion of strain off the knot, thus not derating it as much. Good knots will also not derate the line as much.

My original webbing must have done close to 100 nights before I changed it for dyneema, definitely well tested doubled :)

I'm sure the webbing is strong enough doubled and the figures prove it, but I just didn't like it for some reason.

[garethw]

I switched to no stretch webbing tree straps, and dyneema whoopie slings and it really is worth it. No only is the set up far far quicker, the lack of stretch means I get the height I want first go every time.
The saving in weight is an advantage too, but not the main reason I opted for this type of suspension.
Cheers
Gareth